Italian Greyhound 101- Dog Breed Info

Aug 31st 2010

Dog Breed: Italian Greyhound, aka IG

Personality: "IGs are homebodies and bed warmers first," says Lynette Coyner, corresponding secretary of the Italian Greyhound Club of America, "but do enjoy car rides, outings and even hiking. They are very affectionate and need their owners to return their affection. They can be wary of strangers and large dogs but are devoted to their owners and families." Not only are they highly attuned to their owners, IGs are also notably "playful and intelligent," according to the American Kennel Club.

Grooming: Because of their super-short hair, coat grooming is rarely an issue for IGs. Dental hygiene for this breed, however, does take up more time. "IGs are notorious for losing teeth at a young age due to gum recession and bad tartar build up," Coyner explains. "Brushing their teeth every day and yearly dental visits at your veterinarian's will help your Italian greyhound keep his or her teeth longer."

Common Health Issues: Besides the aforementioned dental problems, IGs carry increased risks of a number of unusual health concerns. For example, broken leg and tail bones are a heightened risk, Coyner says:. "Since the tail is long, thin and fine-boned, an excited IG wagging its tail against a wall or other hard surfaces can result in a broken tail." Because of the breed's slight build and fine coat, frostbite may also be a problem depending on where you live.

IGs are also prone to suffering from progressive retinal atrophy. However, unique to this breed, it can sometimes lead to blindness at an age as young as 2 years. Cataracts, epilepsy, hypothyroidism and other autoimmune diseases may also occur. For these types of conditions, the best prevention that Coyner recommends is "purchasing an Italian greyhound from a careful, responsible and knowledgeable breeder who does health testing on the sire and dam before breeding."