A smiling Greyhound in a field of dandelions

Hound

Type

10 - 14 years

Lifespan

Large

Size

29 - 32 kg

Weight

68 - 76 cm

Height

Gentle, athletic, quiet

Temperament

40 - 60 mins per day

Exercise

Low maintenance

Grooming

Grey and white Greyhound sitting in front of a white sofa

Greyhound Insurance, Care and Health Advice

Originally bred as hunting dogs, Greyhounds have a surprisingly soft-hearted nature. They might be the fastest breed in the world &ndash; but when they&rsquo;re not racing through fields, they love snuggling up on the sofa with their owners. If you&rsquo;re looking for an affectionate and friendly pet to cuddle on a rainy Sunday, a Greyhound might be the best option for you.

<ul>
	<li>Vetstream ltd (online) Greyhound. In: Vetlexicon Canis. Vetstream Ltd, UK. Website: <a href="https://vetstream.com/treat/canis/breeds-pages/greyhound " target="_blank" title="Link to Vetstream's greyhound dog page">https://vetstream.com/treat/canis/breeds-pages/greyhound&nbsp;</a></li>
	<li>Feldman B, Knottenbelt C &amp; Seth M (online) Von Willebrand&rsquo;s disease. In: Vetlexicon Canis. Vetstream Ltd, UK. Website: <a href="https://vetstream.com/treat/canis/diseases/von-willebrand-apos;s-disease " target="_blank" title="Link to Vetstream's dog von-willebrands disease page">https://vetstream.com/treat/canis/diseases/von-willebrand-apos;s-disease&nbsp;</a></li>
	<li>Vetstream Ltd (online) Von Willebrand&rsquo;s disease (VWD). In: Vetlexicon Canis. Vetstream Ltd, UK. Website: <a href="https://vetstream.com/clinical-reference/canis/owner-factsheets/von-willebrand-s-disease-(vwd) " target="_blank" title="Link to Vetstream's dog von willebrands disease factsheet">https://vetstream.com/clinical-reference/canis/owner-factsheets/von-willebrand-s-disease-(vwd)&nbsp;</a></li>
	<li>Ludwig L (online) Stomach: gastric dilatation/volvulus (GDV) syndrome. In: Vetlexicon Canis. Vetstream Ltd, UK. Website: <a href="https://www.vetstream.com/treat/canis/diseases/stomach-gastric-dilatation-volvulus-(gdv)-syndrome " target="_blank" title="Link to Vetstream's dog stomach gastric dilatation volvulus page">https://www.vetstream.com/treat/canis/diseases/stomach-gastric-dilatation-volvulus-(gdv)-syndrome&nbsp;</a></li>
	<li>Vetstream Ltd (online) Bloat (gastric dilation). In: Vetlexicon Canis. Vetstream Ltd, UK. Website: <a href="https://vetstream.com/clinical-reference/canis/owner-factsheets/von-willebrand-s-disease-(vwd) " target="_blank" title="Link to Vetstream's dog von willebrands disease page">https://vetstream.com/clinical-reference/canis/owner-factsheets/von-willebrand-s-disease-(vwd)&nbsp;</a></li>
	<li>Vetstream Ltd (online) Arthritis In: Vetlexicon Canis. Vetstream Ltd, UK. Website: <a href="https://www.vetstream.com/treat/canis/owner-factsheets/arthritis" target="_blank" title="Link to Vetstream's dog arthritis factsheet">https://www.vetstream.com/treat/canis/owner-factsheets/arthritis</a></li>
	<li>Pead M (online) Arthritis: overview. In: Vetlexicon Canis. Vetstream Ltd, UK. Website: <a href="https://www.vetstream.com/treat/canis/freeform/arthritis-overview" target="_blank" title="Link to Vetstream's dog arthritis overview">https://www.vetstream.com/treat/canis/freeform/arthritis-overview</a></li>
	<li>Brooks D E, Williams D L &amp; Mitchell N (online) Chronic superficial keratitis. In: Vetlexicon Canis. Vetstream Ltd, UK. Website: <a href="https://www.vetstream.com/treat/canis/diseases/chronic-superficial-keratitis" target="_blank" title="Link to Vetstream's dog chronic superficial keratitis page">https://www.vetstream.com/treat/canis/diseases/chronic-superficial-keratitis</a></li>
</ul>

Content provided from&nbsp;<a href="https://www.vetstream.com/treat/canis" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Link to vet experts Vetstream's website">Vetstream&#39;s Vetlexicon Canis</a>

Vetlexicon is the world&rsquo;s largest peer-reviewed online clinical reference source. All our content is written and peer-reviewed by over 1,000 of the world&rsquo;s leading veterinarians, ensuring relevance, accuracy and quality.

Greyhounds can initially be shy and cautious, but once they open up they&rsquo;re an incredibly loyal and loving pet. They also have a thin coat and are not prone to barking, making them the perfect low-maintenance and low-volume companion.

They are friendly and affectionate, with a calm demeanour that works well in households with small children. They also love being around other dogs. However, they do have a natural instinct to hunt prey, so may take slightly longer to adjust around smaller pets.

Greyhounds are sensitive dogs, and can take a while to warm up to new people. But once they do, they&rsquo;re companions for life.

Greyhounds can initially be shy and cautious, but once they open up they&rsquo;re an incredibly loyal and loving pet. They also have a thin coat and are not <a href="/all-things-pet/how-to-stop-dog-barking-in-5-easy-steps" title="Link to Everypaw's article on how to stop your dog barking">prone to barking</a>, making them the perfect low-maintenance and low-volume companion.

They are friendly and affectionate, with a calm demeanour that works well in households with small children. They also love being around other dogs. However, they do have a natural instinct to hunt prey, so may take slightly longer to adjust around smaller pets.

Greyhounds are sensitive dogs, and can take a while to warm up to new people. But once they do, they&rsquo;re companions for life.

Greyhound <a href="/puppy-insurance" title="Link to Everypaw's Puppy Insurance page">puppies are a handful</a>. They have a lot of energy and do everything at super fast speed. In their first few months they can be like a hurricane, sweeping through the place and causing chaos. They can be destructive with their chewing so don&rsquo;t leave your puppy unattended for long. But don&rsquo;t worry, they soon calm down and unexpectedly become a quiet couch potato, as long as they are <a href="/all-things-pet/the-dog-exercise-guide" title="Link to Everypaw's Dg Exercise Guide">getting the exercise they need</a> outside.

A Greyhound dog standing alert in a field

Greyhounds are generally independent dogs &ndash; great for working couples or busy families. Greyhounds generally have a gentle temperament and are among the least vocal dog breeds. While they do require plenty of exercise to burn off their high energy levels, they also love to curl up next to you and doze the afternoon away.&nbsp;

Greyhounds aren&rsquo;t known for being greedy, but they can become competitive if fed with other dogs. Your dog will need feeding 1-2 times a day, twice is ideal to help prevent their stomach from twisting (known as GDV &ndash; more information given below). If your dog is a retired Greyhound it will be used to a strict feeding routine, which you should continue with to make their transition into your home easier.

If you are unsure of how much to feed your dog, there are feeding guidelines on the back of the food packaging. What type and brand of food you feed is your decision but check with your vet if you are unsure about nutritional content.

While Greyhounds do shed fur, it&rsquo;s generally only a small amount &ndash; but they still benefit from weekly brushing. With their fur being so short, Greyhounds tend to pick up less dirt and debris than other dogs. This means their coat stays cleaner for longer.

Greyhounds tend to have poor dental health , so would <a href="/all-things-pet/dog-dental-care-tips" title="Link to Everypaw's guide to cleaning your dog's teeth">benefit from regular brushing</a> to reduce tartar build-up.&nbsp;

Greyhounds are highly intelligent dogs, which means they pick up training fairly easily. However, they are also sensitive and easily startled, so patience and reassurance are important.

You&rsquo;ll need to give your Greyhound 40-60 minutes of exercise daily - they prefer to have this time split up so that they get a few shorter runs in a day.

Greyhounds can struggle in colder climates so might benefit from a jacket during those <a href="/all-things-pet/guide-to-dog-walking" title="Link to Everypaw's guide to dog walking">winter walks</a>.

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Greyhounds may be fleet of foot, but that doesn&rsquo;t mean they&rsquo;re any less prone to picking up the odd bump or bruise, or falling ill. For times like that, having your Greyhound covered with <a href="/Home/dog-insurance.html">Everypaw&rsquo;s Greyhound Insurance</a>, could be a saving grace.

Our Lifetime Greyhound Insurance might come in handy for any new illnesses and any bumps and bruises that happen along the way.&nbsp;

Greyhounds may be fleet of foot, but that doesn&rsquo;t mean they&rsquo;re any less prone to picking up the odd bump or bruise, or falling ill. For times like that, having your Greyhound covered with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.everypaw.com/dog-insurance">Everypaw&rsquo;s Greyhound Insurance</a>, could be a saving grace.

Our Lifetime Greyhound Insurance might come in handy for any new illnesses and any bumps and bruises that happen along the way.&nbsp;

That's All You Need to Know About Greyhounds

This is a super-fast, energetic <a href="/dog-insurance/dog-breed-guides" title="Link to Everypaw's Dog Breed Guides">dog breed</a> that will get you out and about. They&rsquo;ll amaze you with their speed and agility, but what will surprise you the most is how easy going they are at home. Expect to find your Greyhound sleeping soundly for most of the day, and then watch them fly around the place when on a walk. &nbsp;

This is a super-fast, energetic <a href="/dog-insurance/dog-breed-guides" title="Link to Everypaw's Dog Breed Guides">dog breed</a> that will get you out and about. They&rsquo;ll amaze you with their speed and agility, but what will surprise you the most is how easy going they are at home. Expect to find your Greyhound sleeping soundly for most of the day, and then watch them fly around the place <a href="/all-things-pet/guide-to-dog-walking" title="Link to Everypaw's Dog Walking Guide">when on a walk</a>. &nbsp;

Von Willebrand&rsquo;s factor is a protein that helps cells stick together to form a normal blood clot in the body. VWD is when there is a reduced number of this factor meaning that the blood doesn&rsquo;t clot well. Affected dogs should not be bred from because it is an inherited disease.

Dogs with VWD are prone to bruising and bleeding, which is dangerous if the dog is injured or requires surgery. In these situations, plasma and blood transfusions will be given to help the blood clot. Occasionally, surgery is required to stop the bleeding.

Gastric Dilatation Volvulus (GDV) is when a build-up of gas causes the stomach to inflate and flop to one side or twist. This blocks the gases from escaping, which is life-threatening and leads to death in less than an hour if untreated.

Affected dogs will have a swollen and painful abdomen, difficulty breathing or collapse, and vomit frothy foam. They need to be seen immediately for their stomach to be emptied and returned to its normal position.

Feeding small meals 2-4 times a day and restricting exercise and drinking around meal times helps to prevent GDV from happening.&nbsp;

Arthritis is an inflammation of joints that causes pain and stiffness. The cartilage in the joints degrades over time and becomes damaged, resulting in the bone surfaces being able to rub together causing further damage.

<a href="/all-things-pet/arthritis-in-dogs" title="Link to Everypaw's guide to arthritis in dogs">Arthritis is common</a> in retired race Greyhounds due to the level of exercise and previous injuries. Affected dogs will be reluctant to exercise and may limp or appear stiff.

Unfortunately, the cartilage rarely repairs but anti-inflammatory drugs can be given to manage the pain and inflammation. Weight control and restricted exercise are also needed to help manage the condition. 
&nbsp;

Pannus affects the clear part of the eye (cornea), mostly in middle-aged dogs (4-7 years). It is a hereditary condition that can be affected by ultraviolet lights, high altitudes and smoke.

Signs of the condition mostly start with a pink mass appearing on the cornea and the third eyelid will become inflamed. Over time the mass will flatten and spread out, causing scarring to spread across the cornea. This will impair the dog&rsquo;s vision.

The condition is not curable but it can be controlled with medication. Occasionally, steroid injections are given under the conjunctiva. This may help to prevent the progression of the disease.

Common Greyhound Health Problems by Vetstream

Greyhounds are a relatively healthy dog breed, provided they get plenty of exercise and care. However, there are some common health issues to watch out for, especially if you are thinking of adopting a retired Greyhound.

A Greyhound is a breed of dog with origins in Ancient Egypt. Greyhounds are known for their slender body shape. Originally bred for hunting, they are the fastest breed of dog in the world and are commonly used in racing sports.

Generally, a female Greyhound will reach their maximum height at 16 months, while males can take up to 19 months.&nbsp;

The average lifespan for a Greyhound is between 10-14 years. However, many Greyhounds live up to 15 years.&nbsp;

Greyhounds tend to shed little to average amounts of fur. However, they only have one layer of fur, which tends to be short, making them easy to groom and maintain.&nbsp;

While no dog is completely hypoallergenic, a Greyhound&rsquo;s thin coat means they don&rsquo;t shed as much as other breeds &ndash; and therefore are less likely to trigger an allergy. Regular brushing and bathing will keep their shedding to a minimum.

Greyhound Insurance, Care, and Health Advice | Everypaw

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Greyhound

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Zoomies to Senior Snoozes, We've Got Them Covered

The benefit values featured in the table may vary across the different levels of cover and will depend on the cover you choose. Please check your cover before purchasing. Be aware, for some breeds of dogs we do not provide our &pound;8k and &pound;10k Lifetime cover. 
 
All policies and features are subject to special conditions and exclusions of the insurers, please click the link to read about&nbsp;<a href="/Home/pet-insurance-policy-exclusions.html" title="Link to Everypaw's Pet Insurance Exclusions page">our policy exclusions.</a> 
 
Excess is applicable to all vet fees claims. When your pet reaches a certain age, the excess payable may change. The excess will be your set excess plus a percentage of your claim amount.

Getting your furry friend covered shouldn&#39;t just come down to cost. There&#39;s a lot more to it than that, so take the time to do a pet insurance comparison. Think about their breed, the level of cover they might need, and what would be important to you. After all, insurance is there for both of you.

One of the best ways to do that is to compare cover levels. This will give you an idea of how much your pet insurance will cost, how much you can claim against vet bills, as well as the policy benefits. It&#39;s all about finding the Lifetime Pet Insurance that works best for you and your pet.

*Based on Everypaw claims data from February 2024 to March 2025

An older dog for pet insurance for older pets

As our furry companions age, they&#39;re more likely to suffer from ailments and illnesses here and there. And we want you to be able to look after your pet well into retirement. That&#39;s why we don&#39;t have age limits on our policies. Our <a href="/Home/pet-insurance-for-older-pets.html">pet insurance for older pets</a> can help you do the most important thing &ndash; looking after your pet.

What about younger pets? We also offer <a href="/cat-insurance/kitten-insurance" title="Link to Everypaw's Kitten Insurance page">kitten</a> and <a href="/dog-insurance/puppy-insurance" title="Link to Everypaw's Puppy Insurance page">puppy insurance</a>, covered by our cat and dog insurance. No matter how old or young your purr-fect pet is, our pet insurance can give you all-important peace of mind.&nbsp;

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Whether you are looking for a playmate for your pet or if your house is more like a <a href="/dog-insurance" title="Link to Everypaw's Dog Insurance page">dog</a>, <a href="/cat-insurance" title="Link to Everypaw's Cat Insurance page">cat</a> and <a href="/rabbit-insurance" title="Link to Everypaw's Rabbit Insurance page">rabbit</a> smallholding, you need multi-pet insurance that works for you. Everypaw&#39;s policies are just that and give you a discount on every pet too. No matter how many pets you have, from glorious <a href="/dog-insurance/dog-breed-guides/golden-retriever-insurance-care-and-health-advice" title="Link to Everypaw's Golden Retriever Dog Breed Guide page">Golden Retrievers</a> and majestic <a href="/cat-insurance/cat-breed-guides/maine-coon-cat-insurance-care-and-health-advice" title="Link to Everypaw's Maine Coon Cat Breed Guide page">Maine Coons</a> to lovely <a href="/rabbit-insurance/rabbit-breed-guides/lionhead-rabbit-insurance-care-and-health-advice" title="Link to Everypaw's Lionhead Rabbit Breed Guide page">Lionheads</a>, it&#39;s there for every single paw.

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How Does Pet Insurance Work: Getting a Quote

Our pet insurance quote form takes just 3 minutes to fill out. Here&#39;s how it works:

<ul>
	<li>Select which type of pet you&#39;re looking to insure and enter their age, breed and sex</li>
	<li>Enter basic personal details about yourself including your email and home addresses</li>
	<li>Select your vet fees limit</li>
	<li>We&#39;ll give you a pet insurance price! And we&#39;ll show you what the cost is for the year, plus what your monthly instalments will look like if you choose to pay that way</li>
</ul>

Will my pet insurance cover pre-existing conditions?

Ever found the urge to discover what the best dog breeds to train are or maybe you want to get to the bottom of your pet&#39;s worm problem.&nbsp;<a href="/Home/all-things-pet.html" title="Link to Everypaw's All Things Pet blog">Everypaw&#39;s All Things Pet blog</a>&nbsp;has the content to keep you informed.

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For that extra peace of mind when your pets get up to mischief, there&#39;s Everypaw. Our pet insurance is for cats, dogs and rabbits, and every policy comes with unlimited 24/7 access to vet nurses and vets. So, if you ever feel a bit &#39;for pet&#39;s sake&#39;, know Everypaw is here for you and your pet when you need us most!

Why Choose Everypaw for Pet Insurance in the UK?

<a href="https://www.everypaw.com/multi-pet-insurance" title="Link to Everypaw's Multi-pet Insurance page">Insure multiple pets</a>&nbsp;for a multi-pet discount

99% of claims paid in 5 working days*

Unlimited 24/7 access to UK vet nurses and vets with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.everypaw.com/petcall" title="Link to Everypaw's Petcall vet page">Petcall</a>

Manage your UK pet insurance policy online in the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.everypaw.com/pet-portal-info" title="Link to Everypaw's Pet Portal Information page">Pet Portal</a>

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Choosing the right pet health insurance isn&#39;t always easy. We know that. And we also know that a key part of deciding is knowing what&#39;s not covered. That way, at least there are no nasty surprises in terms of coughing up for bills that you thought were going to be taken care of by your policy.

So, here are a few of the main exclusions on our pet insurances:

<ul>
	<li>Treatment for any pre-existing conditions</li>
	<li>Treatment for poisoning or any accidental injury that occurs in the first 3 days of your policy*</li>
	<li>Treatment for any illness that occurs in the first 14 days of your policy*</li>
	<li>Treatment related to vaccine-preventable conditions</li>
	<li>Treatment related to breeding, pregnancy or birthing</li>
	<li>Treatment on baby teeth if your pet is over 16 weeks when your policy starts</li>
</ul>

*Switching to Everypaw Pet Insurance? If you can prove your previous insurance runs up to the policy start date, we can waive this for you.

Please see our <a href="/Home/pet-insurance-policy-exclusions.html" title="Link to Everypaw's Policy Exclusions page">exclusions page</a>&nbsp;for further details.

Fingers crossed, you never have to! We want to reassure you that claiming on your pet health insurance is as hassle-free as possible. That&rsquo;s why we have Vet Pawtal. A direct platform for vets so they can submit claims and leave you to care for your pet.

Vet Pawtal is the fastest and most efficient way to claim. There&rsquo;s no more paperwork for you, and we&rsquo;ll keep you updated every step of the way.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

If your vet can&rsquo;t submit the claim, don&rsquo;t worry; you can still submit it in the <a href="https://petportal.everypaw.com/register#login" target="_blank" title="Link to the Everypaw Pet Portal">Everypaw Pet Portal</a>. It&rsquo;s straightforward; just log in and follow the instructions. Alternatively,&nbsp;you can <a href="https://www.everypaw.com/downloads-2020/everypaw-claim-form.pdf" target="_blank" title="Link to download an Everypaw claim form">download a claim form</a>, but this can take longer.

Please refer to the guidance in your policy documents for Third Party Liability claims.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

For more information, head to our <a href="/Home/claims.html">Pet Insurance Claims information page</a>.

We know pets are just as much a part of your family as any human. So, we know how important it is to you that they&#39;re protected. Choose Everypaw for pet insurance in the UK and give yourself that priceless peace of mind.

We know things can be tough right now, with many people facing money worries. If you have such concerns, please get in touch with us, as we may be able to offer some options to help, which could include reducing your cover or increasing your excess.

If you wish to find out more and your eligibility for any options, please call <a href="tel:03445431009" title="Call Everypaw Customer Services and Claims">0344 543 1009</a>.

Two levels of our Lifetime Pet Insurance cover have been rated 5 Stars by independent financial business, Defaqto, for 8 years in a row.

Deciding which pet insurance your furry bundle of fun needs can be tricky, especially if you&#39;re a new fur-parent. That&#39;s why here at Everypaw.com, we&#39;re trying to keep things simple, we&#39;re all about&nbsp;<a href="/Home/lifetime-pet-insurance.html" title="Link to Everypaw's Lifetime Pet Insurance page">Lifetime Pet Insurance</a>.

Our Lifetime cover is available for your cats, dogs and rabbits. And if you&#39;re looking to cover your cat or dog, there&#39;s a range of cover levels to choose from. Lifetime covers your pet up to a set vet fee limit, and the limits reset for every year of cover.

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Greyhound Insurance, Care and Health Advice

Greyhound Facts

Is a Greyhound Right for Me?

What Are Greyhound Puppies Like?

Life with a Greyhound

Caring for Your Greyhound

Dinner time

Grooming time

Training & exercise

Greyhound Insurance

Common Greyhound Health Problems by Vetstream

Von Willebrand’s Disease (VWD)

Gastric Dilatation Volvulus (GDV)

Arthritis

Chronic Superficial Keratitis (Pannus)

Quick Greyhound Q&A

What is a Greyhound?

When does a Greyhound stop growing?

What is the average Geyhound lifespan?

Do Greyhounds shed?

Are Greyhounds hypoallergenic?

That's All You Need to Know About Greyhounds

References