GeorgeofNE

George gets little marks like that regularly. I think it's just a tiny bruise or bug bite.

My dog is the same way, even after 4 years. He understands Monday through Friday's routine, but if I leave later on a weekday (for example, if I take a day off to do something outside the house) or go out at night, he gets a little aggitated. Of course if I was left alone all day and then my person decided to leave me again at night, I bet I'd be aggitated too! I expect he'll settle down. 5 weeks is no time at all! My experience is that Kongs and long walks solve a lot of aggitation problems!

I'm very dubious about any of the so-called natural products. I think if they actually WORKED we'd know about it by now! I'm wondering how you're applying Frontline if it's dripping off? I've been using topical preventatives for many years, and that has never happened. I don't squeeze it all out at once--and I use about a 3 inch long "swath" at the base of his neck just where it turns into his back.

Murmers are also subjective; I had one or two vets tell me my last dog had one, and four or five said he didn't! In fact one of them laughed and said, "What your dog has is one of the most powerful heartbeats I've ever heard--an athlete's heart!"

What MerlinsMum and Batmom said, I agree with 100%. And remember, NEVER bend over her when she's asleep on her bed, the couch, anywhere. They're used to 100% private sleeping quarters and never having anyone sneak up on them (cause once a person enters the kennel, someone starts the noise, and all the dogs wake up!). People tend to think dogs appreciate hugs and stuff 'cause most of us do, but as Kerry said, that can feel threatening to a dog. Just let her be a bit. It takes months for most hounds to be who they really are.

I'm with Batmom. You don't want to be giving her food at the designated sleep time--Kongs are great for when you leave for work--keeps their mind off of your departure. Can you close your bedroom door (cats on the outside) and let her sleep with the crate door open? I'm guessing she would not whine if she wasn't in the crate. You do want to keep track of her, so closing her IN the bedroom with you might be one answer. George woke me up at EXACTLY 4 AM for the first month. Eventually I realized he was just eager to get up, and I stopped taking him out, and gave him a firm "go lie down!" when he started up. Took two or three days, but he finally gave up on the 4 AM mornings!

How much are you feeding him? I suggested medical because I find it odd that he's pooping in the house, but not peeing. You'll see LOTS of people looking for help for their dogs peeing in the house, but this is the first I can recall of a dog JUST pooping! (Lucky you, huh?) A dog typically won't soil his crate--if he can help it. If your guy is pooping because he HAS to, he's going to continue crate or not. And you will not enjoy coming home to a poop covered dog. I'd really consider worming him again. There aren't necessarily parasites in every sample, treating him once when you first got him doesn't mean he doesn't have them again, and there are things like giardia and coccidia that interceptor do not address.

Have you taken a stool sample to the vet? Before I attributed this to behavior, I'd rule out medical.

Prednisone typically makes dogs thirsty, so they drink more, and of course they pee more. I'm surprised the vet didn't warn you about that--it's very common.

Some dogs are just naturally skittish. Try and relax about the entire issue! The more you stress about what you may or may not have done, could have done, should have done, the higher your anxiety level is going to go. He's still new to you. My dog took an entire YEAR to turn into who he really is now. As to "gently grabbing his collar," perhaps next time calmly clip his leash on instead? I've noticed that's one of the very few things that seems to upset George a little bit. I've never thought anything of it--you need your dog to move, etc., you take him by the collar...but it bothers George for some reason, and one of my GT pals with lots more Greyhound experience suggested using the leash instead, so I try to remember that!

I'd suggest before you go too far into treating you see an actual orthopedic vet.

I myself have had shoulder surgery twice (so far) and a number of steroid injections. If they help, they work miracles. They don't help everyone, and it usually takes a few days for the effects to kick in. Results have lasted me a few months. I am going in on Monday to have my hip injected (huge scary needle that requires a radiologist so they make sure to stab you in the correct place!) and am looking forward to being able to walk normally again, for a while!

Haha! I was too embarassed to ask. Thanks Judy! I knew they were used at the track, and I've read here not to use them as a toy. I can't wait until I'm home to play that for George and see if anything happens. Silly dog went back to Raynham Park (where he worked for three years) for an event and acted like he'd never seen the place! So it'll be interesting if he's just totally mentally purged everything he used to be all about!

When you say "c shaped," do you mean she had her back arched? That CAN be a sign of kidney problems--but I suppose she's have urinary issues of some sort if that were the case. Did the vet give you anything? You know, an NSAID perhaps? I would suggest rest and anti-inflammatories.

His glucose was 127 today. The vet thinks this blindness has progressed rapidly and said a lot of dogs have problems with that. I don't know how to help him cope besides not moving furniture, etc. I was told when he was diagnosed diabetic this would come. He really just started having big trouble yesterday. I'm so sorry--I have a suggestion--I used to have a neighbor with a blind dog. She had a special tag made for him that said BLIND DOG so just in case, if he EVER got away from her, anyone who found him would know. Also, she said she never moved things around, kept his favorite paths clear, etc. He really did very well, even living in the city!

Exactly--stitches will cost you a lost less than repeated visits for infection, etc. I'm sure we all get it--sometimes vet bills rear their ugly heads when we can least afford them. Wound care is not one of those optional things, IMHO. That's a large, deep cut.

I'm just wondering if they ever get walked? I only ask because walking really seems to get George moving! I realize they're going out, but perhaps on those long days you could try to squeeze in a walk? I get up ridiculously early so that George gets a long walk (I don't have a yard) and hopefully drain the "tank."

Sounds to me like a perfectly healthy dog that's just skinny! I think they're like people--there really are healthy people who eat whatever they want (and don't "recycle"!) who stay skinny no matter what. There are people who barely eat enough to keep some folks alive who are always a few pounds into the plump range. If your vet finds nothing wrong with her, if she's happy, energetic, if her eyes and coat look good, I'd relax if she were mine. Feed her as much healthy dog-appropriate food as she wants, and let her be a skinny girl!

Wow. What a lovely, sweet tribute. We should all have such a friend. I did not know her, but may she and her family find peace.

Yup, the longer I walk, the more he poops!

Don't take water away from a senior dog until you've ruled out a medical issue. And yes, she could have gotten senile and isn't remembering to tell you she needs to go, or she may have lost control for some other reason. I suppose you could crate her, but I'd vote for the diapers instead. Just doesn't seem like a dog that old would appreciate being crated after so long being free in the house.