Supplements for a lean rescue Greyhound

Greyhounds are genuinely one of those breeds where 'lean' is the default — they're built to look like they skipped lunch even when they're perfectly healthy. The supplement market is enormous and mostly unnecessary: most healthy dogs on a complete diet don't need anything extra, and the ones that do need something specific rather than a broad multivitamin. Before we go any further — how long have you had this rescue, what are you feeding them currently, and when you say very lean, do you mean lean-even-for-a-Greyhound, or is this more that friends keep telling you they look underweight?

That's really useful context. If your vet has cleared his weight, you're almost certainly looking at a normal Greyhound physique rather than a nutritional gap — Forthglade complete is a decent food and he's getting enough protein. The honest answer on muscle-building supplements is that they don't work the way people hope: you can't meaningfully add muscle mass through nutrition alone without the physical stimulus to build it. What actually fills out a Greyhound's haunches over time is consistent exercise — particularly walking up inclines, swimming if he takes to it, and general conditioning. That said, there is one thing worth considering here. Rescue Greyhounds often come from kennels with limited movement, and their joints and muscles need careful support as they start becoming more active. Is he getting regular walks yet, and has he shown any stiffness or reluctance to move after rest?

That morning stiffness in a newly active rescue Greyhound is very common and worth addressing — their joints are adapting to a new level of movement after what may have been years of limited activity. This is actually where a supplement earns its place. I'd recommend YuMOVE Active Dog — it's a well-evidenced joint supplement containing green-lipped mussel, glucosamine, and hyaluronic acid, specifically formulated for active adult dogs rather than older dogs with arthritis. It won't build muscle, but it will support the joints and connective tissue so he can exercise more comfortably and consistently — and that exercise is what will gradually fill him out. It's widely available on Amazon UK and straightforward to dose. The muscle appearance will follow from the activity over the next few months; don't be tempted by protein powders or mass-gainers marketed for dogs, as they're largely unsupported by evidence and unnecessary given his diet.

Most owners notice an improvement in morning stiffness and ease of movement within four to six weeks, though the manufacturer suggests a loading period so give it a full six weeks before judging. For the overall physique — filling out those haunches — think in terms of three to six months of consistent exercise rather than weeks. Greyhounds do develop noticeably over that time when they're regularly active, and most owners are pleasantly surprised. Keep up what you're doing with the Forthglade, maintain the walks, and consider adding some gentle hill work when he's ready. He sounds like he's in good hands.