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Greyhound – Costs, Cover & Common Health Issues

The Greyhound is one of the oldest and most elegant dog breeds in the world. Known for their incredible speed and graceful build, Greyhounds were originally bred for hunting and later became famous as racing dogs.

Recognised by the The Kennel Club, Greyhounds are often misunderstood. While they are capable of reaching speeds of up to 45 mph, they are famously calm and relaxed at home — earning the nickname “40mph couch potatoes.”

In the UK, many Greyhounds are adopted after retiring from racing, making them gentle, affectionate companions who adapt surprisingly well to family life.

🐾 Average lifespan: 10–14 years

🐾 Average adult weight: 27–40 kg

🐾 Top speed: Up to 45 mph (72 km/h)

🐾 Recognised by The Kennel Club as part of the Hound Group

ALL Breed Specific Animal Greyhound Web Images 720 x 480 v16022026_02

Common Greyhound Health Issues

Greyhounds are generally healthy but can be prone to certain structural and breed-specific conditions.

Common Health Issues:

  • Dental Disease – £250–£600 cleaning / £800–£2,000 extractions

  • Osteosarcoma (Bone Cancer) – £4,000–£8,000+ treatment

  • Bloat (GDV) – £2,000–£5,000 emergency surgery

  • Arthritis & Joint Issues – £500–£1,500 per year

  • Paw Corns – £100–£300 per visit

Large-breed surgery and ongoing joint care can become costly, especially in retired racing Greyhounds.

🐶 Graceful, Calm, Athletic — Protect Your Greyhound Properly

Your Guide To Owning a Greyhound

Wondering if a Greyhound is the right dog for you? Here’s a few things you should know before you bring a ‘couch commander’ home…

Greyhound running

Diet & Nutrition

Despite their athletic appearance, Greyhounds have relatively modest dietary needs.

Key dietary considerations:

  • High-quality protein supports lean muscle mass.
  • Split meals (2 per day) can reduce risk of bloat.
  • Monitor weight carefully — they should remain lean.
  • Dental-friendly diets or supplements may help reduce plaque build-up.

Maintaining a healthy weight reduces strain on joints and lowers the risk of orthopaedic problems.

Greyhounds playing with frisbee

Exercise Requirements

Greyhounds are sprinters, not endurance runners.

Daily exercise needs:

  • 30–60 minutes per day
  • Short bursts of running in a secure area
  • Gentle walks and mental enrichment

They are surprisingly low-maintenance compared to many other large breeds. At home, most Greyhounds are quiet, calm, and enjoy lounging.

Greyhound Puppy

Who Is the Greyhound Perfect For?

Greyhounds are ideal for:

  • Individuals or families wanting a calm, gentle companion
  • First-time dog owners
  • Apartment living (with daily walks)
  • People adopting retired racing dogs
  • Households looking for a low-shedding breed

They are generally not suited for homes with very small pets unless carefully assessed, due to their strong prey drive.

Why Insurance Matters for Greyhounds

From dental disease to emergency surgery for bloat, veterinary costs for large breeds can escalate quickly. For retired racing Greyhounds especially, unexpected health needs can arise later in life.

Having comprehensive cover means you can focus on giving your Greyhound the comfortable, loving retirement they deserve — without worrying about the cost of treatment.

Choose The Best Policy For Your Greyhound

Superior – the most comprehensive insurance cover we offer, with the lowest excess, giving you confidence that your dog will be looked after if illness or injury strikes.

Benefits

  • Claimable period

    Lifetime cover
    for illnesses and injuries, year after year.

  • Veterinary fees

    £12,000

  • Percentage of veterinary fees covered

    100%

  • Third party liability

    £1,000,000 per claim

  • Day to day care

  • Age restrictions

    8 weeks – under 8 years.

Benefits

  • Claimable period

    Lifetime cover
    for illnesses and injuries, year after year.

  • Veterinary fees

    £9,000

  • Percentage of veterinary fees covered

    100%

  • Third party liability

    £1,000,000 per claim

  • Day to day care

  • Age restrictions

    8 weeks – under 8 years.

Benefits

  • Claimable period

    Lifetime cover
    for illnesses and injuries, year after year.

  • Veterinary fees

    £6,000

  • Percentage of veterinary fees covered

    100%

  • Third party liability

    £1,000,000 per claim

  • Day to day care

  • Age restrictions

    8 weeks – under 8 years.

Benefits

Superior

Mid-point

Entry

Claimable period

Lifetime cover
for illnesses and injuries, year after year.

Lifetime cover
for illnesses and injuries, year after year.

Lifetime cover
for illnesses and injuries, year after year.

Veterinary fees

£12,000

£9,000

£6,000

Percentage of veterinary fees covered

100%

100%

100%

Third party liability

£1,000,000 per claim

£1,000,000 per claim

£1,000,000 per claim

Day to day care

Age restrictions

8 weeks – under 8 years.

8 weeks – under 8 years.

8 weeks – under 8 years.

Mid-range – our most flexible plan, offering a choice of co-payment and excess levels and packed with a range of optional extras to suit your dog’s needs.

Benefits

  • Claimable period

    Lifetime cover
    for illnesses and injuries, year after year.

  • Veterinary fees

    £12,000

  • Percentage of veterinary fees covered

    90%, 80% or 70%

  • Third party liability

    £1,000,000 per claim

  • Day to day care

    Optional Extra: Get up to £50 annually for key pet care needs like de-sexing, microchipping, worming, teeth cleaning, and more. Additional cover includes vaccinations, health checks, flea/tick control, and diagnostic tests, with no excess.

  • Age restrictions

    8 weeks – under 8 years.

Benefits

  • Claimable period

    Lifetime cover
    for illnesses and injuries, year after year.

  • Veterinary fees

    £9,000

  • Percentage of veterinary fees covered

    90%, 80% or 70%

  • Third party liability

    £1,000,000 per claim

  • Day to day care

    Optional Extra: Get up to £50 annually for key pet care needs like de-sexing, microchipping, worming, teeth cleaning, and more. Additional cover includes vaccinations, health checks, flea/tick control, and diagnostic tests, with no excess.

  • Age restrictions

    8 weeks – under 8 years.

Benefits

  • Claimable period

    Lifetime cover
    for illnesses and injuries, year after year.

  • Veterinary fees

    £6,000

  • Percentage of veterinary fees covered

    90%, 80% or 70%

  • Third party liability

    £1,000,000 per claim

  • Day to day care

    Optional Extra: Get up to £50 annually for key pet care needs like de-sexing, microchipping, worming, teeth cleaning, and more. Additional cover includes vaccinations, health checks, flea/tick control, and diagnostic tests, with no excess.

  • Age restrictions

    8 weeks – under 8 years.

Benefits

Key

Vital

Core

Claimable period

Lifetime cover
for illnesses and injuries, year after year.

Lifetime cover
for illnesses and injuries, year after year.

Lifetime cover
for illnesses and injuries, year after year.

Veterinary fees

£12,000

£9,000

£6,000

Percentage of veterinary fees covered

90%, 80% or 70%

90%, 80% or 70%

90%, 80% or 70%

Third party liability

£1,000,000 per claim

£1,000,000 per claim

£1,000,000 per claim

Day to day care

Optional Extra: Get up to £50 annually for key pet care needs like de-sexing, microchipping, worming, teeth cleaning, and more. Additional cover includes vaccinations, health checks, flea/tick control, and diagnostic tests, with no excess.

Optional Extra: Get up to £50 annually for key pet care needs like de-sexing, microchipping, worming, teeth cleaning, and more. Additional cover includes vaccinations, health checks, flea/tick control, and diagnostic tests, with no excess.

Optional Extra: Get up to £50 annually for key pet care needs like de-sexing, microchipping, worming, teeth cleaning, and more. Additional cover includes vaccinations, health checks, flea/tick control, and diagnostic tests, with no excess.

Age restrictions

8 weeks – under 8 years.

8 weeks – under 8 years.

8 weeks – under 8 years.

Safety-net – accidents or illness can happen at any time, and our Catastrophe and Economy policies provide cover for your dog when emergency treatment is needed.

Benefits

  • Claimable period

    Cover for each injury or illness for 12 months from the date of the incident or when symptoms first appeared.

  • Veterinary fees

    £4,000
    for each injury and illness for 12 months

  • Percentage of veterinary fees covered

    100%

  • Third party liability

    £1,000,000 per claim

  • Day to day care

  • Age restrictions

    8 weeks – under 8 years.

Benefits

  • Claimable period

    Lifetime cover
    for illnesses and injuries, year after year.

  • Veterinary fees

    £6,000

  • Percentage of veterinary fees covered

    100%

  • Third party liability

    Optional extra: £1,000,000 per claim

  • Day to day care

  • Age restrictions

    8 weeks – under 8 years.

Benefits

  • Claimable period

    Lifetime cover
    for illnesses and injuries, year after year.

  • Veterinary fees

    £3,000

  • Percentage of veterinary fees covered

    100%

  • Third party liability

    Optional extra: £1,000,000 per claim

  • Day to day care

  • Age restrictions

    8 weeks – under 8 years.

Benefits

Economy

Catastrophe 2

Catastrophe 1

Claimable period

Cover for each injury or illness for 12 months from the date of the incident or when symptoms first appeared.

Lifetime cover
for illnesses and injuries, year after year.

Lifetime cover
for illnesses and injuries, year after year.

Veterinary fees

£4,000
for each injury and illness for 12 months

£6,000

£3,000

Percentage of veterinary fees covered

100%

100%

100%

Third party liability

£1,000,000 per claim

Optional extra: £1,000,000 per claim

Optional extra: £1,000,000 per claim

Day to day care

Age restrictions

8 weeks – under 8 years.

8 weeks – under 8 years.

8 weeks – under 8 years.

Terms, conditions, and excesses apply. Cover depends on acceptance criteria, and there may be policy limits and exclusions. Make sure to check the policy details on the dog insurance page before taking out a policy.