GeorgeofNE

I feel your pain. George was a howler. I got three complaints in one day (this was when I'd only had him a few weeks). I didn't believe my neighbors, so I videotaped him. It was a nightmare. The SECOND I'd leave, he'd tip back his head and howl like a wolf until the tape ran out (2 hours). My solution was no more crate--but clearly that's not the problem with your girl. I did use the DAP diffuser--not sure if it helped. She doesn't sound terribly anxious, frankly. Just vocal! I did engage a behaviorist, who was kind enough to do a phone consult, and she's the one who said, "Sweetie, if he howls in the crate, why do you keep putting him in it?" I'm not helping, am I? What do you consider "plenty of exercise"? Taking her out 4 times a day is really what she needs just for bladder and other needs. How long/far are you walking her? I know it's been a crummy winter, but if she's asleep, she won't howl. I've been told to try country music; they don't typically hear classical at the track kennels! I was very fortunate that I was the chairman of the condo board while my neighbors were complaining about George--and not inclined to fine or otherwise punish myself--but I DID make the rounds to all my neighbors with a friend note inviting them to come meet their new noisy neighbor, with an assurance I was doing everything I could think of to quiet him down. Some cookies to your neighbor might go a long way with the same assurance?

It CAN mimic a lot of things, and I believe it can live almost anywhere. It has no cell wall, which makes it so hard to find. One of the vets said there are false negatives too often for him to consider testing (special test--don't even know what) all that valuable since the treatment is relatively cheap. It's hard to say if it's rare, or simply not often considered, or most vets don't know about it.

Oh, I think I can top all of you, COMBINED for difficult bugs! The first "cure" for George's mystery peeing was 12 weeks of Baytril. That gave me two years of dryness. In August, the peeing started again. By now we have a new home (with brand new carpet I couldn't really afford in the first place and NEVER would have installed if I thought the "cure" was temporary) and a new vet who is not all that Greyhound savvy. Baytril helped this time, but didn't completely stop the accidents.. After that, the vet pretty much insisted on more tests and an ultrasound. I agreed, but told her if they all showed, nothing, which I promised her they would, I wanted to try a different drug for longer. She sort of agreed. Ultrasound, more blood, more urine--all totally normal. I was relieved about the ultrasound, cause that was the one test I didn't do the first time. Happen to have made friends on Facebook with a vet who used to be the track vet at a now-closed track. She tossed out "Have you treated him with Doxy for mycoplasma?" and I said, "Huh?" Did some research--and while there isn't much written about mycoplasma, I literally wept when I read the words, "Can be virtually impossible to detect with standard tests." Approached my vet about it. To her credit, she also did some research. Mind you, after the ultrasound, she said, "We now have to consider husbandry issues" (which I took to mean I wasn't taking him out enough?). She said she didn't think it was likely, but admitted she'd never heard of this particular bug. I also contacted another vet who I consider a greyhound expert. He concurred that it was absolutely possible, and that treating with Doxy was safe, so why not? Told my vet, "I appreciate your help thusfar, but he's my dog, it's my money, and I want to try this before I surrender and call him "incontinent." She said she'd note her objection in the file, and wrote me an 8 week scrip for Doxy. 8 weeks went by, and he went from peeing 4 times a week to once a week (approx. numbers--I do have the actual records!). The two greyhound vets I consulted said, "keep going." Got another scrip for 8 more weeks. Accidents reduced to about one every other week by week 9 or 10. By week 11 or 12, he'd made it almost 2 weeks dry. After the 16 weeeks, he appears to have stopped peeing in the house all together. My vet pals said they'd keep going one more month just to be sure, so that's where we are now. Total: 20 weeks. That's after 8 weeks of Baytril. Here is how it was explained to me: Doxy doesn't KILL mycoplasma, it renders the bacteria unable to reproduce. You have to give the meds enough time for the dog to shed all the bacteria (or whatever the correct term would be for fight them off!) It seems as though the 12 weeks of Baytril 2 years ago sort of put them in a state of ALMOST gone. And it took 2 years for enough of them to grow back to start the irritation. Mycoplasma live off the host--and can inhabit pretty much any part of the host. I believe in George's case they're in his kidneys. It sounds INSANE, I know. I cannot tell you how many totally clean urine tests I've paid for. And yet CLEARLY antibiotics change/stop his peeing. George is calmer now, sleeps better, and isn't hysterical when I get home. He's a NORMAL dog! I don't know if this is all going to end in a PERMANENT cure or not, but I thought I should share the curious case of George.

Unfortunately, it probably won't make a bit of difference (in terms of ultimate outcome) if you find out today, or in two weeks. I'd do as everyone else has suggested, but I'd also go back for a second set of films. Here's hoping it's NOT the dread O.

My Greyhound is NOTHING like any other dog I've ever trained. He simply has no desire to please. He's really more like a cat than a dog in that regard. It bothered me a bit at first, but for five years, he had a job, and he did it well. He does not take to obedience training at all. I did manage to teach him sit and down, he grasps the concept of heel, and he walks quite nicely on a leash. Beyond that? Honestly, after my last dog, who was a superstar at learning commands, it was just so ... not fun that I admit, I've given up. Sounds like your guy had an off day where he copped the same sort of attitude!

No doubt she flipped out because she was locked in the room. That's not a criticism of your decision to try that, but CLEARLY it didn't work, and clearly crating doesn't make her feel comfortable. My dog hated his crate. I tried to baby gate him into the area I thought was best. He crawled under the gate the first day, jumped over it the second, howled like a wolf for hours on end in the crate. I decided to leave him loose. That was the end of the noise permanently. If you're willing to give her another chance, I suggest you consider muzzling her with a turnout muzzle and just leaving her loose. Go away for an hour, and hope for the best. I'm sure this was horribly upsetting for you--but truthfully, the notion that a crate is a safe space for a retired racer because they're used to it is a bit overstated. They're used to being in a crate surrounded by other dogs in crates--not locked in a bedroom all alone in a crate. A closed bedroom door is really just a giant crate-- Three years after I adopted him, George spends most of his day sleeping right by the door--where he last saw me. It comforts him to be where he knows I'll be when I come back. Perhaps your dog would also like that? Good luck--I hope it works out for all.

Deb? Any chance at all there ia bone shard caught somewhere in her mouth/throat?

I agree. Dilute urine is NOT dark. Dilute urine can be almost as clear as water, so this is a confusing combination. I would insist on a retest with first morning urine. I would be concerned about "abnormal cells" too. Did they suggest an ultrasound?

Your vet is wrong. I gave my new-ish vet Dr. Feeman's literature, and was very appreciative that she not only read it, she contacted a vet she knows who is more familiar with Greyhounds! George's creatine is about 2.2. Absent any other abnormal values, it's normal FOR HIM. His first vet had me run test after test after test, to the tune of $2,000 until I got sick of it and sent his blood and urine results to Dr. Couto via email. He was kind enough to respond with a "these values are normal for this dog--nor further testing needs to be done." I gave his email to my vet, and she said, "I won't second guess him; he's considered the expert."

Exactly! George's neck was totally bald where his collar hit when I got him. I tried every possible kind of collar. Nothing made any difference, and it clearly didn't bother him. When I started giving him fish oil in his meals, the fur grew in! The bald spot is really more about classic delicate/dry Greyhound skin than anything the collar is doing to cause discomfort!

Did you call the vet back and tell them it won't stop bleeding? That's what I'd do.

Oh Trap! I am so sorry-- Is Trap the houndie who was photographed stuck in the leg area of a car when he was first brought home?? Such a cute picture--and I had another hound (Rush) confused with this image. I have missed Trap, and hope he is at peace now. Added--never mind! I see you posted the picture I was talking about. Such a beautiful boy.

Oh Gil, I'm so sorry. I know how hard you tried for your girl.

Oh, I am so, so sorry. Run free Grover!

Sure sounds like LS to me. My George has a mild case, andI was told that fecal incontinence is quite common as the condition progresses.

Tons of wind here, and wind is the only weather that George is at all bothered by. We leash walk, so he has no choice about going out in it. I think it bothers his ears, 'cause he doesn't scare easily at all.

I feel your pain, I really do. Sounds medical to me. I would put a belly band on him if he were mind until you get it sorted out. Good luck!

Sounds totally normal to me! My dog didn't have a "kennel coat" at all. He actually has fur in places he didn't when I got him (he was at the track for three years). I use Grizzly salmon oil, which really helps with skin/coat. Naked spots are just part of being a houndie!

Once again Batmom beats me to the punch! Having had an allergy dog for 12 years, what I learned is that most food allergies are to the protein source, not the grain source. And people seem to forget your dog is just as likely to be allergic to wool, rag weed, grass pollen, etc. My dog had terrible inhalant allergies which were so bad only steroids helped.

Omega fatty acids are what help skin/coat. I don't think it's possible to get sufficient quantity in kibble, which is why so many Greyhound owners use fish oils. George's skin and coat improved greatly after I started giving him Grizzly salmon oil, and he likes it!

Before I changed food for "free" delivery, I'd find out how much they'd charge for a bag, then call a local pet store and find out how much they charge. You're likely to find the "free" delivery is offered to make up for a higher price.

I had a friend with a diabetic dog. He did just great once they got him stabilized. She did have to give him insulin 2x a day, but it was easy as pie and she even asked me to do it for her a couple of times-- It's not ideal, of course, but it's manageable.

Interesting--George (a brindle) is a HUGE smiler. Smiles at the mailman. Smiles at people getting in their cars. Smiles at my parents. It's adorable. However, his father, Oshkosh Slammer, a black dog, was a known smiling fool. George has several half siblings on GT that all smile too.

Funny--George LOVES cigarette smoke! I noticed it as soon as I brought him home. My old condo building had a TON of smokers, and he loved to run over to them and sniff away. I always wondered if the kennel staff at the track included one or more smokers. Sadly for George, I do not smoke, and cannot tolerate the stench, so he's had to kick the habit!

I got mine on eBay. The shipping is a lot, but the price of the crate itself was insanely low, so it worked out great. All crates are easy to move, IMHO. They're not something you'd carry for a mile, but I can easily schlep it around my condo.