How Much to Feed a Whippet: Fresh Dog Food Portions for a Lean Sighthound
How much to feed a Whippet depends on weight and activity, but a neutered 32 lb adult needs about 830 calories a day. In fresh food, that's just over one 454 g pack of our Classic Pork Stew, split into two meals. Whippets are naturally lean, so judge the portion by muscle and energy, not by how thin they look. Our Whippet dog food guide covers the breed's full profile.
How many calories does a Whippet need per day?
A neutered adult Whippet of 25 to 40 lbs needs about 690 to 985 calories a day. Veterinarians estimate this from the resting energy requirement (70 × body weight in kg to the power of 0.75), multiplied by 1.6 for a neutered adult or 1.8 for an intact adult1.
That figure is a starting point1. A meta-analysis of 29 studies found that a dog's lifestyle changes its energy needs a lot, with racing, working and hunting dogs needing more than pet dogs2. Our breed profile rates the Whippet's energy level as high, so a Whippet that runs every day may need more than the chart shows.
What does a Whippet feeding chart look like with fresh food?
A Whippet feeding chart with fresh food turns body weight into daily calories and then into packs. These starting estimates for neutered adults use two meals our breed page features for Whippets.
Adult weight (neutered) | Calories per day | Classic Pork Stew (742 kcal/pack) | Fisherman's Best Friend Supper (504 kcal/pack) |
25 lb (11.3 kg) | ~690 kcal | ~0.93 pack | ~1.37 packs |
30 lb (13.6 kg) | ~795 kcal | ~1.07 packs | ~1.57 packs |
32 lb (14.5 kg) | ~830 kcal | ~1.12 packs | ~1.65 packs |
35 lb (15.9 kg) | ~890 kcal | ~1.20 packs | ~1.77 packs |
40 lb (18.1 kg) | ~985 kcal | ~1.33 packs | ~1.95 packs |
For a portion matched to your own dog, answer a few questions about your pup, and we'll set the Meal Plan by weight, age, activity and body condition.
How often should you feed a Whippet?
Most adult Whippets do well on two meals a day, one in the morning and one in the evening. Our breed page recommends this split because it keeps energy steady and keeps each portion a manageable size.
For a 32 lb Whippet on Classic Pork Stew, that's a little over half a pack per meal. A kitchen scale makes it simple: weigh the day's food, then divide it in two. A Whippet that eats little at a time can have the same daily amount split into three smaller meals.
How do you judge a healthy Whippet weight?
You judge a healthy Whippet weight by body shape and muscle more than by the number on the scale. Our breed profile describes Whippets as naturally lean and athletic, so a healthy Whippet can look slim next to most other breeds.
Your vet is the best judge, and can score body condition by look and feel. Between visits, watch for changes rather than comparing your dog with other breeds:
- Muscle over the back, shoulders and thighs should stay firm and full; losing it can mean too few calories or an illness.
- Weight on the same scale each month should stay steady once your Whippet reaches the weight your vet is happy with.
- Energy and coat should stay bright; a dull coat and low energy are worth a vet visit.
- Appetite should stay steady; weight loss is one of the common health risks on our breed profile.
Why should your vet know your Whippet is a sighthound?
Your vet should know your Whippet is a sighthound because sighthounds can have blood test results that fall outside the usual ranges for other dogs. A review of research on Greyhounds and other sighthounds described differences such as higher red blood cell mass and creatinine, and lower thyroid hormone (T4)3.
If your Whippet has blood work as part of a weight check, ask whether the results are being read against sighthound ranges. It can save a healthy, lean dog from extra tests.
How do you manage a Whippet sensitive stomach?
You can manage a Whippet sensitive stomach with one consistent, complete meal, slow food changes and fewer extras. Our breed profile lists a sensitive stomach as one of the Whippet's common health risks.
- Change foods over about a week, mixing more of the new meal each day.
- Keep treats and table scraps small, since rich extras are a common cause of upset.
- Stick to set mealtimes, so the gut gets a predictable routine.
- Call your vet if vomiting or diarrhea lasts more than a day, or comes with low energy.
What is the best Whippet diet for a hard keeper?
The best Whippet diet for a hard keeper is a complete and balanced meal that is energy-dense and appealing enough to finish. Our breed page features three recipes for Whippets.
- Classic Pork Stew is our most energy-dense dog meal at 742 kcal per pack, made with lean ground pork, root vegetables and leafy greens. It's free of chicken, beef and grains, and a favourite with picky eaters.
- Fisherman's Best Friend Supper pairs wild Alaskan pollock with butternut squash, brown and white rice and cranberries. It's a low fat recipe (25 g fat per 1,000 kcal or less) and part of our sensitive stomach collection.
- Beef & Broccoli is a low fat recipe of extra lean ground beef, quinoa and broccoli, at 570 kcal per pack, for a Whippet that needs to stay trim.
How do gently-cooked meals support a lean Whippet?
Gently-cooked meals support a lean Whippet by giving a known number of calories in every pack, made from real, recognizable ingredients. Every Tom&Sawyer meal is made with 100% human grade ingredients in a human grade inspected facility, gently-cooked to a safe internal temperature without cooking out nutrients.
Animal nutritionists formulate and lab test each recipe to AAFCO nutrient profiles. A Full Plan makes our meals your Whippet's complete diet, portioned to the gram for their calorie needs. A Partial Plan mixes our meals with their current food. You can change the portion as your dog's needs change or cancel anytime, and each order comes with our 14 day satisfaction guarantee.
Ready to work out how much to feed a Whippet?
Working out how much to feed a Whippet starts with the chart, then follows your dog's muscle, energy and weight from month to month. Lean is normal for the breed; losing condition is not.
Build your pup's Meal Plan with our meal quiz. Tell us about your Whippet, and we'll recommend meals and portion them to the gram.
Please consult your veterinarian before making changes to your pet's diet, especially if your pet has a medical condition.
Resources
- Sanderson, S. L. (2024). Nutritional Requirements of Small Animals. Merck Veterinary Manual. https://www.merckvetmanual.com/management-and-nutrition/nutrition-small-animals/nutritional-requirements-of-small-animals
- Bermingham, E. N., Thomas, D. G., Cave, N. J., Morris, P. J., Butterwick, R. F., & German, A. J. (2014). Energy requirements of adult dogs: a meta-analysis. PLoS ONE, 9(10), e109681. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4196927/
- Zaldívar-López, S., Marín, L. M., Iazbik, M. C., Westendorf-Stingle, N., Hensley, S., & Couto, C. G. (2011). Clinical pathology of Greyhounds and other sighthounds. Veterinary Clinical Pathology, 40(4), 414–425. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3816276/