The Irish Wolfhound is a breed of dog that has been gaining in popularity considerably over the past three decades, and as a result, the number of veterinary publications devoted to the topic has been rapidly increasing. This book endeavours to present the published literature on lifespan and diseases in the breed in a logical manner, thus enabling interested practitioners, as well as veterinary students, breeders and owners, to broaden their knowledge of Irish Wolfhounds as a breed with its specific disease predilections, their clinical presentation, treatment, prognosis and modes of inheritance. Additionally, the book presents original research on the genetic history of the Irish Wolfhound population since the advent of modern breeding during the mid-1800's, explaining the lack of inbreeding depression found in the breed, and analyses the ancestors of hereditary diseases such as Dilated Cardioymopathy and Portosystemic Shunt. It concludes with a discussion of the ethics involved in breeding and some suggestions for future breeding practices and research projects.