kamsmom

He's 2, so essentially, he is still a baby. I had to be diligent with following mine around and saying "NO!" They catch on pretty quick. The garbage tho, I had to bungee the cabinet door shut with the garbage inside of it. Silly dog figured out how to open the cabinets

Steak is now up to 300mgs a day (may be like 320 or something I can't remember the exact dosage but I know it's around 300). He is not the same dog he was I miss him. He is still a very sweet, gentle soul but is different since we started medicating. We have been on the pheno now almost two months and he is still seizing about every two weeks. His are gran mal seizures every time. The most recent was just last week. He takes about 2 hours to settle after them. He is much, much more vocal and whiney now as well. He is always hungry and never seems to really relax any more. I often have had thoughts of whether he is better off with or without the meds. The vet and I have agreed to one more increase in the meds and to add potassium bromide and then we will do an MRI...

I have a card for care credit and we used it once for vet bills. The only option I have used is to pay it off in the time alloted for zero interest, otherwise it is way too high of an interest rate. But, if it is what you need then it is useful at the time.

I'm going to disagree just a little on the hand feeding. I think it's good in some cases but when the dog is already scared then I think just being the one to put the bowl out can do wonders. He can sit beside the bowl silently while she eats as well. And that is one of the tricks, you have to be silent. No walking around and fidgeting with things. Get the food, put it in the bowl and then sit or stand quietly. After she gains a bit more trust and will stay in the same room then start with some hand feeding. I just think sometimes we all have to take smaller steps and asking a dog to eat out of our hands is sometimes very intrusive. It has it's place but with this one I would start even slower.

I would have your husband doing the feeding. Even if she is pickier in the beginning, once she is hungry she will eat. Make it exciting, add some treat or wet food to it. Your husband shouldn't act as if it's a big deal and you and your daughter should sit on the couch or be in another room. I wouldn't crate her for 13 hours either. When your husband gets home he can open the crate door, snap a leash on her and take her for a walk. This will get her outside to go to the bathroom and he and she can bond more on those walks. Again tho, he shouldn't act as if it's a big deal, just make it more routine. I have a very, very shy grey and she loves my husband. The thing is he never asks her for anything. He doesn't try to pet her, he doesn't really even talk to her and it seems the less engagement he has the more she tries to be with him. She follows him around the house and he never makes a big deal about it. I try all the time to talk to her and pet her and hug her and she pulls away from me... So, your husband just needs to "play hard to get"

There is a friend of mine who feeds that stuff to her dogs. She also takes it herself. I'm curious to see if you have good results from it.

I also use Ivomec. It's cheap and with a lot of dogs it's easier. I also haven't had any come up with worms except when Ivy came in and she already had them.

GEM greyhound group sells the extra strap for the plastic muzzle. I also have a chewer and if the muzzle is too loose she can use her paws and sorta scratch it off of her ears. I'm on my phone and can't post the website but I assure you they are trustworthy. You may even be able to call in an order.

Whoop Whoop! I can't wait to hear more Zuni/Kali stories Congrats PJ!

Oh no My Isis had something similar. It was chalked up to a "neurologic event". She did not start getting better until about 24 hours later and she still to this day walks a little "wonky". I did race her up to the vet and she got a steroid shot. Only you know if it is an emergency or not. The panting could just be from the stress of it all. I will be thinking good thoughts for you.

And, maybe, just maybe, you have a very laid back dog. Nothing wrong with it. My first, Isis, never really plays. She never does anything wrong and in fact acts much, much older than she is. But I love her for it. We are completely and totally bonded. When I got a second greyhound, Carmen, they did play a bit and Carmen will play with me. They are two completely different dogs and I love it. Wouldn't change a thing about it. You may just have the perfect, most relaxed dog around. Have you thought about a 2nd, more playful dog? One that you can go run with or play tug with? My Carmen is my "go to" playful dog and then my lab is my outside "go hiking" dog. Good luck to you. By the way, what is your dogs name? Do you have any photos? How old is she?

Lauren, Heather didn't say you were a bad dog owner. She was just reiterating that it isn't up to the e-vet to give out advice over the phone. They are a business just like a doctors office. Most dr's offices would also say to just come in. I'm really glad that Grace and Fenway didn't have any ill effects from the fish oil caps. I have been a panicked owner who called the e-vet once too. Steak ate an entire bag of hershey's kisses and I called. The e-vet said that if I was worried to bring him in. I later felt ok and didn't take him in. No big deal, but if the e-vets started charging per phone call I think more people would think twice before calling in. Give Fenny and Grace a hug. Everyone was just worried.

True companionship means earning some trust. I don't think a month will do it. With each of my greyhounds they have taken some time to become the dogs they are today. I tell friends of mine all the time that the biggest difference in the greyhounds and other dogs is that the greys truly make you earn that trust. It takes time and work. The bond is not instant with a greyhound. My lab will bond with who ever has the next hand with a cookie, but my greys will tread lightly.

I have also seen people just use two baby gates and stack them. I also have a giant bathroom and the dogs seem to love the tile floor in there the best. No worries, and sometimes it's hard on an internet forum to know that most are just being helpful. I don't think anyone was upset about the bathroom, just asking about it. We would all love to see a picture of Baron tho

xpens come in many sizes. Get the taller ones Mine are 48" tall. I also stake the sides of the xpen down when outside with it.

Traditionally when people say tethering they are talking about a stake in the ground than then the leash is attached to that or tied to a tree or something. If the dog sees something and tries to jump and run they can potentially hurt their necks very badly. Now if you are talking about tying the leash to yourself that is different and is something that I have done with my own dog but only after a lot of working with them. Not off leash but knowing that the dog walks with me and not ahead of me.

I wouldn't tether. Do you have an xpen? Maybe even two of them. Set them up and then she can hang out there with you

Muzzle too.

The vet asked me if he was showing any symptoms. I said, "like what?" to which he says, "is he more tiresome than the others, is he mentally dull, is his hair coarse..." Steak isn't the sharpest tool in the shed but I would never call him mentally dull He is lazy, but no more than the others, his hair is coarser but not terrible... he isn't loosing any hair. This is all interesting.

Ok... in reading the labs it is a free T4 by equilibrium dialysis that he is wanting to do next. It is very clearly typed on the bottom of the labs he sent me today that the lab recommended that as the next step with those very words. I will ask about the full panel for thyroid in my next call.

Full panel of what? Why would MSU and Dr Dodds be the only ones to diagnose it? Just curious...

I recently had Steak into the vet for seizures. This last week they sent off for blood work. His T4 is .6 and the vet says it needs to be between 1 and 4. So he is also sending off for a free T4... not free to me tho Anyway, he says it probably has nothing to do with the seizures but that many seizure dogs are hypothyroid but that hypothyroid dogs aren't necessarily seizure dogs. Are you still with me? Any way, tell me what I need to know

It does take time and so many people have given you wonderful advice. However, I do think the new environment, fast moving kitties, and a stressed out new mom and another dog trying to establish order is a lot all at once. He needs time to adjust just to the newness of the people and house, let alone kittens and another dog. If you are in this all the way it can be overcome, but will take lots of work and patience. I have a dog that took a year before he was ever trusted with my 3 pound chi mix. But, if you truly don't think that you can do it, contact your group soon and talk to them. They may have another, older, "bounce" dog that would work perfect for you... Good luck with either decision.

Thanks Judy. I told the vet about Saint today He told me that I was getting excellent advice. He also joked that he was gonna have to put you on the payroll if I kept coming in already knowing what to do