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Introduction
Bred as companions they were popular among aristocrats and other wealthy Italians. It is perhaps no surprise that the breed featured in Renaissance artwork.
Appearance and Personality
Italian Greyhounds look like a tiny Greyhound, toy sized and weighing no more than 5kgs! They are around 32 to 38 cm tall. They have a limited colour palette of black, fawn, grey/blue, and can have some white markings on the feet and chest.
Italian Greyhounds are known for being spirited and clever companions. They bond strongly with their family. The flip side is that they can be aloof and sensitive, so early training and socialisation with other dogs, people and animals is important to help them become more comfortable with strangers and unfamiliar situations. They adapt well to apartment living if they are given daily exercise, play time and toys to keep them occupied. Given their small stature and propensity to be sensitive, they are better suited to a household without children. Remember that even though they are a toy breed, exercise is just as important as for larger dogs.
With a short, soft coat, minimal grooming is required. The coat does shed, but with regular brushing and bathing is not difficult to manage. Investing in some warm coats for your Italian Greyhound for winter is an essential as they tend to feel the cold.
Common Health Concerns
Italian Greyhounds are known for having sensitive stomachs and this is reflected in the top five reasons why they visited the Vet in 2020 according to PetSure claims data. Accidental trauma, especially broken bones are also common. This is a known problem with the breed, especially in young dogs astheir bones are quite fragile. Avoiding rough play, jumping off furniture or falls may help to prevent broken bones in a young Italian Greyhound.
The five most common reasons for Italian Greyhounds to visit the vet (excluding routine care visits) according to PetSure data in the 2020 calendar year were:
| Rank | Condition | Average cost for single treatment (average pet insurance claim amount) | Highest cost for single treatment (highest pet insurance claim seen for this condition) |
| 1 | Gastrointestinal problems, including canine haemorrhagic gastroenteritis and diarrhoea | $416 | $6,256 |
| 2 | Accidental trauma, including broken bones and claw injuries | $804 | $8,062 |
| 3 | Skin conditions, including allergies and infections | $197 | $1,856 |
| 4 | Neurological problems, including epilepsy and meningitis | $336 | $3,330 |
| 5 | Cancers and tumours, including haemangiomas and lipomas | $485 | $3,200 |
Disclaimer: Reimbursement for these claims would be subject to limits, such as annual benefit limits or sub-limits, benefit percentage, applicable waiting periods and any applicable excess. Cover is subject to the policy terms and conditions. You should consider the relevant Product Disclosure Statement or policy wording available from the relevant provider.
For the same period (2020 calendar year), the top five highest single vet treatments (or highest pet insurance claims) for Italian Greyhoundfrom PetSure data were:
| Rank | Condition | Highest Cost of treatment for condition (average pet insurance claim amount) |
| 1 | Broken front leg | $8,062 |
| 2 | Retinal detachment | $7,969 |
| 3 | Cataract | $7,834 |
| 4 | Broken front leg | $6,795 |
| 5 | Broken front leg | $6,548 |
Disclaimer: Reimbursement for these claims would be subject to limits, such as annual benefit limits or sub-limits, benefit percentage, applicable waiting periods and any applicable excess. Cover is subject to the policy terms and conditions. You should consider the relevant Product Disclosure Statement or policy wording available from the relevant provider.
Most popular Italian Greyhound names
Most popular names
- Luna
- Olive
- Remy
- Ziggy
- Archie
- Boo
- Dobby
- Enzo
- Lola
- Louie
Most popular female names
- Luna
- Olive
- Lola
- Penny
- Bella
- Boo
- Coco
- Gigi
- Maple
- Mia
Most popular male names:
- Remy
- Archie
- Enzo
- Percy
- Ziggy
- Apollo
- Basil
- Charlie
- Dobby
- George
Did you know?
The Italian Greyhound is the smallest of the sighthounds, a group which includes the much larger Afghan Hound, Borzoi and Greyhound.
References
- American Kennel Club, Italian Greyhound, accessed on 29/04/2021
- Australian National Kennel Council, Italian Greyhound, accessed on 29/04/2021
- Queensland Sighthound Association Inc, What are sighthounds, accessed on 29/04/2021
Pet insurance can help by covering a portion of the eligible vet bill if the unexpected happens. Because it is difficult to predict the costs of veterinary care, it can help to have measures in place to help prepare for the unexpected. Check out our partner network and explore our policy tools to find a pet insurance policy.
Not all conditions or items are covered by Pet Insurance. Refer to the applicable Product Disclosure Statement for information about coverage and exclusions.
