The senior Saluki

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.

• Cold sensitivity and thin skin (Court 1999)
• Anaesthesia sensitivity (sighthound) (Court 1999)
• Blood tests that read differently (sighthound) (Zaldivar-Lopez et al. 2011)
• Corns on the paw pads (Guilliard et al. 2010)

Concerns common to senior dogs generally

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

• Hypothyroidism
• Dilated cardiomyopathy
• Cataracts and other eye disease
• Arthritis and joint stiffness
• Hip dysplasia
• Cancer (general risk rises with age)
• Bloat (gastric dilatation and volvulus)
• 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. Saluki breed page (height, weight and life expectancy range). American Kennel Club. Accessed 2026-09-22.
2. Anesthesia of the sighthound (Court MH). Clinical Techniques in Small Animal Practice 14(1):38-43, 1999 (peer reviewed). Accessed 2026-09-22.
3. Clinical pathology of Greyhounds and other sighthounds (Zaldivar-Lopez S et al.). Veterinary Clinical Pathology 40(4), 2011 (peer reviewed). Accessed 2026-09-22.
4. 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.
5. 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.