greysmom

What you're experiencing is common with greyhounds, and you can search here in the forum for the many (many!) threads related to spook dogs, idiopathic fear syndrome, anxious dogs. There's tons of information for you to read through in those threads, along with a lot of ways to help her. I have had a dog like this myself, so I know how difficult and frustrating they can be to deal with all day, every day. The best advice I can give you is to consider that she has a mental health challenge herself. She's not normal. She's effectively disabled with a condition much like autism. It's probably genetic in nature, and breeders say they can actually see individual dogs - or even whole litters - turning reactive as they grow. Spooks are *extremely* sensitive to any change in their environment. They often won't respond to their names. They often don't like to be touched. They can engaged in obsessive behavioral cues like licking, pacing, and chewing and scratching themselves raw. They can be very reactive to strangers, both human and animal. They can be overly protective to invasions of what they consider their personal space. They do better if you keep their world very small, and on a very strict schedule. One or two rooms in the house, same walking path, same feeding schedule - every day. Give her a "safe spot" in your house where she can retreat to when she's feeling threatened - a nice crate, a dogbed in a separate, quiet room that she won't be disturbed in. And make that spot completely off-limits to any guests. Do NOT expect her to interact with anyone, and keep curious people out of her space. You need to be her advocate and protector. If you have to do potty walks, try and time them when the streets are less busy and noisy (they are often sensitive to noises). Don't expect more than she can give. Unlike autism, these behaviors in dogs can often be helped by anti anxiety medications. It can help rebalance their brain chemistry and help them be more relaxed. Macoduck above outlined her journey to find the proper anti anxiety medication for her dog. As she mentioned, her vet has a background in pharmacology, and could help direct this search in an informed way. You may want to consider a consult with a canine neurologist, or a certified behaviorist with a experience working with dogs with anxiety disorders. Many of the medications that could help your girl will be off-label uses of human anti anxiety medications, and that's a huge complicated knowledge base that's changing all the time. You will probably need to try several different drugs and doses to find the one that helps her the most. It's a long road that needs to be traveled from here. Good luck!

I'll echo what everyone has said and will continue to tell you - you made the best decision available with the information you had. That's all any of us can do. I doubt the toenail had anything to do with anything, though a panic attack could have triggered some physical issue, especially a stroke or internal rupture. And, while I don't like to question the professionals, you not seeing any symptoms of pneumonia in the previous days (panting, coughing, physical weakness, fever), it seems like a curious diagnosis. If he did suffer a heart related issue, or an embolism, it could have caused some lung filling leading to a cascade of failure. BUT - knowing the cause would NOT have changed the outcome. You would have been faced with exactly the same decision. It just sucks. I am so sorry that Logan had to leave. {{{hugs}}}

Safe trip!!!

When she sees the cat, is she staring at it fixated and you're unable to break her concentration? Does she try to chase it? Is the cat interested in the dog and seeking her out when you're outside at other times?? Have you tried taking her further afield from her normal potty spot to see if you can break her fascination with the "cat in the yard?" A high prey drive dog can sometimes become obsessed with seeking out prey, but this seems to be a pretty extreme reaction. Did your vet look at a fecal sample to make sure there was no disease or parasite present?? Is she having diarrhea all day every day? Have you changed her food or eating schedule at all recently?? Will she sleep quietly/normally during the first part of the night? Does she display these same anxiety behaviors during the day? If this is only a nighttime, 4am in the morning thing then I would speculate she may be waking up on her old racing kennel schedule (they usually wake them up early to get the day started), and has to go urgently, then gets outside and sees the cat. If she's truly not having a medical issue, and you can't break her habit, you may need to try a course of anti anxiety medication at bedtime to get her calmed down.

Sometimes it's just meant to be. Laila

It's a Roach!!!

Every breed can and does have individual dogs who don't care for slick floors. Until you meet one and see how they react you can't make generalizations about any certain breed.

Our bedroom is on the second floor too, so we bought a camp cot for when they start staying downstairs and need a human closer by. With extra padding it's actually quite comfortable. Good to hear he's rallying a bit. Makes you appreciate every day even more. {{{hugs}}}

The other option is to use something like a ground cloth or very thin runners. The dogs just need to feel something grippier than a smooth floor, not necessarily something thick like an actual rug. That way you can also secure the all the edges to the floor with carpet tape to make it safer for your husband. Anything with a low profile can work depending on your husbands needs - FLOR floor tiles, green artificial turf runners, paint tarps cut to fit, thin outdoor rugs/runners, vinyl office floor runners. Some folks have had success using things like PAWZ socks or toenail grips or paw pad stickers to help their dog feel more secure on slicker floors without rugs. It also helps to keep their paws clean and well moisturized, so they stay flexible and naturally grippy. A dry paw pad gives a very slick feel on smooth floors. We've had the spectrum here in regards to comfort on smooth floors - all the way from "no problems" to my one now who has to be carried into the vets office because she won't leave the entrance mat by the door!! But definitely ask if they have any information about how any prospective dog reacts with slick floors.

Good job!!!

Stop letting her dictate where you go. Walk quickly, with purpose, out the door and down the street the other way. Keep her close to you and a firm hand on the leash, and moving right along - walk with purpose. If she starts to hesitate or try to head in a different direction, give the leash a shake, and tell her to "come on girl!!" in a happy voice. Once she's moving along with you again, give her a (normal) treat and continue. Keep encouraging her to keep up with you as you go along a way you've mapped out in advance, so you don't have to stop and think about which way to go (preferably a way that does NOT go by your car at all). If you want/need to give her time to potty or sniff, wait until you're outside of your familiar neighborhood area. Set a goal of getting her to a spot and then let her have her head and freedom to go where she wants. As long as it's not back towards the car!!

This I don't know. You might give them a call and ask. They've always been super helpful and informative, but we've never called them until it was time. Just explain you're struggling with the decision and whether one of their staff could drop by and see Leo and help guide you. If they can't, all you've lost is the time of a phone call.

At some point, you can't stop time. If you have a vet you trust, or his rehab staff, ask them for their opinion. Talk about his real level of pain and if you can help lessen that any further. Talk about his level of physical deterioration and if there is any realistic and concrete steps you could take to get him any better. Really evaluate how you could/will manage as his condition deteriorates even further. And I always think about what *I* would want to have happen if I was in the same physical state. Considering euthanasia isn't a failure. Releasing them from a body that has become a burden to them is the final gift we can give our companion animals. And I will second what's been said - better to let them go a day too soon rather than a day too late. A day spent with them feeling (relatively) good, rather than scared and in pain at the e-vet from a medical crisis. Are you actually in Portland, OR?? Or is it the Maine one?? If you're in OR, we have used these folks both for dogs and cats, and have loved their gentle direction and compassionate service. I will use this way every time I can as it's much calmer and easier on everyone. Compassionate Care - In Home Euthanasia

No. Vomiting and diarrhea don't happen without something being wrong. Could be simple like Giardia from a mud puddle, but it could also be a more serious issue. Take in a stool sample when you go to the vet.

Not Tramadol. It can cause the same issues as the Gaba, and is questionable in treating pain both for humans and dogs. The best opioid pain reliever we've used has been codiene sulfate. Gabapentin *will* be useful to you down the road, but see if your vet will give you a smaller mg capsule so you can customize her dosage better. It's really helpful for phantom pains, and nerve pain in general. She probably will be able to get up and out for potties now, and you've found a good trick to use to motivate her. I usually try and keep them on a pretty strict pottying schedule just because greyhounds seem better adjusted to being on a schedule, but she may have other ideas. You might get some puppy pads to have on hand to put on top of her bed when she's having issues getting up to go. But it sounds like she's doing well over all!! Good luck!!

Are you using baby diapers or doggies diapers?? Make sure you measure correctly. Something like this that's adjustable should work. Washable dog diapers Huh. I apparently forgot to hit Reply to this yesterday.

I'll send Felicity right over. She likes eating spiders!!!

Decide whether you're going to feed in the crate or outside it, then decide if you want a raised feeder. Unless you get a giant boy, a 48 should be plenty big enough. FYI - Most greys eat on the floor of their kennels at racing facilities, so no raised feeders. But they do look rather like giraffes when eating off the floor, and seem to be more comfortable having the bowl at least knee high (dog knee, not human knee! ) There's no science behind the statements that raised feeders prevent or exacerbate the probability of bloating, so it's almost entirely about comfort. Research vets in your area who have experience dealing with greyhounds. Ask in your local greyhound groups social media, and most groups will have lists of vets they recommend on their website. Depending on timing you might try and get in and talk with them casually, and see how you like the doctor and the feel of the clinic. Lots and lots of them are not taking any new clients, so finding one to take you might be an issue.

Generalizations about cat or small dog tolerances, or exercise requirements are just that. Individual dogs reacts individually. My group has been adopting out both Irish and Australian greyhounds for several years now, and there are plenty of both that are quite fine with living with smaller companion animals. I do think you may need to wait a bit for the right one to come along, but it's certainly possible. Just to put these other options into the mix: 1) The American Lurcher Project rescues and rehomes greyhounds and greyhound mixes mainly from the Midwest where they are used in a variety of hunting and racing competitions. They do have purebred greyhounds from racing kennels, too. And they adopt across the country. 2) The Senior Sighthound Sanctuary brings in many different breeds of sighthounds and adopts over a wide geographical area. 3) The Sighthound Underground does much the same

for Tessie!!!

Yeah. Stop. Just stop. He can't handle any of this and is completely overwhelmed and scared of all the changes he's had. Don't take him anyplace. Don't force him to go anywhere. He's not even ready for freedom in the yard. One safe place in the house - let him stay there as long as he wants except for eating and potties. Yard on leash for very quick potty outings - praise praise praise with yummy treats (really really yummy - like, roasted chicken or other real meat or cheese - if he'll actually take a treat). If he can't accept treats yet just lots of verbal praise and calm petting - don't overwhelm him further. He'll be fine with limited exercise for a while. He's burning up a LOT of calories with anxious energy. Keep up with the trazadone for at least a month, while continuing to limit his world. He needs to understand he's safe before he can understand the rest. If you don't see any changes in behavior you may need to try another anti anxiety medication (or two) before finding the one that works for him. It's also possible that he's just one of those dogs that can't be an only dog in a home. If that's the case you should be in touch with your adoption group asap.