GeorgeofNE

Isn't it up to the VET? In my area, none of the vets I've ever used will perform any procedure involving anesthesia without doing bloodwork in advance.

I'm so sorry for your stress, but you're creating this problem. Leave him ALONE when he's eating. Could he possibly have made it any more clear? If he has a bone, and you need to take it away, use the "trade up" method (give him something else in exchange for the bone). Thyroid problems rarely cause personality problems. True fact! It's not really one of the symptoms in fact-- In any case, for your situation, I'm guessing he DOESN'T have a thyroid problem and because he's being medicated for one, he's gone a bit loopy! If your vet was not aware of what is a normal reading in a Greyhound, he/she probably put him on meds that he doesn't need. Sadly, I think this situation may have taken a bad turn. Sounds to me like you're afraid of him. If that's the case, you might consider returning him to the group you got him from. This is not the right type of dog for a first time dog owner.

I find it very odd that a dog who is NOT ALONE has such a problem. Clearly she has S.A. I would second the exercise, and take both dogs for a long walk. They need to bond with each other, and the new dog with you. If you can get the dogs attached to each other, she may no longer be anxious. I have a new dog too, and I crated him for exactly one day. He's somewhat of a miracle in that he housebroke himself...but he's been fabulous! Did a bit of whining and such the first week (I have a camera I can watch him on) and has settled in after that. Sleeps most of the day! I have two cats to keep him company, and he gets a long walk before I leave.

I'd have him in the bedroom. If he's shaking his head so often or so vigorously you can't sleep, you need to have his ears looked at! If it's his tags jingling, get a tag bag, or let him sleep nude.

With a greyhound, I would consider it somewhat risky to just assume that THIS pain is from corns or arthritis. Yes, I believe you he has both, however, we all know all too well there are other possibilities, and it's easy to overlook when there are corns, etc. If this is NEW behavior, but the corns are not changed, I'd ask for x-rays myself.

Allergic reaction. I feel terribly sorry for that dog.

No dog needs 36% protein unless they're actively working at something--racing, herding, etc. Your vet is leaping to kidney failure without several critically important numbers--and if your vet is unaware that Greyhounds have different chemistry values, they may be way off base. Could someone post that "Greyhounds are different" link for this person to give their vet?

As to your camera query--it's not a simple, easy answer, and I think you're going to just have to Google it and do some reading and research to find exactly what you want. Every set up is different. Short answer is this: if you have a laptop with a built in web cam, there IS software (which may in fact already be installed) that will allow you to record only when motion is detected. However, I don't know of any laptop webcams that have night vision. I suppose you could just leave a light on. That solution will only work if your dog stays in front of the camera. I have a Foscam camera, and it DOES have night vision. I believe you can set it up to only record when there is motion--but again, you really need to read up on that. A camera that would actually record in low light and follow the dog is going to cost more than I imagine you want to pay--and no solution works otherwise the minute the dog moves away from the camera. If he were my dog, I would simply put him in my bedroom and close the door, and teach him "go lie down." In the end, that's a much simpler solution if you're a technophobe!

It's totally normal (and brushing will not encourage new growth--it will simply pull out any dead hair, but it WILL give your dog a nice smooth coat). Most people believe it's genetic. My new dog is very bald, and if you look on Greyhound Data, his sire is as well. He had a half sister at the same adoption kennel, and she was also very bald. Adding omega fatty acids to the diet may help some. George DID grow fur on his neck and chest after I adopted him--I do not anticipate that Buck will.

Most greyhounds get along fine. You may be overthinking this. She's not an 8 year old girl having her first slumber party. She's a dog, who was raised in a pack, having another dog over. It'll be fine. Just be relaxed, let them do their thing, and it's likely to be a complete non-event, other than you having to feed two dogs and make sure they both get outside!

I'm gathering you didn't have an adoption group like I did who required me to read a couple of books about adopting a Greyhound BEFORE I brought one home? I strongly suggested the "For Dummies" book on Greyhounds (not that I'm saying you're a dummy!). All kinds of good tips and tricks. Stairs is someone nearly every Greyhound needs to be taught. And yes, one paw at a time if necessary! He'll get it! If your stairs are wood, you might consider some of those carpeted stair tread things. Wooden stairs are a bit tough for any dog.

Any dog can be taught to sit. I hope when you say, with your Pug, you pulled up on the leash until she sat you don't mean you literally were throttling the dog until it's head came up that high and her hindquarters hit the ground? Please don't do that with your Greyhound, if you did! I am just starting training with my new Greyhound. I use the tried and true "tuck and fold" method!

Since his behavior is continuing to change, and since he is a greyhound and we all know that evil, evil possibility when it comes to pain, I would also suggest a trip to the vet.

What makes you say she doesn't have LS? Those are pretty classic symptoms. Gabapentin helps with nerve pain. It would not help for arthritis (unless the bone on bone action was causing nerve pain) or weakness. If your dog has arthritis, truly, an NSAID would help a great deal. Has her lower lumbar region been x-rayed?

I hate to be the one to bring this up, but is your vet SURE that Blaze doesn't have osteosarcoma? A huge number of cases are only discovered when a dog breaks a leg. I had a friend in the UK with a Spinone break his leg, and her vet just assumed it was just a broken leg--but when the fracture failed to heal, he looked more closely, and sure enough, what was left of the bone was cancerous. Please make sure your vet has considered and positively ruled it out-- I certainly hope with all my heart it is just a break. But that sounds like a very bad break, and it would be rather unusual for a dog doing normal dog things to have a bone break like that. Best of luck to you and your baby.

I believe the most common sign of a food allergy is itchy feet. Dogs with red feet that they lick or chew at are usually food allergic. The greasy coat and stuff sounds like something else, maybe autoimmune??

I bet there is a nocturnal beast roaming your neighborhood! In terms of the "training" part of this particular forum, I decide where my dog walks. I would be totally creeped out to have my dog dragging me around in the dark after some unknown scent! And if you continue to give in to these "I gotta go out" when he doesn't really, he's just going to keep doing it. I would take him to a spot in my yard where he's allowed to pee, give him a couple minutes, and then go back inside. Unless you don't mind the nighttime adventures!

I don't think the OP is suggesting the flank biting is a side effect of the drug, but a symptom of the LS. And yes, nerve pain, which I suffer with, is like shooting hot lightening bolts. And since what LS is is compression of the spinal column squishing the nerves within, I imagine it very well could be a sort of pain. Or tingling. Or numbness. Or, seriously, he could just have a flea having a party on his hind end! George was on an NSAID (Deramaxx) as well as Gabapentin. If he got grumpy, I would give him a Tramadol at night because I figured the grumpiness was likely from discomfort (although who knows?). Make sure you keep exercising Vinnie. Walks on a leash a couple times a day will be super beneficial!

So you're a newbie, and you asked for advice. You got EXCELLENT advice from someone that almost everyone on GT would tell you to LISTEN TO BATMOM. But you didn't. Any special reason? I know what it's like. Because my dog HATED his crate with a firey passion. My adoption group kept telling me to stick with the crate. But in my gut I KNEW that wasn't the answer for him. It got so bad, I seriously considered returning him. Then they suggestion someone for me to talk to who they considered a behavior specialist, and I did. The first thing she said was, "Honey, if he's miserable in the crate, why on earth do you keep putting him in it?" As soon as I put the damn thing away, his anxiety all but vanished. Lots of exercise before I went to work, a Kong with peanut butter, and DAP diffusers EVERYWHERE, and he quickly got over what was hellish separation anxiety. I feel exercise is key. Get up an hour early. Walk, walk, walk. A tired dog is far less likely to act up. If you're afraid the dog is going to chew, put the muzzle on it. If the dog isn't housebroken, they consider baby gating it into a room with flooring that can survive an accident if it has to. You can get through this, you really can. But listen to Batmom!

You're assuming it's a FOOD allergy. This is the time of year when many seasonal allergies act up--the improvement on one diet could be coincidence based on what pollens are around where you live. A rash sounds like a contact allergy to me--could be anything from laundry detergent used on his blankets or bedding to a cleaning product. Have you seen a dermatologist?

Bordatella (kennel cough) is only necessary if you're going to board her and they require it. I have NEVER gotten it unless that was the case. Only rabies is required by law, so go with your gut.

Baby gate across the kitty room door, with a space at the bottom for the cats, and ditch the crate. She should be more than housebroken after 8 weeks. The crate is a tool, not a requirement for the rest of the dog's life.

Can you try to get a bitty little muzzle for him Ducky?

Are you relying on what the groomer told you? Because unfortunately I used to work for the Mass. SPCA in their law enforcement office taking complaint phone calls, and many a dog has died at the groomers. Which is one reason I would NEVER go to one. I'm so sorry for your loss. Yes, it could have been a seizure, and if so likely there was something else going on, and that is what killed him. I had a six year old cat literally drop dead right in front of me. It was horrible. Vet said it could have been a blood clot, aneurysm, etc. You can't know unless you pay for a necropsy.