Your grey should see a licensed, greyhound-savvy veterinarian every year for a preventative check-up (you wouldn’t neglect to have your children checked by a doctor every year, would you?). Your veterinarian can lay out a plan with you for your dog’s long-term care and will usually send you reminders when shots and check-ups are due. GEGR does require that you take your dog in for a well-vet visit with your veterinarian within two weeks of adoption. This will allow your vet to see your dog’s shot records (we will give these to you during your adoption) and also have a baseline for your pet in case you need to have an unscheduled visit for an injury or sickness.

Keep in mind that state and federal laws require some shots be given. If your dog is not up to date on these shots, it may be taken from you if you have any run-ins with animal control. You should also check your county rules and regulations to see if you are required to license your dog in your area.

Your grey’s nails should be trimmed every week or two to keep them nice and short. The tips should not touch the ground when your dog is standing still. Keeping your dog’s nails short will reduce the risk of broken toes or twisted ankles when your dog runs and it will also reduce the wear and tear on your floors.

There are two main ways to trim your dog’s nails; using a pair of nail clippers made for dogs or using a grinding tool like a Dremel. There are pros and cons for each method and looking into both will help you choose the best solution for you and your dog. Of course, you can also visit a groomer every few weeks and have them do it for you.

It is very important to ensure that your grey’s teeth are well cared for. Just like people, dogs get plaque and tartar build-up that can lead to tooth decay and gum disease. If left untreated, this can cause a host of issues from horrible breath to kidney disease or even kidney failure. Greyhounds are particularly susceptible to plaque buildup because of the shape of their nose and the placement of their salivary glands.

Your grey’s teeth should be brushed every other day. We will provide a toothbrush and a starter tube of toothpaste to get you going. Providing hard items for your grey to chew on will also help keep tartar from building up. Chew toys such as Kongs (hard rubber) and compressed rawhide (make sure it is compressed!), and feeding a good-quality hard kibble will help. Raw carrots are also a good snack that is healthy for your dog's teeth. Be aware that uncooked, hard bones may be good to break off tartar but they can cause chipped or broken teeth.

Fleas and ticks are pesky critters and also carry many different kinds of diseases and parasites. A good flea and tick control given throughout the year is very important (ticks don’t hibernate!) You will be given one month’s worth of flea and tick control when you adopt your dog, but you will need to purchase the product of your choice to cover your dog throughout the rest of the year. It is important that you do not use flea or tick collars on your hound. Talk to your vet about any questions you have about the various products available on the market.

Heartworm is a horrible disease that is carried by mosquitoes. Because mosquitoes are very prominent in our area, it is very important that you provide a preventative medication to your dog throughout the year. The medication costs about $100 per year, but it is orders of magnitude cheaper than treating the disease should your dog become infected. You will be given one month’s worth of heartworm medication for your dog, but you will need to purchase more during your well-vet visit after adoption. Talk to your veterinarian about the products available and choose the correct one for you and your hound.