rascalsmom

My DH's former boss was walking his Ridgeback on a flexi lead. It pulled him into a pole. He endured YEARS of dental work to undo the damage....the person, not the dog. Plus, I think especially with a puppy, you'd want them trained to walk right next to you rather than 'leading'. Of course I've never had a puppy so what would I know?

Well, I have been giving Phoebe coconut oil on her food twice a day. Maybe about 1-1.5 teaspoons per meal, her breath is noticeably better! No more road kill smell.... For those of you who were concerned, I do plan on getting her a dental, like I said....the vet said she will likely need one early next year....and I did not 'waste my money' on this as I had it in my kitchen anyway. It seems to be helping, she actually likes it, and it can't do her any harm.....so it's a "win" for me!

Yep, those look like the tonsil stones DD had. They are putrid! I stopped to get cat food today, at the small holistic shop where I buy it. I asked the girl if she had any recommendations for Phoebe's bad breath. She suggested raw bison bones, which I'm not sure about. Phoebe is an aggressive chewer and I fear her biting off big hunks....she also suggested coconut oil, and apple cider vinegar (with the mother). Since I had some coconut oil, I put about a teaspoon on her dinner. We'll see. Can't hurt her anyway, and maybe it'll help. I may add a splash of ACV to her food, too, but don't want to use everything at once so I know what might work. We need to get caught up on some bills before undertaking a dog dental anyway. And when we do get the dental, I'll be asking the vet to examine her tonsils, too!

This may or may not have anything to do with it: recently my daughter had little white bumps on her tonsils--they were bothering her and then she happened to cough one up. The smell was atrocious! We googled it, and they were tonsil stones! Anyway, she mentioned that Phoebe's breath reminded her of the smell of those tonsil stones, and once again google confirmed that dogs do indeed have tonsils! So now I wonder if her breath could be related to her tonsils.....? Maybe I just need to get her scheduled for the dental; the vet said "probably next year" she'd need one anyway, and also ask him to throughly examine everything including her tonsils....

She had a fecal done at her most recent vet visit, as she does every year.

Phoebe is six years old. Aside from when she was first off the track, she's not had a dental. In fact, the past two years the vet has said that she doesn't need one yet. A welcome surprise after four greyhounds with pretty much annual dentals! However, her breath is horrendous. Think "road kill" horrendous. The vet has offered to do a dental, but I can't see putting her under anesthesia unless she *needs* a dental, solely for the sake of fresher breath. The only thing she actually chews is her large milkbones (usually one a day, maybe two); she never chews her kibble, just gulps it down. We rarely give her anything else. Sometimes bites of an apple or banana, but no people junk food. No, I do not brush her teeth, though I know I should. I used some oral gel for awhile, but it didn't make a huge difference. We don't do a water additive either, and she actually doesn't drink much water in general (I add water to her kibble). She doesn't really graze for rabbit poop, she doesn't partake of her own leavings....the cat box is off limits and strictly monitored when Phoebe is in the room....but still, the breath could peel wallpaper. ​My question is this: Would probiotics help her breath?

Related to putting visual markers on glass doors---also put them on screen doors, if you've got a patio door. After we moved, one of our dogs walked straight into the sliding patio screen and unfortunately messed up her neck. She was unable to walk for awhile, until we took her to a chiropractor. She was never 100% again. I then added magnets (you can get decorative ones) to both of our sliding screen doors. And to prove they work: this summer they fell off, and before I knew it (we had a bunch of family here for a party) Phoebe was running in from the yard and went right through the screen! Fortunately she was fine, but it completely ruined the screen. So magnets or maybe tape for the screens as well as the windows! If it's at hound eye height, make sure they know it's there!

As someone involved in getting Loca to Robin, I can confirm that Loca was in no way 'easy'. She was sweet as can be, but nobody would've called her easy. She was with me overnight, and tried to get my cat--actually grabbed him by the neck!

We used to take our dogs to greyhound gatherings and none of those three ever had a problem with an elevator, and that wasn't something they ever encountered otherwise. I would bet you can find a bomb-proof greyhound who can easily settle in to your lifestyle. There are lots of them out there! As for those who suggest a doodle....ugh! Not that they aren't great dogs, but greyhounds are generally a lot calmer! And not all of them are abused! I've always felt that if the majority of greyhounds were abused, they'd have a whole lot more "issues" than most of them have. We have had five and there was only one who remotely had issues (he was a little growly for the first year or so and was selective about who could get "in his space"). The one we have now, Phoebe, we got at age 2 (broken leg in her last race) and her biggest issue is if I forget to give her a treat before I leave for work. or if we go for ice cream and (god forbid!) don't take her! Seriously, they are dogs. And very adaptable ones.

I disagree that a greyhound isn't a good choice for a first dog. My dog experience, prior to adopting my first greyhound, was our mini poodle, whom my family got when I was about 5. So basically my personal 'experience', i.e., taking care of a dog, was zilch. Our first greyhound was the PERFECT dog for us. She was fostered (thank you, queenwinniesmom!), and her foster family knew all about her. In fact they were an enormous help to us. We knew for sure that she was cat-friendly, since the foster family had cats. And, she was young--two years old. So it largely depends on the dog. If we'd have got a nervous dog, it wouldn't have been such a great experience....and we wouldn't be on greyhound #5 right now!

I'm so sorry. You and Beatrix were both blessed beyond measure to find one another. There is never enough time, is there?

They can get parasites from eating rabbit poo. But I've never been able to stop any of the five dogs I've had from eating it.

I will second that Robin's dog wasn't cat safe. That dog spent a night at my house and grabbed one of my cats by the neck. Luckily we were right there and no harm was done. And Robin's method worked, since that dog became friends with her cat and they lived peaceably together for many years.

Like I said, Phoebe only favors that leg in the really cold weather. I am sure it's because it was previously broken. It never slows her down at all other than her holding it up in the cold.

My Phoebe always holds her right rear leg up when going outside in the cold/snow. I think it's because that was the one she broke (which ended her career and got her her beloved couch ). She only does it when it's very cold and/or snowy. Couldyour dog have broken that leg in the past?

Why force her to wear one? A friend of mine used to have two greyhounds and neither of them was fond of coats so they didn't wear them. My friend walked those dogs in all kinds of weather--rain, snow, windy, you name it, and they were fine. And yes, it does get pretty cold where we live (western PA).

Iker

Welcome back! Mia is my Phoebe's mama!

That's great!

I'm so sorry. But I am happy that he found you in the twilight of his life, and that you were graced with his presence. A very happy ending for him indeed.

I'll be watching the replies on this, as my Phoebe is a lot like this. She sees me as mainly her slave I think ; and adores my hubby who does nothing for her. She was supposed to be my dog, I was the one who wanted her.

My sympathies to you. That was beautifully stated and so true.

The only change I have made with Phoebe (and we've had her for three years now) is to go from the large breed formulation that her foster home had her on to the regular formulation. She has been on pro plan since she was in her foster home. She likes it, output is good, and I figure why fix it if it isn't broken?

I'm so sorry to hear this, Amanda. Maybe you'd like to borrow Phoebe (Sweet Pea) for awhile?

How sad for him. But it sounds like he's found the right home now. The only thing I know about debarked dogs is that it doesn't always work. I knew someone who took in a sheltie who'd been debarked and he was barking again by the time they got him. God bless you for taking this fellow in. He sounds wonderful.