GeorgeofNE

Oh dear. Rest in peace little Sam. Is there a room you can gate off that your g. pig can live in? That is ALWAYS shut off from the dog?

Excellent advice here from some very experienced multi-hound owners! Sounds like the fight was more sound and fury than actual violence, but I would absolutely start trying the things these smart ladies have suggested. Good luck.

My suggestion is get him to the vet. It sounds to me that he is probably beyond the stage were supplements are going to help. They work best (if at all) for mild cases. Depending on how he is otherwise, assuming he's healthy, Rimadyl or Deramaxx will give him a lot of relief. If the hind end weekness is from compressed nerves (sounds like it could be LS to me) supplements won't do a thing. There are some simple tests her vet can do to determine what's up. As to the stairs, there are individual carpet ovals you can put on stairs. I believe they're removable too. Perhaps she could ask the landlord if she could do that? For the slipping, lots of rubber backed throw rugs! My Mom's dog is having very similar issues. Mom put a rug (oriental!) where the dog lies down most of the time so she can get up. Good luck!

Gee, I hope so! George gets one every Saturday and Sunday! Yes, is the answer to your question. Enjoy!

Ah! Time in the morning! I get up more than an hour earlier than I need to because I FIRMLY believe that if you're a working stiff, like me, your dog's exercise should come BEFORE you leave him alone all day, not after if you're only going to go one long walk. Walking him in the evening is GREAT, but that doesn't really help him relax and sleep when you want him to the most--when you have to leave him. Perhaps, at least temporarily, you'd consider getting up early? George had some pretty serious problems being left alone at first. I swore I would try "everything," and that included getting myself up early to try and wear him out. I used to walk him for an hour. We're down to 45 minutes now--but I've had him for more than 2 years, and he's going to be 8 in a couple of weeks. I have certainly gotten used to it. I admit, I'm a morning person anyway, but taking on a pet often involves changing up our own routines. Unless, I suppose, it's a gerbil or something else like goldfish! Think of it as excellent cardio for yourself!

I was going to say the same thing--get her eyes checked. The light could be bothering her. My Kramer (my last dog) started acting really strangely at night, and when I took him to the vet we determined it was his eyes. He was having problems seeing in the dark.

I suggest you do exactly what you said above--leave him be when he's laying down. There's plenty of time to love on him as he adjusts. And PLEASE, make sure you do NOT leave your child and the dog unattended together.

I would just like to say that you cannot allow the dog to decide he doesn't want to go out when you know you're leaving--you're setting him up to fail. You need to put him on a leash and TAKE him out if he doesn't want to go. I think you should probably take a urine sample to the vet, but perhaps you might also consider what your routine is? A dog needs exercise, especially if he's in the crate. Is he getting much? And I don't mean sniffing around the back yard. I mean exercise. It'll help him settle down, sleep, and if it IS behavioral (I'd rule out medical first) it's one of the things that will help! Good luck--and let me just say, been there, done that!! And I know it's no fun.

I'd be more inclined NOT to feed them tonight, and give a light breakfast. It is possible the treat has nothing to do with it and Merlin has some sort of bug that he's given to Sagan. I'm sure you've already thought of that! Hope they feel better tomorrow!

Hmmmm. Well, George's chest went up and down 35 times during his minute! He's not actually asleep, but he IS laying down! That seems like a lot more than the other houndies! Oh, if it matters, 65 pounds, almost 8 years old.

You might find this of interest: From Marvista Vet's website I've never heard of this--wish I had, my last dog suffered miserably for the last couple of years of his life with allergies. Good luck--I hope it helps.

I actually am going to disagree here. My dog lives with 2 cats--there were 3, but one died at the age of 15. He has no interest in them. A cat OUTSIDE is a different story, just like a squirrel or the coyote we ran into. Inside animals just are different than outside ones. I would say if she never showed any interest in them, there's no reason to be concerned. Provide the cats with an escape area--for example, the room where their litter box is--put a gate in that doorway with some space at the bottom for them to run under, just in case. But I don't believe that just because this dog killed a chicken means her demeanor towards the cats will change. I certainly don't pen up my dog or my cats, and they're home alone 5 days a week!

Oh Bev! Darcy, you hang in there pretty fuzzy girl!

My advice is advice I'm frequently given: don't worry about something that hasn't, and may not, ever happen! George and I moved--he didn't bat an eyelash. He cried for five minutes the first day when I left for work, and aside from that, he's been amazing! Hopefully Bistro will be as completely and utterly unconcerned as George was. I think as long as YOU are there, she'll be fine!!! If you're anywhere near us in Canton, perhaps we should go for a walk??

You're just upset! It'll be OK!! When I first got George, my group felt very strongly that he needed to be crated. So that's what I did. I live alone, I work at a regular 8 hour a day job. So, I had to leave him alone! After about three weeks, the complaints started (I lived in a condo--apartment style building). Being president of the condo board, I wasn't too worried, and in fact I thought the first complaint was an exaggeration. A few more days went by. One day I got home, and our Super (my employee, basically) was waiting for me. He told me he'd gotten three complaints THAT DAY. I was mortified. I set up a video camera. From the moment I closed the door until the tape ran out, George tipped back his head and howled at the top of his lungs! Oh no!! I wrote all the neighbors notes. I worked on alone training. I contacted my group--very upset--and told them if this didn't stop, I had to consider returning him. They told me to contact a woman who was a behaviorist. So I did. I explained it all to her--she was so sweet. She said, "Honey, if he howls in the crate, why do you keep putting him in it?" I told her that my group really wanted me to. She said all dogs are different. While many greyhounds take to being crated very easily, some don't. And she felt clearly mine didn't. I tried a baby gate. First day he crawled under, second day he jumped over, third day he howled all day. I gave up. He's been free in my apartment ever since, not another complaint! He has never chewed anything, he has never done ANYTHING! So please don't panic! The point of this long tale is that I've now had George for about 2 1/3 years, and aside from those first few rough weeks, he's been a terrific companion! Give the alone training a shot. A good, honest try. If he continues to cry and fuss, there's no law that says you have to crate a dog who doesn't like it! Next thing: exercise, exercise, exercise! I don't mean open the back door and let him sniff for an hour. I mean put him on the leash, hit the 'hood for a good, brisk walk. A tired dog is far less likely to make a stink when left. He'll be much more inclined to sleep! I also suggest you give the D.A.P. diffuser a try. That's a thing that's similar to a plug in air freshener, but it emits pheremones which MAY be calming. That seemed to help George a bit. Hang in there! Many of us have travelled this road and survived!!

I sure hope it's nothing--have you checked for a corn?? When George was limping, I took him to the vet. She didn't even CONSIDER anything other than x-rays immediately. She said "with a Greyhound, I insist on x-rays." They were clear. She also insisted I come back in two weeks for another set, AND make an appointment with a surgeon--that's how concerned she was. The only reason she didn't have me come back for a THIRD set is that the specialist she sent me to found a narrowing of his spinal column, and decided his limp was a result of LS, and not bone cancer. Sending you my very best thoughts!!

Suggest you purchase and read the Patricia McConnell pamphlet/book, "I'll Be Home Soon." You can overcome this with some patience and some practice! Greyhounds are NEVER alone until they're adopted. They're surrounded either by other dogs, or dogs and people 24/7. Imagine how you'd feel is all the sudden your were in a wire box and your new people disappeared! Many hounds start off this way; most all learn to deal with it. The book was a Godsend for me!

If this is NEW, you need to go back to the vet. Believe me, I know your frustration, having been through the "but he doesn't test positive for a UTI" routine. There are other medical causes for inappropriate unrination. Particularly if he's peeing in that kind of volume. Something is amiss, your vet needs to look harder! Good luck!

Doesn't help you from Alabama, but we have a program here where you can give your unused veterinary medicine to Angell Memorial and they give them to aids patients who have pets.

2Hounds!!

If it's $250 somewhere, it's probably $500 here! My vet wants my cat to have an MRI--the quote I got is "about $2,000."

The OP is in Massachusetts, where I am. I don't know of any clinics open at night except the e-vets. I'm not sure if Angell Memorial Animal Hospital boards, but they'd be your best option I'd guess. E-vets don't board here (no one there during the DAY), and I've yet to run across a regular vet who is staffed at night. There is a place in Natick that has someone living above the clinic, but I don't believe she checks on the animals. Did you adopt your hound from a group here? I'd try contacting them. They might have a member who would be willing to keep your dog while you're away.

Speaking from personal experience (a dog and myself!), if his arthritis is "severe," the nutraceuticals won't help. From my doctor's mouth to your ears... With a Greyhound limping, I would not just assume it's his arthritis. I'd take him in for an x-ray. If nothing else, you'll get a good idea just how bad the arthritis is. And the peace of mind of knowing that's all it is. For long-term chronic pain, my vet prefers Tramadol to NSAIDs.

Yes he has been on antihistamines but nothing seems to help.... He just keep scratching... Thank You! George didn't respond that well to Benadryl, so I gave him Clemastine fumarate (I believe that's the generic form of Chlortrimeton) and that worked a lot better for him. I also used a coal tar shampoo on my last dog who was terribly allergic. About once a month really helped. When they got totally out of control (usually in August) he would go on a 10 day course of prednisone--fairly small dose--and that really helped.

I have 16 different training books! Suggest you start with one--some of mine are pretty old and old school, so I won't make a specific recommendation. Just be consistent. Keep lessons short (no more than 15 minutes, twice a day). You need not work on just ONE thing. Many things are easiest to teach in combination (for example, I find heel and sit to be very compatible--teach the dog to sit when you stop walking). I actually taught sit first. And no, George did not sit of his own accord. He does NOW, if he wants something REALLY badly! I call it his full-on cute mode. He's never going to win any prizes, but he has the basics; sit, down, heel. He has a mild grasp of stay (doesn't care for that one) and I would never, ever think he would come when I call him anywhere but in the condo. I trained him like I would any other dog--althought with him I did use treats. My last dog I used nothing but praise, but with him, that was enough. George isn't interested in praise or pleasing, but he'll do almost anything for food!