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DocsDoctor

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    Asking Vet For Prescription (Seems Like A Silly Question)

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted

    Here in the UK the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons state that a vet must write you a prescription, if asked and if he has seen the animal recently, but that he may make a 'reasonable charge' for it. Mine charges £12, which seems fair enough and still usually means a considerable saving for buying long-term meds online. They have explained me that they can't buy these in for the practice as cheaply as I can buy them for myself: the online pharmacies buy much bigger quantities, so can negotiate discounts directly with the manufacturers.

    To Flea-Med Or Not To Flea Med?

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted

    This is something I would research for myself, but also be prepared to take my vet's advice on. In fact it came up at Ken's first healthcheck - I had planned to continue using Effipro (a fibropronil treatment) which I had got in for Doc, and would use on an 'at need' basis. However, when I adopted Ken the greyhound rescue had asked me to use Advocate instead, because of the growing risk here from lungworm. The vet confirmed that it is indeed a growing problem, so we switched.

     

    Ken is a healthy young dog, but our vet is lovely and would I know would have been prepared to talk through and/or research further any concerns I might have raised if he had been Diana and I was worrying about potential side-effects, etc. All vets should be like this IMHO :).

    He Doesn't Like Sleeping Near Us Anymore

    in Training and Behavior discussion

    Posted

    Perhaps the noise of the airconditioning unit running disturbs him?

     

    If he's happy and comfortable at the other end of the apartment, let him be - as smurfette says it's all part of him settling in and feeling more confident. As he gets to know the ropes he feels safe enough to begin to relax without keeping an eye on you all the time to see what's going to happen next.

     

    Ken has been here seven weeks today and it's a delight to watch his increasing confidence about picking and choosing a comfy spot that doesn't need to be next to me. About half an hour I panicked because I couldn't find him - he'd gone into my bedroom for a nap on the rug in the sunshine.

     

    Sounds as if you have good arrangements in place for leaving him on his own, and that he's coping well :), so that I'm sure that your nerves will diminish just with time and experience. Something else to consider is whether you can find a neighbour/friend/ dogwalker who could also step in and give him a break in an emergency. I know there are 2 of you, but that might be reassuring to have just as a backup. I am lucky in that both sets of neighbours have keys and would be happy to go in and give Ken a break if I get stuck somewhere on public transport or whatever.

    Anyone Know Of Good Long-Lasting Bones?

    in Food and dietary discussion

    Posted

    I don't want to hijack the thread, just a quick question. how long does everyone set their bones out for their pup? And how frequently (every day, once a week)?

     

    I'm thinking of give Solny one as additional assistance to her dental health and obviously don't want to leave her alone with it.

    For Ken, it's a Saturday morning treat. I buy goat feet (each one is actually a whole foot + leg chopped off below the knee/hock, so including marrow bone) for him at our local halal butcher, very inexpensively. One goat foot lasts about an hour, and is ecstatically chewed on the lawn while I sit on the patio with a pot of coffee and the newspaper. I'm not sure what we will do come the winter - maybe let him have it on his bed, covered with an old shower curtain to contain any mess!

     

    I struggled to find bones locally - neither the supermarkets or the posh independent butchers sold them - until I thought of trying the ethnic stores. Human recipes use the feet in stews, I believe - adds body as well as flavour, like using a pig's trotter.

    Newly Adopted Female Grey-Attacked Another Dog

    in Training and Behavior discussion

    Posted

    My gut feeling on reading your account is that Essie is probably trying to incite the other dogs to play. "Nip [on the back of the neck] and chase" is how greyhounds like to play together. The fact that the whippet was uninjured bears this out.

     

    However you can't let her practice this behaviour if it frightens another dog*. Quite apart from it being bad manners, you run the risk that if the other dog panicks and squeals this could arouse her prey drive, and in the blink of an eye lead to tragedy, especially with a small dog. (I once saw my old chap catch a squirrel in the park. He took it by the back of the neck, and shook it. It was dead in an instant.)

     

    The other risk is that Essie herself will get hurt. Greyhounds' thin skin tears very easily, so if the other dog retaliates by biting, even just a play-bite, you could end up at the vet's.

     

    So yes, keep her on the lead when there are other dogs around. As you get to know each other better, and she settles into domestic life and makes some regular doggie friends you may be able to revisit this but better safe than sorry!

     

    I have no experience re cats so will let others help you with that, but note that most greyhounds seem to be able to learn to live with their 'own' cat even if others remain off-limits.

     

    *It's worth noting that different breeds of dog play in different ways - jumping up, wrestling, etc. - so plenty of scope for confusion for a greyhound who has most likely not met other breeds of dog before!

    Problematic Walks And Interactions - Am I Doing The Right Thing By Her

    in Training and Behavior discussion

    Posted

    I would agree with the advice to use a muzzle and I also meant to say that I would walk her in a harness - it's too easy for her to back out of a collar.

     

    As others have said this may prove be a hard nut to crack. If you feel it's going to be much of a challenge in your particular circumstances, don't be ashamed to go back to the adoption group and say so. They want their dogs to be happy in their new lives and may well feel another one would be a better fit :).

    Problematic Walks And Interactions - Am I Doing The Right Thing By Her

    in Training and Behavior discussion

    Posted

    Other more experienced posters will chip in I'm sure, but clearly this is a difficult situation for both of you so I wanted to help if I can.

     

    She is clearly getting stressed in those situations and that will impact on her whole day. This article about dogs 'running out of spoons' is a helpful read if you haven't already come across it: http://yourdogsfriend.org/spoon-theory-and-funny-dog-gifs/

     

    I'm seeing something a bit similar though not nearly so severe here as I adopted a new greyhound (my second) last week. He's not experienced a busy urban environment before, and sometimes he gets nervous about e.g. busy roads, police sirens, strange dogs approaching him. I'm managing this by being careful about when and where we walk so as to avoid stressful situations if possible - avoiding the busiest roads in the rush hour, giving yappy/ off leash dogs a wide berth. I also carry treats with me, and will stop and examine all these strange new phenomena from a distance and then reward him for calm behaviour. I won't say I get it right all the time but I can seeing him growing in confidence.

     

    I think for you to succeed you are going to need to do something similar. Can you walk her at times/ in places where it is quieter and you don't encounter so many dogs? It doesn't matter if it's a boring back alley rather than a park - boring is better than stressful. Managing her surroundings is key, and will help build her confidence that you are able to look after her. You also need to develop a firm manner for dealing with any dogs that do run up - and their owners. Maybe someone from your adoption group or her previous fosterer can come over and assess the situation and give you some practical guidance?

     

    Re the prey drive: Ken doesn't seem to have much of one but my old boy Doc when he first came to me wanted to chase anything and everything that moved - a carrier bag blowing in the wind, even. With him as with most dogs this did wear off to some extent as he settled into domestic life and realised that he was not expected to chase everything any more - though squirrels, cats and foxes always remained fair game!

    Please Welcome Ken!

    in Introductions & Biography

    Posted

    Thank you so much everybody! He is continuing to settle in well, and is now enjoying a nap downstairs, after a morning walk on our local common, and breakfast, and a zoom round with Doc's Sow (a pink plush pig). He is not at all a clingy dog - seems happy to be in another room on his own - which I guess is another mark of his confident personality.

     

    We saw quite a few other dogs at a distance this morning, plus one small brown fluffy escapee which came running up close from behind, clattering its retractable lead on the ground :yikes . But we stayed cool and moved on - he seems quite happy just observing all these strange new phenomena now. I doubt he'd seen anything like our local rush hour either - I live on a busy road so there's no avoiding all the people and traffic - but again he seemed quite happy trotting along with me and taking it all in.

    How your heart must have turned over when you saw him playing with one of Doc's stuffies. But I'm sure Doc would be so pleased and proud that you have another greyhound in your life.

    Yes indeed. I have told him that Doc left them for him as a welcome gift, and that we can get him some more once we have worked out his preferences. Meanwhile he is playing with them all enthusiastically, but also gently. Which is also what Doc used to do, so some are very old friends - the teddy in the pic was one he found for himself in a recycling bag outside someone's house, brand new at the time but must be a good nine years old now. :wub: .

    He is gorgeous :beatheart :beatheart He looks very suave, very James Bond-y to me for some reason :)

    This may stick, I like it! 'The name is Bond - Ken Bond.' :lol I used to tell Doc that he was like Indiana Jones as he was so keen on exploring new places!

    Please Welcome Ken!

    in Introductions & Biography

    Posted

    I'm thrilled to announce that I have a handsome new greyhound lying beside me on his bed as I type this - not a replacement for Doc of course, but another dog who needed a home and who will hopefully enjoy what's on offer here.

     

    Ken turned four last month and is black with a few white markings (hind paws, chest, etc) and a little smaller than Doc was, but still a big boy. And beautifully put together, I must say – he has been recovering from a foot infection but looks fit as a fiddle and has an especially amazing tail, long and very flexible.

     

    So far he has been settling in very well. A kind friend drove me down to pick him up from the adoption kennels yesterday morning. For a dog who’s probably never been in a house before he’s been sussing everything out very quickly, mastering the stairs in minutes and remaining totally unfazed by the TV, washing machine etc. He slept in my bedroom last night - it took him a little time to settle, but when I woke and sat up in bed in the night and peered down towards his bed there he was, not only fast asleep but happily roaching! And I am also glad to report that he eats like a horse, walks nicely on the lead, and has very polite about meeting various human neighbours, a lab, and a staffy on our walks round the neighbourhood. Somewhat to my surprise he's also been very good about being left on his own - for a few minutes yesterday and then for half an hour this morning - when I came back in today he'd obviously treated it as an opportunity to run upstairs and crash out on my bed.

     

    So far there has only been ‘ohmihgawdwhathaveidone’ moment – that was yesterday afternoon, when he plunged not once but twice into the garden pond AFTER I had given him a bath, presumably his version of a ‘dirty protest’!

     

    Photos are obligatory I know – sorry about the quality of these, black dogs are a new challenge for me. Soon after arrival:

    Ken%20day%201%20003_zpsono3mijf.jpg

     

     

     

    Playing with one of Doc's old teddies:

    Ken%20day%201%20002_zpsilht3q4p.jpg

     

    This morning, on his bed beside my desk and looking a bit more relaxed – note his blingy new house collar, which arrived today courtesy of ebay. Black dogs dress up well!

    Ken%20day%202%20007_zps18o7usir.jpg

     

    His racing name was Boomtown Ken and like Doc he is Irish by origin, but with some American blood in there too, and a racing career here in the UK: http://www.greyhound-data.com/d?i=1912115

     

     

    Clare and Ken xx

     

    When To Be Concerned With Hind End

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted

    I have been bringing Robin to physical therapy for the past year. His treatment included muscle building/maintaining exercises, massage and stretching, cold laser, and a swim in the pool. I am convinced that these treatments are responsible for him still being with me, even if he is declining more now.

    :nod That was true for my old chap too - sadly no longer with us, but he did make it to the grand old age of thirteen years seven months. He did a couple of hydrotherapy courses but didn't like them much, so what helped for us longterm was having a veterinary physio do home visits, which he loved. She would massage and manipulate him and finish off with cold laser treatment.

     

    She also gave me physio exercises to do with him every day. They only took a few minutes and definitely helped keep his back end muscles going. And both she and the vet were quite clear that it was important to keep going for walks - short ones if need be, several times a day for preference - for the same reason and to help keep life interesting!

     

    As well as fish oil supplements do look into turmeric paste, and joint supplements with glucosamin & chondroitin.

    Ruby Ruby Ruby

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted

    Hugs. No medical advice, but I am wondering if light massage or something like the T-Touch system is also worth trying? That would be something you could learn to do yourselves, and might prove reassuring for her. Look into thundershirts, too.

    Walking A Nervous New Dog

    in Training and Behavior discussion

    Posted

    Others have already given you lots of good advice, and it sounds as if he is beginning to settle in. As well as being patient with him I would try getting some really tasty treats, little ones you can put into a small pot or bag to carry around on walks or in the garden. Then as well as telling him what a good boy he is when he does a wee or a poo, or whatever, you can slip him a treat too!. Those doggy salami sticks broken up into little bits are good, or tiny cubes of cheddar cheese were always popular with Doc.

    Magic Inthestars - 1/5/01 - 4/15/15

    in Remembrance

    Posted

    Run free, dear Magic! :gh_run2 I think you have a lot in common with my Doc, who left us the same day. If you see him, see if he can help you send a sign to your mom that you are happy and well, now that you are up there in the stars for good and all. I think from her comment on one of my threads about him that she would appreciate it.

     

    Carol, I am very sorry for your loss. :bighug It's no easy thing to do, is it? Even when you know in your heart it's the right thing.

     

    I hope you will find comfort in the short poem below. It's by Leo Marks and is usually associated with a brave woman - it's said to have been the code poem used by Violette Szabo, the WW2 British agent - but has also always seemed to me to describe beautifully our dogs' trust in us, and the responsibility that brings):

     

    The life that I have
    Is all that I have
    And the life that I have
    Is yours.

     

    The love that I have
    Of the life that I have
    Is yours and yours and yours.

     

    A sleep I shall have
    A rest I shall have
    Yet death will be but a pause.

     

    For the peace of my years
    In the long green grass
    Will be yours and yours
    and yours.

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