LaFlaca
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Posts posted by LaFlaca
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How exciting! I bet you can't wait for Saturday to arrive. My advice, from personal experience, is let the dog choose you if you have several to choose from. Don't base your choice on gender or appearance. Consider your energy and personality and choose a dog who complements that. I am a very laid back, medium energy person. While I was very attracted to the very active, high energy hounds up for adoption - they look like fun! - I chose my Lola who was calm, super-friendly and more interested in cuddling up to me than leaping around. Perfect fit! Ask the foster folks if they've noticed any aggression issues - space, sleep, resource guarding. Any separation anxiety? What brand food the dog been eating? Is the dog cat/small dog/child safe? How does the dog behave on lead? Any reactivity. pulling, etc.? Run your hands all over the dog . Check for lumps or tender areas. Check skin, eyes, teeth, paws (for corns or lacerations), ears. I know...I'm obsessive!
Good luck and have fun! Keep us updated.
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Hooks can make a dog very uncomfortable causing stomach upset and anal itching.
I have only one thing to add; start desensitizing him to grabbing his collar and leashing him. Some dogs find this upsetting. One way is to give him high value treats while you gently handle his collar and clip on the lead. Do this several times a day for a few seconds as a training session only, not followed by a walk.
Kudos to you and your husband for being such devoted owners!
Had another thought. When you grab his collar to attach the lead, are you looming or reaching over him? He might find this threatening and react out of fear. Maybe start out with a chin or chest rub or a treat at his level, not over him, then gently take hold of the collar from underneath and attach the lead. Worth a try.
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I'd say it is. They are sensitive emotionally and physically, but I think they also have an incredible pulse on their own metabolism. They are easily able to keep themselves in weight check (ok, most of them). I find when my guys don't eat, it's either they simply are not hungry (maybe I haven't been exercising them enough - that happens to people plenty) or there are other environmental factors at play - it's crappy weather outside, they get bored, etc.
Keep an eye on it and monitor IMO. They can pick up and drop weight rapidly. A simple change in the amount fed can change results in short order.
Lola has eaten very little since yesterday...something she has done before. I'm keeping a close eye on her for any signs of illness or discomfort. It just makes me crazy with worry when they don't eat!
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- My Wendy would not eat unless she was alone in the kitchen.
Try green tripe -
. It reeks and they love it! Available from Chewy, Only Natural Pets, etc.
Get those teeth checked.
Does her bowl clatter or move when she eats? Sometimes their tags knock against the bowl and it can be scary. I have to put a piece of rubber carpet padding between the ring on Lola's elevated feeder and her stainless steel bowl so that it doesn't spin around and clatter as she eats. -
I have had the joy of sharing my home with two Greyhounds; Wendy, who graced our home for 10 years, and now, Lola, who has been home for 6 months.
Both of these dogs have had inconsistent appetites. Eating as if they're starving for several days/weeks and then going on a hunger strike for several days eating very little or skipping meals all together. There are no health issues to explain the variation in appetite at any given time.
My past dogs of various breeds never did this. Is this another Greyhound quirk?
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My 11 year-old, Wendy, went through similar bouts of coughing, a high fever of unspecified origin, and just generally being 'off '. She sounded like she was hacking up a hair-ball. It turned out to be her heart even though all tests came back normal. Hope your boy gets better!
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www.greyhoundpetsfl.org
Associated with Palm Beach Kennel Club I think. They have scheduled events and one is coming up this Saturday. Check out their event calendar.
Turtle Fest 2018
Date: March 24th (Saturday)
Time: 10:00am - 6:00pm
Location: Loggerhead Marinelife Center (14200 US Hwy-1)
City: Juno Beach
Contact: Mary Macchia (561) 339-0409
This is an all day event so we'll need several volunteers for 2 hour commitments.For more event information click hereRed Barn Meet & Greet
Date: April 14th (Saturday)
Time: 11:00am - 2:00pm
Location: Red Barn Feed & Supply Store
(12948 Okeechobee Blvd, Loxahatchee 33470)
City: Loxahatchee
Thanks, ShebasMom. I do wish there were get-togethers in or near to Miami, though.
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Me, me! I'd love to participate in Greyhound play-dates and get-togethers in Miami. Lola and I usually go to maybe one a year offered by Friends of Greyhounds if they're held near by.
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from down the road apiece in Miami.
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It might make more sense to see a derm vet that can perform allergy testing. My boy was the poster dog for atopic dermatitis-he had rashes, scratched all day causing self trauma etc.... Apoquel helped the symptoms but, I wanted to find the cause. To rule out food insensitivity’s a food trial needed to be done. According to the derm vet that was the only way to find the culprit-she claimed food allergy testing is just smoke and mirrors. I also had environment testing done-turns out my poor Stan was allergic to a ton of things-many I couldn’t eliminate from his environment (one of the triggers was me!). He was started on the allergy vaccine (sublingual drops) and after the expected time I did notice a good response. He still needed frequent bathing to wash the topical allergens off and during some flairs he did take apoquel but, he was much more comfortable and became a happier dog.
It's a mission no matter how you look at it. Glad your baby is better. Well worth all our efforts as long as our hounds are healthy and happy.
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No experience as I've not heard of it before, but it sounds a lot like Apoquel pills. My two cents is that if you don't know the origin of the allergy, then you're just covering it up by suppressing your dog's immune system response. This *could* have far-reaching consequences later in life.
A food trial is easier and cheaper by far, though it does take a bit of patience to do properly.
If you've already done this and I've forgotten, I'm sorry. FWIW, Apoquel did help our Lilly with her allergies, but in the end I was not comfortable with what the drug was doing to her to achieve the result. After her food trial, she has ended up on an extremely limited diet (no single atom of chicken anything ever), and is doing really well.
I think CADI is equivalent to Apoquel. I, too, am concerned about using this drug lifelong. It's not a cure. It's symptom management. This would be acceptable if there were no other alternative.
Putting Lola on a hydrolyzed protein (HP), prescription diet will be a mission. Her diet would be extremely limited to the point that we'll have to find alternative flea, tick and heartworm prevention. She will no longer be able to use Trifexis and will probably need topical flea/tick prevention and another brand of heartworm tablet. HP kibble is expensive; about $87 for a 20 lb. bag which, again, is not a problem. She'd be on the HP diet for a time to see if it works for her.
I did the elimination diet - started with chicken, then beef, then soy - but she still itched. It could be inhaled or environmental allergies, too.
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Lola has been an itchy girl since she came home in August. It began with her anus. She did have hooks and has taken 4 rounds of Panacur. I'm taking a fecal sample to the vet on March 26th. Anal glands are not the issue.
Lately though, the itching has spread to her flanks, belly, and face. All of her skin looks healthy - no lumps, bumps or rashes. Before we put her on an HP prescription diet, the vet offered the CADI injection and it appears to be working. The effects can last a month or more at $122.00 a pop, which is, thank God, within my reach.
Anyone had experience with the CADI (Canine Atopic Dermatitis Immunotherapeutic) injection?
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My only other thought is to avoid the situation/actions that make her grumble.
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I wonder if she's being protective of you especially in view of your recent illness?
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I wonder if this is a Greyhound-ish quirk. Both Greys I've owned have been meal-skippers even at a young age. They'll eat several meals like they're starving and then go a few days skipping breakfast or eating only part of a meal.
Lola weighs 72 lbs. and gets 1 1/2 cups of kibble twice a day plus the occasional chew or treat.
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from Miami, Florida! Congrats on the addition of Xena to your 'pack'. It's been my experience that the chewing of inappropriate items tends to lessen over time. Try to set your girl up to succeed by dog-proofing the house as much as possible. As for S.A., it can be quite a mission training Xena that you'll always come home to her. I highly suggest the booklet by Patricia B. McConnell, Ph.D., I'll Be Home Soon!. It's a little over 30 pages of easy to follow advice and alone training tips. It helped me turn my Lola from a raving lunatic to a calm pup when left alone.
Enjoy your girl!
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from Miami!
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No brilliant ideas...just hoping for a good outcome.
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Did you test for hookworms? They can cause squeaky-tummy and major itchy-butt. Sometimes the test is negative but they're still present. I'm going through the same situation with Lola; she's on round three of four of Panacur.
Lola is also just a generally itchy girl so I'm looking at food allergies. Vet said to start with an elimination diet; first chicken, then beef. Avoid soy and grains, which I already did. She was eating Wellness CORE kibble with various canned foods added. Now she's on Merrick LID kibble, no canned food at all, no chicken, grains or soy.
While her tushy is still itchy because of the hooks, the skin itching seems better. What a mission! Good luck with your pup!
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Loca! Loved and never forgotten.
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Get her to the vet a.s.a.p. This radical change in behavior is concerning. Dog's do not suddenly stop liking their owners. First thing that comes to mind is thyroid issues. Strongly suggest a full veterinary work-up. Wishing you and your girl all the best.
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My first suggestion is a visit to the vet to make sure that there are no underlying health issues. Eating feces (coprophagia) may suggest a health issue. Next suggestion, dispose of the crate. Confine your dog to a small, safe, dog-proofed area of the house. Baby gates are very useful. Go back to Housebreaking 101. Take your dog out to potty. Bring high-value treats with you - cheese, cooked bits of chicken, pieces of hot dog, etc. The second she's done doing her business, give her a handful of treats and praise, praise, praise! Repeat the procedure each potty time until she gets it. It took my Lola 3 months to be completely housebroken.
Inappropriate elimination may also be a symptom of separation anxiety. I highly suggest Patricia B. McConnell's booklet, I'll Be Home Soon. It's a simple, easy to follow guide on how to treat S.A. that really works if you're patient and persistent.
Good luck with your girl!
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Thanks!
We use the West Kendall park. Do you and Lola get out?
Yes! Lola loves going everywhere with me and we often visit parks nearby that allow leashed dogs. Dog parks, however, make me uncomfortable; not so much because of the dogs, but because of their irresponsible owners who are too busy looking at their phones and not keeping a close eye on their dogs!
Check out the Friends of Greyhounds website - http://friendsofgreyhounds.org/fog/. They often sponsor Greyhound only get-togethers.
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Nellie is beautiful! Lola and I are in Miami.
How exciting! I bet you can't wait for Saturday to arrive. My advice, from personal experience, is let the dog choose you if you have several to choose from. Don't base your choice on gender or appearance. Consider your energy and personality and choose a dog who complements that. I am a very laid back, medium energy person. While I was very attracted to the very active, high energy hounds up for adoption - they look like fun! - I chose my Lola who was calm, super-friendly and more interested in cuddling up to me than leaping around. Perfect fit! 
Hookworm!
in Health and Medical discussion
Posted
We've been battling the dreaded hooks since Lola came home in August. She was clean for about 3 months then became reinfected. ARRRGH! We've begun the 3rd round of Panacur. I'm on poop patrol twice a day. Poor Lola is visibly uncomfortable...just not her usual bubbly self.
We live in South Florida...hookworm heaven! Our yard is mostly sandy soil and coral rock with scraggly patches of what passes for grass. Consequences of living with Greyhounds for over 10 years!
Has anyone on GT successfully treated their yards for hooks?