LaFlaca
-
Posts
2,001 -
Joined
-
Last visited
Content Type
Profiles
Forums
Events
Gallery
Store
Articles
Posts posted by LaFlaca
-
-
I've only had to give gaba when there is a noticeable issue, and in both of my boys cases (LS and neck/limping) I've had to give it. I'm not sure why that would have been perscribed for arthritis though. I'd say to give it to her to see if her mood/actions change for the better.
Wendy can't take NSAIDS. We almost lost her to a gastric bleed after taking an NSAID a couple of years ago. We tried Tramadol and Robaxin when the limping started, but these did not help with pain and made her seem depressed/sedated. Gabapentin is prescribed for the pain of neuropathy and I've been prescribed it for Fibromyalgia pain. So far, she's doing very well. I'm going to call the vet to confirm that Wendy has to take the medication on a daily basis or as needed. Can't believe it didn't occur to to ask that question at the moment.
-
Wendy was just prescribed gabapentin for arthritis pain. Do you give your dog the medication every day even if there is no obvious pain?
-
Pilling your pup can be a challenge. When Wendy first started needing daily meds, hiding the pill/capsule in a high value treat worked great...for about a minute. After a while, I guess she could maybe smell the medication in the treat (?), but anyway, she just would not eat anything that was offered if it had a pill inside. Now I offer a pill-less very high value treat first. Then, I grab her upper jaw, apply very gentle pressure, ask her to "open" and I insert the pill as far back and to the side of her mouth as I can. Even before she swallows, I've got a "jackpot" (lots!) of very high value treats right under her nose and I'm praising her (goooood girl! gooood girl!) profusely all the while. She's so eager to eat the treats that are being offered that she seems to forget that there's a pill going down her throat. God bless her little pointed head! Wendy is a very goooood girl!
-
A life well lived, well loved. Run with the angels sweet, beautiful boy. May time and the precious memories of loving Fenway and being loved in return, help to heal your broken heart.
-
Wishing your darling girl all the best.
-
I'm so sorry that your girl had to go. May time heal your broken heart.
-
I remember. Rest easy, pretty Sadie. May time heal your broken heart, Mary Jo.
-
Eve was not particularly vocal, but she was an extremely effective communicator with her facial and full-body language. I didn't need the services of an animal communicator -- Eve could tell me her wants and opinions just fine. Jeter vocalizes a lot, but I don't always know what he's trying to communicate.
Like humans, I guess each Greyhound has his/her method and level of effectiveness when it comes to the ability to communicate . I don't know a whole lot, but I do know this for sure...these dogs are rare and special creatures each in his/her way. I am blessed and humbled to have been chosen by Wendy (because she chose me, not I her) to share my life with her. Joy is living with a Greyhound.
-
Does Wendy "chatter"? Johnny does it, especially when a card ride is imminent. He has started doing it when snuggling on my lap, so funny!
Yes!! This is a relatively new thing...maybe in the last year she has started to chatter so loudly that it sounds like castanets!
-
I've thought for years that may be why greyhounds are attacked so often by other breeds/mutts. Racers learned 'dog' whle they were growing up, while MOST puppies (ones separated from their mom/litter at a young age) don't learn 'dog' and don't understand dogs who do... just a thought...
Makes sense...I wonder if this "language" issue is what makes Wendy act like the fun police. She'll get in my son's and MIL's dogs faces and bark at them, not aggressively at all, but rather shrilly. We've always interpreted this as Wendy scolding the young'un's for inappropriate (in her view) behavior. They ignore her completely and go right on doing what they were doing. What an interesting topic this is turning out to be! Thanks to you all for sharing your thoughts.
-
Wendy sounds like a pure delight! I know you are enjoying every minute of her demonstrative interaction. Thanks so much for the wonderful and vivid description of her communication!
Hi, Roux! Yes, my girl has been bringing us pure joy for going on 9 years, now. Last night, she was "complaining" because DH was talking to me and not paying homage to her. Wendy was curled up on the recliner next to us, needle-nose pointed towards the ceiling, emitting sub-sonic, staccato barks and "thumping' the chair with her entire, bony body as we purposely ignored her and snickered.
-
I suspect that greyhounds are more adept at body language because they are kept with their dams/litters/other dogs longer than non-racing dogs, which are typically parted from their dams/littermates by 8-12 weeks. These guys are always with other dogs and have to be able to speak/read dog in order to get along. I suspect many of them do it with humans, too, though some are more subtle than others. Of the three I've had, Turbo and Heyokha were/are demonstrative and actively try to communicate. With Heyokha, when you speak to him, it's like holding a conversation. His ears prick up and he reacts to what you're saying to him. There's not a whole lot going on between Crow's ears, but he's handsome and sweet, so we just chuckle at his blank stares.
That's a great observation, turbotaina. Perhaps my other dogs were not raised around their dam/sibs and thus did not become fluent in the language of Dog! And, yes! With Wendy, it's like holding a conversation, perhaps with a non-native English speaker...you can just see the wheels turning in her little pointed head trying so very hard to understand what we're saying.
-
Wendy is the only Greyhound I have ever shared my life with so I'm wondering - are Greyhounds, in general, very expressive in their body language, facial expressions and vocalizations? I've lived with myriad breeds and have never even met another dog that "talks" so much! Wendy uses every inch of her body and vocal range to get her message across. Play bowing, head bobbing, foot stomping, stuffy tossing, Greynosis (staring at you until you comply), whining, woo-wooing, various types of barks including a whisper-like one (who taught her that?!), all with different meanings. We're pretty good at deciphering what she means with her "talk" but, sometimes, we make believe we don't understand just to aggravate her and see what silliness ensues.
Do your Greys "talk"?
-
Every dog I've ever shared my home with has done this. My GSD had a metal bucket to drink out of. She'd not only dip one leg after the other into it after drinking, she'd dunk her entire muzzle up to her eyeballs. What a muddy mess! Thank goodness someone invented elevated feeders!
-
This tip from my vet has really helped make cleaning Wendy's teeth easier. I buy the cheapest knee-high stockings I can find (you can use your old pantyhose, as well), cut them up into finger sized pieces, smear them with Virbac toothpaste and moisten. I wrap my index finger and thumb each with a piece of stocking; that way I can clean both lingual and buccal surfaces at the same time, and use just my index finger for the "way-back" teeth. Since I am
a cheapskatethrifty, I wash the "brushes", let them dry, and reuse them till they wear out. Hope this helps! -
He's trying to bury it.
-
I also recommend membership to the Greyhound Health Initiative. http://greyhoundhealthinitiative.org/ Membership for a hound owner is only $99.00/year and well worth it when you have hounds. We and our hounds are not immune from the cancers that plague them and having the GHI for consults is priceless when we have a hound in need. My vet is also a member which gives me great comfort because its like having a backup for my greyhound savvy vet. Please consider joining, the benefits to our hounds is immeasurable.
You may also want to consider signing up for the free GHI e-mail list which will be a vehicle to sending out info on new medical updates and programs for our hounds. It cost nothing but 3 minutes of your time to send your info to the e-mail address in the post to get on the list. See thread http://forum.greytalk.com/index.php/topic/317612-why-havent-you-signed-up-for-this-free/
Hi Leslie, I've emailed the GHI (both contact emails on the site) regarding a consultation for Wendy but have gotten no response. Does one have to become a member to receive information on how to arrange a consultation? Any advice is appreciated. I will gladly pay the membership fee today, if that is the case. We see the vet on Saturday and I'd like to have as much information as possible on hand to give her. Thanks!
-
Count me in! Thanks, Leslie.
-
He is out doing ortho procedures all over the county. I still see his partner Mark. I adore him and would not change for the world. I know where every Greyhound article in his office is! Call e if you need me. L.
Thanks, I will.
-
Hi Irene. I can't believe Wendy is 10. Has it been that long? Let me know if there is anything I can help you with. My vet belongs to Greyhound Health Initiative and is a very knowledgeable "Greyhound" vet. L.
Hi Leslie! Wendy chose me 8 years ago! Can you believe it? Thank you for your offer to help. I will certainly reach out to you, if necessary. Are you still using Dr. Cabrera?
-
Not necessarily. How old is she? Anytime there is something suspicious with bone in a greyhound x-ray I keep osteo in the forefront of my mind, although to a lesser extent if the dog is young. Unfortunately I have seen way too many vets, especially soecialists mislead people because they are unwilling to diagnose something as osteo without "proof" via biopsy, etc. Bone infections are rare so unfortunately in my opinion, generally speaking, something suspicious on an x-ray of an older grey is much more likely to be osteo. The spine is a less common location though. Also, if you're in the Southwest, always rule out Valley Fever.
I hope this is something more benign and treatable.
Wendy is 10 years old. After reading up on bone infections, I agree with you that they are rare. Valley Fever came to mind, but we're in Florida...don't know if Wendy was a "valley girl" in the past. I hate to put negative vibes out in the Universe, but I'm thinking Osteo, too. The spine is a less common site for cancer. I keep hoping it's arthritis or something equally benign. Denial is a perfectly acceptable form of self-protection.
I fully intend to consult with Dr. Couto regardless of what the vet has to say next week. I just want my girl to be comfortable and living a quality life as long as possible. -
You can also do a consult with Dr Couto. There is a fee, but it's worth it. A link is in the first post of the Osteo Thread.
Yup. This is definitely going to happen.
I'm afraid that's it's not always easy to identify. All three of my greyhounds didn't show anything for the first set of X-rays.
Hopefully somebody with more knowledge than me will add to this.
Crap! I was hoping it would be really obvious.
-
According to the vet, Wendy has "something going on" in two lumbar vertebrae. We are treating it as a bone infection with Tramadol and antibiotics for three weeks after which we will re-x-ray and reassess. My question is this; is early onset bone cancer fairly obvious to identify on x-ray?
-
Thanks! How is Wendy doing?
[/quote
Thank you for asking! Oddly, Wendy seems like her usual self except for the inconsistent appetite. She'll eat fine one day and not a bite the next. She won't eat a meal, but will readily accept a treat. Just a few minutes ago she conned DH into feeding her almost an entire loaf of Cuban bread! It's bizarre. It's not like she has no appetite at all, it just seems as though she'll eat when and what she wants. Is this typical of early onset bone cancer?
Anyway, we go back to the vet next Saturday after 3 weeks of antibiotics to re-x-ray and reassess in the hope that we're looking at a bone infection. I thought bone cancer was very obvious on x-ray. Is that not the case?
Love ❤, health and ear rubs to all of your fur-kids
I fully intend to consult with Dr. Couto regardless of what the vet has to say next week. I just want my girl to be comfortable and living a quality life as long as possible.
Side Effects Of Gabapentin
in Health and Medical discussion
Posted
Thanks for your advise. The prescription is 100 mg every 12 to 24 hours. I've been giving it to her once a day, after dinner. I've left a voicemail for the vet and am waiting for a call back.