Italian Greyhound health: what owners should know
Conditions the Italian Greyhound is known to be prone to, breeder screening and everyday habits that help.
Beyond leg fractures, the breed is known for dental disease, kneecap problems, some inherited eye conditions such as progressive retinal atrophy, epilepsy, thyroid issues and patchy hair loss in some color lines. Their low body fat means some anesthetic drugs affect them more strongly, which vets who know sighthounds will account for.
Good breeders test parents for eye conditions and check knees, and they will talk openly about fractures in their lines. Keep your IG lean, brush its teeth, and guard its legs in the first 18 months. See a vet for bad breath with red gums, any limp that lasts, a seizure, or a cloudy eye, and mention the breed before any sedation or surgery.
Numbers worth knowing
Life expectancy
13 to 15 yrs
Senior care
Individual assessment
age alone does not define care needs
Typical breed weight
3 to 5 kg