GeorgeofNE

I have actually measured how much my dog drinks because the vet wondered. He drinks EXACTLY 2 cups. That is WAY, WAY less than normal, but his blood and urine are all fine, so... Make sure your vet is familiar with normal greyhound chemistry values. "Low" kidney function may not be accurate if your vet isn't aware that Greyhounds often have test results that would be considered abnormal for other breeds.

What Batmom said. And he needs a long walk before you stick him in a crate all day. I have no choice but to leave my dog alone for the day too, but I do get up extra early to walk him EVERY DAY no matter what.

Clavamox here for both my cats and my dog!

The command "leave it" only helps if you're home to give it! And I don't think there's anything greyhound specific about this behavior. Maybe you should try lining the inside of the muzzle, the part closest to his eyes, with a bit of mole skin? You can generally get that at CVS in the foot care section. If the muzzle is more comfortable, he might be less inclined to rub. Now, how much exercise is this dog getting?? He sounds like he has a lot of excess energy and might be bored. Yes, we just got walloped with snow--but with the proper winter clothing, walking is still possible (I have no choice--no yard!). When I first got George, I had to change my morning routine entirely because he NEEDED to be worn out before I left him. Now it's just his routine! We get up early and we do a 45 minute walk (yes, in the dark and the cold!) before I go to work. This helps him enormously--a sleeping dog isn't anxious or bored or destructive!

What Giselle said so well! For George, his anxiety was all about being crated; 95% of our problems stopped when I put the crate away. But my PRIOR dog, a mixed breed, was absolutely undone when I left if he WASN'T crated. We made a wonderful game of the whole thing; special toys and special treats ONLY for the crate. He never even got to SEE his Kong except in the crate. Peanut butter is your friend!

Since asprin acts as a blood thinner, I sure would not be giving it for a CUT. I'd treat the cut and pad the paw. Truthfully, sometimes with an animal, the discomfort is your friend. You don't want her to be walking on a cut foot more than she needs to. The pain is a signal to her to stay off it. If she's in severe pain, she should be seen by the vet who can prescribe a pain killer such as Tramadol.

I'm sure it's genetics if it's true. Siamese cats have HORRIBLE teeth--no doubt due to breeding practices--one of mine lost 16 teeth before he was 4 years old--and I assure you, my Siamese cats eat the exact same diet and live the exact same life as my other cats-- And "the stress of racing" doesn't cause periodontal disease any more than it causes bone cancer, since NGA hounds who have never raced at all get the disease just as frequently as dogs who have full careers do.

If he has vestibular issues, it could EASILY be an inner ear infection. I took my cat to the vet once, sure she was not coming home with me (she was literally falling over, and one of her eyes would only open half way) and it turned out to be an ear infection that antibiotics cleared up in a few days. With a 12 year old dog, it could, of course, be any of the things the e-vet mentioned, but on Monday when you see your own vet, make sure he considers that.

Assuming your adoption group did a good job evaluating the dog you get with cats, it should be a relatively quick period of YOU making sure they're all safe. I crated George at first--my group insisted--and he actually did fine at night sleeping right next to my bed. It was when I left that it became a wire box of torture to him...but many dogs do just fine in a crate. Beware of lifting the baby gates too far off the ground; I was shocked to come home one day and find claw marks (dog) under my gate and the dog on the wrong side. he crawled UNDER the gate. Not to get the cats, to get to the door and howl some more! For the first few days, George wore his muzzle any time he wasn't in the crate. Better safe than sorry when it comes to your cats! I don't think Greyhounds are terribly fussy about beds. Although I second not using anything fancy in the crate. George absolutely destroyed a sheepskin rug from New Zealand I thought would be nice and comfy for him. For water, I use something called a "coop cup." You can get crate water dishes in any catalog and I suppose most big pet stores. Don't fill the dish too full or it may get spilled! The most important piece of equipment, in my opinion, is a Kong. I like the King Kong size. And some peanut butter! You'll need to give the hound something to occupy it while you slip off to work. Oh, and the Patricia McConnell booklet, "I'll Be Home Soon." Start working on the alone training IMMEDIATELY. It's important to remember that while some dogs enjoy the security of a crate, the notion that "it's familiar" sort of goes out the window when you remember that while the dog may have lived in a crate at the track, there is a HUGE difference between being in a crate surrounded on all sides by other crated dogs, and being in a wire box in a strange place all alone...

Just to chime in--LS is NOT a "greyhound disease." All breeds can be afflicted (as well as people). If your vet doesn't know about it, or how to check for it, you NEED a new vet. My dog has a mild case of (suspected--as I am not paying $2,000 for an MRI to confirm) of LS. There's really no reason, based on the OP's description, to assume anything other than old dog aches and pains--arthritis most likely. I'd ask for 10 days or so of an NSAID and try those (they will want recent blood work before doing that) and see if it helps. If it does, then it's safe to assume she's a bit stiff upon rising (classic arthritis symptom for both dogs AND people). It's really important that older dogs get regular, gentle exercise, and stay slim (breed appropriate weight). Muscle tone is probably the single most important thing--strong muscles help support aging joints. Basically the same things they tell people like me, with arthritis. Stay slim, stay active, work out your muscles gently but regularly, and take NSAIDs.

I've often wondered if George understands another language. Chad, the dogs get spoken to as puppies, at the farm, in training, at the track. I'd wager to say most of them come to use knowing at least a few things--kennel up, dinner time--stuff like that. I happen to think George understands plenty, but as a hound, his nature is to be independent and do his own thing. He has learned cause and effect quite well--train goes by, he gets a treat. Now all it takes is hearing the train and he expects a treat. Go lie down? Forget it! He knows good and well what it means. He chooses to ignore it most of the time. Big difference between not understanding and not caring!

I agree with Chad. I purchased a ramp for my last dog because he had MAJOR orthopedic surgery. When I picked him up from the hospital, I was shocked that his 27 staples were not even covered with gauze! Anyway, as I bent to unfold the ramp and set it up, he jumped in the back of my SUV! He never once used that ramp! I finally got rid of it about 10 years later! It was a nice wooden folding one from Orvis, with no-slip tape on it. Great idea, but some dogs don't want to use them. I saw someone use the Batmom steps--they were great!! I'd try those if I were you.

We have a winner! Sometimes the most obvious answer is the correct one!

I know. BUT she tears up the house with a muzzle on. We might have to bite the bullet on that. Spoke to the vet and he immediately said its Pica Take the muzzle off in the house, and regulate her time outside. We had a dog who had surgery THREE TIMES to remove rocks. He wasn't a Greyhound, but he nearly died.

George prefers the same route; has to check on pee mail updates I guess!

It took 18 months, and me lifting him up on the bed and holding him there to get George on the bed. Now I can't get rid of him! I like having him up there--but I live alone and there is space for him. He does have sleep aggression issues, so it is probably not wise of me to permit this...and yet I do. If you are not a sound sleeper, and it sounds like you're really not, it would probably be best to not allow it. You need your sleep, right? I find I actually sleep better with him up there--makes me feel secure somehow, but everyone is different.

Yes, I'm afraid you are wrong. She's limping. You said she's been limping for two weeks. A dog who is not in pain won't limp. She needs to be on strong pain meds now. Bone cancer, sadly, is a very pain disease. I am SO sorry for you and your family, and of course Tatum.

Merely sustaining her life is probably not what she'd want. For me, and my whole family, it's always been about quality of life. It's a decision only you can make, but if you just re-read how you described her to us, you might see that it doesn't sound very happy or enjoyable for her. Having had to make some very hard choices on when it was time myself, I know how painful and difficult it can be. Sometimes the kind thing is to let go. Best wishes to you in making the tough choice for your girl.

OK, first, to be clear, I ADORE George. He is what I need--a companion. And it's not really fair to him, but...my last dog was SO smart, so sensitive to my moods, so aware of what was going on--all I had to do was look at him if he was in my way, and he moved. He soaked up every bit of training I tossed his way with joy. He loved everyone, and every dog. He was brilliant and fearless and he would have done ANYTHING for me. He loved to play fetch and Frisbee. I could take him ANYWHERE off leash, and know all I had to do was call "heel" and he would RUN to my side. He knew voice commands, hand signals and whistle commands. I could put a steak on the floor and tell him "leave it" and he would. He was housebroken in two days at the age of 18 weeks. He never once chewed up anything that was mine. George is handsome. He was fast. He is friendly, with people. But -- He is stubborn. It's all about him. He has no interest in my moods, my feelings, my likes and dislikes. I have never experienced that in a dog. My family has had a string of delightful, pleasant, easy going dogs--the only issue we ever had was one of them turned out to be unfriendly with strangers--a mystery to us as we bought him from a friend and know for a fact he'd never even had a voice raised at him... I've tried to train George, but his utter lack of interest makes it frustrating and no fun. Since I've gotten him to walk nicely on a leash, sit, and lay down, do stairs, and deal with most things, I've been accepting of his disposition. I know his life has been very different, and I expect that one of the things that made him a decent racer for a fairly extended period is his total indifference to most everything. On the other hand, he's a smiler, and I love that about him! He's a good boy, he's just--George!

She can seriously injure herself in the crate, which she clearly hates. Some greyhounds are comfortable in their crates; yours is not. If it were me (and I have cats too) I'd close the cats in a bedroom (with food, water, and a litter box) instead.

Because he's a male dog, and because he can! The ONLY time George has ever tried to mark was in a pet store. It happens ALL THE TIME so your boy probably smelled another dog's pee and just did was boys do. Oh, he also peed on the reception desk at the vet, but I was glad 'cause they kept me waiting FOREVER just to pay the bill! As long as he stopped when corrected, I would consider this relatively normal behavior he can be taught to curtail.

The only real way to deal with this is to put up with the whining (in the crate or x-pen) for a while. She WILL stop. Training takes a concerted, consistent effort. Or get a bigger bed. George is a bit of a bed hog too, and I have not been firm enough in my resolve to teach him not to hog. But I know what I SHOULD be doing!

I had ASPCA because VPI would not cover George due to his "abnormal" creatinine level. ASPCA didn't ask for medical records. I ended up dropping it because the amount I was paying versus the amount they reimbursed just wasn't enough to make it worth while for me. Also, they reimburse a portion of "customary" costs I believe--and apparently Boston area costs are about triple "customary" costs! Mister Bigglesworth has a pre-existing condition--so that wouldn't be covered, and Tiger Woods is a Siamese (frequent genetic periodontal disease in the breed) so his premium was going to be high. I would suggest you sign up for whatever you choose BEFORE you do any "routine" bloodwork--cause that's what messed things up for George. His creatine is fine, for a Greyhound (per Dr. Couto) but VPI just saw the word "abnormal" on his records and that was that.

George has LS, and the specialist I took him to told me that there are a couple of really important (non surgical) things I can do: 1) keep him slim--excess weight is horrible for any orthopedic issues, and 2) keep his muscles strong (better support for the bones if the muscles are strong). She suggested several shorter walks versus one long walk. No zoomies (yeah, right!), no jumping onto furniture or into the car, Deramaxx if needed, Tramadol if that's not enough. Not sure what Elsie's issue is, but I'm passing along what George's doctor said.

He wants to do x-rays because, honestly, he's only guessing without them. No experience with broken bones here, but I do know that your vet is suggesting a perfectly normal course of action!