greyhead

Being soft isn't enough to attract a sort sore mouth, a food also has to not be too cold.

I don't know the answer to that question. But if it's dental and you can't get one soon, your vet could perhaps give an antibiotic to tide him over briefly. We've done that once or twice and had it work well. ETA: The anti-b should relieve the situation enough to let him eat.

Okay, that may be a problem. Interceptor doesn't de-worm, it just prevents (more or less) new infestation. It's a monthly preventative. Your boy probably got a mild benefit from it, which is why he did better briefly. If there is an actual infestation, you need to give Panacur for several days and then repeat it in three weeks or so. Fecals aren't always accurate, so you and your vet might consider treating for worms anyhow even if a fecal is negative.

After a long time with hookworms, he may never be rid of them. You may need to treat periodically with Drontal. (For one thing, the hooks can develop resistance to Panacur if they weren't all killed by the treatment.) You might also be on the lookout for a new vet, IMHO, just in case things don't improve. I could be wrong, but I don't think it's likely to get symptoms as severe as Hutch's from diet. You probably weren't around for my family's protracted battle with our Spencer's GI woes in late '08 and all of '09, with meds required forever after. But he started with hookworm, which wasn't diagnosed for 9 months after he came to us, then developed SIBO with C. perfringens after post-dental antibiotics unbalanced the intestinal flora (which went undiagnosed for 6 months), then intestinal malabsorption, then IBD. All of these were made more severe by vets who for long periods didn't take the symptoms seriously enough to pursue an accurate diagnosis. Meanwhile, they offered such explanations as "it's probably emotional" and "try sweet potato." Does his poop smell notably bad, or does it have a strange color? It's hard to get vets to do a culture and sensitivity on poop, but if there's bacterial overgrowth it's the only way to find out which bacterium is the culprit and what antibiotic it will respond to.

Report back to your vet. (Just cuz we solve one problem doesn't mean there's not another lurking.) Meanwhile, are you managing to get two meals per day into him when he skips breakfast? Btw, what kind of worm treatment did you use? Was it a one-time thing or a several-day thing?

We know that some meds do change the taste of food for humans. No reason to suppose it doesn't happen to dogs too. You're not spoiling her, you're responding to her need.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Donna. Two girls in such a short time is too much. You were right, pink was definitely her color.

Oh dear. Are you going to talk to your vet?

What made me think of worms is not only our experience with a.m. food refusal, but also the fact that your dog is recently adopted and, presumably, recently from an adoption kennel. That seems to be a prime time for worms to arise. Hope you'll let us know how things work out. If the worming works, you should see improvement within a day or so. If not, you probably should heavy-up the evening meal somewhat. Even better would be if you could offer the morning meal a few hours later than you have been. I've found that when they get like this, they'll eat at 11:00 when they wouldn't eat at 8:00, for instance. Here's hoping!

If memory serves, the ML is supposed to be used within a few weeks/months of opening the bag. Maybe it has changed? I'm sensitive to this because after Spencer's having a bad bacterial infection of the intestines and beaucoup problems afterward, spoilage or contamination is something I take no chances with.

Mine had a bad problem with hookworm so, although treated, it's a recurrent problem. When a.m. food is refused and nothing else works, treating for worms solves the problem for us within 12-24 hours. I don't know if this a.m. food refusal is unique to hookworm or can happen with other worm species. (You might also listen for a tummy that gurgles.)

That was a lovely tribute to an amazing girl, Deb. She was beautiful, resilient, and a friend to all. But she had her special loves, especially you! I'm so sorry she couldn't stay forever.

Jet knew what she was doing when she picked you. I'm so sorry her time came, even if it was after a wonderful life.

You've been missed by everyone!

I'd have the urine cultured, just to see. Our Shane had a months-long UTI that only showed through culture, while the urinalysis was always normal! And he's not the only greyhound on this board to have that happen.

What a lovely tribute to your unique sweetheart. She got a greyt home, the best. I know you're missing her terribly, and I'm so very sorry. Godspeed Echo.

Some people have had a grey's life saved by Dr. Dodd's clinical experience with thyroid. On the other hand, we just had a beloved dog killed by a board-certified internist who went by the book (non-thyroidal illness). My point: It's not all about being mainstream and peer-reviewed. I don't mean to disrespect anyone, but I can't bite my tongue while Dodds is basically characterized as a worthless charlatan of no expertise. I don't think that's fair. Sometimes "the book" is a good way to go, and sometimes it's not. That is so because there are generalities that are mostly true, and then there are individual dogs for whom those generalities are flat-out wrong. I'm not going to get into an argument about this at this time. Since losing Spencer, I'm barely breathing, and I just don't have the energy to say very much about anything at all. But I couldn't stand by and not say at least this much. Reminds me of a quote I'm going to add to my siggie when I relocate the author: "An expert isn't someone who knows all the rules. An expert is someone who knows when to break them."

Carol Becker Rizzo makes them, custom. She's on GT and FB. She.is associated with the group God's Greyts in Florida. These aren't cheap, but they're perfect for what you need.

I'm so very sorry, Robin, that Treasure had to leave now and so suddenly. It's a shame she had to leave at all.

I can't hardly even imagine this and what it put you both through. SO, so sorry!

We just lost a 12-year-old after a biopsy, probably because he was given a lot of sedation before the anesthesia. I say that so you'll be alerted to my current frame of mind. When he was 8, an ultrasound showed changes consistent with IBD. We rejected doing an abdominal biopsy because of his age and the large amount of weight he'd already lost. I didn't think he'd survive the post-op period, which is very rough, even if he got through the procedure okay. And the results weren't going to change the treatment. (He took budesonide, and it successfully controlled the IBD. He didn't have the complicating factor of PLE, though.) So I think you're quite right to reject the surgery, for the same reasons we did and for the reasons outlined by JJNg, even though you won't have what most vets consider a proof-positive diagnosis without it. You have my every good wish.

We had the same thing happening with one of our males. While there was a UTI, there was/is also kidney disease as shown by urine specific gravity, BUN and creatinine. (You should probably have all those checked if you haven't already.) Proin can be dangerous in some greys, and I didn't like the way he looked after one dose. (He had two undiagnosed TBD's, it turned out, and I wonder if that's a relevant variable. We've since treated them.) So we rejected the proin and put him on a medium-protein diet (Royal Canin, pricey but cheaper than vet bills). As long as he stays on it, no leaking -- or not enough to be a problem. ETA: TBD's, such as Lyme, can lead to kidney disease. I'm not sure our dog would have done so well if we hadn't found and treated his.

It's worth a try. But our boy with LSS and disk disease did very well after the first treatment, not well after the second, and badly after the third. The vet administered the first, while techs alone administered the second and third. It also happens that not all dogs respond well to laser treatment. We discontinued the treatment and just stayed with acupuncture/chiro. Hope it works for you!

I'm so sorry for this sudden loss, Kyle. She did things on her own terms, including her leave-taking. How lucky she was to spend even a few years with your family! Godspeed, Shelby.

This is indeed wonderful news! (long exhale)