Our recently adopted GH has, for about a week, been yelping when pushing out her stool. No problems with the pooh, and the dog does not seem distressed afterward. No other apparent problems related to this.
One thing: this girl is a bit of a 'drama queen', crying at the least bit of discomfort.
Nonetheless, while I don't see a need to rush her to the vet, I am taking it very seriously - I am posting this request for advice here.
We have been feeding her Nutro lamb & rice, 2 cups, twice a day, plus occasional hard dog biscuits. We had tried yogurt for other gastro issues, and then this problem started, so we stopped. We have just started fish oil, 1000 mg twice a day.
I'm thinking I should try another dog food, but she likes this one fine, and the results otherwise have been good.

Does anyone have any experience/advice to share? Or is it just time to make a appointment with the vet?

Could be something with her glands, or hemorhoids even. (yup, dogs get 'em too)

If the poop is fine, I wouldn't mess with the food or the additives, but a vet check doesn't seem out of line.

Even for a drama queen, pooping shouldn't hurt.

Good luck!

Buzzy

Is the poop very firm to hard or soft? Does it have any bloody streaks or spots? If it's soft and bouncy I agree with Buzzy maybe infected or inpacted anal glands. Does she smell? Does she lick her rear end a lot more than normal?

Gracie Rose cries when she has to much bone in her diet and gets a little constipated; I give her beef heart or liver with turkey necks and no problem.

As the others have said as long as her poop is not bloody and/or mucousy (sp?) then it sounds like she may have impacted or infected anal glands or something else causing per pain in her rectum when whe passes her poop. Get her checked out by your vet would be my advice.

If her poop is normal and not overly hard, loose or bloody etc, you might also consider back, or hind leg problems. There's a lot of strain on the muscles and ligaments in the pooping position.

Personally, I'd get her seen, to rule out those things. Let us know how she does!

Prayers for your little sweetie.

Poor baby

My Talica frequently had diarrhea and when she did, she would cry loudly as she pooped. After a few vet visits, we concluded that the diarrhea itself was causing the problem, since she didn't have impacted anal glands, or a stuck bone, or any mechanical issues such as strained leg or rear muscles. Diarrhea is very acidic and after having it, their anus can be irritated and sore, and when that acidic stuff hits it, it hurts a lot.

If diarrhea is the problem, it needs to be solved, but oh my, that is a long and difficult quest sometimes. GT people can help with that; we've all tried many many things.

Hugs to you and scritches to your sweet houndie,
Jennifer

Many thanks to all who replied. Sounds like I need to get her in, if nothing else just to rule out anything serious.
On the poop, it's been both hard and soft since she's been here, something I attribute to the stress of the new home. Just lately it's been soft, but this is after we started giving her the fish oil. Our older dog (not greyhound) was the same way when we got her 10 years ago. It was months before things got real firm, and she was fine. No other problems with poop. Several weeks ago, before this started, she was tending to her rear end more than I would have expected, but that went away and later this problem came up. I think now it is probably related.

Time for the vet.

Above the possibility of other physical problems was mentioned - I checked out her legs and there is quite a bit of sensitivity in one of them. Thanks for noting that. It's something to point out to the vet.

Let us know what the vet finds. Poor little hurting girlie

Jennifer

Have you tried putting vegtable oil in her food? We've had this problem and that's what the vet recommended. Best of all, it worked.

We've been giving her fish oil - not sure if it is different in effect from veg oil. We've been giving it to our older dog for years. I've been giving her a whole capsule in a bit of sliced cheese and she gobbles it right down. And this morning she went without expressing discomfort. Still sensitive in one of her legs, but no problem walking/running or anything else.




another quick thought: it's much warmer today that the entire time that she has had the problem.

That sounds an awful lot like infected anal glands. If so, as long as she gets in to see a vet promptly it's an easy fix. Once the glands rupture things get ugly. But there could be any number of things causing it, so you're smart to get her in. Just a thought... it could also be the act of squatting that hurts if she's got a messed up back or leg.

Thanks again to all who responded here. Mimi had her vet appointment tonight and here's what's up:
She had some irritation in her anal area, probably the result of passing a very hard stool, or something else she ate. The vet prescribed Albaplex, which he said was a combination antibiotic and anti-inflammatory, and to add some fiber to her diet. It seems like she was already getting better from when it first flared up, and now with the medicine and diet advice, she should be fine real soon - and much more comfortable.

So, thanks again.

She could be a bit tender from her recent spay. Bunny did that for a bit after we brought her home and she'd recently been spayed. Her tummy was a little tender. Just a thought.

Glad to hear she's feeling a bit better. Hopefully it doesn't recur!

To respond to this one: when we first got her, she was pulling like crazy on walks, so we got a harness collar - and she hated it - went crazy every time we picked it up. She didn't even like being measured around her tummy. I'll bet this was the reason.
But now, Mimi very quickly learned about walking with us, and our older, slower dog, so the harness is no longer an issue. She's a smart girl.
Thanks.

Just a quick note: if you're giving oil to help her pass stool, and cheese, which is binding, you're sort of canceling the two out!

It's a small sliver of packaged sliced cheese, which the vet said was no big deal if it gets her to take the pill (and also gives her something at the same time we're giving other pills to the older dog). But at this point we are giving her the fiber (All Bran) for that purpose and keeping up the fish oil for general benefit, which I have found with my old dog. However, I'd be interested in anyone else's thoughts on fish oil. If it does nothing for the young greyhound (2 1/2 yrs), it's another pill and another few cents per pill.

Mimi continues to do better with each walk.