Whippet
Trait scores
Health risk profile
Conditions below are ranked by documented prevalence and severity in the Whippet. Risk level drives both veterinary costs and insurance pricing.
| Condition | Risk | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Mitral valve disease | moderate | Heart murmurs appear in middle-aged and senior Whippets; monitor annually. |
| Anesthesia sensitivity | moderate | Low body fat requires sighthound-specific anesthetic protocols; confirm your vet knows them. |
| Eye disease (PRA, cataracts) | low | Inherited eye conditions occur occasionally; breeders screen via eye exams. |
| Deafness | low | Congenital deafness appears at low rates; BAER testing available. |
| Von Willebrand disease | low | Mild clotting deficiency reported in the breed. |
Pet insurance for a Whippet
Insurers price a Whippet from the breed's documented claims profile — here, a clean bill of health with no dominant high-risk hereditary condition. Enrolling early matters more than shopping hard: no carrier covers a condition once it is diagnosed.
Annual cost of ownership
Excluding insurance, the recurring cost of a Whippet is driven by how much it eats — which scales with body weight — and how much grooming it needs. At 25–40 lbs and a grooming score of 1/5, the Whippet sits below the average dog on grooming spend. Chronic conditions from the risk table above can add substantially to the medical side of the budget — one reason breed-matched insurance matters. For the component-by-component breakdown, see the average cost of owning a dog, and model your own numbers with thecost of ownership calculator.
About the Whippet
The Whippet is a Victorian English racing greyhound in miniature — the fastest breed of its size and one of the calmest house dogs alive. The pattern is sprinter logic: a daily burst of full-speed running, then hours of sofa time. Whippets are gentle, quiet, clean, and rarely bark, making them outstanding apartment dogs despite their athleticism. They are thin-skinned and cold-sensitive, needing coats in winter, and recall around small animals is unreliable. One of the healthiest, cheapest-to-own medium breeds for calm households.
Origin: England
Temperament
Related reading for Whippet owners
Whippet FAQ
How long do Whippets live?
The typical Whippet lifespan is 12–15 years. Diet, weight management, and screening for the breed's known hereditary conditions have the largest measurable effect on longevity.
How much does pet insurance cost for a Whippet?
There is no published breed-level price for pet insurance, so we do not quote one. NAPHIA's 2026 industry report puts the US average at $836 a year — about $70 a month — for accident-and-illness coverage on a dog, and insurers price above or below that line based on your dog's age, your ZIP code, and the plan you configure. The Whippet carries no dominant high-risk hereditary condition, which keeps it near or below that average. For real numbers, request quotes for your dog's exact age and ZIP code.
Is the Whippet a good apartment dog?
Conditionally. The Whippet can live in an apartment, but its 4/5 energy level means you'll need a consistent daily exercise routine.
What health problems are Whippets prone to?
The most significant documented risks are Mitral valve disease, Anesthesia sensitivity. Ask breeders for the relevant health clearances and budget for insurance early, before any condition becomes pre-existing.