Borzoi care: bloat, heart screening and coat

The two health problems that most shape Borzoi care are bloat and heart disease. Bloat is a risk the breed shares with other large, deep-chested dogs, and it is managed through how the dog is fed. The heart findings are more specific: recent studies found dilated cardiomyopathy even in apparently healthy Borzoi, and ventricular arrhythmias in about one in five Borzoi seen by cardiologists, and the authors suggest considering heart screening. Coat care, exercise and feeding matter too, but those two decide which checks to book and which emergency signs to know.

According to the American Kennel Club, males stand at least 71 cm (28 in) and weigh 34 to 48 kg (75 to 105 lb); females stand at least 66 cm (26 in) and weigh 27 to 39 kg (60 to 85 lb). The breed was known as the Russian Wolfhound until 1936 and was bred by the Russian aristocracy to chase wolves. Indoors, most are quiet and calm. Outdoors, they chase anything that runs.

Bloat and how feeding affects it

In gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV), the stomach fills with gas and can twist on itself, cutting off its own blood supply and pressing on major vessels. It is fatal without emergency treatment, often within hours.

The best evidence on risk factors comes from a prospective study that followed more than 1,600 large and giant dogs of 11 breeds. The Borzoi was not one of them, but the findings are the best available guide for deep-chested dogs. In that study, risk rose with age, with a first-degree relative that had bloated, with faster eating and with a raised feeding bowl. The authors attributed about 20 percent of cases in large breeds and 52 percent in giant breeds to raised bowls. A companion analysis found that a larger volume of food per meal increased risk whatever the number of meals, with the highest risk in dogs fed a large volume once a day.

In practice that means:

• Split the day's food into two or more meals.
• Feed from a bowl on the floor, not a raised stand.
• Slow a fast eater with a slow-feeder bowl or by scattering kibble.
• Feed dogs apart if they compete at the bowl.
• Avoid strenuous exercise before and after meals.
• Ask the breeder whether close relatives have had bloat.

A preventive gastropexy, in which the stomach is fixed to the body wall so it cannot rotate, is worth discussing with a vet, especially for a dog with a family history. It can be done at the same time as a spay or neuter. In dogs that have already had GDV, a review of gastropexy reports that the procedure cuts recurrence from as high as 80 percent to under 5 percent. It stops the twist; the stomach can still bloat with gas.

Heart screening

Borzoi owners have long reported sudden deaths in the breed, and cardiologists have recently started to study the breed's hearts. A multicenter review of 152 Borzoi seen by cardiologists found dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and mitral valve disease in similar numbers, and ventricular arrhythmias in about one in five dogs with an echocardiogram. Most of those dogs with arrhythmias had little or no structural heart disease, and five had a family history of sudden death.

In a separate group of 146 clinically healthy adult Borzoi, most hearts were structurally normal, but DCM still turned up at a similar rate to valve disease. Harmless heart murmurs and mild valve leaks were common, which is why breed-specific reference values matter when the scan is interpreted. The authors recommend considering echocardiographic screening for DCM. Because most of the dogs with arrhythmias in the multicenter review had structurally normal or nearly normal hearts, a clean echocardiogram does not rule out rhythm problems.

The AKC lists a cardiac exam among the breed's recommended health tests. A reasonable approach is to ask a veterinary cardiologist about an echocardiogram before breeding and periodically in adulthood, and whether an ECG or a 24-hour Holter recording should be added. Fainting, collapse during exercise, a new cough, fast breathing at rest or reduced stamina all need prompt veterinary attention.

Feeding a lean sighthound

Borzoi naturally carry little body fat. That makes it easy to mistake a correctly lean dog for a thin one, and easy to overfeed. The AKC notes that Borzoi tend to eat less than their size suggests. Puppies eat more than adults while they grow.

For a starting estimate, the Merck Veterinary Manual uses the resting energy requirement (70 × body weight in kg to the power 0.75), multiplied by about 1.6 for a neutered adult and 1.4 for a dog that gains easily.

Adjust from there by the scale and by feel: ribs easy to feel under a thin covering, a clear waist, and no fat pads over the hips. Dogs that do lure coursing or run hard most days need more; a mostly sofa-bound adult may need less than the table shows.

Puppies should eat a complete food made for large-breed growth, with no added calcium. Merck notes that excess calcium is a particular problem for large and giant breeds between weaning and one year, and that high-calcium diets worsened osteochondrosis in fast-growing large-breed dogs. That matters here because osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) is one of the conditions the AKC says breeders screen for, along with hip and elbow dysplasia. Steady, lean growth is the goal.

Any complete and balanced adult food of good quality suits most Borzoi. There is no evidence that the breed needs a special protein level or ingredient list. Joint supplements and fish oil are optional; if used, discuss product and dose with a vet.

Other health checks

• Eyes. The AKC includes an ophthalmologist evaluation among recommended tests, and breeders screen for progressive retinal atrophy, which causes gradual, painless loss of vision, usually noticed first as poor night vision.
• Thyroid. A thyroid evaluation is on the same list. Weight gain, lethargy and coat loss are reasons to test.
• Degenerative myelopathy. The AKC lists a DNA test for the SOD1A variant linked to this slowly progressive spinal cord disease.
• Anesthesia. The AKC notes that sighthounds, including Borzoi, are more sensitive to anesthesia than other breeds. Make sure any vet performing surgery knows the breed.

Coat care

The Borzoi has a long, silky coat, with profuse feathering on the hindquarters and tail and less on the chest and forelegs. The AKC suggests a quick brushing every day or two with a pin brush, slicker or comb. Once a year the dog sheds heavily for several weeks, and grooming needs to be more frequent then. Regular baths keep the coat clean, nails need regular trimming, and the ears should be checked for dirt, redness or smell.

A dull or thinning coat is not a reason to add supplements straight away. On a complete diet, it more often points to a health problem, including thyroid disease, and should be checked.

Exercise and safety

Borzoi are sighthounds bred for speed; the AKC describes one in full stride at 35 to 40 miles per hour (about 56 to 64 km/h). They need daily exercise in the form of long walks or free running in a securely fenced area. The AKC is blunt that a Borzoi should never be allowed to run loose; any small animal that runs may set off the chase. Lure coursing and agility give that drive a safe outlet.

Keep hard running for fenced, soft ground. Young dogs still growing are better off with free play than with forced running on pavement. Borzoi are affectionate with their people but independent and sometimes stubborn, so training takes patience and consistency.

Sources

1. Borzoi dog breed information. American Kennel Club.
2. Non-dietary risk factors for gastric dilatation-volvulus in large and giant breed dogs. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 2000.
3. Diet-related risk factors for gastric dilatation-volvulus in dogs of high-risk breeds. Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association, 2004.
4. Gastropexy for prevention of gastric dilatation-volvulus in dogs: history and techniques. Topics in Companion Animal Medicine, 2014.
5. A multicenter, retrospective study of cardiac disease in Borzoi dogs. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 2023.
6. Echocardiographic values and prevalence of cardiac abnormalities in clinically healthy adult Borzoi dogs. American Journal of Veterinary Research, 2024.
7. Nutritional Requirements of Small Animals. Merck Veterinary Manual.