The Irish Wolfhound is the world’s tallest dog, with males being 31 cm and females slightly shorter. They are not as heavy as the Great Dane as their frame is lighter and their legs longer and thinner than that breed.
Ancient Romans used the Irish Wolfhound as a war dog, then they were used to hunt big game such as the 6-foot elk in Ireland, but prey also included wolves. They were in danger of extinction until a British army captain decided to breed them.
Although huge, they are not much trouble indoors because they don’t jump around like smaller dogs. Still, they do require lots of exercise and training for obedience. Rough play with pups should be avoided because rough play when fully grown would be a disaster, especially where children were involved.
Irish Wolfhounds are generally healthy, though prone to a hereditary disease like liver shunt. This can be detected by a blood test during infancy. Some tend to develop bone cancer so a vet should check lumps. Soft bedding e.g. a hammock or trampoline will protect joints from arthritis.
The original diet fed to the Irish Wolfhound was carbohydrate and fiber from grain. However, the carbohydrate today should not come from white rice, as these dogs seem to find that difficult to digest. A diet of horsemeat seems to suit Irish wolfhounds, with fish, poultry and soy to be avoided.*
As for the Irish wolfhound and most breeds of dogs it is highly recommended that a quality dog vitamin supplement be added as a regular part of their daily nutrition as dog foods alone cannot provide all of the vitamins, minerals and nutrition that your beloved Irish wolfhound needs. A quality dog vitamin will aid in maintaining a healthy dog and thereby increasing their quality of life and longevity.
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*Before altering your dog's diet it is absolutely necessary that you discuss this with your vet. Your veterinarian should have all the vital information on your dog such as any previous ailments etc. and should make the final determination on the proper feeding and nutrition of your dog.
To learn more about the ingredients that NuVet uses and the benefits of each, please follow this link. NuVet Dog Vitamin Supplement Ingredients |
