For Dr. Christy Soileau, a love of animals was simply the air she breathed growing up on a small farm in southern Louisiana. A 2005 veterinary externship at VCA Preston Park Animal Hospital, under the mentorship of Dr. Jeffery Ellis, introduced her to greyhounds—and she was immediately captivated by their unique appearance and the medical idiosyncrasies that set them apart from every other breed.
What began as a four- to six-week introduction has grown into a career-long passion. Today, Dr. Soileau is one of the most knowledgeable and dedicated greyhound advocates in North Texas, championing the health and well-being of GALT’s hounds with the same curiosity and care that have defined her veterinary career.
Outside the office, Dr. Soileau enjoys spending time with her husband, Mac, and her two sons, Henry and Luke.
What initially drew you to veterinary medicine?
Dr. Soileau: I know that this is a common response among the veterinary community, but I knew I wanted to be a veterinarian from a very young age. I grew up in south Louisiana within a family that had a small farm. We raised cattle, pigs, and chickens, and I was always surrounded by animals. Growing up, we always had dogs, cats, and horses. I also took great interest in rescuing, rehabbing, and releasing small wildlife (squirrels, opossums, owls, etc).
How did you find your way to specializing in greyhound care?
Dr. Soileau: My love of working with greyhounds came later in my career. I was inexperienced with this breed until I came to VCA Preston Park Animal Hospital for my externship with Dr. Jeffery Ellis in 2005. During this four- to six-week period, I fell in love with this amazing breed. Their unique appearance and medical idiosyncrasies further sparked my interest.
With Dr. Ellis’s support and guidance, I was like a sponge and soaked up as much knowledge on my medical and surgical skills. I continue to learn new things about these magnificent creatures each and every day.
Tell us a little about some of the greyhound’s unique medical challenges.
Dr. Soileau: Greyhounds also have different normal values for many of their lab work parameters. It is very important that veterinarians who are caring for this breed are aware of their normal values so that they are treated properly and not overtreated for certain conditions.
Another concern that we see with greyhounds is a condition known as fibrinolytic syndrome in greyhounds. This is a condition where blood clots break down too soon, causing excessive delayed bleeding hours to days after tissue trauma or surgical procedures. The dogs’ bodies dissolve clots prematurely, leading to bruising and severe bleeding. Not all greyhounds have this issue, but veterinarians need to be aware of the possibility and plan accordingly prior to major procedures. The DEPOHGEN test can identify the specific gene mutation, allowing owner’s to prepare and possibly prevent issues before surgical procedures.
One other issue that we see in greyhounds is multi-drug–resistant hookworms (Ancylostoma caninum). This issue is mostly seen in a subset of retired racers. This resistant form of the parasite requires a specific treatment protocol to successfully clear the parasite that can last months or longer.
Are there common behavioral issues for incoming greys?
Dr. Soileau: I am always surprised at how trusting and loving they can become with kind, compassionate, gentle handling by our volunteers and medical staff. Some require training techniques and medications to help with their fear and anxiety, but this is not common.
If you had to describe the typical greyhound patient personality in three words, what would they be?
Dr. Soileau: Gentle, loyal, and very feline-like.
Greyhounds have famously dramatic reactions to minor discomfort, don’t they?
Dr. Soileau: Overall, greyhounds seem to be such stoic and tough creatures when it comes to the major injuries and illnesses. When it comes to the minor things like otoscopic exams (looking into the ear canals) and nail trims, they provide us with a terrifying squeal—the GSOD (Greyhound Scream of Death).
What’s your favorite greyhound personality quirk that has nothing to do with their medical care but makes your day better?
Dr. Soileau: I absolutely love that these fast, majestic, athletic creatures are actually couch potatoes. They would prefer staying inside curled up on a couch with their parents over activity any day. This shows when they come into the office and want to be hugged or snuggled.
Another quirk that I absolutely adore is their chattering. They do this for many reasons: when they are happy, excited, and sometimes when they are nervous. I have never seen any other breed chatter.
Do you have a favorite success story of a GALT greyhound who overcame significant challenges?
Dr. Soileau: There are so many babies I have worked on over the last twenty years that … they all start to combine in my mind. I suppose that the most recent severely ill patient I cared for was Twyla.
Twyla was trapped in Mansfield, Texas, and released to GALT for care in April 2023. Upon her arrival, we performed baseline lab work and determined that she was positive for demodectic mange, Ehrlichia (tick-borne disease), heartworm disease, severe anemia likely due to her parasite load of hookworms and whipworms, and emaciation due to malnutrition. At time of presentation, she weighed 38 pounds; her ideal weight, which she eventually achieved, is 53 pounds.
It was a process to get her through all of her challenges, but she did very well and was eventually adopted by her foster parents, who fell in love with her.
Do you have any pets at home?
Dr. Soileau: Our family includes two dogs, a turtle, and a fish.
Rosie is a ten-year-old female spayed German shepherd/Border collie/Labrador mix. We have had her in our family since she was four months of age.
Rosie has an interesting origin story: I actually adopted her from GALT, and we then discovered with her DNA test that she did not have definitive greyhound in her mix. When found by the rescue, she had been a small puppy running with a full-breed black female greyhound, so it was assumed that she was her offspring. Rosie is our honorary greyhound. She is a very intelligent, sensitive girl who has a gentle and loving demeanor. Although this is the case, she can be reactive and feisty at times, but there is always an explanation for this behavior.
Kylie is a ten-year-old female spayed pit bull/Boxer mix. We have had her in our family since she was approximately four months of age as well. We adopted her from a local rescue. She is such a sweet, rambunctious, and loving girl. She can be “a lot” at times, but she fits in with our active and busy lifestyle and we love her more than words can describe. She is such a patient and loving dog that tolerates anything that is thrown at her. She is never reactive and thinks all attention is good attention.
Raphael is an approximately ten-year-old red-eared pond slider turtle. We acquired him when he was rescued from my brother’s property in Louisiana. He made the six-hour road trip to Dallas in a comfortable, appropriate enclosure and is now the proud owner of a fifty-gallon temperature-controlled filtered aquarium in our home. He lives a very posh and spoiled life with the appropriate food, lighting, and enrichment. As he continues to grow, we will be making plans to make him an outdoor pond as his main living environment, and he will keep his indoor home for when the weather requires him to come in.
Big John is our gold fish. He is approximately five years old. His origin story is interesting as well. He was actually purchased as a tiny feeder fish for Raphael, but the positive of this story is he survived and has grown larger than Raphael. They live together in the fifty-gallon aquarium, and I actually feel that they enjoy each other’s company.
After years of working with these special dogs, what still surprises you about greyhounds?
Dr. Soileau: I feel that greyhounds will forever have something to teach me and my colleagues. I by no means believe myself to be an expert in greyhounds, but I sure do look forward to continuing to learn about them and broaden my knowledge base so that I can continue to help them as long as I am able.
The greyhound breed is by far the most unique breed that I work with, and they have such unique physical and medical traits.
What aspects of these special dogs and GALT’s mission continue to inspire your support?
Dr. Soileau: I have always loved GALT’s mission to find amazing homes for these beautiful, gentle, spirited, majestic dogs. They deserve to have a warm, safe place surrounded by the love of a family. I have also always loved that GALT will help each and every greyhound that they can—No Grey Turned Away.
This breed is such a gentle breed to work with, and rarely do we find dogs that are reactive or fearful. I will continue to support greyhounds and GALT as long as I am able.
MEET THE HOUNDS DR. SOILEAU HELPS HEAL
Visit our Available Hounds Page to Find Your Perfect Greyhound Match