GeorgeofNE

In my state, if a cat comes into your yard, you are well within your rights to trap it and take it to a shelter or wherever. I wonder why they like your yard so much?

George took Baytril for 14 weeks after shorter courses of other medications failed. It was expensive, but well worth it! My question is this: does the urinating STOP on the other antibiotics but come back? Or does it not stop at all??

I am also reeling from the numbers of "C" diagnosis posted recently. When Dr. Couto spoke at Sandy Paws in 2008, he projected that 2 of 3 racing greyhounds (not show dogs) will be diagnosed with some form of cancer. That was two years ago, so I am not sure if that stat has changed. Dr. Couto's GH&W program not only benefits our beloved hounds, but crosses over to the human side - he works closely with the OSU Medical School. Makes me wish I had millions to donate to his program. Just think what a $10.00 dollar donation from every registered GTer would do! I heard him speak last year, and he said about 25% (so that's 1 in 4, right?). Shocking--because all of the books you read (hopefully!) before you adopt, talk about how healthy greyhounds are. I suppose they are, except for the bone cancer. You have to figure it's genetic. With sperm being sold all over the country and some dogs producing THOUSANDS of pups, it's easy to see how it could become so prevalent. It's heartbreaking, and I'm not sure I would have adopted a greyhound if I had known there was a 25% chance the one I picked would fall to such a painful disease.

George has NEVER had a normal creatine level, even greyhound normal. Urine tests all normal, and BUN normal. I sent his result to Dr. Couto via email because my vet kept testing and testing and testing, and Dr. C said that the creatine level, absent any other issues, was not a problem.

Could you have ants or some other biting insects that you haven't noticed, but they have? Something coming into your yard at night, and leaving a scent in the grass seems a much more likely reason for this behavior than "fear of dew"!

That's us! George of Noo England and me, who spent $2,000 on medical tests his first 9 months home because he kept peeing in the house (only when I wasn't home) only to be told "it's behavorial." I didn't believe it. The "proof," so too speak, was that after the administration of post neuter antibiotics, post dental antibiotics, post skin infection antibiotics--he's stop peeing for a couple of weeks. I tried EVERYTHING behavioral that I could think of. I finally showed my vet my pee journal, and she said, "Hmmmm. I had another greyhound test completely healthy, who couldn't hold it, and we tried a long course of antibiotics, and it worked. Do you want to do that." Sign me up I said! $650 worth of Baytril later (14 weeks), the problem was solved! I must say that about once a year now, something inside him goes haywire--and he'll have a couple of days where he has trouble holding it. Other than that, it's been over 2 years at 99% dry, no belly band any more. Believe me when I tell you, I know EXACTLY what you're feeling right now--you are 100% sure it's not medical. So was I. I got really ticked off at everyone suggesting he be tested for UTI, etc. cause I had clearly stated he had been--five times. And yet, whatever the problem was, 14 weeks of Baytril wiped it out. Our theory is that whatever infection he had--kidney perhaps--had been raging so long, at such a low level, his body had adapted to it and was no longer producing signs of it in his urine. After all, being let out at the track every few hours, who would have known? He was in the same kennel for three years. If he wasn't peeing in his crate, they'd never know he couldn't hold it. He peed in foster care, and was punished for it ("Don't worry," foster mom said, "When he has an accident, I shove his nose in it and yell at him!" as if she was some sort of training genius!--but that's another story!). She never brought it to the group's attention or even contemplated WHY a healthy adult dog couldn't hold it. I tell you my tale only because our situation was similar, and I know for a fact my vet treated another greyhound with the exact same issue successfully with long-term antibiotics. Do with this what you wish! And I feel your frustration--believe me!

Unless you want him to continue this behavior (which would drive me NUTS), I'd stop responding by getting up and trying to figure it out. I'd take the opportunity to work on "quiet" and "go lie down."

:lol Oh Lauren!!! You KNOW that's not always true!!!! If hounds like George were the rule rather than the exception...well, perish the thought!!

Maybe you need to give them something to pee on??? Fake fire hydrant, something? Otherwise, can you block it off so they ONLY have access to that area? Eventually they'll HAVE to go.

That's way too many baths! I agree with brushing the mud off. Once or twice a year is more than enough for a greyhound. I use Nova Pearls moisturizing shampoo. I also feed George Grizzly salmon oil in his meals to help with the dry skin.

You probably don't know my story-- I had the same issue with George. One vet told me it was behavioral, but I knew the vet was wrong. My dog isn't an anxious dog (once I stopped confining him, that is). Every time he had a short course of antibiotics (for his dental, a skin infection, a trial for the urine issue) (by the way all blood work and five urine tests were TOTALLY NORMAL), he'd stop for a few weeks. Finally a new vet, who has had other Greyhounds with this problem, put him on a 14 weeks course of Baytril. He stopped. That was 1.5 years ago. It's worth considering that it could be medical. It's a LOT easier to cure a medical problem than a behavioral one. Perhaps your vet would give you two weeks worth and just SEE if it helps? Cheaper than new carpet!

More exercise (that helps with most everything!), dog proof (absolutely NOTHING that's food should be anywhere "out" including rabbit food!), and leave her with something to keep her occupied, like a Kong with peanut butter smeared around the inside. If she's tired, from the exercise, she's much less likely to get into trouble. Some people muzzle their dogs when they're home alone.

I taught George how to sit using the tried and true "tuck and fold." Let me say George is handsome and was fast, but he is neither interested in obedience nor particularly interested in pleasing me! If he can learn sit, any hound can! I wouldn't be teaching him to jump. It's all good fun until he knocks someone over (child, older person)!

That's what I've read too-- Also bear in mind that in the kennels she was raised in, and the track if she raced, she ate as fast as she wanted, probably out of a feeding pail on the ground--and was just fine! We actually had a dog die of "bloat" (gastric torsion) and he wasn't a Greyhound or a faster eater.

Please--if you cannot physically contain them both, don't set yourself up for a situation when they could either get away from you, or drag you and hurt you. There are several reasons why, despite being tempted, I only have ONE dog at a time. I think back to a great training book I have by a gentleman who trains a lot of police dogs, etc. One of his cardinal rules is not to take on more dog(s) than you can physically control when you have to. I think you're pushing the socialization too, having only had them for three weeks. They barely know YOU. They don't need to get to know the neighborhood dogs quite yet! I'd spend time working on basic leash manners (one at a time) and building your relationship before I worry about the rest. In Greyhound terms, 3 weeks is nothing!

Does he get EXERCISE walks? If all he's getting is "short walks" then he's possibly holding it to extend the walk. Often folks inadvertantly train their dog to hold it by ending the walk as soon as their "business" is taken care of. I'm in a condo, and have to leash walk too. George gets a tinkle walk first thing in the AM, then after breakfast we go for a 40 minute exercise walk. He gets another tinkle break the SECOND I get home, and then if it's nice out, a trip to the park after dinner. One last tinkle break before bed. Just as a frame of reference. I'd consider the suggestion that he could have a mild UTI if this behavior is new.

X-pens are all pretty much the same. Make sure if you get one that you find a way to prevent it from folding up while the dog is in it! Like putting rocks at each of the corners. And never, and I mean never, leave the dog unattended in the pen while you're camping!

I had a feeling when I read the topic title that you're not looking for a pet; I don't believe a Greyhound is appropriate for you given the above. Greyhounds are not outdoor dogs. They're not guard dogs. They don't herd. They don't protect your property. And a greyhound can run fast enough to kill himself crashing into a fence. They can die from heat stroke. Simply playing with your other dogs could send your hound to the e-vet because as Greysmom said, they have skin like tissue paper. There are lots of other dogs who need homes, many of whom would no doubt LOVE living on your farm with the rest of your pack!

I would not gate them into the same room. If you have no option, yes, muzzle them both. I hope your girl is OK.

Truthfully? Despite what you'd gather from reading Greytalk, there are many, many, many dogs (of all breeds) that aren't afraid of fireworks or storms. We've had dogs my entire life, (and so have both parents--so we're talking 80+ years of family pets) and of all of them, one of them was afraid of storms, and none of the others have ever been afraid of loud noises of any kind, and that includes my Greyhound. The one who was afraid of thunder is deaf now, so it's no longer an issue. I do wonder the same thing--especially since so many hounds race in Florida, land of thunderstorms. You know they're not getting doped up in the kennels for the frequent storms, and they survive just fine. They they become pets, and suddenly this is a huge issue for some of them. I do feel very fortunate that I have one of the hounds who doesn't have the problem, because I know it's a serious one.

Any dog that experienced a big personality change like that absent any triggering event would be at the vet for a work up if it were my dog. Could be lots of things from a vision problem to pain. Good luck and don't despair!

I wouldn't be concerned about 5 pounds in a YEAR. George goes up and down at every visit. I'm not convinced the scales are calibrated often at most vets, and I have weighed a dog two or three times and gotten two or three weights within minutes of each test weigh. So he may not have actually lost 5 pounds!

What's the point? As far as I know, you can't treat a disease in advance, and I don't need to spend my dog's time with me waiting for terrible news.

Prednisone IS steroids, and it's very commonly given to dogs for a variety of conditions. It's a powerful drug, however, and needs to be given exactly as the vet tells you.

I personally think it's a bit much to expect a dog to be on one schedule Mon-Fri, and another on weekends--but I'm an early riser anyway. I'm like Jilly's Full House on weekends; we get up at our regular time (5:30) and I take him out, feed him, and we go back to bed. I get up at 5:30 because I give George a 40 minute walk every day before I go to work. Is he getting enough exercise? If you expect him to sleep until 6 or even later, he may need to go out later than your current bed time.