MP_the4pack

Do you have anything that is soft? My LP girl can't have hard and crunchy. Keeping my fingers crossed Mizzy can get taken care of.

God speed Beecher.

Actually, Pearl's original mis-diagnosis ended up being an abscessed tooth. The little one WAY in the back on top. We didn't find it until her eye buldged and they found "an infection behind the eye". That's when they discovered the abscess. No swollen jaw, just pain opening her mouth. If that's the case, hopefully she can have a dental to get rid of it.

Have you ever had her heart check out? The only thing I can think of is congestive heart failure. But that's only because my Pearl has a very bad heart and that is what I'm supposed to expect when her time comes (if she doesn't keel over from a heart attack). I'm sure there's other reasons, so don't get too worried yet.

Contact OSU for a direct copy. It comes in Adobe Format. If you can't get it, PM me your email addy and I'll forward the email to you with the attachment.

I get the Quarterly Newsletter put out by OSU. Here's the one I just received, there's some interesting info here: GREYHOUND QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER ISSUE 4 – WINTER 2008 Greyhounds Health and Wellness Quarterly 3 BONE TUMORS IN GREYHOUNDS Primary bone neoplasms are common in dogs. Most primary bone tumors in dogs are malignant, in that they usually cause death as a result of local infiltration (e.g., pathologic fractures or extreme pain leading to euthanasia) or metastasis (e.g., pulmonary metastases in osteosarcoma). Neoplasms that metastasize to the bone are extremely rare in dogs; some malignant tumors that occasionally metastasize to bones are transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary tract, osteosarcoma of the appendicular skeleton, hemangiosarcoma, mammary adenocarcinoma, and prostatic adenocarcinoma. Osteosarcomas (OSAs) are the most common type of bone cancer in retired racing Greyhounds (45%) and the most common cause of death in the breed (25%). It affects more commonly the front limbs (75%) than the rear limbs (25%) and there is a predilection for males (59%). The cause of OSA in Greyhounds is unknown, but it has been suggested that the repetitive trauma and fatigue in their bones during racing plays a role in the disease, particularly in the right limbs that sustain most of the weight while running counterclockwise on the tracks. However, there is no significant difference in the proportion of right limb tumors versus left limb tumors in Greyhounds. More studies are needed to determine if their racing careers are a risk for the disease or if there is a genetic component. OSA in Greyhounds commonly affects: 1. The upper front leg bone, below the shoulder joint, (proximal humerus). 2. The lower part of the front leg bone, 1 above the wrist joint (distal radius). 3. The lower part of the rear leg bone, above the knee, (distal femur). “Although, they can affect any bone or location”. 2 The most common signs in dogs with bone tumors are limping and/or swelling. The onset of signs is variable, and the degree of lameness varies from mild to a non-weight-bearing lameness. In contrast with other breeds, Greyhounds frequently present with a spontaneous pathological fracture without prior history of lameness (1 in 5 cases). The diagnosis of OSA usually includes radiographs (affected bone and thorax); because other primary bone tumors and some infectious lesions can mimic the radiographic features of OSAs, fineneedle aspiration (FNA) of the lesion may be obtained. We do not recommend biopsy in Greyhounds because we typically do not obtain a diagnostic sample, and because due to the small, fragile bones in the hounds we are more concerned about biopsy-induced fractures. Radiographically, OSAs exhibit a mixed lytic-proliferative (destructionproduction) pattern of the affected bone. Once a presumptive radiographic diagnosis has been established and if the owners are contemplating treatment, thoracic radiographs should be obtained to determine the extent of the disease. We usually obtain three radiographic views of the thorax. Only approximately 10% of dogs with OSA initially have radiographically detectable lung lesions; the presence of metastases is a strong negative prognostic factor. A fine-needle aspiration (FNA) of the affected area is a simple, painless procedure that rarely requires chemical restraint (i.e.; sedation) and it allows the microscopic analysis of the cells. OSA cells are usually round or oval, have distinct cytoplasmic borders, have a bright blue, granular cytoplasm, and have excentric nuclei with or without nucleoli. The treatment of choice for dogs with OSA is amputation with adjuvant single-agent or combination chemotherapy. The median survival time in Greyhounds with OSA treated with amputation alone is approximately 4 months, whereas in dogs treated with amputation and chemotherapy (carboplatin or doxorubicin) it is approximately 12-18 months. Here at The Ohio State University, we use either carboplatin or doxorubicin for a total of 4 to 5 treatments, starting the day of the suture removal (8-10 days after amputation), we check the complete blood count (CBC) and chemistry profile before every chemotherapy treatment, and thoracic radiographs every 3 months. Amputation in Greyhounds with OSA frequently results in severe postoperative bleeding (24-48h post-surgery) starting around the surgical site, leading to subcutaneous blood accumulation in the other limbs, ventral thorax, and ventral abdomen; these dogs typically have normal hemostasis profiles (APTT, OSPT). Administration of aminocaproic acid (Amicar®) usually prevents severe postoperative bleeding. . Less than 20% of dogs undergoing chemotherapy experience clinically relevant adverse effects, which include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or loss of appetite. However their frequency and severity are not as high as in humans. The prevalence of adverse effects appears to be lower in Greyhounds than in other dog breeds. These adverse effects are typically managed with medications, chemo drug dose reduction, or changing to a different chemotherapeutic agent. Pain control is essential in dogs where surgery is not an option; we have used either NSAIDs (carprofen, deracoxib, meloxicam) at recommended doses, or bisphosphonates such as alendronate (Fosamax®), or pamidronate (Aredia®), every 3 to 6 weeks. Drugs such as tramadol (Ultram) may also be beneficial. If the dog is not a good candidate for amputation, because of problems in the other limbs or if owners are reluctant to allow the veterinarian to amputate the limb, local radiotherapy plus carboplatin may be of some benefit. Management of nausea and vomiting episodes is limited to the use of antiemetics and supportive therapy. The drugs of choice are metroclopramide (Reglan®) or maropitant (Cerenia®). Supportive fluid therapy (if necessary) and treatment with bismuth subsalicylate products (Pepto-Bismol®) orally three or four times a day, are usually effective in controlling diarrhea, which usually resolve in 3 to 5 days. Dogs with pulmonary metastases typically do not show any signs; radiographs are the only way to detect the nodules, which can be single or multiple. Surgical removal of the metastatic pulmonary nodules (i.e., metastasectomy) followed by additional carboplatin or doxorubicin therapy may be recommended for a dog that has been treated with chemotherapy after amputation of the limb and in which one to three pulmonary metastatic lesions are detected. A secondary syndrome seen in some Greyhounds with pulmonary metastasis is hypertrophic osteopathy (HO), which is a bilateral, symmetrical soft tissue swelling of the lower legs. The limbs may be warm to the touch and are often painful when pressed. Unfortunately, when there is evidence of metastatic disease, the prognosis is poor. Here at OSU, by the time of detection of metastasis we use metronomic therapy (low doses of chemotherapy and other drugs); we use cyclophosphamide every other day, piroxicam every other day, and artemisinin, an herbal drug with antitumor effects. We have had excellent results with artemisinin with OSA cells in the test tube. ISSUE 4 – WINTER 2008 GREYHOUND QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER Greyhound Corn Multiple corns in a Greyhound pad CORNS IN GREYHOUNDS You can consult the following articles for more information on corns and hulling: http://www.grassmere-animalhospital. com/corn_hulling.htm http://www.grassmere-animalhospital. com/corns.htm Corns are a very common finding in the pads of the Greyhounds; they can be single or multiple, and may or may not cause pain and/or severe lameness. Since Greyhounds have a high prevalence of bone cancer, owners and vets frequently spend a considerable amount of time and money in orthopedic consults and bone radiographs, trying to find a reason for their Greyhound is limping, and sometimes a simple thing as a corn is missed. There are numerous reported ways to treat corns. Everything from application of duct tape to the corn to toe amputation has been reported. We currently use a hulling technique, sometimes followed by the application of the anti-wart medication Aldara® or Abreva®. The hulling procedure will need to be repeated as often as every 3 weeks although we have had some corns fail to re-grow following several treatments.

While large enough to get a stitch or two, it is also small enough not to need it. If you wait until Monday it will be too late to stitch. Keep it clean and get antibiotics from the vet. He should be fine. As far as aggression. As long as the humans are alpha and remain alpha, you shouldn't have any trouble with Canaan. Keep an eye on him for any hints that he may challenge your dominance. But if it is still easy to control him, make him wait for his food. Sit. Wait until you go out the door first. He will probably always see you as pack leader. As far as Spartacus, if this were an actual attack I think the damage would be a lot worse. Looks like the result of a snarkfest. They may still need to work things out. While you are not around, it may be a good idea to not have favorite treats outs. But, when you are around, let them have the kongs. You'll be there to referee if things get out of hand. However they really need to decide where they sit with each other. Good luck.

I don't get it. He was 1st, 2nd or 3rd in his 5 races. Why wasn't he good enough? Rest in Peace, Baby Boy.

I thoroughly agree with this. When crickie was on pred, pepcid clearly didn't work and the vet wouldn't give carafate. I wish i had been more aggressive about this. Pepcid is an antacid. That's all. It doesn't do anything for an upset tummy. Pepto bismol would be better than pepcid (I just don't know if it interfers with anything else at this point) Did you actually pull something out? Tweezers work fine for that.

If it's an eye problem why not go to an opthamologist?

I've got something for you to do for Battle. He may have a foreign object in his foot. My old Lady Onyx has had many of them. Some of the holes have been the size of peas and I've pulled out 1 inch long pieces of debris (dried weeds from the back yard, mostly). She has a hole now that I'm going to probe today. If you have novacaine go ahead and numb the foot. Then take a metal probe, not sharp, but metal won't splinter and you can still 'feel' the foreign object. Stick it in the hole. You really shouldn't hit anything hard. If you don't have novacaine, try it without, or ice the foot first. he may stand still for you. You will be gentle and just try to feel something that is not soft. You would be shocked at what I've pulled out of Onyx over the past years. Luckily I do have novacaine and surgical tools from my biology disection classes.

It can't hurt to get a cardiologist to do a second physical. My girl doesn't have cardiomyopthy, she has valvular disease. And I swear it's all the checkups and meds and special care that she's had that she has survive past her prognosis.

Does the vet take Care Credit? It's a credit card with no interest for the first......(amount of time based on how much is spent). For me it was a year with a $3000 bill. The only catch is that after the time frame the interest rates are sky high.

Words fail me.

Farewell Master yet not farewell Where I go, ye too shall dwell I am gone before your face A moment's time, a little space When ye come where I have stepped Ye will wonder why ye wept.

many times an xray done too soon will not catch osteo, so in the beginning it actually is better to wait a little. Also, with greyhounds, Lymes isn't the only TBD to worry about, there are three other kinds that they can have. But it can't hurt to go to U of Penn.

Email Dr. Couto and ask if he's heard of any such thing. He's very good about returning emails quickly.

Be careful. Not all pills can be powdered. Check with your vet first before doing that.

try chunky peanut butter. It must be chunky.....they can't tell the diference between the nuts and the pill. Introduce it first before adding pills so she decides she likes it. Pearl is picky....she takes 15 pills a day. She only likes liver and liverwurst. Very soft liverwurst. But she likes it so much, she doesn't try to take the pill out. If she decides she doesn't like that, then I'm going to have to shove it down her throat. By the way, tossing it towards the back won't work. Stick your hand in her mouth and put the pill WAY back, where she can't get it back up.

Oh Diane, I just found out. I'm so sorry. I felt like I've known both Fudge and Goods forever through you. It's like the last of the old school. You had F &G, I had Brindle and Topaz, and I have a couple of other friends that were on the old Greyhound Gang BB or ATG, that have lost their too. I just don't know what else to say, except I'm sorry. Mary Pat

I would keep all options open. Even though it does sound drastic, if that is the only pain relief and she is steady enough to do 3 legs, then I won't dismiss it.

I'm at the point I feel I can handle anything else but the big C.

Miracles can happen!!!

Anything that triggers a lot of drinking, kidney problems, diabetes, prednizone, or just plain ol' loves to drink water, will decrease the S.G.

My girls have never been introduced to my brother's boxers. But my Pearl was mauled quite badly by a black lab. The owner said the same thing. "He's never done that before...."