GeorgeofNE

No kid follows rules perfectly, and anyone who is already afraid of a dog who is exibiting pretty normal behavior for a newly adopted ex-racer should possible reconsider Greyhounds as a family member. There are SO many other breeds so much better suited to screaming crawling children. And if you're afraid of this dog already, I just don't see it working out at all. By the way, you said "without any warning" I think twice, but after you said he growled first. So the first key is that YOU are setting him up to fail by not leaving him alone when he's made it quite clear he wants to be left alone!

You didn't mention her deteriorating condition in your intial post! First off, forget about alpha nonsense. Poop is not weapon to a dog. It sounds to me as if she has some lumbar stenosis and cannot control her poop long enough to get outside. It also sounds like she doesn't have a regular schedule. MOST dogs don't do as well being "turned out" as they do being walked on a schedule. Most dogs need to be walked within an hour of every meal. Most dogs need to go out after a long period of inactivity. Five minutes in the back yard alone won't do it. Get her to the vet, and have her hind end evalated. There may be medications that can help (Gabapentin) but if she's already progressed to fecal incontinence, there is no turning back, and you're just going to have to make accomodations in the form of pads all over the place.

Honestly? 30 minutes out of the whole day? I'd write your neighbor a nice note and explain that the dog just needs a little more time. Don't stress yourself so much over what is really quite manageable! My dog doesn't drink when I'm not home either--because he sleeps all day! Is your dog crated? If so, the howling, since it's new, is most likely a sign she's had enough of the crate.

I use Frontline Plus year round 'cause all it takes is for one flea or tick to get in the house and multiply!

I'm so sorry--I wasn't going to say so earlier, but I found it impossible to believe she DIDN'T have osteo. Legs rarely just break that easily. Enjoy what time you have with here, and don't skimp on the pain meds.

My first thought is also brain tumor.

"A few times"? Took me WEEKS of putting one paw in front of the other and literally pushing George up the stairs (three flights of metal stairs he HAD to be able to do in an emergency). Buck? Pranced up stairs like he's been doing them his whole life! I agree with the others--no more carrying him. One of you stands in front with a leash on him and a tasty treat, the other stands DIRECTLY behind him (as in touching him) and you basically force him up. It may seem mean, but seriously, it's not, and carrying 70 pounds up and down the stairs could really be dangerous for them both! Good luck!

This doesn't sound like a great candidate to live with cats, frankly. Chad's advice is excellent, but being on my second cat safe hound, I didn't have ANY of this sort of thing with either dog. I would NOT confine yourself, the dog, and the cat to the bathroom however (unless you're one of those lucky folks with a huge bathroom!). What I would do is confine all cats to a bedroom (with water, litter box, scratching post) for AT LEAST a week. Don't even let them see each other. Let them get used to the smells. Then I would let the cats go about their business while keeping the dog confined/leashed/muzzled. Always, always, always have an escape route for the cats--a baby gate somewhere that is lifted about 6 inches from the floor for them to go under if he starts to chase them. Good luck!

Just an FYI, my FORMER vet suggested Valerian Root extract for George when he was having what we thought were anxiety issues, and within 30 days his liver enzymes had gone way too high. When I Googled it (she admitted she only suggested it because a human friend of hers uses it to help him sleep) there were hundreds of warnings about people with hepititis never using Valerian root as it's hard on the liver. Just because it's natural doesn't mean it's harmless. Or studied for use in dogs. If he were my dog, I'd get some meds from the vet, give them to him, and haul him in for a complete check up.

Was his amp. due to osteo, or something else?

Get his eyes checked next time your at the vet. Could be an issue with depth perception. Try tempting him out with treats. It could just be a matter of learning.

What Batmom said!

Simple answer to the risk of infection==the vets around here use antibiotics in advance of a dental cleaning just to prevent infection. My choice would have been need aspiration. It's likely nothing at all, and it's a whole lot cheaper to pay for that than excising it and finding out it's nothing.

Wow. I have NEVER heard of feeding a dog four times a day, and here we have two people in one thread doing it! Your dogs are used to eating MUCH earlier than 7:30. Perhaps if you start at a time more typical for them and gradually move the time, it will be an easier transition? Or just tough it out a few more weeks. They'll get the point. I get up at 5:30, and my dog gets fed at about 5:40. I think my cats would attack and eat me if I tried to make them wait until 7:30 now that they're used to such an early breakfast! My first Greyhound woke up at EXACTLY 4 AM every day for the first six weeks until I finally got him over that habit. I see no reason to feed a dog more than twice a day. I do give mine a treat when I leave for work, and another before bedtime, but that's just a milk bone. I don't know if that's the sort of thing others count as "feeding" them extra times? Back in the day (when my parents where young) it was very rare to feed a dog more than ONCE a day. They all seemed to survive quite well!

I don't think we need a picture because "stud tail" is very, very common. It's a bare spot on the tail about 1/3 of the way down from the top. Not sure why it's called stud tail, but all breeds of dogs can get it, it's harmless, and treating a dog with Soloxine for it would be crazy.

One incidence of reverse sneezing and I would NOT jump to the conclusion your dog has nasal worms! She probably had a little piece of kibble up her nose! It's just one of those little things that will happen to a dog from time to time, and unless it starts to happen often, forget about it. Allergies rarely manifest the same way they do with humans, FYI. Dogs who are allergic are typical super itchy.

George's "I have to go out" signal was picking up his stuffed dog and trotting around the living room. How on EARTH he decided that meant "I have to go out" I do not know! Buck is much less subtle. He lays down near the door and looks at me and says "Boof!"

I just had Buck tested, and he was .6 My vet immediately wanted to do Soloxine, and I said, "No so fast!" and told her about the normal vs. Greyhound normal with thyroid, and so Saturday I take him in for another blood draw so they can run a complete thyroid panel.

Is he really skinny? I don't trust the scale at the vet a whole lot--if your dog is skinny, then yes, I'd be worried. Otherwise I'd be suspicious of the scale. Unless he was overweight to begin with?

A newly adopted dog is still testing you on many fronts. This is most likely a play to see just how far you'll go to cater to his every whim!

It doesn't matter, although some senior dogs might find it easier not to have to bend. I use a snazzy food/water stand just because I like the way it looks. Buck could care less.

Buck poops 2-4 times a day. George used to poop more and more if I walked for a long time. Kramer pooped five times a day. They have very efficient digestive systems I guess!

Wait...he has bone cancer, but they're doing surgery on the sore? Oh dear...I'm so sorry for your dear dog.

I too have taken Tramadol for years, so when I need it for the dog, I just tell my vet "I already have some" and I just let my doctor know I share it so he doesn't think I'm taking too much. That was before they decided it was a controlled substance...