They have to be kept up to date on shots, free of heartworms and fleas, and checked for intestinal parasites regularly. Though all breeds have some genetic defects, none have proven to be a serious problem in whippets thus far. Some isolated incidents of deafness and some genetic eye defects have been reported, but they are rare. Hip dysplasia is not a problem in whippets at this time. Sighthounds are very sensitive to anesthesia and other medications.
Whippet skin is thin, rather tightly stretched, and poorly protected by the scant coat.
What would be a small cut on another breed can become an ugly tear on your Whip. Unless blood is actually spurting out this is not an emergency but may require a vet to stitch him up so the injury will heal. Whippets play roughly with each other, and the breakaway latch is a safety measure in case a tooth is caught in a collar. Never use a metal choke chain on a Whippet. Be sure to keep an ID tag on your Whippet at all times, and we recommend tattooing and microchipping in addition.