Greyhounds are special dogs! So the first time you take your new dog to the vet, be prepared to discuss the following:

Anesthesia — If it becomes necessary for your dog to undergo surgery, be vigilant in asking the vet what type of anesthesia will be used. Although rarely used anymore, you should know that barbiturate anesthetic can be deadly to greyhounds so it pays to ask, just in case.

Hypothyroidism — Veterinarians have found many greyhounds to be hypothyroid (low in natural thyroid hormone) which is easily treated with a thyroid supplement called Thyro-Tabs. There are many generic thyroid medications on the market, but only Thyro Tabs has been proven to be effective in dogs and many generics do not work at all. If you are given thyroid medication by GAC, your dog should receive his thyroid pill twice a day – once in the morning and again in the evening. Make sure to schedule a follow-up testing appointment with your vet within three weeks of adopting. Schedule the timing of the appointment so the vet can take a blood sample five to six hours after the dog has taken his thyroid pill. This re-test is important to ensure that the dosage of medication is correct and so your dog can continue to receive thyroid medication after leaving GAC.

Flea and worm treatment – Ask the vet about products such as Sentinel, Trifexis, Comfortis, and Nexgard. All these products require prescriptions and purchasing directly from your veterinarian is recommended. Advantage, Advantix and Frontline are over the counter flea or flea and tick medications that may or may not work, depending on the circumstances. Other, older flea medications can be dangerous in greyhounds and you should always talk to your vet before purchasing any of them. NEVER use a flea collar on a greyhound – it can be lethal.