Italian Greyhound teeth: how to brush, spot problems and when to see a vet

Italian Greyhound teeth: the short answer

Tooth and gum disease is one of the most common problems of the breed. Italian Greyhounds are prone to dental disease, and gum disease is a common problem for dogs without regular care.

What to do:

• get a puppy used to a toothbrush from the first weeks;
• brush ideally every day with dog toothpaste;
• give hard treats your vet recommends;
• have the teeth checked by a vet once a year and have a professional cleaning if the vet advises it;
• before a cleaning under anesthesia, discuss the particulars of sighthounds with the vet (our article on anesthesia).

Why Italian Greyhounds’ teeth suffer

The advice is to brush, ideally daily, give hard, mildly abrasive treats and chews, and show the teeth to a vet yearly. The sources do not go into the causes.

For breeders a DNA test is recommended for familial enamel hypoplasia. It is an inherited condition in which tooth enamel is poorly developed. When buying a puppy, ask for the result. More in our article on choosing a puppy.

How to brush an Italian Greyhound’s teeth, step by step

What you need: a soft child’s or dog toothbrush or a finger brush, dog toothpaste (not human) and a treat.

1. Start with an introduction. Let the dog sniff the paste and lick it off: it is usually meat-flavoured.
2. Touch the lips and gums with a finger. Praise and give a treat.
3. Wrap clean gauze around a finger or use a finger brush. Run it over the teeth for a few seconds.
4. After a few days move to the brush. Brush in circles along the gums.
5. Gradually build up to 30–60 seconds per side. Start with the outer surface of the teeth.
6. Finish on a good moment: with praise and play.

Rules:

• human toothpaste is not suitable for dogs;
• do not force or pull: the dog will resist out of fear;
• a short daily brush is better than a long one once a week;
• there is no need to rinse after brushing.

What to give and what not

Hard, mildly abrasive treats and chew toys are suitable. On packaging look for the VOHC seal: the Veterinary Oral Health Council assesses such products. But treats do not replace the brush.

Avoid things that are too hard (bones, stones, hooves): they can break a tooth, and an Italian Greyhound’s teeth are small. Choose what your vet recommends.

Signs of dental trouble

• bad breath;
• yellow or brown plaque and tartar;
• red or bleeding gums;
• drooling;
• the dog chews reluctantly, drops food or refuses hard food;
• it rubs its face with a paw;
• loose teeth;
• swelling on the face.

If you notice any of these, show the dog to a vet within days. If the dog refuses to eat or the face is swollen, go the same day.

Professional cleaning

A veterinary cleaning (removing tartar, polishing, examination) is usually done under anesthesia: without it the dog will not let you work on its teeth. For an Italian Greyhound this is worth knowing in advance, because sighthounds are sensitive to anesthesia. A yearly professional cleaning is advised, but it should be approached knowingly.

Before the cleaning ask the vet:

• which drug they prefer for sighthounds;
• whether the dog will be kept warm during and after the procedure;
• whether intubation, an IV drip and oxygen monitoring will be used.

More in our article on anesthesia.

A puppy’s teeth

A puppy’s milk teeth are replaced by permanent ones. The sources we checked give no exact timings for Italian Greyhounds specifically, so:

• check the mouth regularly;
• if a milk tooth has not fallen out and a permanent one is growing alongside, show the dog to a vet;
• get the puppy used to the brush straight away.

More about puppies in our article on puppies by month.

Teeth and life

The state of the teeth affects not just breath and eating. Vets often write that tooth and gum disease can affect general health. So tooth care is one of the simplest things that helps an Italian Greyhound live longer. More in our article on lifespan.

Frequently asked questions

• How often should I brush an Italian Greyhound’s teeth? Ideally every day.
• Is professional cleaning needed? Yearly: the vet will decide whether your dog needs it.
• Can I brush with human toothpaste? No, you need dog toothpaste.
• What can I give for the teeth? Hard, mildly abrasive treats and toys on a vet’s advice, but they do not replace the brush.
• Is cleaning under anesthesia dangerous? Sighthounds are sensitive to anesthetics, so discuss drugs and warming with the vet.
• Why does its breath smell? Often plaque and tartar. Show the dog to a vet.

What to remember

• Teeth are a common problem of the breed; care starts in the first weeks.
• Brush ideally every day with dog toothpaste.
• Have the teeth checked by a vet once a year.
• Before a cleaning under anesthesia, discuss drugs and warming.