The senior Greyhound

Concerns with evidence specific to this breed or to sighthounds

Each of these is documented in the studies listed under Sources. The linked guides explain what to watch for and what your vet may suggest.

• Osteosarcoma (Edmunds et al. 2021)
• Dental disease (O'Neill et al. 2019 (Greyhounds))
• Cold sensitivity and thin skin (Court 1999)
• Anaesthesia sensitivity (sighthound) (Court 1999; Martinez et al. 2020)
• Blood tests that read differently (sighthound) (Zaldivar-Lopez et al. 2011; Shiel et al. 2007)
• Corns on the paw pads (Guilliard et al. 2010; Guilliard 2022)

Concerns common to senior dogs generally

These are not specific to the Greyhound. They come with age in most breeds, and the guides cover them.

• Hypothyroidism
• Bloat (gastric dilatation and volvulus)
• Arthritis and joint stiffness
• Hip dysplasia
• Cancer (general risk rises with age)
• Cognitive decline

This is general information, not a diagnosis. Your vet knows your dog. Weight and life expectancy ranges come from breed standards and describe typical dogs, not limits for yours.

Sources

1. Greyhound breed page (height, weight and life expectancy range). American Kennel Club. Accessed 2026-09-22.
2. Greyhounds under general veterinary care in the UK during 2016: demography and common disorders (O'Neill DG et al.). Canine Genetics and Epidemiology, 2019 (peer reviewed). Accessed 2026-09-22.
3. Dog breeds and body conformations with predisposition to osteosarcoma in the UK: a case-control study (Edmunds GL et al.). Canine Medicine and Genetics 8:2, 2021 (peer reviewed). Accessed 2026-09-22.
4. Anesthesia of the sighthound (Court MH). Clinical Techniques in Small Animal Practice 14(1):38-43, 1999 (peer reviewed). Accessed 2026-09-22.
5. Pharmacogenomics of poor drug metabolism in Greyhounds: Cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2B11 genetic variation, breed distribution, and functional characterization (Martinez SE et al.). Scientific Reports 10:69, 2020 (peer reviewed). Accessed 2026-09-22.
6. Clinical pathology of Greyhounds and other sighthounds (Zaldivar-Lopez S et al.). Veterinary Clinical Pathology 40(4), 2011 (peer reviewed). Accessed 2026-09-22.
7. Thyroid hormone concentrations in young, healthy, pretraining greyhounds (Shiel RE, Brennan SF, Omodo-Eluk AJ, Mooney CT). Veterinary Record 161(18):616-619, 2007 (peer reviewed). Accessed 2026-09-22.
8. Corns in dogs; signalment, possible aetiology and response to surgical treatment (Guilliard MJ, Segboer I, Shearer DH). Journal of Small Animal Practice 51(3):162-168, 2010 (peer reviewed). Accessed 2026-09-22.
9. Superficial digital flexor tendonectomy for the treatment of corns in sighthounds (Guilliard MJ). Veterinary Dermatology, 2022 (peer reviewed). Accessed 2026-09-22.
10. Breed Predispositions to Disease in Dogs and Cats, 3rd edition (Gough A, Thomas A, O'Neill D). Wiley-Blackwell, 2018 (reference textbook). Accessed 2026-09-22.