The Sloughi is a dignified, athletic sighthound with origins in North Africa, prized for its speed and endurance. As a breed that thrives on physical activity, the Sloughi’s nutrition needs to support its lean build and high energy levels, while also considering its sensitive digestive system. Whether they’re sprinting across open fields or lounging with the family, a well-balanced, breed-specific diet is essential for their overall health. At Petabolix, our experts have carefully curated the best food recommendations for Sloughis, ensuring they get the nutrients they need to stay healthy and strong at every life stage.

Breed Summary

The Sloughi is an ancient sighthound breed, originating from North Africa, where it was traditionally used for hunting game across vast desert landscapes. Often referred to as the “Arabian Greyhound,” the Sloughi is admired for its sleek, elegant physique and incredible speed. These dogs are built for endurance, with long, powerful legs and a streamlined body that allows them to move effortlessly across open terrain.

While they may seem reserved or independent, Sloughis form deep bonds with their families and are known for their loyalty and affectionate nature. They prefer calm, quiet environments and are best suited for households that can provide them with regular exercise and plenty of space to run. Although they have a graceful and gentle temperament, their sighthound instincts remain strong, and they are quick to chase anything that catches their eye.

Despite their athleticism, Sloughis tend to be low-energy indoors, often content to relax with their owners. Their smooth, short coat requires minimal grooming, but their thin skin and lean build mean they are more sensitive to cold weather. With a deep-rooted history and noble demeanor, the Sloughi is a remarkable breed that thrives with the right care and attention.

Vet’s Note

Sloughis are generally a healthy breed but may be prone to a few health concerns that should be considered when choosing their diet. Due to their lean build and low body fat, Sloughis are more prone to injuries or pressure sores, so maintaining a healthy weight and providing soft bedding is important. They also have sensitive digestive systems, making easily digestible foods with high-quality proteins and limited fillers crucial for their diet. As sighthounds, they can be prone to bloat, so feeding them smaller, more frequent meals can help reduce this risk.

Health Considerations for Sloughis

Dental

A Sloughi's teeth and gums are always under plaque attack, which forms naturally from food particles and other bacteria. Dogs aren’t too concerned about having pretty white teeth, but dental care is critical for oral health. Bacteria in the mouth can even affect internal organs, like the heart, liver and kidneys, so there are certain things below we like to see in food or supplements to combat these threats to Sloughis. Learn more about how to take care of your dog's teeth.

Puffy/crunch kibbles (bigger)
Sodium hexametaphosphate
Treats based on solubility, not hardness

Gut

Think of your Sloughi's gut like a diverse community of bacteria and other microbes that work together to keep the body healthy. Keeping all these balanced is very important for overall health, including digestive, mental, and immune well-being. For these reasons, we prefer Sloughi food that support the GI system and supplements that contain attributes below. Learn more about gut and digestive health in dogs and how to keep a dog's gut healthy.

Prebiotics
Probiotics
Fermented foods

Bone & Joint

It’s very common for breeds like the Sloughi to develop discomfort or pain in their joints and bones, especially as they age. Some of these issues are hereditary, and some come from wear and tear over time. We can’t usually prevent these problems, but proper nutrition and weight management will do wonders in minimizing pain in our beloved pets. We always make sure diets include the ingredients below. Learn more about joint health in dogs.

Glucosamine
Methylsulfonymethane
Chondroitin
Omega-3 from Fish Oil
Green Mussel
Taurine
Turmeric
Vitamin E
Antioxidants

Cognitive

Puppy and senior Sloughis need a little extra brain power in their nutrition plans. In the early years, puppy brains are developing quickly and need a healthy flow of vitamins to help them grow strong. Once they hit senior years, brain function can deteriorate and we like to supplement their diets with nutrients that will keep them sharp. Learn more about cognitive nutrition for dogs.

Omega-3 essential fatty acids
Vitamin E
Vitamin C
L-carnitine

Eye

The only thing better than looking into your Sloughi’s eyes is looking into your Sloughi’s healthy eyes. All dogs are susceptible to degenerative vision and eye function, but supplementing their diets with things like beta carotene, lutein, EPA, DHA, and other nutrients can help maintain quality vision. Learn more about eye nutrition for dogs.

Vitamin A
Vitamin C
Anthocyanins
Astaxanthin
Beta-carotene
Carotenoids
Glutathione
Lutein
Lycopene
Omega-3 essential fatty acids
Phytonutrients

Skin & Coat

Skin is a Sloughi’s largest organ, and it plays a huge role in protecting from the outside world. Just think — weather, allergies, stress, parasites — all these things are trying to get under your dog’s skin. A healthy outer layer is key to avoiding irritants that may irritate or infect. And pay close attention to their coat. Unhealthy looking (or smelling) fur can mean bigger problems. To keep Sloughi skin & coats healthy, we recommend that diets contain ingredients below. Learn more about skin nutrition for dogs and the dog foods focused on a healthy coat..

GLA
ALA
Omega-3 fatty acids
Vitamin E
Vitamins and choline
Flaxseed/fish oil
Antioxidants
Probiotics

Heart

Chances are, if you’re doing what’s right for your Sloughi’s heart, you’re doing what’s right for his or her health overall. Proper exercise, weight management, and nutrition are all key to a healthy ticker. Most heart issues in dogs are a result of normal wear and tear with age, so heart-focused diets with taurine and omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil could be the gift of a lifetime for your Sloughi. Learn more about heart nutrition for dogs.

Taurine
Carnitine
Omega-3 fatty acids
Antioxidants
Complete protein
Low sodium

Immune

There is a powerful little army inside your Sloughi (the immune system) that protects the body from bacteria, viruses, parasites, toxins and countless other microscopic predators. As pet parents, our job is to keep this army strong, conditioned, and well-supplied. Most of the battle is won in the gut, so a balanced diet plus probiotics and antioxidants are key for victory. Learn more about immune system nutrition for dogs.

Antioxidants
Vitamin A
Vitamin C
Vitamin E
Vitamin K
Omega-3 fatty acids
Fish oil
Coconut oil

Weight Management & Obesity

There is nothing more important than keeping your Sloughi at a healthy weight. Even a little excess poundage can cause a wide variety of health problems, including the pain of extra burden on their joints. Unfortunately, almost half of dogs in the US are overweight. Let’s fight dog obesity together by giving our dogs appropriate exercise and managing their caloric intake. If your Sloughi needs to shed a little weight, look for diets with these labels below. Learn more about weight management and obesity for dogs and how to tell if your dog is overweight.

Low calorie
Low fat
Large bites (to slow chewing)
L-carnitine

Are Fresh Food Diets Good for Norwegian Lundehunds?

Only if they’re properly balanced.

Many well-intentioned Norwegian Lundehund parents spend a lot of time preparing meals at home, but health benefits are lost if meals aren’t properly portioned and balanced with all the nutrients dogs need. Recently, a few companies have done an excellent job ensuring accurate portions and nutrient balance by delivering pre-prepped fresh meals customized to the size and needs of your dog. Farmer’s Dog, Ollie and Nom Nom have each been approved by our nutrition team as delivering truly quality and well-balanced meals. They can be a little expensive (usually 3-4x more per day than kibble), but many find the added health benefits worth the cost. They do offer discounts to new customers, though, if you’d like to try one out.

Pros and Cons of Fresh Food Diets

✓ Diets balanced by Nutritionists
✓ Customized portions for weight control
✓ Superior digestive and immune health
✕ More expensive than standard dog food

Farmer's Dog

"Fresh, human-grade dog food"
Ollie

"Healthy, Simple and Delicious"
Nom Nom

"Real, fresh, custom dog food"

Foods We Recommend for Norwegian Lundehund Puppies

How long do Norwegian Lundehunds need puppy food?
Until they're 10 to 12 months old

Norwegian Lundehunds are very focused on growing, and how we feed them should help them do just that. Since they have so much growing to do, they need higher amounts of nutrients than adult dogs, especially proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals and — don’t forget — water. It’s still important to not overfeed puppies, so make sure to portion food and keep treats to no more than 10% of their caloric intake. Since balance is so important, we recommend that your young Norwegian Lundehund is eating food that is made just for puppies from a reputable brand.

Foods We Recommend for Norwegian Lundehund Adults

When should Norwegian Lundehunds start transitioning to adult food?
Until they're 10 to 12 months old

From a nutrition standpoint, Norwegian Lundehund become adults once they reach about 90% of their expected weight. Once adults, our two key nutrition goals are balance and maintenance. We want balance because a dog’s body is responsible for a lot of things, like digestion, fighting infection, keeping muscles strong, and chasing squirrels. These are all important tasks, so we want to make sure each body function gets its share of nutrients. We also need to maintain a healthy weight. Underfed dogs are at risk for malnourishment, and overfed dogs can become obese — both of which lead to even worse problems for a Norwegian Lundehund.

Foods We Recommend for Norwegian Lundehund Seniors

When should Norwegian Lundehunds start transitioning to senior food?
All dogs can age differently, but Small dogs like the Norwegian Lundehund can start to benefit from senior food around 8 to 10 years old

Ever watch kids running around the playground and wish you had that energy again? Yeah. Dogs get there, too. The metabolic processes in senior Norwegian Lundehunds slow down as they age, which often means they aren’t needing quite as many calories as they did in their prime. Smart dog food companies have formulated senior diets to ease up on calories but still help them feel full and give them adequate maintenance protein. Still, like humans, everybody is different. Sometimes older dogs need just as many calories, or more, depending on how their bodies progress. So keep a close eye on their body condition, and look for dog foods made for seniors.

What are the Best Dog Foods for the Sloughi?

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Breed Info