This article is educational and is not a substitute for veterinary diagnosis or treatment.

Italian Greyhound: Care, Temperament, Health, and Puppy Safety

Quick Answer: What Is Living With an Italian Greyhound Really Like?

The Italian Greyhound is a small sighthound and companion breed, typically 13–15 inches tall and 7–14 pounds under the American Kennel Club (AKC) description [1][2]. Many are affectionate, playful, fast, physically fine-boned, sensitive to cold, and strongly interested in moving objects. These broad tendencies do not guarantee the health, behavior, or adult size of an individual puppy.

A successful household treats the dog as an athletic animal rather than a fragile ornament, while taking sensible precautions against falls and collisions. It expects daily dental prevention, secure leashes and fencing, gradual reward-based training, warmth in cold conditions, and a patient toilet-training plan. The breed is not automatically safe off leash because it is small or attached to its owner.

Evidence quality varies by question. The 2026 Italian Greyhound Club of America (IGCA) testing statement is current breeder guidance [3]. Peer-reviewed studies provide useful information about genetic diversity and breed-specific laboratory results [5][6], but the fracture and dental literature includes case reports that cannot calculate prevalence. This guide separates established screening recommendations from reported problems and does not turn one unusual case into a claim that every Italian Greyhound is at risk.

Italian Greyhound at a Glance

Breed Identity and History

A Small Sighthound, Not a Miniature Greyhound Mix

The Italian Greyhound is its own established breed. It resembles a scaled-down Greyhound in outline, but a responsible breed description should not imply that breeders simply miniaturized modern racing Greyhounds. Small sighthound-like dogs appear in art and history over many centuries, and the breed became closely associated with European companionship [1].

The AKC standard emphasizes an elegant, fine-boned, high-stepping dog with the curved outline of a sighthound [2]. A standard describes the ideal for conformation competition, not a veterinary requirement. A pet can fall outside a show preference and remain healthy, while perfect show proportions do not prove normal joints, eyes, teeth, thyroid function, or genetic diversity.

Italian Greyhound Versus Whippet and Greyhound

Italian Greyhounds, Whippets, and Greyhounds are distinct breeds. The Italian Greyhound is the smallest and is placed in the AKC Toy Group; Whippets and Greyhounds are larger hounds [13]. Similar outlines do not make their medical evidence interchangeable.

This distinction matters clinically. A study comparing laboratory results across eight sighthound breeds found meaningful differences and concluded that the Greyhound laboratory profile should not automatically be applied to other sighthounds [6]. An Italian Greyhound is not simply a tiny retired racing Greyhound for purposes of bloodwork, anesthesia, or disease assumptions.

Appearance, Body Condition, and Color

Fine-Boned Does Not Mean Weak Everywhere

The breed’s narrow limbs and light body create legitimate injury-management concerns, especially during uncontrolled jumping or collisions. At the same time, describing every dog as “made of glass” can lead to under-exercise, poor coordination, weak muscle, fear, and obesity. The appropriate goal is a lean, conditioned dog in a managed environment.

Body condition should be assessed by touch and outline, not copied from a generic photograph. The AKC notes that hip points may be just visible in an appropriately conditioned Italian Greyhound while ribs should be palpable beneath a thin covering [1]. That visual guidance is not a diagnosis. Individual structure, age, muscle, coat, and disease affect appearance. A dog with progressive weight loss, poor growth, diarrhea, vomiting, increased thirst, or muscle wasting needs veterinary assessment rather than more calories without investigation.

Colors and Marketing Labels

The AKC standard permits many solid colors and markings but disqualifies brindle or black-and-tan patterning in the US show ring [2]. Registry and show rules may differ internationally. Color does not determine temperament, fracture risk, lifespan, or suitability as a pet.

Avoid paying a health premium for a “rare” shade. Sellers may use nonstandard names to create urgency. The important questions concern verifiable health evaluations, ancestry, rearing, adult relatives, contract terms, and the breeder’s willingness to support and take back a dog.

Temperament and Behavior

Affectionate, Alert, and Sensitive

The AKC characterizes the breed as alert, playful, and sensitive [1]. Many Italian Greyhounds seek physical closeness, enjoy warm resting places, and form strong attachments. An affectionate dog can still experience fear, guarding, separation distress, handling sensitivity, or prey-related chasing. Individual assessment matters more than a breed adjective.

Sensitivity should not be used as an excuse to avoid all boundaries. Clear routines, prevention, and reinforcement teach safely without intimidation. Harsh handling can increase fear or avoidance and may make grooming, veterinary care, and house training harder.

Children

Small size does not make a dog a child’s toy. Falls, squeezing, chasing, and rough pickup can injure the dog, while any frightened or painful dog can bite. Adults should supervise actively, keep the dog’s bed and food child-free, teach children to invite rather than grab interaction, and separate whenever full supervision is unavailable.

An Italian Greyhound puppy may run quickly underfoot and can be dropped by a child trying to carry it. Children should sit on the floor for calm interaction and should not manage stairs, doors, leashes, or conflict with another pet. Household suitability depends on the actual child, adults, environment, and dog rather than a universal minimum age.

Other Dogs, Cats, and Small Animals

Some live successfully with dogs or cats, but sighthound ancestry can contribute to pursuit of rapid movement. Compatibility with one familiar cat does not prove safety with unfamiliar cats, rabbits, rodents, birds, or wildlife. Use secure leashes, physical barriers, and gradual introductions; do not stage chase tests.

Large, exuberant dogs can injure an Italian Greyhound accidentally during play. Select play partners by behavior, size, style, and ability to pause rather than assuming all friendly dogs are safe. Interrupt before speed and collisions escalate.

Reward-Based Training

The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior recommends reward-based methods for all dog training and behavior modification [9]. Food, toys, access to sniffing, warmth, play, and social contact can reinforce behavior. The effective reward is individual and context-dependent.

Teach name response, recall, loose-leash walking, waiting at doors, settling, releasing objects, and voluntary handling of feet, mouth, ears, and body. Use short sessions and achievable steps. A dog that freezes, flees, refuses food, or struggles intensely may be overwhelmed; reduce difficulty rather than escalating pressure.

Recall and Sighthound Safety

Rapid prey movement can compete powerfully with recall. Practice in enclosed spaces, add distractions gradually, and use a long line where safe. No method guarantees recall near roads or wildlife. Secure fencing and leash use remain necessary even after successful training.

A thin neck and small head can slip some collars. Fit equipment carefully and recheck as a puppy grows. A well-fitted harness or combined safety attachment may reduce escape risk, but equipment should not rub the armpits, restrict shoulder motion, or allow backing out. Do not leave a tethered dog unattended.

Separation and Velcro Behavior

Close attachment is not the same as separation anxiety. Practice brief, comfortable independence with food enrichment or rest while the owner remains nearby, then increase distance and duration gradually. Use a camera when appropriate to observe behavior.

Panic, drooling, frantic escape attempts, self-injury, sustained vocalization, destruction centered on exits, or elimination only during absence needs assessment. A crate can support safe transport and short management but does not treat panic and can worsen injury risk if a distressed dog tries to escape.

Italian Greyhound Potty Training

Why It Can Be Difficult

Owners frequently report house-training challenges, but the source packet does not establish that the breed has a unique bladder defect. Small body size, cold or wet-weather aversion, long intervals between trips, substrate preference, incomplete supervision, excitement, fear, urinary disease, and normal puppy development can all contribute.

Create a predictable schedule after waking, eating, play, and naps. Accompany the puppy to the chosen surface, wait quietly, reward immediately after elimination, and supervise or confine appropriately indoors. Clean accidents with an enzymatic product and do not punish after the event; punishment can teach the puppy to hide elimination rather than where to go.

Weather and Indoor Toileting

Warm clothing, a covered outdoor area, a cleared path, and brief frequent trips can help in rain or cold. Some owners use a consistent indoor toilet substrate, especially in high-rise or severe-weather settings. That is a management choice, not a moral failure, but consistency matters. Moving between pads, artificial turf, litter, and outdoor surfaces without a clear plan can slow learning.

When Accidents Need a Veterinarian

Straining, frequent tiny urinations, blood, pain, increased thirst, large volumes, new accidents in a trained adult, urine leakage during sleep, or systemic illness requires veterinary evaluation. Do not attribute every accident to stubbornness. Urinary infection, stones, congenital problems, endocrine disease, kidney disease, medication, and anxiety are among many possibilities.

Exercise and Enrichment

Athletic Without Forced Mileage

Italian Greyhounds often enjoy sprinting and play, but no evidence-based daily minute quota applies to every dog. Activity should reflect age, health, conditioning, weather, surface, and individual recovery. Walks, sniffing, gentle hiking, controlled play, and appropriate dog sports can all contribute.

Puppies should not be forced through distance running or repeated high jumps. Free movement on safe surfaces, exploration, play, and short training help coordination. Adults returning from injury or inactivity need gradual conditioning. Enthusiasm does not prove that bone, tendon, and muscle are prepared for a sudden workload.

Safe Indoor Movement

Use rugs or runners on slippery routes, block dangerous stair gaps, secure tall furniture launch points, and prevent frantic chase through clutter. Nail length and paw health affect traction. A ramp or step may help some dogs access furniture, but it must be stable, grippy, and trained; an unused ramp beside a high sofa does not prevent jumping.

Do not eliminate all running. Muscle, coordination, cardiovascular health, and behavioral welfare benefit from suitable activity. Risk management aims to reduce uncontrolled height and collision, not keep the dog immobile.

Leg Fractures: Prevention Without Panic

What the Evidence Can and Cannot Say

The IGCA reports leg injuries in the breed and emphasizes safety monitoring, especially in young dogs [3]. Peer-reviewed literature includes Italian Greyhound fracture case reports, including a difficult recurrent radial fracture treated with recombinant bone morphogenetic protein [8]. A case report demonstrates what can occur and how one complex patient was managed; it cannot establish a fracture rate or prove that every puppy will break a leg.

Distal radius and ulna fractures in toy dogs can be surgically challenging because the bones are small and soft-tissue coverage is limited. Treatment depends on fracture configuration, patient size and age, tissue injury, and surgeon judgment. A splint is not automatically adequate, and an online article cannot select fixation.

Practical Prevention

• Supervise puppies on furniture and stairs.
• Add traction to slippery floors and landing areas.
• Prevent jumping from arms, countertops, decks, and high beds.
• Use gates around stairwells and rail openings.
• Choose compatible play partners and interrupt high-speed body slams.
• Teach calm pickup and put-down with two-handed support.
• Maintain lean body condition and age-appropriate fitness.

There is no credible supplement that makes unsafe falls harmless. Calcium supplementation can unbalance a complete puppy diet. Bone-strength claims should be discussed with the veterinarian rather than accepted from marketing.

Signs of a Possible Fracture

Sudden non-weight-bearing lameness, swelling, deformity, severe pain, or a limb held abnormally after a fall requires prompt care. Restrict movement, support the dog in a carrier, and call the clinic. Do not repeatedly manipulate the limb, attempt to straighten it, or apply a tight home splint that can compromise circulation.

After repair, follow activity restrictions and recheck imaging instructions exactly. Removing an implant is not routine for every case; a 2023 comparative review illustrated both reasons for removal and refracture risk after removal in an Italian Greyhound example [12]. The surgeon must individualize that decision.

Cold Weather and Clothing

Short hair and limited insulating tissue make prolonged cold exposure inappropriate, according to current IGCA guidance [3]. Tolerance varies with wind, precipitation, activity, age, body condition, acclimatization, and health. No universal temperature cutoff fits every dog.

Use a well-fitted coat when conditions warrant, keep outings purposeful, dry the dog after rain or snow, and provide a warm indoor resting area. Clothing should not restrict shoulder movement, chafe thin skin, or catch during play. Shivering, slowing, lifting feet, seeking shelter, confusion, or weakness means the plan should change; severe signs need veterinary care.

Boots can protect from ice, salt, or cold surfaces when introduced gradually and fitted correctly. Wash paws after de-icing chemicals. Do not leave a clothed dog unattended near snag hazards or heat sources.

Grooming and Skin Care

The short coat usually needs modest brushing and occasional bathing based on dirt and skin health. Use dog-formulated shampoo, rinse well, and keep the dog warm while drying. Hair loss, scale, redness, odor, pustules, or persistent itching is not simply “thin Italian Greyhound skin” and needs evaluation.

Trim nails regularly to preserve traction. Teach foot handling through tiny rewarded steps. A grinding tool can heat the nail if held in one spot, and clippers can cut the quick; use good lighting and professional help if needed.

Check ears for odor, discharge, pain, or redness but do not medicate normal ears. Clean only with an appropriate product and technique recommended for that dog. Human ear medication and home mixtures can worsen disease or cause toxicity when the eardrum is damaged.

Dental Health: Start Early

Why Dental Prevention Matters

The IGCA recommends testing for familial enamel hypoplasia in breeding dogs [3]. This inherited enamel disorder is distinct from ordinary plaque and periodontal disease. A dog clear for the tested variant can still develop dental disease, fracture a tooth, or have another enamel problem.

Published Italian Greyhound dental literature includes a case of multiple tooth resorption discovered with dental radiography in a dog receiving periodontal care [7]. One case cannot establish that resorption is common in the breed, but it illustrates why disease below the gumline may be missed without radiographs.

Home and Professional Care

Begin cooperative mouth handling during puppyhood. Daily brushing with dog toothpaste is the direct home method for disrupting plaque when tolerated. Never use human toothpaste. Products accepted by the Veterinary Oral Health Council may supplement brushing, but no chew makes all dogs disease-free [11]. Avoid objects so hard that they can fracture teeth.

Bad breath, bleeding gums, loose teeth, a discolored or broken tooth, facial swelling, dropping food, or mouth pain needs evaluation. Small dogs can continue eating despite significant disease. Anesthesia-free surface cleaning cannot assess or treat periodontal pockets below the gumline and does not replace comprehensive veterinary dentistry.

Nutrition and Healthy Weight

Feed a complete and balanced diet appropriate to life stage and health. WSAVA recommends assessing manufacturer expertise, formulation, quality control, research, and nutritional-adequacy information rather than relying on ingredient-list marketing [10]. A home-prepared diet requires formulation by a qualified veterinary nutrition professional, not an improvised internet recipe.

Measure food and count training rewards. An Italian Greyhound should look lean, but visible ribs, muscle loss, weakness, or poor growth should not be romanticized as breed type. Conversely, excess fat adds load and can hide the athletic outline. Repeated body- and muscle-condition assessment is more useful than a fixed target weight.

Avoid routine calcium, vitamin, or “bone” supplements on a complete puppy diet. Sudden appetite change, vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss, difficulty chewing, or increased thirst needs evaluation.

Health Problems and Screening

Patella Evaluation

Current IGCA guidance calls for an OFA patella evaluation after 12 months of age [3]. Patellar luxation means the kneecap moves out of its normal groove, but severity and clinical impact vary. Screening a breeding dog is not the same as diagnosing every intermittent skip in a pet.

Skipping, carrying a hind limb, pain, or lameness can have orthopedic, neurologic, or paw causes. The veterinarian examines the dog and decides whether imaging or referral is needed. A normal parent result reduces uncertainty but cannot guarantee every offspring or prevent injury.

Thyroid Evaluation

The 2026 IGCA statement recommends OFA thyroid evaluation annually from ages two through four and then every two years until age eight for breeding dogs [3]. This is a breed-club screening protocol, not a schedule that every pet needs regardless of symptoms or clinical judgment.

Weight change, lethargy, skin disease, reproductive problems, or other nonspecific signs cannot diagnose hypothyroidism. Interpretation requires appropriate hormone testing in context; illness and medication can alter results.

Eye Examination, PRA, and Primary Closed-Angle Glaucoma

IGCA recommends annual ophthalmologist evaluation until age ten for breeding dogs and one-time DNA susceptibility tests for progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) and primary closed-angle glaucoma (PCAG) [3]. A DNA result describes the tested variant and does not replace examination. Susceptibility is not certainty, and “clear” is not freedom from every eye disease.

Night-vision difficulty, bumping into objects, reluctance on stairs, redness, cloudiness, squinting, rubbing, enlargement, or sudden vision loss warrants care. Acute glaucoma is painful and time-sensitive. Do not wait for the next breeder screening date when a dog is symptomatic.

Familial Enamel Hypoplasia

Familial enamel hypoplasia affects enamel formation and has a current IGCA DNA test recommendation [3]. Abnormal enamel can increase roughness, discoloration, sensitivity, and plaque retention. A veterinarian or veterinary dentist should evaluate abnormal eruption or surfaces. DNA testing helps breeding decisions; oral examination and radiography guide patient care.

Autoimmune Disease and Genetic Diversity

Pedersen and colleagues compared genetic diversity in Italian Greyhounds from the US and continental Europe and also studied 85 US dogs reported with various autoimmune disorders and 104 healthy controls [5]. Case dogs were more homozygous in dog-leukocyte-antigen regions, but no single tested haplotype explained disease risk. The authors described breed bottlenecks and popular-sire effects [5].

This does not provide an autoimmune diagnosis or predict an individual from one diversity score. “Autoimmune disease” includes distinct disorders with different signs and tests. Diversity information should support thoughtful population management, not be used to claim that one dog is immune or doomed.

Rare Reports Versus Established Breed Disease

A 2021 report described a private homozygous LAMA2 nonsense variant in one Italian Greyhound puppy with congenital muscular dystrophy [14]. The extensive clinical, pathologic, and genomic work supported causality in that dog. It does not establish population prevalence or justify calling muscular dystrophy common in Italian Greyhounds.

Likewise, case reports of portosystemic shunts, tooth resorption, or difficult fractures document clinical possibilities, not routine expectations. High-quality breed writing must preserve that distinction.

Laboratory Tests and the “Sighthound Anesthesia” Myth

A study of 63 healthy racing and retired Italian Greyhounds developed breed-specific hematologic and biochemical reference information [4]. A broader comparison of 192 dogs across eight sighthound breeds found differences and advised against applying the Greyhound profile indiscriminately to every sighthound [6]. Laboratories and clinicians should interpret results using the most appropriate validated intervals and patient context.

Online claims often say all Italian Greyhounds cannot tolerate anesthesia. The sources here do not support that absolute. Anesthetic risk depends on the dog, procedure, drugs, monitoring, temperature management, and medical status. Small lean dogs require careful dosing and thermal support, but necessary dental or surgical care should not be avoided because of an unsourced breed myth. Discuss individualized pre-anesthetic assessment and monitoring with the veterinarian.

Choosing a Breeder

Verify the current parent-club recommendations rather than accepting “fully health tested.” The 2026 statement lists patella, thyroid, ophthalmologist, PRA, PCAG, familial enamel hypoplasia, genetic-diversity, and pre-breeding brucellosis testing with specified timing [3]. Brucellosis is an infectious reproductive and zoonotic concern, not an inherited trait.

Ask for registered names or numbers and inspect independent records. Understand whether a DNA result is clear, carrier, affected, or susceptibility-based. A single broad commercial panel does not replace physical patella, serial thyroid, or ophthalmologist evaluations.

A responsible breeder also discusses leg injuries, dental health, behavior, house training, relatives, and puppy raising; matches homes honestly; uses a written contract; and accepts return of a dog it produced. Registration, a champion title, or a rare color is not a health guarantee.

Italian Greyhound Puppies: First-Year Plan

Before Arrival

Add non-slip surfaces, gate stairs, block balcony and railing gaps, lower unsafe jumping opportunities, secure medications and toxins, and obtain properly fitted equipment. Puppy-proof batteries, nicotine, cannabis, xylitol, chocolate, grapes and raisins, rodenticide, string, socks, and small chewable objects.

Book a veterinary visit and bring records. Vaccination and parasite prevention depend on age, prior care, geography, travel, and exposure. Do not blindly repeat or omit products from a generic online schedule.

Socialization

Create positive or neutral experiences with people, sounds, surfaces, travel, clothing, nail care, mouth care, and veterinary-style handling. Let the puppy retreat. Flooding a fearful puppy can sensitize rather than socialize.

Balance disease prevention and learning with veterinarian guidance. Controlled classes, known healthy dogs, clean private spaces, carried outings, and observation at a distance can provide experience without uncontrolled high-risk exposure.

Handling and Fracture Prevention

Teach adults and children to lift with one hand supporting the chest and the other supporting the rear, close to the handler’s body. Put the puppy down at floor level before it struggles. Do not carry it near a dog that may jump or startle it.

Prevent launching from furniture rather than trying to catch the puppy midair. Build calm approach to ramps or steps and supervise. Safe muscle development still matters, so provide free movement and play on suitable surfaces.

Adult and Senior Preventive Care

Routine care includes examinations based on life stage and health, locally appropriate vaccination and parasite control, dental assessment, body and muscle condition, skin and nail care, and prompt investigation of symptoms. Reproductive surgery decisions are individualized; no breed article can select timing for every dog.

Senior dogs may develop dental pain, sensory loss, arthritis, organ disease, masses, or cognitive changes. New night waking, house soiling, irritability, staring, anxiety, altered sleep, or reduced interaction is not automatically “just age.” See Senior Dog Checkup for a structured review.

The AKC’s 14–15-year estimate is a planning range, not a survival guarantee [1]. Individual lifespan varies with disease, genetics, care, environment, and chance.

Emergency and Prompt-Care Signs

Seek urgent veterinary care for:

• sudden non-weight-bearing lameness, limb deformity, major swelling, or severe pain after a fall;
• breathing difficulty, collapse, blue or very pale gums, or severe weakness;
• sudden painful eye change, marked redness, enlargement, or acute vision loss;
• prolonged or repeated seizures, inability to stand, or severe disorientation;
• repeated unproductive retching or rapidly enlarging painful abdomen;
• suspected toxin, medication, battery, string, or foreign-object ingestion;
• inability to urinate, uncontrolled bleeding, major trauma, or severe hypothermia signs.

Transport in a padded carrier when possible and call ahead. Do not straighten a suspected fracture or give human pain medication. A Dog First-Aid Kit supports safe transport but does not replace care.

Is an Italian Greyhound Right for You?

A good match accepts daily dental care, weather management, secure leashes, supervised high-speed activity, patient house training, and environmental changes that prevent falls. The household can separate the dog from unsafe play, afford emergency orthopedic or dental care, and provide affection without creating total dependence.

Reconsider if children will carry the dog unsupervised, furniture jumping cannot be managed, the dog must tolerate prolonged cold exposure, or off-leash access near roads and wildlife is expected. Apartment living can work if toileting, exercise, noise, and warmth are reliably managed. A yard does not replace interaction and must be secure.

Rescue and Adoption

Ask what is known about fractures, orthopedic implants, dental procedures, seizures, vision, house training, separation, and prey behavior. Obtain records where possible. A rescue assessment is a snapshot, not a guarantee, and behavior may change after decompression.

Prepare secure equipment and a low-demand transition. Do not immediately test recall, stairs, tall furniture, or cat safety. A reputable organization distinguishes known facts from uncertainty and offers return or post-adoption support.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Italian Greyhounds fragile?

They are fine-boned and leg fractures are a real safety concern, especially with falls and collisions, but they still need appropriate exercise and muscle development. Manage height, traction, play partners, and handling without keeping the dog inactive.

Are Italian Greyhounds hard to potty train?

Some owners find house training difficult, particularly in cold or wet weather. Frequent scheduled trips, immediate rewards, close supervision, a consistent substrate, warmth, and medical evaluation for abnormal urination are more effective than punishment.

How much exercise does an Italian Greyhound need?

No universal minute quota exists. Provide daily walks, play, sniffing, training, and opportunities for safe running adjusted to age, health, surface, weather, and conditioning. Avoid forced mileage and uncontrolled high jumps in puppies.

Can Italian Greyhounds live with children?

Some do successfully, but active adult supervision and separation are essential. Children should not carry, chase, squeeze, or manage the dog near stairs or doors. The individual child, adults, environment, and dog determine fit.

Do Italian Greyhounds need clothes?

Many benefit from well-fitted clothing in cold or wet conditions because the coat is short and insulating tissue is limited [3]. Clothing does not replace limiting exposure and providing warm shelter.

What health tests should the parents have?

Current 2026 IGCA guidance includes patella, thyroid, and ophthalmologist evaluations plus breeder tests for PRA, PCAG, familial enamel hypoplasia, genetic diversity, and brucellosis before breeding [3]. Verify current independent results.

Are Italian Greyhounds unsafe under anesthesia?

No evidence here supports a universal prohibition. Risk is individualized. Breed-appropriate laboratory interpretation, accurate dosing, temperature support, monitoring, and the dog’s medical status matter. Necessary care should be planned with the veterinarian, not avoided because of an internet absolute.

How long do Italian Greyhounds live?

AKC estimates 14–15 years [1]. It is a planning range rather than a guarantee or a breed-specific life-table result.

Related Veterinary Guides

• Dog First-Aid Kit
• Senior Dog Checkup
• Why Is My Dog Limping?
• How to Choose Dog Collar Width
• Enrichment Games for High-Energy Dogs

References

[1] American Kennel Club. Italian Greyhound Dog Breed Information. https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/italian-greyhound/

[2] American Kennel Club. Official Standard of the Italian Greyhound. https://images.akc.org/pdf/breeds/standards/ItalianGreyhound.pdf

[3] Italian Greyhound Club of America. Health Testing Recommendations, approved February 16, 2026. https://www.akc.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Health-Statement-Italian-Greyhound-Club-of-America-2026-Final.pdf

[4] Scarpa P, Ruggerone B, Gironi S, et al. Haematological and biochemical reference intervals in healthy racing and retired Italian Greyhounds. Acta Veterinaria Hungarica. 2020. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32384058/

[5] Pedersen NC, Liu H, Leonard A, Griffioen L. A search for genetic diversity among Italian Greyhounds from Continental Europe and the USA and the effect of inbreeding on susceptibility to autoimmune disease. Canine Genetics and Epidemiology. 2015;2:17. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26526059/

[6] Uhríková I, Lačňáková A, Tandlerová K, et al. Haematological and biochemical variations among eight sighthound breeds. Australian Veterinary Journal. 2014;92:72–81. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24571299/

[7] Roux P, Stich H, Schawalder P. Multiple tooth resorption in an Italian Greyhound. Schweizer Archiv für Tierheilkunde. 2011;153:281–286. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21638265/

[8] Bernard F, Furneaux R, Adrega Da Silva C, Bardet JF. Treatment with rhBMP-2 of extreme radial bone atrophy secondary to fracture management in an Italian Greyhound. Veterinary and Comparative Orthopaedics and Traumatology. 2008;21:64–68. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18288346/

[9] American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior. Humane Dog Training Position Statement. https://avsab.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/AVSAB-Humane-Dog-Training-Position-Statement-2021.pdf

[10] World Small Animal Veterinary Association. Guidelines on Selecting Pet Foods. https://wsava.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Selecting-a-pet-food-for-your-pet-updated-2021_WSAVA-Global-Nutrition-Toolkit.pdf

[11] Veterinary Oral Health Council. Accepted Products for Dogs. https://vohc.org/accepted-products/

[12] Reiter AM, et al. Indications for the removal of implants after fracture healing: A comparison between human and veterinary medicine. 2023. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37982051/

[13] American Kennel Club. Italian Greyhound vs. Whippet: How to Tell the Difference. https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/dog-breeds/whippet-vs-italian-greyhound/

[14] Christen M, Indzhova V, Guo LT, et al. LAMA2 nonsense variant in an Italian Greyhound with congenital muscular dystrophy. Genes. 2021;12:1823. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34828429/