GeorgeofNE

Could be chigger bites is they are JUST on your legs. Chiggers are nasty little bastards. But they bite and leave, they don't stay on you. And yes, it could very well be fleas.

I agree with Batmom. You're giving him so many things you can't know what is working or now, and what is upsetting his stomach. And I learned the hard way that herbs can be just as problematic as "regular" drugs. George took some herb on the vet's suggestion (some root?) in an attempt to calm him, and it made his ALT go sky high.

I agree--classic "OMG, there is a flea on my butt" behavior. No flea product is 100% effective, and it's not some sort of knock on your dog "parenting" abilities, but it is most likely fleas.

Start over. Pretend you just got her. Begin at the beginning. You can get "I'll be Home Soon" on Amazon.com in an e-book format for a few bucks--that's the written guide on how to do alone training. Good luck!

Thank you everyone, for the kind words. Susan

I'm guessing this person is in the UK? And if the dog isn't tattooed, he is likely never been in a crate before. It could be an epic disaster thinking he can safely be crated and left all day. A nylon muzzle (if it is what I think, with a hole in the end?) will NOT prevent your dog from grabbing a cat if it really wants it. You should not be forcing the issue. Leave the cat alone--let it hide if it wants to hide. Always provide a "safe route" for the cat to run into a small space the dog cannot fit into. For example, fix your bedroom door so it will only open a couple of inches. That way if the dog looses control, the cat has somewhere to run. Never, ever hold the cat in your arms and present it to your dog. The relationship between household pets isn't one of "I'm higher up than you are" because one is larger than the other. They should basically see each other as family members, not as hunter and prey! I would not consider this a match made in heaven, particularly since you have to, I assume, go to work every day and that leaves a LONG time for them to be unattended in the same space. If you have a bedroom you can secure the cat in, that might work. Or the dog might spend the entire day trying to get at it. You won't know until you try! Good luck!

Dee, Please take this for what it is--a comment in reply for your request for suggestions/advice from a grown woman who watched her father slip into complete and total senility. What would YOU want? If every night you lost control of yourself and spiraled into what sure sounds like distress? With virtually no hope that it will ever get better? I know that if we had been able to give my Dad the relief of being put to "sleep," we surely would have. In the end, all we could do was pray that it wouldn't last one more night. Maybe have a heart to heart with your spouse and consider what you'd want if you had the option of NOT suffering through it. Like your dear boy does. That is all. And best wishes whatever you decide.

You could block off the tiled area-- A belly band is not going to "squish" his boy bits. It will also be relatively useless without a human incontinence pad in it. I use the Serenity Ultra type. Like a ginormous maxi pad, but intended to hold a ton of urine. It should be fairly snug, but not tight. I did what Ashton's human did. After years of George having a bizarre and unfixable pee issue, I just started leaving human bed pads where he peed. And then when he did have an accident, it was ALWAYS on the pad. Saved my sanity.

Is this the first time in two months you're trying to do his nails? They must be pretty long by now. Maybe have a groomer or vet tech do them?

There might be people who "don't mind a little extra weight," but it's not about your preferences, it's about what is healthy for the dog. No, he's not obese, but he has no tuck, and that means he's overweight. Easier to take off 5 extra while he's still healthy enough to exercise than it will be when he's older!

I wouldn't have given a dog already on Trazadone and Prozac pain meds for a small puncture wound. That's a lot of pharmeceuticals already. I also NEVER give heartworm and flea/tick preventative on the same day. Agree with the others; if he's trying to pee and can't, that could be an emergency.

I would write a nice note (since I know you're in the same complex with different neighbors) and put it under the doors of all your immediate neighbors. Tell them your name, etc., and let them know you've lived in the complex with the same dog for a while now, but since you're just married you've moved into this larger apartment. Let them know that the few minutes of barking they hear are just the sounds of a happy dog welcoming you, and invite them to come meet her. They probably won't, but hopefully they'll feel stupid for complaining when they find out you didn't actually just move there. And I'd remind the landlord there were no prior complaints and that it's just someone being unreasonable.

Thank you everyone for the kind words. I like to imagine that he is with my father now, looking down on us.

No reason to remove it unless it's bothering him. It's part of the breed standard for the Great P. Is it a big, hairy puppy???

9/9/02 - 8/16/14 On Saturday August 16, with his head on my lap, and an adorable case of ETS, George was set free from his lumbar spinal stenosis and left this world looking right in my eyes as I told him how much I loved him. He went instantly, ready it seems. George was tired. He had been falling on the stairs, walking on the tops of his paws, and was incontinent. His eyes told me what I needed to know. That it was time. I spent a week telling him goodbye (after my vet confirmed he was in pain) and spoiling him with hamburgers, hot dogs, and ice cream. And then my vet freed him. I will miss you forever. And I thank you for your companionship. I hope that I made your retirement enjoyable, although I always felt you would have preferred to return to the track. Your blog and your Facebook page will live on, as they have a life of their own. You will be remembered by many, and Virtual George will continue to grace the major Greyhound events as long as Laze carries you in the back of her pants. Be free and whole and healthy and strong again, my handsome boy. Until we meet again.

Cindy, I am so sorry for your loss. Run free Brady! You and George, together.

The answer is...maybe! My dog George took 18 months to really be himself. I admit, he was a little slow! He also took 18 months to figure out he could TURN AROUND instead of walking backwards out of a room.

I wouldn't let them have the dog because the happiness of their existing senior dog should be first and foremost in their minds, and clearly it isn't. I think it's unkind to force another dog on a senior, if that senior isn't interested in a companion.

I've always thought this is such an incredibly sad story. The not knowing... Happy birthday Pinky.

Is there some special reason your dogs have to be confined to the room at all? Are they not housebroken? Are they chewers? When transitioning to a new home, it's often helpful for a dog to have some confinement, but your post doesn't make it sound like these are new dogs to you. Perhaps if you just give them the run of the house, he'll stop being possessive of the family room?

I would also suggest you up the exercise. Helps with pretty much any behavior issue, IMHO.

1/2 a mile isn't much of a walk. So my opinion is, if that's as long as is comfortable for you, do it twice.

To Ariley: No, that does not sound like allergies, and you should not just assume it is and medicate the dog on your own. She should be seen by the vet. Once you've ruled out other things (could be something like a foreign body up her nose, for example), then it MIGHT be appropriate to try an antihistamine, but please don't ever medicate a dog with a new health issue based on what other people on an internet board are using on their dog!

I'm unclear what living in a small apartment and the ability to handle a medical problem have to do with one and other, but frankly, if you don't think you have the time or inclination to deal with a dog who has just had a surgery with a complication, someone else should foster her. The incision will need to be protected, and if you don't know how or don't have the time or whatever, she'd be better of with an experienced home.

I'm sorry for what you're going through, but this post makes my heart hurt--for your dog. She has a painful, terminal disease. What are you waiting for?