MaryJane

Do you know what the platelet count is ? Some tick infections will cause a decrease in platelet count even though they are not picked up by the tick screening. The tick screening test picks up antibodies and it could be months after the active infection that antibodies show up. If platelets are low, you may want to consider doing a PCR test for a specific tick disease to determine if there is an active infection - unfortunately, that gets expensive as each test runs about 200-300 and there are a few (Anaplasmosis, Erlichia, Babesia, to name a few in addition to Lyme). I think the treatment for all these is Doxy for 3 to 4 weeks, so chances are if it is a tick disease - the doxy will treat and likely later in the year, the antibodies might show up. Although, it would still be a good idea to know the platelet level and if low, to monitor as necessary. Also, I don't remember seeing any indication in your posts whether the leg was ever checked for a spider and/or snake bite. Some of the less poisonous species can cause swelling and it may not be obvious that a bite occurred.

They need to check the kidneys and liver because if the results are a little off - they may need to take additional precautions during the dental. If the tests are a lot off - the dental will get cancelled. They also need to check platelets which might be low and if so, the dental will also probably get cancelled until a reason for the low platelets can be determined (sometimes a tick disease) - platelets are one part of what stops bleeding so if teeth are being removed, that is important. In my pinion, the tests are needed to determine whether the dental can proceed safely (although other things can happen)

This study is real long to read but, interesting. There are points in the study that percentage kills falls from high 96-99% to about 90% so, can't really say that kills on contact all the time. Very similar to birth control - works most of the time but, not all the time. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3433312/

Most people think that the tick treatments will remove any chance of tick borne diseases - that is not true. With Lyme, the tick can transmit the Lyme bacterium within 48 hours. The same is true with Erlichia and Babsesia and in one of these - the transmission time is a few hours after being bitten. Any tick treatments do not prevent your dog from being bitten (as far as I know) - they just say that the tick will be killed by 48 hours - so that leaves the possibility of infection before the 48 hour kill time.

The tick diseases are getting much common and, the symptoms you described fit the symptoms for Babesia and Erlichia and to a lessor degree, Anaplasmosis and Lyme. If they are doing the tick panel, they are checking for antibodies and that means the initial infection could have occurred previously - you can use the PCR tests to determine whether it is an active infection although that is pricy and many will simply move ahead with 3 to 4 weeks of antibiotics.

As some have noted, you need to give her time and her own space. Ignore her and let her come to you, she will eventually. Talk to her but, wait for her to make the first steps for attention. I suggest getting a harness (some have the ability to semi-lift the dog) and leaving it on her and just attach a leash to it when you need to take her out. When you take her out, just stand in some spots without doing anything and let her sniff the air and get used to the surroundings. Take cheese with you to entice her to come back in the house with you so that you are not pulling at her.

I have used this sling with a back amputation, a front amputation, and for a dog that had trouble getting up. For the amputations - I used it for the first two weeks to steady them as they entered and left the house. https://www.walkaboutharnesses.com/products/walkabelly-support-sling

I also though some of these tick diseases were more "northern" however, it seems that the infection locations caused by the ticks are spreading over the last decade or so. http://www.dogsandticks.com/diseases_in_your_area.php

DES is Diethylstilbestrol. You usually start by giving it every day for 5 to 7 days and if that works, you decrease to about once a week. My Lucy has been on it for a few years - she also has recurrent UTIs but, we always get a urinalysis and culture the urine before starting antibiotics. Vets might suggest using Proin to treat incontinence and it is worth re-emphazing that this can cause SUDDEN DEATH in greyhounds (blood pressure) - so don't use Proin - not worth the risk. edited to add -- there is also another hormone treatment that is used which I investigated but, it was more expensive than the DES and at the time, did not have enough reporting on contraindications (my Lucy has seizures, long nerve disease, and IBD).

I'm going to suggest that she get a urinalysis and urine culture to make sure that the antibiotics that she is on are the right ones. She may also have to be put on something like DES (not Proin as that can cause sudden death in greyhounds due to erratic blood pressure) for the incontinence although, better to wait until the antibiotics are done to see if that clears up the incontinence. I would stop using medicated wipes and just use a warm washcloth to gently clean the area by patting it rather than wiping - sometimes the wipes are just not gentle enough and if they are used to wipe, they could be harsh enough to cause little cuts (like paper cuts) in that area. Also, there could be a reaction to the medication on the wipes.

In addition to gating her in the kitchen, can you put the cats into a closed room ?

I stagger vaccinations by 4 weeks.

I suggest going to a vet that sees many greyhounds and see what he/she says. You can check with the greyhound adoption people and see what vet they use.

Two of my greyhounds had this and with one, I went ahead and had the echo (didn't need sedation as the dog was relatively calm) and it was functional - I didn't have to do anything. With the other greyhound, it was there sometimes and not other times. I didn't bother to pursue it further. It seems a pretty common indication in greyhounds and as noted, their hearts are much larger with more blood volume going through and that is likely what is causing the sound. Neither of the dogs that had the "murmur" developed heart issues later.

As someone mentioned, laryngeal paralysis (LP) could cause a change in barking. Since it affects the throat muscles, I suppose there could be a change in the way that food is swallowed so that could explain why she might not want to eat. If she is otherwise healthy, you can add more calories to the food - maybe give toast with some butter, or see if she will lick up peanut butter on a plate. Also, full fat yogurt with applesauce is a treat that my dogs and fosters all loved. You can also add potatoes (white, sweet, yams) and see if that can put a bit of weight on.

The tick panel picks up antibodies so it may not pick up an active infection - I think you need to run a PCR (PCP?) test for active infections (not quite sure- it's been a year since I researched this). As to how long after a tick bite you get symptoms - could be as early as a few days but, it could also be a few months. For example, my Lucy is now positive for Anaplasmosis and she was sick last January (2017) for a few months (low platelets) and the tick panels were coming out negative. We never did the PCR tests back then because there were too many diseases to check for (each one has it's own test) and she was stable although we had to delay her dental for 6+ months while the platelets slowly went back to normal. What part of the country are you in ? edited to add -- looks like you are in Texas, could also be Valley fever - cause by fungus in southwest part of USA -- https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/valley-fever-in-dogs

Have vet run tick panel - to check for anaplasmosis, erchlichia, lyme, babesia - the low platelets and wonky chemistries are common with tick diseases although, there may not be antibodies yet if the infection is new - takes awhile to get the antibodies. I think current treatment is doxy (antibiotic) for 3 to 4 weeks. Also check with neighbors - they may have put pesticides down and it also covered some part of your yard. Check your yard foot by foot - someone may have thrown something into it. Throw out the dog food and treats that you have ... could be a bad bag and you don't want to take chances. Check your dogs over as carefully as possible for any types of bites/rashes - your dogs may have been bit by something. Also, have you used any new detergents, oils, candles, or sprays in the house. Maybe new beds for the dogs or new furniture - "new stuff" gives off vapors that is usually not harmful unless someone is more sensitive.

Maybe others can chime in and confirm but, I think the doxy is really upsetting to their tummies. Can you give some hamburger (very lean) and white rice and see if she eats that ?

You can try to get her adjusted to the outside at her own pace. Take her outside, as far as she will go, and take something for her to lie on and maybe a book and chair for you. Stand/sit there for 10 minutes (as long as she doesn't get scared) and then go back inside. Later in the same day, do the same thing but, for a minute or 2 longer. After a few days, try and go a few yards further. Keep this up and see if you can increase the distance and the amount of time she is outside.

Set up a camera and set what is triggering the behavior. It may be that getting a dog walker could help give a mid-day break. It might also be too noisy for her to sleep and in that case, some music to cover up the noise from above might help.

I add cooked oatmeal to the food.

I agree with this. When I fostered a dog that had serious allergies, the only foods that would work were ones without chicken and they had to have no chicken at all - not even the fat. Ended up using the Natural Balance Venison Limited Ingredient. This company was taken over within the past few years so, not sure how good their product is now.

I'm sorry. Nixon will be in my thoughts.

You may want to switch to a different treat with less protein. Also, you might want to check the salt content on the dog food that you are using. I've had dogs with kidney issues and that is one of the reasons that I went to home-made food - I have more control over the amount of protein and salt.

Start slow and baby gate him in one room for short errands (30 minutes). Make sure the room does not have anything that he can get to that would hurt him (chocolate, glass, remote controls). See how he does after 3 to 4 of these errands and if OK, leave him for longer (2 hours). Keep this up until you work up to the 7 hours.