GeorgeofNE

This post appears to be from today--Sunday. Why can't you pick it up today? Tramadol can be purchased at ANY human pharmacy. I take it myself. You don't need to get it from your vet! I'm so sorry to read about Alex.

My dog hated being crated or gated. We went through a miserable couple of months before I decided to do what I thought was right instead of what I was being told to do by my well-meaning adoption group. He never chewed or destroyed a thing, and hasn't made a peep since. Just had to comment on that--dogs drink out of the toilet because the water is generally fresh and cool. Every dog we've ever had has done so. It has nothing to do with being a greyhound--and I don't believe your scent either. Heck, I've had cats that drink out of the toilet! Some people don't appreciate it, so if you're one of them, close the lid. Out of sight, out of mind.

The loss of BALANCE is not a symptom of mild hypothyroid- My first thought was vestibular disease--how was this "ruled out"? I agree with seeing a neurologist.

Our Labrador died of bloat. His stomach twisted in half. The vet said they could untwist it and try and anchor it, but it was likely to happen again. As he was 12 or 13 at the time, my parents elected to have him put to sleep. Josh died like he lived--full throttle! It was all over in about an hour.

I asked the vet this morning Lauren. He said at the most he'd expect some diarrhea. Just got home too!

Count me as one of them! When I signed up with my group, I wrote "high energy" as my choice for energy level. Holy moses...when I think back on the nightmarish first year...I'd pay good money for that little "aloof" girl! (Well, not really, cause I love my George--and his "companionship" is just being with me--he's not a playmate, but he IS a companion).

Pray all you like--but if I were you, I'd also make an appointment for x-rays. Given the insanely high incidence of osteo in Greyhounds, I will NEVER just hope for the best with George. In fact, I just now noticed his leg was going wonky when he is walking. I have an appointment tomorrow for something else, but may just ask for an x-ray while I'm there.

I'm so sorry. You get through things like this one day at a time--one step at a time. If they didn't bring us such joy, it wouldn't cause us such sorrow when they have to leave us--always too soon. Hang in there.

Gee, we've just had another new-ish adopted expressing the same feelings. Not sure why you describe her as "submissive." Nothing you describe is submissive behavior. It's pretty much normal Greyhound behavior. As "JillysFullHouse" said, it takes a while for their true personality to emerge (and she should know!). My dog was still changing after a full YEAR. In fact last week he "roo'd" (howled) for the first time--and I've had him nearly four years. He does not play. He makes almost no noise. His primary interests are eating, taking walks, and sleeping. He's a wonderful companion for ME. But I knew what I was getting into--and I'm a middle aged single gal who just wants companionship. What was it that prompted you to adopt a Greyhound? And what was it about THAT Greyhound that made you say, "She's the one"? There must have been something about her you thought was special?

This! I got the tallest gate I could find, and mounted it about 10 inches from the floor for a kitty escape route.. My dog actually crawled under the gate (claw marks in the carpet is how I know he went under and not over). After that, I decided to cut a cat-sized hole in the baby gate (it was a wooden gate with wire mesh). Then he jumped over it. So I gave up. I personally think that in six weeks it should be clear if he's cat safe or not. Don't get upset about the bathroom comments! I'm sure it's that many of us (me!) don't have a big bathroom like that and are picturing our own dogs shut up in our average sized bathrooms (not a chance my crate would even fit in my bathroom!).

Just my 2 cents here-- As counterintuitive as it may seem, a dog with arthritis really needs to be exercised! Leash walking daily will help her maintain muscle and keep her weight down, two things that are very, very important when you're dealing with arthritis. As a sufferer myself, I can tell you this is true in both people and dogs. George is nearly 9 with a mild case of LS, and we walk 2 miles every morning at the butt crack of dawn because the specialist I took him too could not stress enough the importance of regular, gentle exercise. Left to her own devices, she will probably be happy to just lay around and be a greyhound. Which simply compounds the problem.

We have dumpsters here at the condo, so I put the bags in there, or in the trash cans at the park across the street.

I'd ask my vet. Just because something is "natural" doesn't mean it's safe OR effective.

That's awful. I guess that's a hazard of a solo practioner vet?

I totally agree. She's young, and otherwise healthy. Amputation will cure this problem permanently-- Having heard Dr. Couto himself refer to Greyhounds as "three legged dogs with a spare," and his explanation of why they do so brilliantly on three legs, if she were my dog, I'd do it. DJsGreys has a hound who wears a brace, permanently. You might PM her about it. The dog goes quite well, but cannot really go without it.

Agreed. Otherwise you're basically training her that it's OK to use the house as a toilet. And don't worry about the salt content of hot dogs. You'd be feeding her tiny little slices--and she's not an old lady with a heart condition whose been told to avoid salt anyway! When you're working on a vexing problem, you really need to be open to trying just about anything! What's important is not the method, it's the result! I think taking her in the car (do you have a car?) somewhere else for a walk is a great idea! Somewhere quiet. I've never been to London--so I don't know how far you'd have to go--but it's worth a shot!

My vet told me that prozac tends to loosen a dogs inhibitions--so that a vocal dog can easily turn more vocal, etc. I used it exactly once for my old dog and his fear of flying (12 seater planes to Nantucket) and it was our very worst flight. Never used it again.

I taught George to sit the way I've taught every other dog I've trained to sit. He's a dog. It's not rocket science.

Apparently something scared her out there-- She HAS to get out more than twice a day no matter how you get her out there. If she were mine, I think I'd get her outside, then just stay out there giving her treats and just acting as normal as possible for a while a few times a day. While it's tempting to soothe and coddle a dog who is scared, doing so can actually reinforce their fear, so you need to be the big brave one for her, and act as if things are really great outside. When I first got George, there were a few things that scared him--shiny floors and the elevator--but I found that by acting as if there was nothing abnormal about a closet that moved and shiny floors he quickly realized it was OK and he got over it. It's also important to deal with the piddle accidents inside with a really good enzyme cleaner or similar method. Good luck with the knee. I've had knee surgery three times myself, so I know how difficult this must be, but this is a really important time in a newly adopted hound's life. Perhaps a friend can assist you?

No one can tell you the answer to that. Likely, it's totally illogical to our human brains anyway. Example: my last dog was thrown from a moving car as a puppy. He had NO fear of cars and was terrified of the ironing board! It does no good to try to figure out something that is likely not figure-outable! If only they could tell us... Oh, Kramer was also terrified of the ROTC cadets, and the many Hassidic Jewish gentlemen in our old neighborhood. But not the one thing that logically should terrify him!

True! George ONLY likes Greyhounds. He loves all of them, immediately, from seemingly miles away. All other dogs are a mystery to him. Small. Large. Doesn't matter. I'm actually not sure what his reaction is--aggression, excitement, playfulness--but he doesn't do it when he sees a greyhound. Luckily for him, a couple in my small condo complex adopted a young brindle male, so at least he has one dog pal!

I'd speak to the head of the practice. They should (and probably do) have standard procedures in place for someone as common as a dental. I know my vet clinic puts ALL animals on antibiotics before a dental. Even if they don't have disease, there's always the risk of nicking their gums with the instruments and potentially introducing icky crud into the nick (OK, so that's not very scientific, but you catch my drift!). I'd be ticked off if I'd already been for my predental check up and then showed up for the dental and got turned away. ! I hope you didn't have to pay for the second visit? It's equally absurd that you weren't given the correct amount of Drontal, and that the first doctor didn't give you some for your other animals. That should be part of their standard procedures too.

I know the Murray Ave. cream worked for DJsGreys--at least on one of her hounds. I fell so horrible for your poor girl! I've never heard of such bad corns. Poor kid.

Hills! George has LS. My vet told me three things important in keeping him truckin': 1) regular gentle exercise, e.g. walking; 2) keep his weight down (don't starve him, but don't let him chunk up); and 3) keep the muscles!!! Now, I know for myself, walking up hills works the big muscles in the butt/thighs MUCH more than walking on the flat--so George and I do our 2 mile walk every morning on a road that is hilly. She also said avoid stairs when possible, no jumping on furniture, and no zoomies--but I live in a third floor condo (no elevator), so that one isn't possible. George sleeps on the bed and it gives him great joy, so...I ignore that one, and as to zoomies...what's the point in living if once in a while you can't cut loose and have fun? Since he's a leash dog, it's not often, but I'm not about to stop him! I'm pretty dedicated to the first three though! I often find myself saying to him, "C'mon boy! Feel the burn! Work it, work it, you're the man!" as we trek up the hill at the buttcrack of dawn (in the dark, actually) everything morning! I can do that, 'cause no one else is out there!

Once again Batmom, you say what I was thinking! I did use K9 Advantix on George a few times before my vet told me it was too dangerous to use since I have cats. He was fine with it. I use Frontline Plus, and he has never had a flea, nor has my previous dog. I've seen ticks walking on George, but in nearly four years, he's only had two embedded ticks. I think he just doesn't taste good to ticks! We go to Nantucket--a hotbed of tick borne diseases. You have to use common sense and stay out of tall grasses, etc., and I always check him over every night. Anyone who doesn't have a tick comb should get one. Easiest way to find the little bastards!