Italian Greyhounds are low maintenance when it comes to keeping their coats tidy and their skin in good condition thanks to their coats being so short. However, it is best to give them a brush at least twice a week as this allows you to check for injuries and skin issues that may be flaring up. They do shed throughout the year, but like other breeds they tend to shed more during the Spring and then again in the Autumn when more frequent brushing may be necessary to keep on top of things.
They are known to suffer from quite a few dental issues, as such it's really important for dogs to have their teeth cleaned and checked on a regular basis. It's also important to check a dog's ears on a regular basis and to clean them when necessary. If too much wax is allowed to build up in a dog's ears, it can lead to a painful infection which can be hard to clear up. In short, prevention is often easier than cure when it comes to ear infections.
Although small in stature, the IG needs to be given the right amount of physical exercise every day for them to be truly happy, well-rounded and healthy dogs. As such they need at least 40 to 60 minutes a day. A shorter walk in the morning would be fine, but a longer more interesting one in the afternoon is a must. Halters and leads work best on the delicate IG as they spread the pressure across a dog's chest and shoulders rather than around their necks.
These dogs also like to be able to roam around a back garden as often as possible so they can really let off steam. However, the fencing has to be extremely secure to keep these lively and athletic little dogs in because if they find a weakness in the fence, they will soon escape out and get into all sorts of trouble.
With this said, IG puppies should not be given too much exercise because their joints and bones are very fragile and too much pressure on them could result in a dog breaking one. They should not be allowed to jump up or off furniture nor should they be allowed to run up and down the stairs because this puts too much pressure on their still growing joints and could end up with an IG breaking a bone.
If you get an Italian Greyhound puppy from a breeder, they would give you a feeding schedule and it's important to stick to the same routine, feeding the same puppy food to avoid any tummy upsets. You can change a puppy's diet, but this needs to be done very gradually always making sure they don't develop any digestive upsets and if they do, it's best to put them back on their original diet and to discuss things with the vet before attempting to change it again. It's also important that puppies be fed frequently throughout the day because they are susceptible to developing hypoglycemia.
Older dogs are not known to be fussy or finicky eaters, but this does not mean you can feed them a lower quality diet. It's best to feed a mature dog twice a day, once in the morning and then again in the evening, making sure it's good quality food that meets all their nutritional requirements. It's also important that dogs be given the right amount of exercise so they burn off any excess calories or they might gain too much weight which can lead to all sorts of health issues. Obesity can shorten a dog's life by several years so it's important to keep an eye on their waistline from the word go.
