GeorgeofNE

I think that sometimes we read too much into dogs' negative reactions. My last dog was DEATHLY afraid of 1) the ironing board, and 2) the Hassidic Jewish people who lived (in large numbers) in my old neighborhood. I PROMISE you, no Hassidic person ever abused him, and the ironing board was never used to beat him. He was, however, thrown from a moving car at the age of approximately 10-12 weeks. He was NOT afraid of cars and actually loved to go in the car. My boy seems to favor dark skinned men who smoke. As it's rather likely that some of the kennel workers at the track he ran at were darker skinned men who smoke, that makes perfect sense to me. He is afraid of long handled objects like brooms and rakes. I assume he's just smart enough to know those things can be tricksie! Not that someone beat him with a rake.

Fecal incontinence is a result of the LS. He cannot feel the fecal matter. If he were my dog, I'd be looking at saying goodbye. 14 is a VERY long life for most breeds, and it sounds like he's deteriorating beyond the point of palliative care. I hope you don't hate me for saying so. Best wishes, Susan

The dog I adopted from the shelter had giardia, and so did Mister Bigglesworth when he arrived from the breeder! Mister B. had no symptoms at all, but I had to treat three cats AND the dog!

Exactly Beth. Outside animals ARE fair game. Dogs seem to understand that an animal living in the house is part of the pack. I expect if a cat ran past George outside it might not even register with him that it was a cat. We do not have many free roaming cats where I live, and he would not expect it. Nor would I expect him to leave it alone. Anyone who lets their cat outside in the world we presently live in is foolish, particularly when you learn what the livespan differences are between indoor only, and indoor/outdoor cats.

I know I'm not the only Greyhound/cat owner who disagrees with you. I think anyone who has seen my pictures of Mr. Bigglesworth and George would agree--I have a cat safe dog.

Awww, Ducky, thanks for trying to help, but this post makes me terribly sad. I hope it works out, or they see the light and let the dog go somewhere that getting up an hour early to get him tired out is a no brainer.

Well, if he's alone all day, and then you're coming home briefly and then leaving him again--that's not much fun for a dog, whose greatest joy is usually being with is family. How much exercise is he getting? And I don't mean time alone in the yard while the family gets ready for work/school, etc. EXERCISE. The saying goes, "A tired dog is a happy dog." So if possible, someone needs to get up early and take him for a LONG walk. He's probably bored and lonely even if he isn't anxious! My dog had terrible SA when I got him, but we worked through it with lots of exercise, a Kong, a DAP diffuser, and TIME. Hang in there and good luck!

As you've already decided not to get another dog, the best you can do is give her special attention and love her through it.

Yes! Rabies is required by law here, and we have rampant Lyme disease, so he gets that. He's been getting kennel cough since I had a terminally ill parent and thought I might need to board him at some point. Don't think I'll continue with that now that Dad is gone.

No harm. My last dog, Kramer, used to suck nightcrawlers out of the ground like spaghetti! It was disgusting and funny at the same time. I asked the vet, and they said it was OK (if gross). Well, one night good old Kramer barfed. And I didn't have my glasses on...as I bent over to clean it up, the pile appeared to be MOVING. Horrified, I put my glasses on. Wish I hadn't, as it was a bunch of still alive really, really big nightcrawlers! I didn't let him partake after that!

You cannot do "alone training" while your wife is home. The dog knows she's there.

If it were me, I'd just put the powder into a chunk of meat or cheese and try and get him to eat that. Is it actually MEDICATION or just supplements?

I think it's a little nutty for a vet to suggest a six year old needs a senior panel--which at the vet I use costs a heck of a lot more than a normal blood work up-- George's creatinine is ALWAYS high. Unless his BUN is also elevated, it's probably meaningless.

I'm so sorry for you, and everyone else who has lost their hound during/after a minor procedure. It's heartbreaking. But just as with human medical procedures, things happen. We speak of "greyhound savvy vets," and newbies sometimes freak out and think that they need a greyhound expert for everything--but as far as I can tell, what vets really need to know is that Greyhounds are extra sensitive to anesthesia and also at higher risk for bleeding and take appropriate measures.

What the others said. Stairs are stairs. If she can do stairs, she isn't going to be counting them and thinking, "OK, that's enough. I'm suddenly incapable of walking up any more of these." I expect it'll be a lot easier on her than on the humans!

Just one comment: if he "almost escaped from his martingale" you don't have it fitted properly. When walking on leash, make sure you can only fit a couple fingers under it when it's loose. It should be up under his chin, not down near his shoulders.

What BatMom said. Way too much going on in this dog's new life to be worrying about switching foods.

Totally up to you, but there is no reason to continue crating him in my opinion. A crate is meant to be a training tool. And if you have more than one dog, long term crating can provide a measure of safety. But a single, adult dog? Absolutely no reason to continue to crate, including feeding him in the crate unless he has food aggression problems and you have a child to protect.

Have you tried especially yummy things like meat flavored baby food? It sounds like she's really not feeling well at all, poor dear.

Basically you're training him to do this. Bark bark, go lie down, get treat. Repeat. If he were mind it would be bark bark, go like down! Period. Repeat. Over and over if needed. There shouldn't be any reward involved.

Most dogs are full grown and sexually mature at 12 months. He would most likely fill out some, but I would not expect him to grow. His bladder capacity is fully mature at that age (although I think it takes some practice no matter what age).

Also please be honest with yourself; as the mother of a youngster and a teenager, how much time do you really have to deal with another dog? I don't have kids, but from what I understand, it's pretty much go go go all the time these days with kids, school, activities, etc.

It's sort of Greytalk blasphemy, but I would never suggest a Greyhound for a family with kids. There are SO many other choices more suited to the lifestyle of rough and tumble play, fetching, frisbee, etc. Of course your kids are disappointed. It's a normal Greyhound, and I expect they're normal kids!

Sounds like an infection to me. I feel your pain; a few weeks ago I was driving down the road and heard a noise and it was George peeing GALLONS in the back of the car. George no longer has a memory foam lined SUV to ride around in. George now has only washable blankets!