greyhoundlady

I am not an expert, but I looked this up in one of my many books on greyhounds. It could possibly be "deformed nails" - the toenails can become twisted or bent during regrowth of broken or pulled-off toenails. Signs: Toe nails may regrow with an abnormal flattened out shape, or develop a twisted or hooked end following a broken nail or loss of the nail during exercises. Cause: Deformed nails can be present at birth and may be inherited in a bloodline on rare occasions. Abnormal nail regrowth is most common following a nail bone fracture, which does not set to a normal shape, thus resulting in a deformed shape as the outer nail regrows over the nail bone. Management: A deformed nail in a racing or retired Greyhound is usually best trimmed or filed every 7-10 days to prevent it interfering with and abrading the adjacent toe, or twisting the toe abnormally when the Greyhound walks or gallops. In most case, the nail can be trimmed back to the level of the quick, and the end covered with a polymer or epoxy glue mix that hardens on drying, or touched with a hot cautery iron, to seal the exposed end against infection. In severe cases, surgery to remove the nail bone reduces the risk of further nail and toe injury in a racing Greyhound. Maybe this will help? Good luck at the vet.

Wow, Streamer is the exact image of my Saber (Tooth Tiger). He came to me with an amputated tail. He is the most adorable thing ever. This has apparently never bother him. More gorgeous for it IMO.

EMT gel is a really good idea as it acts like a scab over the wound. I have used it on both of my greys. Consider the vet, though. They can give you some antibiotics and possibly pain meds, if the wound hurts. My female has encountered many wounds from running in the yard and also a few nips from my other male grey. My usual procedure is the above.

I know exactly how you feel. My mostly white female is like a patchwork quilt with all her scars and stitches. She is reckless when she runs in the yard, as if her mind goes elsewhere and all she wants to do is run full out. She hits everything, including tripping up the step on the deck once, which caused the skin on both back legs to tear down about an inch. The vet expects us regularly. In fact, We were just there the other day for neck stitches and another leg wound. My male brindle has much tougher skin and is also extremely cautious when he zooms. No nicks on him since we got him. Have them both over 4 years.

This might sound weird, but when my greyhound starts a reverse sneeze, I lift up his side 'lips' with my fingers so he can breath through his mouth, instead of his nose. This seems to work for him. It could be that he has just finished his 'sneezing', but it makes me feel better! I also rub is throat for good measure.

I have a mostly white girl and a brindle boy. Definitely the white fur is everywhere! But I sometimes wonder if it is because the loose white fur is more noticeable than the darker brindle. My DH used to tell people that greys hardly shed at all - no fur in the house. Then I didn't vacuum for a week to prove him wrong. Changed his tune.

My DH just passed out.

When I have my hounds' bloodwork done, I always ask for a copy for my records. My vet always gives it to me. I then study it like a schoolgirl. Just had my male grey in for a wellness check / heartworm / etc. When the vet called with the blood results I asked to have a copy faxed to me. This way I can keep all the records on these guys.

Wonderful pictures and posts. Thanks for sharing your adventure! I have black bears that visit my yard regularly - the bear pictures you posted make mine look like pups! Nice definition of the 'blue' glaciers. When I visited Colorado the top peaks of the mountains had 'pink' snow. I was told it was some type of ice/fungus. Maybe it was just girl mountains and boy glaciers. Really nice looking cabin in your last picture -- imagine what it looks like in February! Have fun and best of luck!

Congratulations! How wonderful for all of you! I loved reading you are in love already - doesn't take long at all... Did you mention new collars - that can be very addicting (I speak from experience). Best of luck and happiness!

I don't think using Murphy's soap on the greyhounds is a good idea. I second the last post about the dog-bath wet wipes. I do the same. When they get a bath, it is on a hot summer day, outside with doggy shampoo - gentle. It smells really good and the hounds get a nice cool down.

I can't believe the coincidence - just 10 minutes ago I pulled a tick off of Saber. He was laying down next to me while I was working on the computer. All of a sudden he kept picking his head up and looking at his side - so I looked too, and Ahhhh!! A TICK. I grabbed it in a tissue (it had not attached yet) and then dropped it in my tea light candle and set it on fire. Oh, I hate those things. Now I am all icky myself - thoroughly checked both greys and myself, but the memory lingers.... Frontline is going on them tonight.

I have to agree - the natural way does not work at killing the blasted insects. I have done lots of research to find alternate methods. The natural herb essence repellents will only, at best, repel - they don't kill the bug. And no guarantee it will even do that. If you have a determined pest - flea/tick - it will still lock on and the only way to kill it is with the dreaded insecticide. I use Frontline Plus but very sparingly. I try to go for every 6 weeks as it is supposed to kill fleas up to 3 months and ticks up to 1 month. Then in the Dec/Jan/Feb months I do nothing at all. I also check the greys constantly. Of course, it depends on where you live and how much the dogs enter the 'wild'. I know just how you feel about putting insecticide stuff on the dogs. Don't like doing it either. However, once I found a tick on me and was ready to apply the Frontline to myself! Oh, how I despise those things!

I brush my greys teeth with Petrodex Beef Flavored toothpaste - then follow that immediately with Petzlife Oral Care gel. That does a beautiful job on the plague and tartar. I also dole out bully sticks. Their teeth look really good. Now if I can only tackle their nails with that much success!

My skinny minnie girl has the same drip patch after applying Frontline Plus. If I know she will be with people right after applying the stuff, I put a bandana on her with the point extending over her shoulder blades. Kind of like a warning. Once the stuff is dry I brush her. She is also a major tick magnet, fortunately mostly white and therefore I can spot those buggers as they are crawling on her. Hate the chemicals but hate the crawly critters more.

I also use the Frontline Plus on my two. We get ticks here as well as fleas. I was told that the Frontline is safe for greys because it contains fibronil. It is the only flea/tick prevention I have used and have had no problems. I don't use it all year - Dec Jan and Feb we skip. Must say I don't really like putting this stuff on them, but the risk of fleas and ticks outweighs that. Depends, also, on where you live. Yuck - what is the purpose of those bugs, anyway?

Does your rear seat split to go down? In my SUV my back seat splits so only half the seat can go down. I stacked my luggage, etc., on the seat that was 'up' and the greys (2) had a little extra room to move around. You can put the gate right behind the driver's seat. We did not take much - most of the stuff was theirs I used duffle bags as they squash easily - the dog beds doubled as the car beds and the hotel beds, and a tote handled their bowls and food. Since it was warm (July) less clothes for the humans were needed - jeans and t-shirts. We had about a 5 hours trip and stopped a couple of times along the way. The greys mostly slept in the back. It was really no problem. It was really cute at the rest stops - many non-grey owners had to come over to ask a dozen questions.

I'd give your vet a present! One dental alone for one grey was $545.25 here - and that was last year, so I know it has increased. I am pretty sure my vet has paid off a car based on my two greys and their dings, dents, wheel alignments and tune-ups (you get the picture) not to mention the stitches plus various other accessories. NJ is an EXPENSIVE place to live. Glad Dylan is doing well!

First, I commend you on your writing. You covered everything and answered any question the reader could have. If it is not a medical condition, my thought is that he may have been asleep at the end of the bed, and you inadvertently nudged him with your foot, awaking his sleep aggression response. Maybe he then, in the split second it takes these greys to move, was over you like a shot and assumed the alpha role - angry to have been woken. I have two greys also. One female - the sweetest in the world - and one male, who is sleep aggressive and dog and cat aggressive. He is not allowed on the bed, but sleeps on his own bed on the floor, right next to my side of the bed. I love him more than you can imagine. So, I would say, if the medical problems are ruled out, it may be the sleep aggression. That may never go away. I have had my guy for over 3 years now, and although he has gotten better - I don't push his buttons. Good luck - so glad to see you are trying to find an answer.

Yes, I have one too. She is like a fine crystal glass. I actually asked the vet (at one of our many visits) if she had unusually thin skin - it is like paper. The answer was... greyhounds have thin skin. Cheyenne has had two very large tears that required many stitches, and she nicks herself constantly when running like the wind in the yard. When she gets into her 'run' she is oblivious to anything she is doing to herself. The latest blood letting was when she missed the step onto the deck and hooked both her back legs on it. The result was the skin being ripped down about an inch, on both legs. She just stood there with the blood running down. Stitches were not possible, so I spent a good two weeks with neosporin, antibiotics from the vet, sterile pads and vet wrap. I even ordered every color vet wrap - that stuff is the best invention - so she walked around like a ballerina with her leg warmers on. My other grey (male) doesn't get nearly as nicked - but he is also more cautious.

I purchased a dremel a while back - there is a little cylinder attachment that is rough coated. That is the one I use(d). I will say I did not have much luck with my male grey, though. He sees it and runs. He also runs from the clippers. I take him to the groomer for the pedicure. The female tolerates it - but the clippers are quicker. Of course, I have the styptic powder at the ready, because that blood scene has happened.... I hate the nail stuff. I am soooo much better at the teeth brushing.

I haven't found a need to bathe either of my greys ... yet. I always use the Perfect Coat Bath Wipes for dogs (or puppies) on them - and lots of brushing. Once, even the vet mentioned how nice they smell. Glad to learn others don't all bathe their dogs. Even though my greyhounds are probably quite happy they have not had the bath experience, I secretly felt I should be dragging them to the tub.