GeorgeofNE

My vet will NOT prescribe Advantix to me (I had used it safely on my hound) because I have cats. It's very dangerous to them, and because of the possibility of the oily stuff transferring off the dog (while still in the icky sticky stage) and then getting on the cat, she said it simply isn't worth the risk. We use Frontline Plus instead.

My Kramer took Soloxine for the last two years of his life, and it didn't change his drinking habits. My father's dog, Davy, is on it, and he just makes a mess with his water. My MOTHER is also on it (human version!) and she does drink a lot of water--but she always has!

I'm digging the idea of having a snack shelf! I like that! Snack shelf. Even sounds good! Can you tell I'm hungry? Sorry, this is a totally useless response, eh? I apologize...

I use Omaha Vaccine and they're wonderful. They have an actual, honest to goodness pet pharmacy--they're not just a seller of medications. For the thyroid pills my old dog took, I asked my vet to write me a script and she did. I saved a TON of money. She would only write it for a six month supply to make sure I got his thyroid tested regularly, but it worked out great. I also recently went to get heartworm meds for George; her staff handed me the boxes and said, "$95 please" and I said, "Write me a script please, that's double what Omaha Vaccine charges for the EXACT SAME THING." She did. I mailed it in, ordered the meds, yahooo!

I did a search for this at Amazon and came up with a vacuam cleaner. I love that it's under $30! Could you link me to the product? I suggest you just search on "Dremel cordless." I may have gotten the name wrong, but I'm sure you can find it if you try!

My vet is a good vet, but they charge OUTRAGEOUS sums for all medications including heartworm. My vet recently changed the heartworm to Iverhart Max (or something) and they said, "That'll be $90." I whipped out a catalog showing the exact same thing for $45. Many vets will match a price--mine won't I said, "Please write me a prescription" and they did, and I ordered it myself. It really ticks me off, but they are otherwise excellent vets--and typically the clinicians do NOT set the prices charged, and mine certainly doesn't. For routine things, I will always ask for a written script, and they don't mind. For an emergency, obviously you just take the dang pills and fume about it. FYI, I NEVER leave the vet with a bill under $250. Unless I get a tech appointment for a blood draw or something. I've spent nearly $3,000 in the first 10 months of having George--and they have yet to find ANY reason for his peeing in the house!

The Mighty Mite (cordless, rechargeable) is available at Amazon.com for under $30 and works just great!

Whuts rong wiff da name Greg? Curiously, George

Pinched nerve? Kramer would go through boughts of random pain around the neck area. They'd pass in a day or two. I assume you're on the way to the vet, and people randomly guessing is not of a lot of value--but I'm sure everyone sends good wishes that it turns out to be just one of those things.

She'll be fine! Mommy's little girl is growing up! Scritches to Daisy AND Dewey, Susan and George

My sister in law and father both have had Lyme disease. My sissy had the rash (right over her "plumber's crack" as she said), my father did not. It does not itch. We have had at least one dog with it as well--no such skin issue. Could it be as simple as ringworm? FYI, my family (less me) lives on Nantucket--a hotbed of tick borne diseases.

Of all the dogs on GT that are George's "friends," the one I really wanted to reach out and squeeze was Otis with his ginormous paws. How heartbreaking. I know how you must feel.. I wish I could help. Susan

Oh, my Poor Otis buddy! Just one thing after another. I personally would NOT give more Tramadol than your vet prescribed. Best wishes!

I think if you're vet isn't concerned you shouldn't be either. That creatinine is normal for a greyhound (my boy has a bitty elevation, but according to Dr. Couto, he sees that "all the time" in healthy greyhounds--1.9 is the upper range of greyhound normal). I can't speak to the other values personally, but there is plenty of literature available on the web--Google for "greyhound blood values."

Welcome! Turns out part of your dog's career was at Raynham while my dog was also there. I checked; his four races there they didn't meet up and then he was moved to Wonderland. Some Greyhounds despise their jackets. Have you tried taking it off and seeing if he'll walk?

How are you making out Sweetie??? Is it staying on?? That link, above, is awesome. I actually printed that out and gave it to my vet because her bandage only stayed on for 45 minutes, whereas mine usually makes it for a few days because I basically use that same technique! My vet was less insulted when I gave her another vet's instructions! Susan

Hmmm. I'm an ignorant American and have no idea how much a kilo is in pounds, but it sounds like you're on the right track! Can you possibly hire someone to take him on walks for you? Or make your husband get up early and do it? A 20 minute walk isn't much exercise. I understand you personally cannot handle more, but perhaps you could get a neighbor kid to help you out for a few dollars? It takes a while for a dog to lose weight, so with measuring and additional exercise, I'm SURE you'll see it melt away. Good for you for trying! Excess weight is really not good for dogs--special our skinny legged houndies! Most dogs LOVE carrots--you might try those for snacks.

I'm sure your veterinarian has an opinion on that. Mine just switched George to Iverhart Max--but she wanted $95 for 12, and Omaha Vaccine was selling them for $45 for 12--so I asked her to write me a prescription (and she did).

I've been reading about this "track coat," and I must say, my dog was at the track kennel for three years, had NO hair on his chest or belly when he came home to me, and now has grown SOME hair on his belly. In other words, he got MORE hair, not less. Is she scratching?? That's a dramatic hair loss.

I used the cup in the coat hanger--and it took me three walks to get him used to it enough to relax and go. The next time I tried it I could NOT get it. I'd personally stick with an annual CBC and forget about the urine unless the bloodwork turns up something suspicious. Until he's older that is!

Do NOT shave the hair!!!! You need the hair to stick the tape to. My technique, which worked GREYT on George, is this: clean it well, dry it, apply a bit of antibiotic ointment. Affix human Band-Aide (knee size). This will be stuck to the FUR. This is important! Then over that Band-Aide, a LIGHT padding of cotton or a nice layer of gauze. But remember--the heavier the bandage is, the more likely it is to fly off! Over the gauze you want to do your vet wrap. Try to trap some hair in the layers. I like to do an around and around wrap up the tail (as if doing a horse's leg) and then cut a narrow strip to "cap" the end. Finally, and this is key (but WILL be disputed by others!), TAPE the top of the vet wrap TO THE FUR. Yes, some of his hair will come out when you change it. Unless he is an uber sissy, he won't bat an eyelash. Change the bandage every three days at a minimum, and keep wrapped for AT LEAST two to three weeks AFTER it stops bleeding! I was able to save George's tail tip, but alas, not my darling Kramer's! His was a sixteen week nightmare--then when he needed surgery (major) for his leg, I asked the surgeon to cut off the part that looked like ground beef, and all was well after that. You can do it girl! Email me if you want more tips. Hugs, Susan and George (fully tailed!)

I can tell you that my old dog, not a grey, but a wonderful happy boy with a very long tail, had to have two inches amputated because he had a case of happy tail the proved IMPOSSIBLE to heal. After it's healed, you won't even know the difference, and neither will she. Don't beat yourself up.

I'm pretty sure you mean UDDER cream! You know, the dangly part of the lady cow is her udder! Bag Balm is the most famous udder balm, and it works wonders on my own cracked skin. George ended up with three bloody paws on Saturday from the ice crust on the snow, so I cleaned him up and applied some. It has a very mind anticeptic in it in addition to (I believe) lanolin. Great stuff!

I'd go with direct. "You dog gave me the sweetest kiss, but his breath was pretty bad so I took a look at this teeth. Have you noticed this" and then show her.

My father has a mole on his eye. Any chance that's what it is? Calling it an "extra pupil" makes is sound like a HOLE, and I'm just guessing that you really mean a spot on her eye, not a hole into her eye. I'd have your vet take a quick look. You do NOT want to mess around with eye health.