Italian Greyhound

The Italian Greyhound (in Italian: Piccolo Levriero Italiano) is a small breed of dog of the sight hound type, sometimes called an "I.G." or an "Iggy".

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_Greyhound

AKC Video (link - https://youtu.be/wQfC0uEUfjU):

View more videos on AKC's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/AmericanKennelClub

• Italiensk vinthund
• Italian Greyhound (Piccolo levriero italiano)
• Piccolo levriero italiano
• Levrette d'Italie
• Pequeño Lebrel italiano
• Italienisches Windspiel
• Italiensk Mynde

Italy

Health articles are available from The Italian Greyhound Club of America. 

• http://italiangreyhound.org/index.php/ig-health/ig-health-2/

There are numerous breed standards.

The basis of breed/conformation shows is the judging of pedigree dogs against the 'Breed Standard', which is a picture in words that describes the range of features that are deemed appropriate for the breed.

Three of the major international standards are:

The American Kennel Club

The Kennel Club, UK

FCI (Federation Cynologique Internationale)

1. Swedish Insurance Data

• Breed-specific information on rates of disease and death from Agria Pet Insurance (Agria Djurförsäkring) is available for many breeds.
  This breed has information on Veterinary Care.
  Click here to view downloads

Health/Breeding Strategy Documents and Links:

1. The Kennel Club, UK: Breed Watch
2. Sweden: Breed-specific Breeding Strategies: (in Swedish) and/ or English summary
3. Finland
4. US: Genetic Diversity in Italian Greyhounds: http://italiangreyhound.org/index.php/ig-health/genetic-diversity-in-italian-greyhounds/

Links to articles and other IG health resources and information including including genetic disease studies and health testing.

Health Surveys

US: 2012 Italian Greyhound Club of America/VARI National Health Survey

• http://italiangreyhound.org/index.php/ig-health/van-andeligca-health-survey/

          Report of a Survey on Health Problems in Italian Greyhounds

• http://italiangreyhound.org/index.php/ig-health/ig-health-2/report-of-a-survey-on-health-problems-in-italian-greyhounds/

The Kennel Club list of DNA tests available for each breed along with an indication as to whether the test is part of the Assured Breeder Scheme (recommended or required) and whether it is recorded on the Kennel Club registration database: http://www.dogwellnet.com/content/_/health-and-breeding/screening-tests/dna/dna-tests-for-use-in-breeding-decisions/the-kennel-club-breed-specific-dna-tests-upd-r234

Health Lecture Videos

A search for genetic diversity among Italian Greyhounds from Continental Europe and the USA and the effect of inbreeding on susceptibility to autoimmune disease

(Full article available on BioMed Central -- Canine Genetics and Epidemiology) 

• http://cgejournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40575-015-0030-9

Excerpt...

"Conclusions

It was concluded that artificial genetic bottlenecks have concentrated numerous genetic polymorphisms responsible for autoimmune disease and that these risk factors did not originate in a specific individual or bloodline of the breed. Rather, they were of ancestral origin in both purebred and random bred dogs and inherited by descent. Italian Greyhound breeders in the USA have several options to improve breed health: 1) breed against homozygosity within the genome and in the DLA region, 2) avoid breeding dogs that have suffered an autoimmune disorder, 3) increase diversity by incorporating the genetic differences that exist in IG from Continental Europe, or 4) outcross to other small sighthound breeds. The latter two approaches must be undertaken with care to avoid introduction of new deleterious traits and to maximize retention and dissemination of new genetic diversity."

We are listing sites for breed clubs with health or other information that might be helpful. Follow links below.

UK: The Italian Greyhound Society UK: Health page: http://www.italiangreyhoundsocietyuk.com/23342798

US: The Italian Greyhound Club of America: http://italiangreyhound.org/