Teeth first: the Italian Greyhound's standing priority
Dental checks lead an Italian Greyhound's routine visit. The breed fits a full set of teeth into a very small, narrow jaw, so crowding, tartar along the gumline, and loose or retained teeth are common findings even in young adults. The vet should lift the lips on both sides, check the back teeth where build-up hides, look for gums that bleed or recede, and ask whether chewing has changed, breath has worsened, or the dog has started dropping kibble. A plan for home brushing and a professional cleaning when the mouth needs one protects far more than the teeth — mouth pain quietly shrinks a small dog's appetite and mood.
Weight and warmth on a frame with no spare fat
Body condition in an Italian Greyhound needs a careful eye at every routine visit. The breed carries minimal fat, trembles readily, and can slide from lean to underweight without the change showing under a jumper. The vet weighs the dog, feels the ribs, spine, and hip points, and asks about appetite, meal sizes, and whether the shivering you see happens only in cold rooms or also at rest in a warm house. Persistent trembling paired with appetite loss, vomiting, or unusual tiredness is a pattern to report rather than a quirk to laugh off, and the visit is the place to separate temperament from symptom.
Fine bones, knees, and legs that live dangerously
Legs get individual attention at an Italian Greyhound's routine visit because the breed's long, fine bones and fearless jumping make fractures a real household risk. The vet feels down each leg, flexes the knees to check for the looseness that lets a kneecap slip, and watches the dog walk for any short-stepping or reluctance to bear weight. Mention any yelp after a jump off the sofa, a leg held up for a few steps, or new hesitation at stairs. Those small reports, dated across visits, tell the vet whether a knee is stable, worsening, or ready for a surgical conversation.
Skin, heart, and eyes on a delicate dog
Skin checks in an Italian Greyhound are quick but worthwhile: the coat is so fine that lumps, scrapes, dry patches, and slow-healing tears show early if someone looks. The vet runs a palm over the back, chest, and belly, checks the thin skin of the ears and legs, and notes any new bump's size for comparison next time. Heart and lungs get the stethoscope, eyes are checked for cloudiness or discharge, and nails — which grow fast on a dog who may not wear them down on hard ground — get assessed for length and curl.
Small dog, specific reasons to return early
Book ahead of the next routine visit for an Italian Greyhound who stops eating, breaks or chips a tooth, limps on a leg after a jump, cries when picked up, or develops repeated vomiting or diarrhoea. A fall from furniture height onto a hard floor deserves a same-day call even if the dog seems to recover, because fine bones can crack without dramatic signs. Bring notes on what happened and when — small dogs give subtle evidence, and timing helps the vet judge urgency. Recording dental findings, knee notes, and weight at every visit in KinsLe with Pet Passport builds your Italian Greyhound a portable health packet that speaks for him anywhere.