Italian Greyhound Health Problems and breed care

The Italian greyhound temperament is loving, affectionate and energetic. Whilst they love children, their small frames suffer injuries easily so are best suited to households with adults or older children. Italian greyhounds are good with other dogs, and Italian greyhounds make good pets for first time owners.

##What is an Italian Greyhound?

The Italian Greyhound is a sighthound, and actually originates from the Mediterranean, but was particularly popular in Italy, hence the name. Originally bred for hunting small prey, they soon became popular as household companions on account of the italian greyhounds
temperament.

#Common Italian Greyhound Health issues

Common Italian greyhound health problems include anxiety, dental disease, luxating patellas and eye conditions.

##Physical issues

Italian Greyhounds suffer teeth problems. They are more prone than most breeds at developing periodontal disease and subsequent decay of teeth. Teeth problems are painful, and progressive, but the gentle nature of the Italian greyhound means they often show no outward signs of oral pain. Symptoms of dental disease include smelly breath, unwillingness to allow you touch around the face or mouth, drooling or blood spots and swellings around the mouth or eyes.  

Luxating patella is a condition whereby the kneecap pops out of the groove it is meant to sit in easily. Italian greyhound luxating patella symptoms can include hopping, limping or holding a leg up. They rarely cry, or vocalise any pain with this condition. Luxating patella can affect one or both back legs to varying degrees, and sometimes surgery is needed to cure it.

##Stomach Issues

Their sensitive nature extends to their stomach and gastrointestinal tract. They have delicate digestion, and this balance is upset easily. Italian greyhounds can get gastroenteritis, pancreatitis and inflammatory bowel disease at any stage in life. The treatment is usually dietary changes, but sometimes medications are required too.

##Skin issues and allergies 

Italian greyhounds have thin skin, so any wounds need veterinary care to stop the expansion of wounds or injuries.

The breed has a thin coat, and colour dilution alopecia occurs in this breed. Treatment is based around supplements (omega oils in particular) and topical shampoo therapy.

##Medical Problems

Anxiety levels are high in this breed- you may notice your italian greyhound shakes. This can be the whole body or limited to regions such as the head. Treatment involves desensitization and anti-anxiety supplements or medications.

Epilepsy is another common Italian greyhound health issue. Seizures often start early in life, and may progress in severity. Treatment is lifelong, but epilepsy can be well managed with medication and supplements.

#Caring for an Italian Greyhound

Caring for your Italian greyhound is a responsibility from the first day you bring them home until their last day. Good care at home can help prevent Italian greyhound health issues such as obesity, dental disease and joint pain.

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##Diet and nutrition tips

It can be easy to look at an italian greyhound and be concerned they are underweight. The breed is naturally slim and delicate, and the ribs can be seen easily even when healthy. Avoid the temptation to ‘feed up’ your Italian Greyhound as they can become overweight or obese easily.  Obesity creates some of the Italian greyhound health issues we see like degenerative joint disease and cardiovascular disease.

Feed a complete and nutritionally balanced diet that meets AAFCO standards and physically weigh or measure out meals to make sure you're not accidentally overfeeding. If you plan to feed treats, you will need to reduce the amount of food in their main meals to ensure extra calories are not being consumed.

##Training and Exercise Tips

Are Italian greyhounds easy to train? Well the answer is both yes and no. They have above average intelligence so can pick up training easily if they want to. The problem is that their intelligence is combined with a stubborn streak, so if they don't want to learn, or are not interested in your training techniques, it can be difficult to get the results you are hoping for. For the same reasons, Italian greyhounds are difficult to potty train, so start positive reinforcement on this aspect of their training as early as possible for success.

Italian greyhounds are energetic and lithe, quick to dart off if something catches their eye. Have a good recall established for off lead walks, and give your Italian greyhound at least one hour of exercise a day to meet their exercise needs.

##Grooming Tips

Grooming your Italian Greyhound is fairly stress free. The level that Italian greyhounds shed is very low, so whilst Italian greyhounds are not hypoallergenic, they are a good option for pet owners who are not a fan of finding hair scattered around everywhere.

Brush your Italian greyhounds coat with a soft bristle brush twice a week and work in the direction of the hairs to avoid irritating the skin.

Nail trimming can be done on an as needed basis, care should be taken with black nails as it can be challenging to see where the sensitive quick lies. Ask your groomer or veterinarian for a demo if
you're not confident.

Dental disease is a common Italian greyhound health problem, so brush your italian greyhounds teeth once a day with dog toothpaste and a toothbrush. Whilst dental treats or supplements can be helpful, these are not as effective as toothbrushing so prioritise this first in their oral care.

#Conclusion

The Italian greyhound is a perfect companion, with their abundance of affection, sweet nature and enthusiasm for exercise. They can be stubborn to train, particularly around potty training so attention to training is needed in this breed. They are generally healthy as a breed with a few notable exceptions such as dental disease, luxating patella and sensitive digestion.