GeorgeofNE

I do not consider a normal walk something you have to worry about feeding with. Running with other hounds in a playgroup? Yes. Taking a brisk walk? No. What you're avoiding, really, is feeding your dog too soon after it's been panting heavily. Not "exercise" per se.

I personally prefer male pets--I don't know, they just seem to enjoy being pets more than females! That goes for dogs, cats, horses, and birds! Any size dog can get arthritis. Any BREED dog can get arthritis. Don't let that be a factor in your decision! Above all--don't take the first dog that becomes available unless you think it's the right dog for you!

Don't freak out yet. Hopefully it's just an infection.

Why bother using one if it doesn't seem to be working? I use Frontline Plus, and George has never had a flea--nor did my last dog. The Preventic collars do work really well though!

Two weeks is not enough. It was an extreme case, no doubt, but my boy went for 14 weeks on Baytril to cure a mystery infection!

Amitriptyline is an older anti-depressant. I would not medicate my dog round the clock for storm phobia unless the dog was physically injuring itself. This drug will not be effective at all unless she is on it all the time.

Ouch! I wouldn't consider this "anxious behavior" in the same sense as, for example, my dog used to shake before we got on the plane to Nantucket. Your dog is reacting to something painful, so I say soothe her all you want! I hope she feels better soon. FYI, from what I understand, your dog is MORE inclined, not less, to have loose stools on a lamb-based diet. Have you considered beef? George was chronically soft until I switched him to Solid Gold's beef forumula.

I assume you've discussed adding asprin to what he's already taking with your vet? Cause you do NOT want to give asprin if your dog is already on anti-inflammatories, and your really don't want to give plain aspirin if you can avoid it. Ascriptin is a much better choice. It's asprin buffered with Maalox to protect their stomach lining.

You get through it because there are no other good options except to get through it. You do what is best FOR THE DOG, and not yourself. You remember that the kind thing is, sometimes, to let them go. And you get through it because there is always another dog who needs your love. You remember the joy and the love, and not the heartache of loosing them. And like Judy said, you get through it one day at time.

Based on the "incidence of tick borne diseases" map I recently saw, you MUST have plenty of ticks in PA, because they actually have a relatively high incidence of Lyme disease! Maybe you've just been lucky?? We have TONS of ticks here, and I have yet to find one embedded on George--I know I've been lucky!

Kramer puked a minimum of 3 times a week for 12 years... It was always acidy stuff. I'd highly recommend the Pepcid before you worry too much!

Awwwwwwwwww Jake! Stop worrying your Momma!

I tried the yogurt with George when he was on his 14 weeks of Baytril, and found that my dog is one of those dogs who gets diarrhea from yogurt! Oh well, I tried!

Nope. If he had a reaction, it would be within 15 minutes. I know, because my old dog got bitten by some kind of bug, and he looked like a Shar Pei for a while!

I think everyone should have, in their doggy medical kit, a vial of "Quik Stop." It's pre-ground styptic powder. Great stuff!!! I cut my parents' little old lady dog's nails too short a few months ago while my Mom (who is almost 80, and not up to the task) was on the phone and I was visiting. I'm yelling MOM, COME QUICK (the blood is going on the oriental rug) but she is ignoring me...what a MESS!!! We used flour, 'cause I didn't remember buying them the Quik Stop, but now I get it out in advance and just keep it with me while I'm clipping!

I have George tested at the vet annually, and then I ask them for a written prescription. I then get the meds from a registered pet pharmacy, the EXACT SAME STUFF, for 1/2 what my vet charges. I give it year round. The cost of preventing heartworm compared to the cost and potential risk to your dog just isn't even worth thinking about! Omaha Vaccine has really good prices on medications, and they've been around for a long time. They use the exact same products as your vet's office does, and I've been very pleased with both their prices and services. I have saved THOUSANDS of dollars on medications in my years of owning dogs.

Never heard of it, but I'm never one to try a new type of vaccine until it's been around for a while.

Intestinal parasites are VERY common in newly adopted dogs. It's not pleasant, but it's nothing to get too worked up over! Before you know it, they'll be gone and nothing but a memory!

Well, I don't know about that specific ailment, but what choice do you have but to give her the meds? If it helps at all, my Kramer had a bone infection, and took two kinds of powerful antibiotics for months--and not only did he recover, they didn't seem to have any ill effects.

I'd vote "no" to allergies causing a limp. There is no one time "allergy test" you can have your vet run. Your vet would (most likely!) refer you to a veterinary dermatologist for a series of tests just like those they run on humans where they inject allergans and see how the dog's skin reacts. These tests, according to my vet, may or may not be helpful. And even if/when you DO pin down the allergy, if you go with allergy shots, again, they may or may not work. It's tough in dogs! I have a friend with an English Bulldog who has monthly shots, and they do help! I hope you get to the bottom of the limp!

I agree with Batmom, who has obviously done her homework. Having said that, we lost a dog to bloat--a Labrador--and he did NOTHING before or after a meal, and he bloated anyway. There seems to be plenty of disagreement as to what can and cannot lead to bloat, but I'm saying that a dog can bloat for absolutely NO reason at all. If you ever have reason to think your dog MAY have bloated, don't sit around wondering--get him to the vet. Our dog was old, and the vet said he wouldn't survive the surgery, so he was euthanized. It was a sad end to a fabulous dog, but at least he only suffered for a little while thanks to my parents' quick action. Rest in peace Josh.

He's a cutie! Congratulations. Cisco is the name of one of the beaches on Nantucket! You can even buy t-shirts that say "Cisco" on them! Bet your kids would love those!

Just to provide a slightly different take--when I got George, it said he had been treated with Frontline Plus, and there was even a date on the form--and yet the woman who was caring for him handed me the unused Frontline tube when she passed him off to me, and said, "I was going to put this on, but never got around to it." Well, at least she TOLD me...

Well, honestly, happy tail is typically caused by repeatedly whacking the tail when wagging. Your dog cut her tail on a sharp object. You'll treat it the same, but hopefully (for your sake) it's not right on the tip! I wouldn't dismiss the idea of having the vet look at it. A stitch or too might make your life a whole lot easier. A cut on the tail can be a very difficult thing to get to heal. Trust me! My old dog had true happy tail, and after SIXTEEN WEEKS of trying to get it to heal (and at least 5 visits to the vet) he had 2 inches amputated during another surgery. My greyhound came to me with happy tail--that one only took about 2 months of constant bandages to heal. So...if this is a CUT, and it can be stitched, you'll save yourself a world of trouble! Good luck!!

I think dog doors are great--but not for homes with indoor-only cats. Unless you're prepared to lock your cats up, you run the risk of them getting out. If you can confine your cats, then the door is a great idea, as long as you live in a relatively safe area where the door doesn't put you at too much risk. We had four dogs for many years, in a lovely suburban area, and we had two doors next to each other to avoid congestion! Also because two of the dogs liked to lay in waiting for critters (chipmunks, squirrels, etc.) and then burst out of the house with evil intentions! As they were NOT Greyhounds, they never caught anything, but the sure did enjoy the game. We also had a burglar alarm in that house; the dogs were separated from the majority of the house in a mud room area that we were able to close a dutch door to. If you ahve a dog door, and you have a muddy yard--you may not like what you find when you get home if your dog has free access to the house--but because of your cats, that wouldn't be wise anyway!