We’ve seen them in film, on the track, in stories, and in history books. We’ve heard about their incredible speed and stamina on the track, their love of hunting with our ancestors, and how they make fantastic pets at home. The Greyhound is one of the world’s most popular dogs, and as their day on the racecourse comes to a close in many countries, that doesn’t mean that they will stop being wonderful companions.
Like with any dog breed, Greyhounds need a certain amount of love and attention, and like any breed, they have their share of health problems. The Greyhound tends to be an overall healthy dog, and doesn’t suffer from many of the genetic problems that many other breeds are born with.
Looking after your new Greyhound, whether it’s an older dog or a new puppy is generally quite easy, but there are some concerns that you will always need to keep in the back of your head, especially as they become older.
Adopting An Ex Racer
Many countries around the planet are putting an end to Greyhound racing as a whole. It has lost its popularity with the crowds, and many believe that the sport is cruel to the dogs. This also means that are more ex-racer hounds up for adoption than ever before, and because their previous racing life was quite physically-intensive, they may have suffered some injuries.
It’s not that different from adopting an ex-racing horse, and if you’re clued up with your horse racing tips, you’ll know what to look out for in your animal. Some of the more prevalent conditions that will affect an older race dog include protozoan disease, Lyme disease, worms, dental problems, osteoarthritis, and intervertebral disk disease. Almost all of these conditions warrant a trip to the vet, and while some of them are lifelong for the animal, their symptoms can be lessened to a degree.
Common Greyhound Ailments
As a breed, the Greyhound does have a predilection to some problems. One of these is cancer; specifically bone cancer, which is very common in many greyhounds. This is a serious disease that can quickly kill a dog, so it’s important that they have regular check-ups at the vet.
Some of the symptoms include an extreme increase in hunger, the dog losing lots of weight, and lameness in one or more of the legs. This requires a trip to the vet as soon as possible, where they will issue a bone biopsy to check if the animal has developed any bone cancer.
Another common problem is a gastrointestinal syndrome, most commonly referred to as bloat. This is almost always an emergency, and getting your hound to a vet is extremely important, as otherwise it can kill the dog in a matter of hours. Symptoms include not eating, not drinking, pacing around as if in pain, and wincing if you attempt to touch the dog.
Greyhounds – Faithful Companions
Despite some of the issues these dogs may suffer over their lifetimes, they are sweet, energetic, loving companions who deserve a home as much as the next dog, especially the ones that spent most of their life being on the racetrack.