vjgrey

I'm so sorry. He sounds like a very special boy.

She just said they were "slightly" elevated. That's in comparison to early November, which was when they last did a full chemistry panel on him (about a week after diagnosis). So I'm not sure whether "slight," elevation is to be expected? I guess we'll know more after the urinalysis tomorrow. I don't know why his chemo treatments take all day. I drop him off around 8:30-8:45, they do a CBC and let me know immediately whether he's okay for treatment or not, and then they call around 3pm to say he's ready to come home. I wasn't aware it COULD be a 20 minute thing!

Gabe's radiologist did a chemistry panel today, and his kidney values were elevated. We're hoping this is just a little dehydration or a UTI and NOT the start of kidney failure. We'll have a urine sample tested tomorrow at his regular vet and see how things go from there. The radiologist mentioned that this may mean the end of pamindronate treatments. :(

Chemo and pamindronate are both all-day procedures for Gabe, and I've never had to take his collar. That would make me cry, too! Tons of good thoughts and "clear x-ray" wishes for Joe today.

Personally, I'd never take my hounds to a dog park unless it was empty. The risk is too great that your dog will be hurt (greys have thin skin) or that he'll hurt another dog (for which he could be put to sleep). However, if you do take him, please don't leave him defenseless by muzzling him when no one else is.

He's good for chemo! Radiation treatment is scheduled for tomorrow. He's only "toe touching" a little when he stands still, but we want to keep on top of the pain. In the past, he's gone from toe touching to limp to lame in less than 24 hours.

Please think good thoughts for Gabe, who will have Chemo #4 tomorrow if his numbers are right. He's been doing really well lately - in fact, we frequently have to KEEP him from running around like a crazy dog.

We bought a cheap food dehydrator and make our own treats. My hounds LOVE dried chicken, but it was so hard to find any that wasn't made in China. We take boneless, skinless chicken breasts, pound them flat and dry them overnight. It's houndie crack.

Wow...My heart is racing just reading that. SO glad she's okay.

It's always SO great to read these kinds of posts. Happy 18 month spoilaversary, Joe! I wish you many, many more.

I'm so, so, sorry, Judy. Saint has always been one of my GT favorites.

Zoolady, you should contact OSU (via the consultation form on their website) and ask about receiving their free chemo. They've had some supply problems recently, but I believe their policy is that they'll provide it to any retired racer. They mail it to your vet/oncologist, and you just pay the administration fees. It's made a HUGE difference in our chemo bills for Gabe. All fingers crossed for Pinky's neutrophil count. And Berkeley...well, I don't know what to say about that. It's great that he's feeling well enough to feel frisky?

I think a lot of cheap foods contain beet pulp, which does tend to firm the poops. At times, I've thought about adding beet pulp to GOOD food, but we finally found one that works for all three hounds (Merrick's Before Grain).

Gabe has Osteo, and he gets 100 mg twice a day but has been up to three 150 mg doses on his worst days (on top of other meds, including Deramaxx). He's about 83-84 pounds, though. It hasn't really seemed to affect him, but I've heard that Tramadol can make some dogs really restless.

DH caught Gabe tonight with front feet on the counter, stealing shredded chicken out of a bowl I'd left there while I fed the pups. Gabe is a fast eater and wandered back to the kitchen for bonus chicken. Made us both smile (and reward the naughtiness with chicken).

I'm so sorry.

Thanks so much for the comments. She has had neck pain in the past and saw a chiropractor years ago, but this doesn't look like that to me. She's still doing the full body, legs flailing shake, which she usually won't do if her neck is bothering her. She'll turn her head side to side and up and down for chicken. I did give her a Pepcid (have lots on hand, since Gabe has to take them daily), and that may've helped. She's been sleeping on the couch for an hour and a half, which is longer than she's tended to stay settled the last few days. I'll continue to watch her, and will definitely get her in to see her vet if it continues.

YES! I've been meaning to ask this. Gabe isn't through with Chemo - he'll have his fourth in two weeks. But he's been shedding like crazy. He usually isn't a big shedder - my two white girls are - but I haven't seen coat blowing like this since the Siberian Husky I grew up with. It's EVERYWHERE, and we get handfuls every time we pet him. I mentioned it to the oncology tech, but she didn't think it was related to the chemo.

I'd be surprised if she'd swallowed anything. She's not a chewer. She has been known to disembowel stuffies, but she leaves the evidence on the floor for us to pick up. She's eating and drinking normally. Normal poops, as far as I can tell (didn't watch her carefully in the back yard, but she seemed to go about her normal routine. She played bitey face with Lucy this morning. She's completely normal except when she isn't. Gas is a possibility. Is there anything I can give her at home to help? We have canned pumpkin and can go buy yogurt if needed. Any over the counter meds? Obviously I'll take her in to the vet if necessary, but I'm trying to ride that line between reacting and overreacting (which I'm very prone to do these days when it comes to the hounds' health *sigh*)

Going through Osteo with Gabe, I've become the world's most paranoid mama, but I think there's something more to this than my craziness - Twice this week - Monday and yesterday evening - Diamond suddenly screamed while laying down (possibly in the process of getting up - I wasn't in the room). Both times, when I came into the room, she was standing there, shaking, and the muscles in her hips/abdomen felt tight. That lasted for about five minutes each time. For the last several days, she's just been really "off." She won't lay down for long but just wanders from room to room and stands there. The process of laying down and standing up don't seem to hurt - she doest lay down or get up slowly or with any signs of pain, but something about it is clearly making her uncomfortable. She went to bed with us last night but sat up/didn't seem to sleep for a big part of the night. I just can't tell what's hurting - no pain reaction to manipulating her legs or hips. Her stomach/abdomen feels slightly tight, but she isn't showing any signs of bloat - no panting, no attempts to vomit, no gagging or licking. I'm tempted to try to get her into the vet today, but I don't know if that's coming from sensible mama or paranoid mama. Thoughts?

It's not allowed. We have limits. Thinking all the positive thoughts in the world for you and Ace right now.

Thinking of you and Ace today.

Nooo! NEVER cook the bone. It causes it to splinter. We occasionally give our hounds (raw!) marrow bones or partially frozen turkey necks for their teeth.

no more clots, clean heart in the ultrasound!!! no more clots, clean heart in the ultrasound!!! no more clots, clean heart in the ultrasound!!! no more clots, clean heart in the ultrasound!!! no more clots, clean heart in the ultrasound!!! Lots of good thoughts for you and Lazer.

I've never heard this and have never had any pressure/bed sores on any of my three greyhounds.