OldieGreyhounds, galgos, whippets, salukis and the other sighthounds were bred for speed, and the body that resulted handles anaesthetic drugs differently. A review of the subject lists the reasons: a nervous temperament that can bring on stress and overheating, very little body fat so the dog cools quickly under anaesthesia, blood values that differ from other breeds, and slower breakdown of some intravenous anaesthetics by the liver, which prolongs recovery; the author advises sedative premedication, good pain control and avoiding thiobarbiturates1. The liver difference has since been traced: Greyhounds carry a variant of the CYP2B11 enzyme gene at the highest frequency of 64 breeds studied, produce over 70 percent less of the enzyme, and metabolise drugs such as propofol more slowly2. The differences in blood work are described for Greyhounds and shared by other sighthounds3.
None of this makes anaesthesia unsafe. It means the clinic should know they have a sighthound on the table, choose drugs accordingly, keep the dog warm, and expect a slower wake-up. Before a dental cleaning or any surgery, say the word sighthound, mention the breed, and ask what the plan is.
This is general information, not a diagnosis. Your vet knows your dog.
Sources
- Anesthesia of the sighthound (Court MH). Clinical Techniques in Small Animal Practice 14(1):38-43, 1999 (peer reviewed). Accessed 2026-09-22.
- 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.
- Clinical pathology of Greyhounds and other sighthounds (Zaldivar-Lopez S et al.). Veterinary Clinical Pathology 40(4), 2011 (peer reviewed). Accessed 2026-09-22.