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racindog

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Posts posted by racindog

    Crazy creatinine levels (11-12) after anaesthetic

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted

    8 hours ago, Beautifulriver said:

    Thank you for all the kind words and advice. Annie is still here, going for and enjoying slow, short walks and doing lots of sniffing. And she's eating, but not nearly enough. She now has ascites, which is apparently a complication of kidney failure/proteinuria. She's taking various drugs to combat her problems, but I'm not sure they are helping. I'm monitoring her closely, and I think we're very close to pts. I am utterly heartbroken. 

    I did have a brief email exchange with Dr Couto, who said that lymphoma was treatable if caught early enough. (He was very responsive and kind - impressed!) But really, we missed that window of opportunity between September, when her blood tests showed kidney issues, and April, when she was diagnosed, to treat the cancer and kidney disease. It was too late to help her by the time I knew she was sick. The vet I'm with now has been terrific. The one I left will feel my wrath once Annie is gone.

    :grouphug

    Sox - Issues with Liquid Diarrhea

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted

    17 hours ago, greysmom said:

    Generally, a probiotic needs to be given every day to be effective, not just on an as-needed basis.  It keeps the gut bacteria in balance and working properly.  It's odd that you're also giving metronidazole at the same time as that is an antibiotic which is toxic to microorganisms.  So those two things are actually working against each other.  

    Have you changed her food at all??  Or noticed her same food smelling differently or looking differently???  Often, companies will change the recipe or the sourcing for ingredients without having to mention it to anyone, and it will cause issues.  Has your vet suggested doing a food trial to see if she has any allergies or intolerances??

    The classic thing to do when diarrhea starts is to immediately fast the dog until the diarrhea stops, then one meal time more.  Make sure there's plenty of clean water available so she doesn't get dehydrated.  Once the diarrhea has stopped, restart her feeding using a bland diet - low fat protein (different from what's in her regular food) and a bland carb source, also different from her usual food.  Lots of people use rice, but you can use pasta or oatmeal or anything she will eat.  Start with a small amount - like a 1/4 cup - once an hour.  If she eats it and the diarrhea doesn't start back up, keep up that schedule for another day, gradually increasing the amount.  If the diarrhea does start again, go back to fasting, and try changing the protein source for the next round.

    As Irene said above, a Rx diet or one made to help gut health can also be helpful.  But one way or another, it's best to get to the bottom of the problem as soon as possible.  If she's having diarrhea that often she's going to lose weight very quickly since she's not getting much nutrition from her food.  If your vet is running out of options it might be best to consult a vet who specializes in gastroenterology.

    Ditto. My thoughts exactly.

    Crazy creatinine levels (11-12) after anaesthetic

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted

    My heart is breaking for you. I know what it feels like to be trusting a vet and then have them so cruelly and horribly let you and especially your beloved hound down.  It is just as bad if not worse here in the US. I have had vets seriously harm and even kill hounds of mine. It is extremely difficult to find one that actually cares enough to treat our loved ones like they should be and that knows what they are doing.  I will be praying for your sweet girl-and you.  I know He answers prayer and that miracles do still happen. Don't give up. Just love. :hope

    First scream of death experience!

    in Cute and Funny things Greyhounds do

    Posted

    35 minutes ago, EllenEveBaz said:

    Poor baby Rocket!  His legs were attacked by a scary monster in the dark!  The only good thing about the Greyhound Scream of Death (GSOD) is that it usually signals nothing major. When it is something serious, the hounds go all stoic.   But it's hard to think of that in the immediate aftermath of the shock on your eardrums and heart rate. 

    My favorite GSOD story is of when about a dozen hounds were running and playing in a big field next to our adoption kennel.  Suddenly, a dog pulled up short, screamed, and held up a front paw.  Humans ran to her from all corners of the field, convinced it was a broken leg at the least.

    No, the little girl had stepped on a slug and it had gotten wedged between her paw pads.  She wanted the whole world to know just exactly how DISGUSTING that felt.    

    :rotfl

     

    Caught it!

    in Cute and Funny things Greyhounds do

    Posted · Edited by racindog

    I have 1 greyhound, Octane, and 2 "killer" Malinois working dogs. My hound Octane is so bulletproof you can run the dreaded dog eating machine even up against him and he won't move from his napping.  On the other hand if I get the dog eating machine out the mals both immediately go to the bedroom, jump on the bed together, form a defensive perimeter and make a (last?)stand :hehe:rotfl

    Help... second biting incident

    in Training and Behavior discussion

    Posted

    On 3/3/2023 at 9:45 PM, BoTrixie said:

    @racindog Hooray for Goldie!  It's so inspiring to hear about other fearful dogs who have managed to gain confidence.  It's all I want for Trixie.  I will have to check out Rescue Remedy.  She has come so far in the time she has been with us.  In the beginning, she was so afraid of people she wouldn't seek affection and she wouldn't take a treat from anyone's hand.  We've come so far with her!  She is incredibly cuddly with us and when it comes to new people, she will approach them if they are quiet and sitting down and on brave days she will take a treat from them.  She still gets very nervous in new places, and sometimes just walking in our own neighborhood she will get scared when there is something (and especially someone) new.  It's been a joy to get her this far, and I can't wait for the day when I can say that she's achieved Goldie status!  

    Wonderful to hear. Enjoy the journey. Sending love and hugs to all. :heart

    Help... second biting incident

    in Training and Behavior discussion

    Posted

    17 hours ago, BoTrixie said:

    Thank you so much @Time4ANap and @racindog.  I really needed to hear that I am not going down a terrible path here.  Bogie is still settling in here (it's only been 7 months) and really he and Trix and so so good together.  (She is a very shy dog and having a confident companion makes all the difference in how she interacts with the outside world.)  I do think these were just moments of establishing boundaries.  But oh that sound this week and the way that Trix looked at me after it was over.  :(  Of course she is fine now (because it's an ear wound it opens every time she shakes her head and that part is no fun) and the two of them had a great play session this morning that has resulted in what is shaping up to be a 5 hour ++ nap.  I really appreciate the reassurance!

    Got to mention this...there is no doubt that his confidence will help her shyness.  I adopted a hound named Goldie that was so scared. It was sad. He would cower in the back of the kennel if you opened the door; I had to feed him by himself in the back bedroom because he was scared to eat anywhere else. One time we got him to accept a little treat and he went trotting off to his back bedroom to eat it and someone just happenned to open another bedroom door and it scared him so bad he jumped into the wall and fell down trying to flee and dropped his prized treat! If he made any sound at all it was a squeaky little girl bark.  Well it so happens my other greyhound was Slim, my soulmate, who is rather well known because he was very aggressive(to people & animals), very protective, and had TONS of confidence! Slim ALWAYS said 'bring it on!' I didn't even know a greyhound could be like that.

    Besides love I gave Goldie Rescue Remedy twice a day and that helped some but Slim's confidence and personality TOTALLY TRANSFORMED Goldie!  Little by little Goldie got braver and braver and within 3 or 4 years no one would ever guess he had ever been shy or scared! Even his bark changed! and he started barking with a deep man bark. He oozed with confidence and didn't get rattled anymore no matter what. He ate and played with the other dogs and was an integral part of the pack. He was so relaxed-he even became territorial and helped Slim protect their territory!  Now had I not seen this and lived it with my own eyes I would never have believed such a major transformation was even possible.  But this happened. A total transformation and it was brought about because his packmate Slim was so extremely brave and outgoing. He started copying the things Slim would do-like be confident & even territorial-and adopted that behavior as his own. And Slim was the real deal...he had quite a reputation because he actually did violently drive off burglars one day etc. 

    Yep its a mess sometimes with an ear injury.  You'll prolly need to find something to gently hold it down against her head for a while until it heals. Blood does indeed go EVERWHERE when they shake their head otherwise. People use stocking/snood/or loose type of stretch bandage sometimes.

    Help... second biting incident

    in Training and Behavior discussion

    Posted

    Sounds like normal fairly easy to manage dogs to me.  Dogs bite. It is as much a communication tool to them as is barking or growling etc.  IMO they're not being aggressive. For one thing he has demonstrated "bite inhibition" and it is one of the greyt things about greyhounds.  Since greyhound puppies are allowed to grow up more normally than most other dogs they tend to learn good bite inhibition. That is one of the things those sharp puppy teeth teach.  Anyway, both times the bite has been minimal with no real damage.  That is because he exercised bite inhibition.  Without it or with actual aggression and malice there would be far more damage and blood.  So you see this tells you even more that you've got some amiable dogs and there was no real animosity or aggression involved. Had there been most likely part of the ear would be torn or missing and would need stitched up.  THE DOGS KNOW THIS TO! That is why they don't really react after the fact or feel animosity toward each other.  Its just a normal part of dog communication to them no harm intended.  And now you know that even if your male is pushed to the point of biting it is highly unlikely he will do any damage or truly aggress on the other(or a human either for that matter).  Personally I don't think you have any problems. They seem to be working things out well. Can it escalate? Yes, it could but probably won't.  If one inadvertently actually causes more pain to the other one than they are used to then things could always escalate.  But thats just 'dog life'.  You will know actual aggressive behavior if you see it because it is very violent and they will be using their teeth as the weapons they are instead of exercising bite inhibition. There are reasons that the pros muzzle their greyhounds. One biggie is that it is a lot cheaper than getting dogs stapled up and put back together. You just need to decide for yourself if you think their situation warrants muzzles.  Keeping them muzzled is no big deal. In fact there is a lady on GT that sells the most wonderful imported muzzles with a built in poop barrier. That way you don't have to worry about them eating stuff they shouldn't eat either.  Anyway I'd let it ride and just enjoy my dogs if I was you. They're just being dogs and good ones at that. JMO.

    Fashion Show

    in Cute and Funny things Greyhounds do

    Posted

    Well I can certainly understand! Those collars...each one more irresistible than the one before it. There was nothing to be done but give in:heart.  And then the thought of them on those gorgeous houndies!!! None of us could have resisted! Thanks for sharing-the cult understands :grouphug.

     

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