Welcome to your new greyhound
So you’re bringing a greyhound home, welcome to the cult! We’re kidding, but also you really are about to embark on a whole new chapter.
But luckily, you won’t be doing it alone. This guide has been put together by the Houndy Helpers team, each of whom has at some point been in your exact position, welcoming a noodle horse into their home for the first time and wondering where on earth to start.
We know the questions we get asked frequently, what we were told, what we wish we were told, and if none of this fits your query then please don’t hesitate to get in touch, it’s what we’re here for.
Parts of your hound
There’s no denying greyhounds are a bit different to a lot of other dogs (see: LONG) so understanding how your hound differs physically can help you.
Coat
Greyhounds’ coats tend to be extremely soft. It may have been your first comment upon patting one and it will be the first comment from many a stranger in your future.
While they’re short haired and don’t require ‘grooming’ - brushing your hounds coat can alleviate the worst of the shedding and keep them in top condition. A rubber mit or brush is best on their sensitive skin.
Balding: It’s very common for hounds to have balding on their hind legs, thighs, tummy and chest. Some even call it GPB: ‘Greyhound Pattern Baldness’. This may grow in over time, and it may not, but don’t worry, it’s very normal.
Fluffy: Many hounds will come to you with ‘kennel coat’. This is a fluffier, denser coat that a lot of dogs (not just hounds) develop when they spend a lot of time living in kennel conditions. You may notice a lot of molting in the first few weeks as they shed this. Their new coat will usually be shinier and smoother.
Dandruff: Dandruff is common in hounds. Some find this is more common after a bath, others find it means it's time for their hounds bath! Either way, the most commonly recommended remedy is classic coconut oil. More info on this (Page X)
Hypoallergenic: A common myth, which you’ll likely work out quickly once you find their special confetti on your clothes. While they aren’t hypoallergenic, they are less likely to trigger allergies as they don’t have an undercoat.
Skin
Greyhounds have very thin skin! This means they are more prone to cuts and tears. It also means that if the sunlight hits them just right, they have a funny see-through ‘window’ on their back legs where you can see glowing red veins!
Greyhound owner fun tip: The softest skin on your greyhound is the blobby bit that feels like a Blancmange between their front legs. In time, this may become your chosen stress-ball.
Eyes
Caution: Your hound will use these as weapons to lovingly stare into your soul and hypnotise you into feeding them cheese.
Pannus is a condition that some hounds have. It’s very manageable with eye-drops (and very cool sunglasses for some hounds to prevent further UV degradation). It’s also called ‘Chronic Superficial Keratitis’ and it affects the cornea. It will first be seen as a cloudy or pink spot on the side ‘whites’ of their eyes. From this, it can become darker and larger and can cause blindness if not managed in the long term. This condition is also common in German Shepherds.
Teeth
With great snoot comes great responsibility… in dental form. Greyhounds are known to have bad teeth. It comes with the territory for dogs with longer palates, but it’s also genetic. Expect to go for yearly dentals with an experienced vet (more on this in Surgery & Anaesthesia), but you can manage between these with various tools and techniques.
Body
People sometimes struggle to ascertain what a healthy weight is for a greyhound, given their naturally slim build. Whereas on a lot of dogs, several visible ribs would be a worry, it’s a sign of a healthy hound. A little spine and hip protrusion is fine too, but not too much!
Heart
Greyhounds have larger hearts than a lot of other breeds. They tend to be around 10-15% bigger than other dogs of similar size. If a vet is not particularly versed in the breed, it can alarm them at first! This is due to their ‘sprint’ anatomy, the bigger heart allows faster and stronger blood pumping to get that speed they’re known for. (We also reckon it means they have extra love!)
Blood
Greyhounds have great blood! They’re universal donors, matching most other dogs. A high percentage of them have “DEA 1.1 negative” blood that’s naturally higher in red blood cells, hemoglobin, hematocrit, total protein, and creatinine than other breeds. It’s like blood concentrate!
Occasionally, we’ll post on our pages when there’s an urgent case at a vet and they’ve reached out for donors in their area. They love getting hounds in as not only is it a likely match, but hounds tend to be used to handling and so behave beautifully (and of course are usually rewarded for their efforts!)
But one of things that makes them excellent donors - their reduced ability to clot - can make some surgeries a little more risky. A vet with greyhound experience will mostly likely be prepared to use transexamic acid during surgery to increase clot strength and make sure there are fewer issues with prolonged bleeding. If you’re worried, it’s okay to discuss this with your vet before the procedure. See 'Clotting' below.
Tummy
Greyhounds are sensitive in nature, and often in tummy too. Try to stay consistent on food, as tummy upsets can have…uncomfortable consequences for all parties involved. If your hound is a more sensitive one then smaller meals 2-3 times a day as opposed to bigger ones 1-2 times a day should help. Avoid exercise after eating.
Paws
Greyhounds have weird feet. They’re lovely, like every other part of them, but they are definitely different. Like most other ‘different’ parts of their anatomy, it’s down to being speedy. Their feet are longer and narrower than most breeds, with the 4 toe pads almost stacked in a grid in front of the main pad. If you’re a fan of the ‘frito foot’ phenomenon, rest assured, this weird shape doesn’t affect their frito factories.
Corns are common in hounds due to limited padding and high-pressure (you’ll know what this means as soon as one point-load stands on your leg to get closer to a snack). Corns are painful for your hound, and should be examined by a vet ASAP. There are lots of greyhound-specific shoes to help prevent them. (Hunnyboots and Snooties Booties being two of the popular ones.)
Common Health Concerns
Greyhounds are one of the oldest dog breeds in the world, and have largely been bred for performance over looks so thankfully, they are quite healthy as far as purebred dogs go. This does not mean, however, that they are exempt from health conditions and some do tend to turn up as a predisposition.
Pannus
Pannus is a chronic progressive disease of the canine cornea that can lead to blindness if it’s not treated. Thankfully, it is very treatable with eye drops.
Also called “Chronic Superficial Keratitis” it will most often be diagnosed between 2-5 years of age. It’s an auto-immune disease, so the cause is coming from inside the body rather than a pathogen.
If your hound has Pannus, you have not done something wrong. It is genetically inherited, and is more common in certain bloodlines and breeds. It’s actually most common in German Shepherds, but has a more notable presence in Collies, Poodles, Dachshunds and Greyhounds as well.
Pannus will first start as a milky or pink raised lesion on the whites of your dogs eyes (most usually toward the outer sides of their head,) but will most likely be noticed a bit later when those lesions start to darken, flatten and look like ‘freckles’. The third eyelid can appear inflamed too.
As it progresses, the brown pigment ‘spreads’ more over the surface of the eyes or could develop a greyish pink ‘scar-tissue’. If you look closely, you might even see small blood vessels growing onto the eye surface.
While it’s not curable, eye drops can significantly slow the progression of the disease, and are given daily. You can also protect the hounds eyes from flare-ups and irritation by getting them some (extremely cool) sunglasses (RexSpecs and Doggles are two well-known makers.)
Oral Hygiene
Listen, everyone’s gotta have a flaw, and for greyhounds, that’s their teeth. Expect stinky breath and tartar build up, but stave it off as long as possible with a variety of techniques;
- Brushing. You can get finger brushes if you prefer, as well as meat-flavoured enzymic toothpaste. Delicious, we know…
- Dental treats like greenies, frozen veggies, or frozen chicken necks
- Dental-specific kibble types
- Enzymic additives for their water
Corns
Corns, (AKA Paw Pad Keratoma) are small, hard and very painful growths that can form on your hounds paw pads. They are dense spots of keratin overgrowth that become almost conical in shape. Imagine a sharp little stone or a lego in your shoe, except you can’t take it off.
Corns are common in greyhounds due to their anatomy. What makes them fast and efficient also makes them more prone to forming them than other breeds.
Greyhounds have what’s referred to as a ‘hare foot’ shape - much longer and less padded than other dogs' feet. The lack of padding and the pressure this creates can form corns.
If you notice your hound limping, licking or if their paw pads appear irritated or swollen, this can be indicative of a corn and you should get them to a vet.
Corns can be removed by the vet (by either hulling, surgery, topical medications or foot soaks), and pain relief can be implemented, but you can also work preventatively. Supportive boots that add ‘padding’ are a fashion-forward and very effective way to prevent them. Hunny Boots and Snooties
Booties are two well-known hound-specific brands but there are many online corners that offer options.
Osteosarcoma
Nobody likes the ‘C’ word, but unfortunately it has to be addressed. Osteosarcoma (or OSA) is a bone cancer that greyhounds have a higher risk of than other breeds. It is the most common bone cancer in greyhounds.
It will usually manifest as an aggressive, painful tumor in their limbs. Watch for sudden lameness, swelling, or lethargy (more than their signature leisurely napping). Vets will be able to diagnose using X-ray usually as it has a distinct ‘moth-eaten’ appearance.
While treatment options are available, it’s a very serious diagnosis. Amputation or aggressive therapy are the common approaches and can be effective in prolonging their lives, but not guaranteed.
Early diagnosis will always yield better results, so knowing your hounds’ ‘normal’ is the best defense.
Acidosis
‘Acidosis’ (also known as 'Tied-Up or Exertional Rhabdomyolysis) is a non-chronic condition that can pop up in greyhounds when they exercise too hard and too fast. Think about how sore your muscles get after you spend a weekend cleaning too hard after the age of 25… then times that by ten.
Lactic acid can build up in the muscles following strenuous exercise and since hounds are sprint animals with chunky athlete thighs, it can build up significantly. No slow ease ins for them when the zoomie bug kicks in! It’s thought that potassium deficiency plays a role in this too. (Same reason you eat a banana when you get cramps.)
Symptoms can include:
- painful muscle stiffness
- cramping
- reluctance to move or inability to settle
- excessive licking, either be on themselves where they’re sore, or on other things because they’re getting heartburn due to the acid.
- dark urine.
If your hound does any intense zoomies, particularly if they’ve been living the pet life for a while, you can try to encourage a little walk afterwards to slowly move the acid through their systems and ensure they’re getting a full and complete diet with sufficient potassium.
If your hound does get Acidosis, rest and hydration with lukewarm (not cold) water are the best aids, and you can also place a wet, cool towel on them. If you’re concerned or think it may be severe, then you should see a vet to administer urgent fluids and electrolytes immediately. (Don’t give your hound Powerade, please.)
Fibrinolytic syndrome
If you type “fibrinoly…” into google, it auto fills the rest in with “...tic syndrome greyhounds,” so clearly as far as diagnoses go this is one that is heavily associated with our sweet hounds. In fact it’s thought that around 30% of greyhounds have it!
Basically, their blood clots break down too quickly. It can cause complications post surgery, or even after accidents or play. It means it can cause delayed bleeding after surgery or tooth extractions or dramatic, dark bruising. We cover the precautions little bit further in our Anaesthesia: Clotting section below.
Twisted Gut/Bloat (GVD)
If you suspect your greyhound is experiencing Twisted Gut, this is a medical emergency. Contact your vet now.
As a deep-chested breed, greyhounds can be prone to a condition called Gastric Dilatation Volvulus, more commonly known by its more descriptive names Twisted Gut, or simply Bloat. Unfortunately, at first it can be easily dismissed as indigestion or other stomach upset but can go south very quickly without fast, usually surgical intervention from your vet.
The causes of Twisted Gut aren’t very clear but it’s believed eating too quickly, eating too much in one sitting, or exercising vigorously straight after a meal can be causes, though it can still occur without these factors.
Just like you or I, your greyhound can get gassy or bloated but if your dog’s stomach gets too gassy, it can cause it to press on their internal organs. If this continues, it will eventually cause their whole stomach to begin twisting, sealing off the entrance and exit to the stomach and cutting off blood supply to their other organs, including the heart.
Some symptoms to keep an eye out for include:
- A hard, bloated belly
- Unproductive retching
- Panting, lip licking
- Restlessness
- Drooling
- Pale gums/tongue
If you notice these symptoms, it is important that you get in touch with a vet immediately as you are looking at a timeline of only a couple of hours to get help. This is not a condition that can be treated at home, so its best not to wait and see if it resolves on its own.
As mentioned, the causes of GVD are not clear but some things you can do to reduce the risk include:
- A slow-feeder bowl if your greyhound likes to gulp down their food
- Spread feeding throughout the day to two or three smaller meals
- Encouraging drinking less water but more often
- Avoiding vigorous exercise for an hour after meals, make sure they ‘rest and digest’
- Make meal times a haven of calm; stressed eaters are more prone to GDV.
Choosing a vet
As you have probably gathered by now, greyhounds have a lot of physiological differences to other breeds of dog. This is why it’s recommended that you build a relationship with a vet that you trust and who knows greyhound bodies. Asking in the Houndy Helpers online communities is one of the best ways to find one in your area.
After Hours Vet services
As much as we don't like to think about it, or feel like we're tempting fate, accidents do happen and not always during your regular vet's opening hours. Taking a bit of time to prepare can make all the difference. This can be as simple as making sure you're aware of the after hour vet services in your area and where they're located.
As most emergency vet clinics like you to call ahead, it can be a good idea to keep some numbers in your phone in case you need to call en route. There's nothing worse than searching the net on your mobile when you're verging on panic mode over your baby!
Luckily, most emergency vets and vet nurses have a fairly solid understanding of greyhound physiology, so you'll be in safe hands once you get there. While they do turn out to be more expensive than standard vets, they should be clear about what course of treatment they recommend and an approximate cost before they start. If you’re not sure about either, it’s okay to ask for clarification.
And don't forget, they frequently see people and animals at their lowest; if you need to take a minute to breathe or cry (or both), they know how to give you all the space and kindness you need.
Plant safety
Greyhounds and plants are a great match but not all combinations are necessarily safe. It's a good idea to check what plants are around and whether they could be a problem if a certain long snoot has a nibble. Greyhound Factheet #1 - Plants includes various common plants to look out for and what symptoms they may cause. Available to download here.
Surgery & anaesthesia
Touched on briefly in the ‘blood’ section earlier, anaesthesia is a bit different - and a bit more risky - in hounds. It’s good to discuss with your vet prior to any medical procedures to ensure they’re versed in greyhounds unique anatomy.
Barbiturates (Sleepy drugs)
Barbiturates are sedative medications commonly used by vets in anaesthesia, but greyhounds lack the right enzyme activity in the liver to metabolise them the way other breeds do. This means that alternative sedation methods like propofol or alfaxalone and inhalation gases are often used over the traditional, older barbiturate methods.
Barbiturates (thiopentone) are usually injected intravenously, and after a time they dissipate and distribute to the animals’ muscles, fat and liver. Greyhounds’ famously low body fat and the lowered liver activity (Cytochrome P450 enzymes to be precise which are 2-3 times lower than other breeds), means that the drug takes longer to metabolise, leading to a longer, rougher recovery time with elevated risks for other post-operative complications and drug interactions.
As the thiopentone binds to the proteins, there will be higher, active levels of the anaesthetic throughout their body. Post-operatively, pain management is often in the form of NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs). These are similar to paracetamol or ibuprofen for humans, but are also protein bound. As they take effect, they can displace the remaining barbiturates from the proteins which in turn, increases their plasma concentration and reamplifies the anaesthetic effect.
Post-Operative Hyperthermia
Our sweet, sensitive snoots can be a little highly-strung sometimes which can lead to Post-operative hyperthermia. Sometimes mistaken for Malignant Hyperthermia (also possible but much less common), post-operative hyperthermia is characterized by body-temperature spikes as they come out of anesthesia and become stressed. As they stress, their muscular physique starts to produce excess heat. Vets can alleviate this with certain medications and active cooling measures (fans, cool compresses etc.)
Malignant Hyperthermia
Note that this is rare, but is a known genetic hereditary disorder known in greyhounds. It happens in response to inhaled anesthetics and causes sudden muscle rigidity, very high temperature spikes (over 41 degrees), tachycardia, excess CO2 production and acidosis due to uncontrolled calcium release in muscles. It is fatal if left untreated BUT it is very treatable with active cooling measures and the right counteractive pharmaceuticals.
Clotting
… Or the lack thereof. The properties that make greyhounds excellent blood donors also make them tricky patients. While they have higher red blood cells (yay!) they have less white blood cells and platelets. White blood cells help to fight infection, while platelets are essential for creating clots.
Some greyhounds will be fine following surgery, though some will have blood-related complications because of this. It can show as severe bruising, bleeding (either external or internal), which can require intervention.
Scary - but manageable if the vet knows what to watch for. It’s thought that greyhounds that suffer from this ‘enhanced fibrinolysis’ do actually form clots, but due to the low platelets those clots break down too quickly. Cyklokapron or tranexamic acid is the drug that many greyhound-savvy vets choose to aid their houndy patients. Some vet practices don’t have this in stock at all times though, so it's a worthy conversation point prior to any surgeries.
If you’re interested in more in depth reading material on these medical considerations, we recommend these resources from the experts.
Disclaimer: Greyhound 101 is a peer support resource. The advice given in this section is based on our and our community members' lived experience of greyhound ownership. It should not replace professional advice and veterinary care should always be sought if you have any concerns.
Next section: Grooming & Common questions >
