Zachary

I hear what you are saying and I agree with you. Having said that, I am hyper-vigilant when out walking with him and go in the other direction if I see any dogs, so the likelihood of him being attacked is pretty smalI. If an off-leash dog started running towards him in an attempt to attack him believe me the muzzle would be off before the dog got close enough, and the dog would have to get through me first. Also, the majority of dogs in my neighborhood are small fluffies -- even though the danger is still there, I would be more afraid if there were large dogs around.

Greyhounds spend a good a deal of their professional lives wearing muzzles; I don't think it bothers him all that much-- witness photographs of Greys sleeping with their muzzles on. People frequently ask me about his muzzle and I explain immediately that he is wonderful with people but isn't too keen on small dogs and he wears the muzzle for their protection. I have yet to encounter anyone who has left the discussion with the impression Gilly is anything but a human love bug -- he wins people over with his sweet face and funny antics. Truth be told, there are people that have been afraid of dogs who he has won over and they are confident enough to even try to love on him now!

Gilly did the same thing in response to a small dog; he now wears his muzzle when we leave home. Like muddgirl, I also do not let him interact with dogs he does not know. I view his muzzle as an insurance policy. The muzzle is insurance for me and the no meeting strange dogs is insurance for him!

It should show. The wound on Gilly's toe was the same as your pups. The particles of sand in Gilly's toe pad showed on the rads. There was one piece that was thisclose to bone that the vet really had to dig for. His foot was almost healed and he managed to pick up another microscopic piece of sand and back we went. Vet said he was going to start saving Gilly sand and build a sandbox for the kids. Cheeky man. Wouldn't it be fun if they were all cow doggies!

Sounds like a foreign body. Has his foot been x-rayed? My pup recently had to have ten minute pieces of gravel/sand removed from one of his toe pads. It was quite the sight on the x-rays. Our (very handsome) pups are related! Same sire lineage.

Two things that might work, they did for my pup. A tablespoon or so of pure pumpkin puree at each meal and/or, more for the mucous, but it also helps with diarrhea is slippery elm http://www.holvet.net/slippery_soup.html You can also use Metamucil! Hope this is useful to you.

Ask the vet to x-ray the foot to check for foreign material in the toe pad.

You can try Slippery Elm for the mucous in the stool, it soothes the intestinal tract. http://www.holvet.net/slippery_soup.html Also, tinned pure pumpkin often firms up soft poop. Good luck!

Have his feet been x-rayed? My pup recently had to have ten minute pieces of gravel/sand removed from one of his toe pads. Fortunately his vet had seen this before and knew just what to do. Hope you get your pup's problem sorted out.

Your friend may well be overwhelmed, but that does not absolve her from caring for this ailing dog in whatever way is best for the dog. If that means surrendering the dog to ensure her survival and well-being, then so be it. Please call the adoption group and get this poor dog some help. I think in your heart of hearts that is what you have been wanting to all along. You are a good person for not turning your back on this very sad situation.

You can also try making congee; which is the ultimate overcooked rice. One-half cup washed rice to six cups water. Cover pot and bring to a boil; lower heat and simmer for 15 minutes. Stir rice and recover pot and simmer for another 15 minutes. Stir rice again, recover and simmer an additional 30 minutes. It makes an almost pudding-like mixture and is very easy to digest. Also pure tinned pumpkin can help firm up stool.

I hear ice cream heals all wounds, boo-boos, and especially owies! Poor Dood. Feel better soon. (and work it for all it is worth in the meantime!)

Does he really need to be crated? Perhaps it is the crate he is objecting to and not being alone. He may now be seeing the crate as a punishment rather than a safe haven. Would you feel comfortable leaving him uncrated for short periods of time as an experiment? I have no experience with this as neither of my fresh-from-the-track Greyhounds have ever been crated. Good luck with your pup, I really hope the two of you can work this issue out.

Ducky, Please add these lovely pups . . . Zoe, beautiful retired racing Greyhound Benjamin, sweet old Poodle Megan, sweet older lady Poodle

Many Greyhounds sleep with their eyes open which makes it really difficult to tell if they are really awake. Perhaps calling to him and waiting until he raises his head or gives some other indication he is, in fact, awake will alleviate this hiccup. You did nothing wrong. Greyhounds are just not accustomed to sharing space -- they do, after all, have their own 'apartments' while racing and I suspect he did while at Hemopet as well. You have only had him for a very short period of time and many will suggest it is far too early to be allowing Pluto on ? your bed, or did you approach him on his bed. Either way, perhaps waiting till you are better acquainted with each other would be the more prudent approach. Again, you did nothing wrong and did not trigger anything more than his inate startle reflex. Time should most likely fix that. Congratulations on joining the cult of Greyhounds. They are like no other breed of dog, and as wonderful as any dog that has ever walked the earth. Good luck in getting to know each other better and building a strong bond. Patience is the key with Greys and they will reward you for that patience a hundred times over.

Amniocaproic acid (Amnicar) … suggest it strongly. Be positive and upbeat, especially when around your pup. Always. Don’t cry. Ever. Easy to say, hard to do. Explain the situation/surgery to your pup in positive terms: making the pain go away, feeling so much better. Assure your pup he or she will not feel anything during their surgery as they will be in a really deep sleep. Be honest, however, and tell the pup there will be some pain after but that it will go away day by day. Tell your pup how much you love them and alway will, repeat frequently. Favorite food and treats if your pup is staying overnight or longer post amp. Favorite cuddle toy. Visit your pup as often as the hospital will allow. Pee pads or several waterproof washable incontinence pads for people, just in case. Harness and sling if hospital is not providing one. Medication chart with times and dosages … really helps keep track of meds; check off as meds given. Alarm clock to wake you up for those middle of the night meds! Comfy, supportive bed for your pup that is easy to maneuver into. Comfy sleeping place for you close to your pup. Keep your sense of humor … you will need it to get through the lack of sleep. Supportive friends. Let your pup decide on his or her recovery schedule. Don’t bother planning a step-by-step rehabilitation program. God and your dog will just laugh at you! Zach did not receive amniocaproic acid and I regret that. He was released four days post amp (4 p.m. Monday) and then readmitted in a medical crisis 5:45 a.m. Wednesday). The doctors at the hospital really don't know what caused the crisis just that we almost lost Zach. As we were leaving on our way home, less than two minutes from the hospital, we were rear-ended. No damage, very "gentle" bump, but I often wonder if that was the cause that resulted in Zach being in ICU for a week. Lesson here -- don't get in a car accident! In hindsite I wish I would have turned around and taken him back to the hospital. Best of luck with the surgery. May both you and your pup have an uneventful recovery. It may actually take the human longer to recover than the puppy!

figured it out!

I am so happy for you that you finally received a diagnosis and it was not osteo! Congratulations to your puppy and may he have along and happy life with you. I understand your frustration and fear only too well as my Grey is experiencing the same symptoms. Did multiple x-rays, did a biopsy, results were inconclusive because of the extreme hardness of the bone -- which, as your vet said, was very unusual and unexpected. Redid x-rays, no change. Consulted with Dr. Couto and he doesn't know what it is! I tried to view the x-rays of your pup but the images are no longer there. Would you be so kind as to reload them? I would love to compare the rads and see if there are similarities. I have suggested Valley Fever to my vet, but because my pup raced in Kansas he thinks it very unlikely. I will push for it next appointment.

Thank you for your responses; they were reassuring to my friends. They have had several Greyhounds over the years and have also been involved in adoptions, but have not experienced a Grey with a dropped toe before.

Greyhound friends of mine just adopted a four-year-old female with 85 races to her credit. She has a dropped middle toe on her right foot and limps occasionally on pavement and hard-packed fine gravel. What does this mean in terms of her health both in the short and long term? Does anyone have any advice on treating her and what to watch out for now and in the future? It is questionable if the toe is completely healed. They have an appointment for her next week at their local vet (who may not be familiar with dropped toes) and another appointment the following week with a Grey savvy holistic vet who is also an animal chiropractor. Until then, should they limit her walks and not allow her to run or just carry on as usual? Thanks for any advice.

You can run free now that you are at the Rainbow Bridge. There will be open hearts to love and welcome you, gentle hands to caress you, soft beds for you to sleep on, and bowls of food to fill your belly. You will never again know hunger, pain, or fear. Rest well sweet baby boy, you have finally found peace. I did not know you beautiful boy, but I grieve for you will all my heart. http://www.vancouversun.com/life/German+Shepherd+found+Kitsilano+dumpster+dies/6960877/story.html

Zachary loves blueberries, bananas, strawberries, raspberries, plums, and dried cranberries. He has also never met a Brussels sprout he didn’t love! He likes green peas but thinks they are too much work for the reward. He also loves sweet potatoes and yams (especially yam sushi), and cucumber, but only in sushi! Not that I ever buy him his own order of sushi.

The adoption contract I signed when I was indoctrinated into the cult of Greyhound specifically stated the dog was never to be off leash unless in a fully fenced area. The couple that did my home visit were adamant about not using flexi leads (which I loathe) and not allowing the dog off lead. They were preaching to the choir, however. I have a simple philosophy: An off-lead dog is potentially a dead dog. -- Not worth the risk and definitely not worth the heartbreak.