Christchurch Greyhound Services

The greyhound is an elegant and gentle breed for the most part. They have been bred for short bursts of high speed running, they have a strong prey drive and are known to chase moving objects, which is why they are used for racing. A racing greyhound is an amazing animal athlete! They also make great companion animals, and many retired greyhounds are happy as wonderful pets.

Greyhounds do well with humans and many other animals but due to their instinct to chase and kill, care needs to be taken around smaller animals.  Greyhounds need regular exercise so a daily walk is recommended, even better if you have access to an off leash area where they can run freely. They have short fur and range in colour from black through reds, blues, parti-colours and brindles to pure white. This means they also require minimal grooming. Their lifespan is around 10 to 14 years old.

Some health concerns with Greyhounds include:

• Limb fractures (due to high speed running mostly)
• Corns
• Dental disease
• Hypothyroidism
• Tail injuries
• Malignant hyperthermia
• Greyhound Neuropathy
• Degenerative myelopathy
• Progressive retinal atrophy
• Primary lens luxation

Other less common diseases and conditions include:

• Hyperhomocysteinaemia
• Hypertension
• Onchodystrophy
• Thigh baldness
• Polyarthritis
• Meningoencephalitis
• Growth plate fractures
• Ischaemic stroke
• Osteosarcoma
• Cutaneous haemangiosarcoma
• Chronic superficial keratitis (pannus)
• Von Willebrand’s Disease
• Hyperthermia and rigid paralysis after exercise
• Cutaneous vasculopathy

For breeders, some of these conditions can be detected with DNA testing. Please speak with our vets if you would like to know more about this or have any other questions about your current or future planned greyhound(s).