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DocsDoctor

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  1. Right! A week really isn't long - he's still figuring out the routines in this strange new place - that's why he likes to follow you round, too. He obviously finds the crate familiar and reassuring, so leave it up for now! Just give him a bit of time, and space, and he'll soon be settling in and discovering the other beds, I'm sure - especially with your other greyhound there to help 'show him the ropes'.
  2. Here in the UK I have more than once seen it said that descent from Greenpark Fox, a prolific Irish sire, is likely to increase a greyhound's predisposition to bone cancer. This seems to be based on anecdotal evidence only - see here for a discussion on a British forum. My Doc is a great-grandson of Greenpark Fox but remains fit and well to date - he turned ten back in August.
  3. There's no one answer, because greyhounds vary so much in height and body type. My Doc would weigh in at around that - he's a big tall fellow, but rangy in build. If you know your dog's racing name, you can probably find out his racing weight via Greyhound-Data. That will give you a starting point. Some owners on here feel a dog should add a few pounds to its racing weight in retirement, some not. (Doc has stayed at his.) You certainly don't want them to overdo it, their frames are not designed to carry too much weight! I would go by the look of the dog as much as actual weight - does yours still have a good 'tuck'? Can you see the last 2 or 3 ribs, and the tops of his hip-bones? Does he have a nice 'condition line' along his side?
  4. Would something like this help?Shaw's Paw Wax That's a UK supplier but no doubt there are similar things available in the States.
  5. What a lovely tribute to your boy - and what a lovely life you gave him. Run free, Iceman!
  6. Doc had a similar red patch when I adopted him - as you say, it's the bit that hits the ground first when they do that greyhound thing of lying down straight with front paws out like a sphinx. On a hard surface like the concrete in kennels, that can wear the hair off and also create irritation. The kennel manager at our greyhound rescue advises using Sudocrem for this and similar rashes - if you don't have this in the States, I'm sure you can find something similar. It's just a mild, rather greasy antiseptic cream, designed to sort out human nappy rash. It did work well and now I always keep some in store. For a rash in an area she can lick, like her thighs, put it on just before a walk so it gets a chance to soak in before she can lick it off! edited for sense
  7. This is my method too, though pulling out the lower rather than the upper lid. It really does get easier as you both get to know what to expect! Doc had to have drops several times a day earlier this year for about three months, after injuring his eye. It took a while to heal but he became so good about the drops, and the vet examinations - must have known we were trying to help .
  8. As others have said, he's unlikely to be familiar with other breeds of dog. Just to add that something I found really helpful was a good mixed-breed obedience class, where Doc and I could meet lots of 'strange-looking dogs' under controlled conditions. Good fun, and it increased my confidence as well to learn about doggy body language. If you want to do this I'd wait a month or so, for him to start to settle in and bond with you. Then find a trainer who uses positive rewards only - it's helpful if they understand retired greyhounds and their special little ways (e.g. not liking to sit!) too.
  9. Like people they can have different body-types, I think. Doc is a big, rangy-looking dog, who never wants to put weight on - he eats his food with relish, but won't eat more than he needs, and has stayed at his racing weight. My vet (who keeps big dogs herself and has lots of other greyhound clients) always says he looks just fine and makes a nice change from all the chubby dogs she sees! If I think he is looking too thin, then on her advice I up his rations with a bit of extra protein rather than increasing his regular food - adding in for example some cheap human-grade beef mince, a raw egg, or a small can of sardines. Very popular with Doc and works better for us than extra carbs/ fat/ more of his dry food.
  10. Poor Kelly - give him a gentle hug from me. It's been warm here as you say and I notice Doc's appetite has decreased a bit. I would wonder about worms, too - again with Doc I have in the past had had growly tum/ lack of appetite/ messy stools as symptoms of worms. How long ago did Kelly have the wormer? Don't forget it just kills what is there at the time and can't prevent reinfection, and that new ones can hatch and grow to maturity PDQ (6 weeks?). With pills I am a ruthless woman I am afraid and poke them into a back corner of Doc's mouth, and then hold his muzzle up and massage his throat until he swallows. (He gets a treat afterwards though!) If Doc had an upset tummy I would let him starve himself for 24 hours or so before considering the vet, however he is a dog with a robust digestion and I don't know whether this is appropriate for Kelly with his IBD. How helpful is your vet - could you ring for advice as to whether you should take him in?
  11. I personally wouldn't want him barking at neighbours. Can you introduce him and get them to give him a few treats so he knows they are friends? Doc loves my neighbours and if he sees them in their back garden will go over to the fence and squeak at them until they come and give him a pat through the trellis! It's handy having them on board - just occasionally when I have had to leave him on his own for longer than usual I am able to ask them to come in and let him into the garden, give him a meal, etc. Doc's not especially territorial, but does have a strong chase instinct, so squirrels, cats, and foxes get chased out of my back garden on sight - usually without incident but he did once manage to bite a fox on the bottom as it escaped over the fence! No barking until they are out of reach. No proper front garden so he doesn't get left out there. We're on a busy road but he's never barked at passers-by. If we hear someone at the front door, he will look at me/ get up, if he thinks I haven't noticed, and I will say 'thank you Doc' before he can start barking (which he did do a bit to begin with, out of excitement). He loves visitors and would initially jump up on them, which I wouldn't allow - so now instead he grabs one of his toys and races around with that for a bit, which is rather endearing. He does bark at the doorbell when I am out, I think, which I wouldn't discourage as it's good security. And I admit that sometimes as a lone female I will take him into the hall to help me answer the doorbell, if I don't know who it is - and at that point visitors will encounter a dauntingly large tiger-striped dog, being restrained by the collar, and with its jaws gaping open - in a grin but they don't always realise that!
  12. Run free, you sweet and handsome boy Thank you for the years of happiness you gave him. I had never heard of 'captive blood donors' before. That's heartbreaking - and so unnecessary. I can't imagine how anyone would justify subjecting a dog to such a dismal existence...
  13. . Have had this with Doc, too - albeit in the middle of the night. The first time he genuinely needed a loo-break, which was fine, but thereafter it was just him wanting a 'fun' trip out. Eventually I cottoned on, hardened my heart, and firmly told him to go back to bed. It didn't take long to break the habit. Now if he asks (which is almost never) it is because he really does need to go! If you're awake enough check out Kevin's voice and body language, too - with Doc I quite quickly got to know the difference between 'Let's go and see what's happening out in the garden' and 'I really really need a loo-break NOW', even when woken from deep sleep at three in the morning!
  14. Ignore the silly advice about 'the motivation having to come from your end' and needing to be the boss of him. This doesn't sound to me like a dog who is 'playing you', rather one who trusts you and is trying to tell you that he does not want to go with that care taker. That may be an issue with that individual, rather than the daycare itself - could s/he have been rough handling him into the van at some stage? But as to the daycare itself - how confident are you that the staff know what they are doing? Are you going on what they tell you, or have you seen him there? If so did he look as if he was enjoying himself? Was he able to get away from the other dogs and nap, if he wanted to? As Victoria Stilwell points out daycare is not for every dog - all that 'offleash playtime' can be tiring, even stressful if all the dogs are not well-socialised and their interreactions unsupervised. Maybe if he used to like it, something has now changed - e.g. a dog he doesn't get on with. Or maybe he has just realised that he COULD stay at home with you all day instead, and just snooze on the sofa! Honestly, I know this is what a lot of greyhounds, including my own, would prefer. I understand about wanting to give him opportunities to 'be a dog', but I don't think the average greyhound needs or even wants hours of boisterous play on a daily basis with other dogs, especially other breeds. He will still need to be walked of course, but maybe you can accommodate breaks for that into your working day - that is what I do and Doc and I both enjoy it! I do think it is important to keep him socialised so if you don't meet nice dogs on your local walks have a think about maybe doing an all-breeds obedience class with a good trainer or joining a local greyhound playgroup/fun run.
  15. Another vote here for 'pilling' the dog. This works much better with Doc than disguising the medication in a treat or in his food, when it usually gets coughed up. Now I give him the treat afterwards instead .
  16. Twice a day is easier on their tums, I think - and more fun for them too given that eating is such a highlight of their day!
  17. How about the canine version of 'Hunt The Lady' (i.e. the 3-card game. This is actually Doc's 'party trick' but also suitable for a convalescent hound as it can be done while she is lying down, though not flat out. Owner takes small smelly treat (we use cubes of cheese/bits of meaty chew strips) and hides it under one of three small containers (e.g. mug, ramekin, patty tin) turned upside down. Then shuffle the containers round - dog soon learns how to sniff out and pick the right one. Cue congratulations and of course a treat as well!
  18. I've done this a few times with Doc. I don't know where you are but here in the UK there are quite a few websites and guidebooks available with details of dog friendly accommodation and places to visit. Here as an example is doggie pubs - very handy for finding a nice pub lunch! It can work really well if you do your research, and have a confident dog. I don't have a car so we travel on the train*, which means keeping luggage to a minimum. I'm usually able to persuade the hotel to supply an old duvet as bedding. Many here don't want the dog on the furniture, so I usually take an old flannel sheet or so as a cover-up. As well as all the good advice given here, I would say do make sure your dog's ID tag shows your mobile phone number, not just your home one, and if you are staying in one place get the details of the local vet, just in case! *very much all part of the fun for Doc, see below!
  19. In the UK where canned pumpkin is a rarity we use porridge oats - I'm not sure whether that's what you call them too? Oat flakes anyway, rather than oatmeal. Nice and natural and very inexpensive. Just mix a tablespoonful or so of the raw flakes into the dog's food.
  20. As a first step I'd ask the manufacturer/ retailer for a free sample bag (normally this just contains a few ounces), so you can see if he he actually LIKES the proposed new food. Won't be enough to tell if it's going to suit him on a long-term basis, though. If you then decide to go ahead and try it, the bigger bag will work out cheaper. If it turns out not to suit your greyhound, you could always donate the rest of the bag to your greyhound group/ another local dog rescue!
  21. A gentle to your sweet girl. The Bioflow collars are made here in the UK - I bought Doc's collar from this supplier ecomagnets.com. It does offer international shipping but at a price! Maybe you can find a US supplier/ maker offering the same money-back deal? I hope you can, and that it makes her more comfortable. PS Because the collar they supply is a bit hideous I've taken the magnet off Doc's and sewn it inside his regular house collar, using a bit of black cloth.
  22. As well as supplements you might like to consider a Bioflow (magnetic) collar. I got one of these recently for Doc, who is nine and a half and was beginning to show first symptoms of arthritis - galloping less, reluctant to go up my steep staircase, licking his wrists. I had been sceptical to say the least but because other dogowners said they worked I decided to give it a go before trying extra supplements (he gets fish oil already). I reckoned I had nothing to lose as if it doesn't work you can send it back to Bioflow after 90 days and get your money back. It does seem to have helped, a month on he has stopped licking his wrists and is back to galloping around the park, and up the stairs!
  23. I had a similar if not identical situation with Doc so hopefully our experience while not quite the same will help! He had come to me straight from the greyhound kennels and I found that we did have the problem that small squirmy puppies seen while out and about=potential snack... We were going to some mixed-breed dog obedience classes anyway for general socialisation, so I mentioned this to the (very nice) trainer. Her solution was to invite me to the puppy class she held before the class we were attending anyway, and get us to sit quietly on the sidelines for a while so that Doc could observe the puppies being walked around by their owners. It didn't take him long to work out that they were all dogs, and calm down. Then she took the smallest, whitest and fluffiest puppy from its owner, sat down beside us, and held it up with its bottom towards Doc for him to sniff. No muzzles or anything - she was adamant that he would not hurt her once he realised she was another dog, and she was right. That said we are still wary around puppies, because they can be so full-on and rude - their owners can be a bit clueless too. If need be I just explain Doc is a grumpy old man who doesn't want to be bothered with puppies! I think bitches are usually more tolerant of puppies and puppy play but yes once the two have been introduced (outside sounds a good idea) I would carefully monitor interreactions indoors and give Diana a place she can escape to if the puppy is being annoying. Like kids they can get very hyper if they are tired! I would also be very careful about unleashed activity outside - in fact I wouldn't do it - because puppy running about, squealing etc could set the whole problem off again as I am sure you are aware! HTH
  24. Could be worms, as someone has already suggested. I've had Doc exhibit similar symptoms and that was what it turned out to be.
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