Cold sensitivity and thin skin

Sighthounds such as Greyhounds, Galgos, Whippets and Italian Greyhounds carry very little body fat, a fact well documented in the anaesthesia literature because it changes how these breeds handle certain drugs¹. They also have thin skin and short coats. Together that means they lose heat quickly, and an older sighthound, with less muscle and slower circulation, feels the cold more than it did at three.

Signs are shivering, a tucked posture, refusing to go out, and seeking radiators or the bed. A coat for walks in cold or wet weather, a warm draught-free bed, and a heated pad, which AAHA lists among comfort measures for seniors, make an obvious difference². Feeling cold all the time can also be a sign of an underactive thyroid, which is treatable, so mention it to the vet if it is new³.

Thin sighthound skin tears easily; check for nicks after runs and keep the nails short. Sighthounds also have their own normal ranges on blood tests, so ask the clinic to interpret results with the breed in mind⁴.

This is general information, not a diagnosis. Your vet knows your dog.

Sources

1. Anesthesia of the sighthound (Court MH). Clinical Techniques in Small Animal Practice 14(1):38-43, 1999 (peer reviewed). Accessed 2026-09-22.
2. 2023 AAHA Senior Care Guidelines for Dogs and Cats (Dhaliwal R et al.). American Animal Hospital Association, Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association 59(1):1-21. Accessed 2026-09-22.
3. Hypothyroidism in Animals. Merck Veterinary Manual. Accessed 2026-09-22.
4. Clinical pathology of Greyhounds and other sighthounds (Zaldivar-Lopez S et al.). Veterinary Clinical Pathology 40(4), 2011 (peer reviewed). Accessed 2026-09-22.