greysmom

Animal protection laws vary widely from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. What is abuse and neglect in some is not in others. The ability of humane law enforcement officials to enforce these laws also varies widely - from being full police officers to just investigators with no recourse themselves to help any animal in distress. Punishment for the same abuse varies from a wrist slap fine to jail time. So I think the first change that would have to be made is evening out these inequities. ""If you do the right thing, you don't do it because it's convenient or because it makes financial sense, you do it because it's the right thing to do."" This is a good theory, but the whole point behind having laws in the first place is that NOT everyone does the right thing because it's the right thing to do. If we all lived by the Golden Rule and treated all our fellow living creatures with kindness and compassion then we wouldn't need to have this discussion. I'm not saying everyone needs to be a complete vegetarian and join PETA, but we ALL know someone who treats their animals or their kids or their co-workers or their spouses with respect and dignity less than what we would consider to be acceptable. If we can't even treat our fellow humans with respect, how can we have the audacity to think we can decide how to treat any other living creature? greysmom

It's incredibly sad that the only value we can legally assign to anything in our society is monetary value. Though in the case of couches - whether they are handcrafted antiques or just a crappy old couch - the replacement value is something that is readily and acceptably definable by an appearance on Antiques Roadshow. The value of companion animals has not yet been so defined beyond their value as "livestock." How much can you buy a similar breed and age of dog with similar training on the open market - which may have nothing to do with the animal's "value" as a companion to the owner who has suffered the loss. The trouble comes in trying to equitably determine that value both for punishment and redress. There is a huge gray area between the value of the loss of a couch and the value of the loss of a human life. Another difference between property and companion animals is that property can be insured against loss. Unless you have a particularly valuable show or breeding animal it is virtually impossible to include them on an insurance rider - and in fact, having some breeds of dogs may cause your insurance to be cancelled. I seriously doubt if anyone ever lost their homeowner's insurance for having a certain brand of couch (though I've seen some that should have qualified!). It is an incredibly complex question, and an interesting discussion! greysmom

Things are already changing. In this instance I believe the value of the media is a huge factor. All the Animal Planet programs that follow humane investigators, and the numberof hoarding cases reported all serve to bring animal issues to the eyes of the general public. Attitudes are changing. Our laws here in Oregon are along the lines you mentioned already. Pet owners are required to provide appropriate food and shelter and vet care for their pets, and the pets can be seized if humane investigators deem the owners have not met the requirements set out in the law. Bad cases are felonies, not misdemeanors- and fines and jail time are stiff. This includes farm animals and other livestock as well. Seizures recently in our news have included rabbits, donkeys, horses, and exotic birds along with the usual dogs and cats. The vets I've been to and gotten to know are mostly great about working with owners for payment of expensive treatments, and there are several groups that help people who can't afford vet care. Two shelters in our area are starting pet food banks - like people food banks only for pet food - to help low income and elderly folks keep their beloved pets. And one local Meals on Wheels chapter also delivers pet food. Our lawyer didn't bat an eye when we put language in our wills about the dispensation of any pets we have at the time of our death, and our executor knows that they are his first priority. Pet insurance is creeping into the main stream - with one national company even advertising on TV that your pet is covered in auto accidents. We have recently had a couple of high profile cases in which a family pet has been run over/killed. The law states that owners can't be compensated beyond the material value of the pet - several hundred dollars in most cases. But legislation has been introduced to change the definition of property as it relates to "companion animals" which will most likely pass (if it hasn't already). Court proceedings and apeals are ongoing, too, so the law may be behind the judiciary soon. These issues are only going to become more complicated as animals become integrated into society as companions instead of property. I think that tipping point has been reached already. We can only hope and pray that common sense and compassion will come out on top. greysmom (BTW we are currently watching the case of a family belonging to a particular religion whose son refused medical treatment on religious grounds and died. His condition would have been easily treated with a simple procedure, not even requiring hospitalization. In Oregon, children over the age of 14 can so refuse treatment on religious grounds. Under 14 the parents are required to provide normal medical care to their kids. Interestingly, this boy's niece (15-18 months old) died last year of a treatable pneumonia. The baby's parents were arrested and are facing trial, but the older boys parents will likely not be charged.)

When this happened in our house the vet said to withhold food for a good 48 hours to let her digestive system calm down. She could drink all the water she wanted - which meant she had to pee a lot! Then start again with SMALL amounts - like a couple tablespoons - of plain rice (the color didn't matter) and a few bites of protein. The protein could be meat baby food, or a few chunks of lean chicken/turkey breast, or a spoon of ground meat (rinsed of as much fat as possible whether beef or chicken/turkey). And to feed this 4-5 time the first day as long as no diarhea resulted, gradually increasing the amount, and ultimately mixing in her normal food over the next few days. Hope your baby feels better soon! greysmom

One of my boys will let me see his water a second time frequently - if he drinks too much too fast he does a kind of "burpy" thing and - voila! And they all kind of yak out of the blue - sometimes during the night, sometimes after eating grass - fortunately not usually food! There are a lot of ways to help slow him down when he eats. Everything from hand feeding a bit at a time to putting big rocks in his bowl. If he's eating raw you might consider feeding smaller portions more often, or break up the feeding somehow. greysmom

The edges look pretty clean and it doesn't appear to be ripping any further. Yes, it's probably through the skin and to what's underneath. Deciding to go to the vet is partly your comfort level. If this is you first big boo boo you should go in and talk to your vet about what and how to go forward. We do this - well, not a lot, but often enough to have experience - and stitches usually fail at our house, so I opt to treat it as an open wound and go for secondary healing protocol. It needs to be kept clean with a diluted hydrogen peroxide wash (I use 1 part Hydrogen peroxide and 4-5 parts water) a couple times a day or as needed. The first couple times might be ouchy. I usually have some antibiotics leftover from something and give that as well. Most vets will have you come in for a look to get them, but my vet knows me and my greys and I don't have trouble persuading them not to put stitches in. By the way, if he does need stitches they might be able to put them in without any anesthesia - all of mine will stand for it (at least up to 4 or 5 stitches) without and it helps save money. Two things to watch for - if it looks like it's getting bigger AT ALL go to the vet right away; and if it looks infected AT ALL go to the vet right away. That being said - it's always most prudent to seek medical attention if you have any doubts or questions. greysmom PS - I've seen gory-er pics and bigger boo boos - you get used to it!

Mine do it all the time. I sometimes think they're like chipmunks and keep a few bits stored in the back of their throats to hack up when they want a little snack! Seriously, I think that small things like treats and grass blades just don't get all the way down sometimes and it takes another go at it to swallow it. greysmom

The biggest problem is that the two major chip companies - Avid and Home Again - do not have compatible scanners/frequencies. If you have one kind of chip, the other kind of scanner can't read it or even register that it exits. There was a big controversy here a couple years ago when the local humane society started chipping with Avid and none of the local vets (or the county shelters) had scanners for them. Even if shelter workers can identify a greyhound and know about the tattoos, they are sometimes very difficult to read. I can't read the ears on two of mine and I know they're there. greysmom

All mine are microchipped and I wouldn't hesitate to do so to any I adopt. Just as a cautionary tale, however, my group had a couple fosters have life-threatening, and in one case, deadly consequences from receiving a microchip. Both had severe internal bleeding after having them injected. I would definitely be sure your grey has appropriate blood clotting factors and that your vet is experienced in "installing" the chips. greysmom

We just lost a toe at our house too. The Dude broke it doing zoomies in the yard with his brother and sister. He's a drama queen and hobbled around looking pathetic and hopping on three legs. Dude had a splint and large bandage for 2 weeks after surgery. Make sure you keep it really dry and go back to your vet right away if it starts smelling funny or seems to have slipped at all. I didn't follow my mommy-instincts and Dude got an infection which meant another 3 1/2 weeks of weekly bandage changes and antibiotics and pain meds. He's fine now, and the surgery site looks fine. Our biggest problem is that he too weeny to use his foot much! Though he is beggining to get back to normal FINALLY! Good thoughts are being sent your way! greysmom

It's hard to tell from the picture, but Cash is a gorgeous lilac blue brindle. Her face is kinda gray-ish, but it's mostly because it doesn't have any stripes! greysmom

Hello Everybody! I think I've got it worked out, so here we are! Libby (Everlast) - our first grey adopted in 2004, who's now across the Bridge VooDoo (TNJ VooDoo) - our second grey, and our second foster, 2005, he never left! Copper (Kid's Copper) - was also a foster who never left, was part of the Mexican Rescue in 2006 And Cash (GSI Payncash) - our fourth foster though only for about 2 hours, 2007, I think I see a pattern here! Florida residents may know her as the 2006 Ebro Racetrack Derby Champion Plus my husband and 4 cats! I think we have a really great looking crew! greysmom

Our adoption group feeds Nutro mostly, and we started with that when we adopted our first GH. But it's kinda spendy and we couldn't (at the time) buy it at our local Fred Meyer. We swtitched to Pedegree dry/canned and have been very happy with it. Especially because it was one of the only "commercial" foods NOT involved in the pet food scandal last year. Plus we like their support of pet adoption and other pet charities. Our three (male 8 yrs, male 6 yrs, and female 4 yrs) get between 1 cup and 1 1/3 cup Adult variety kibble at each meal with a heaping tablespoon of various canned flavors for variety and some water for gravy twice a day. We're a big treat household and have a whole cabinet well-stocked with a variety of biscuits and treats. They also get some sort of chew bone every night for teeth cleaning purposes. greysmom

I don't know if my experience will add anything to the great success stories above, but I'll relate it anyway! Dude didn't have his leg amputated, but he did just go through a hind toe amp. His leg was in a bulky splint/cast for two weeks post-surgery, and then for 3 more weeks as we tried to heal up some splint sores and infection. He got around on three legs just fine - and he went up our steep stairs and jumped in the car after he started feeling better. He could run just as fast on three legs as four and even managed to bump-n-jump with his brother before I could stop him. He adapted amazingly fast, only held back by his pain and weakness after the surgery. We even had to start putting his nose collar on to walk him for potties as he could pull just as hard, too! In fact, our biggest problem now - after he's all better - is getting him to use his 4th leg again! I know cancer adds a big unknown, but I wouldn't hesitate because of a grey having only three legs after. They do just fine apparently! greysmom

Our Libby also had idiopathic seizures, which we knew when we adopted her. In the beginning, her seizures weren't that bad (lots of drooling, staring, muscle spasms, and she'd collapse to lie on the floor for exactly 10 minutes every time). They came 6-8 weeks apart with sometimes more time in between. Then last year the seizures started come closer and closer together, until she "clustered" and had one a day for four days. Our vet put her on the lowest phenobarb dose. She was a little sleepier for about two weeks and a lot thirstier (and therefore had to go out more) permanently, but she didn't have another seizure. We lost her in January at age 10 to non-seizure-related factors. I wouldn't hesitate to have another seizure dog. You just have to keep an eye on their bloodwork once you get the right dosage and combinations of meds. If Murphy's seizures are not grand mal you might discuss using potassium bromide first. It's less sedating and many dogs have success with it. greysmom

Thanks!!! I'll give it a try. greysmom

recap: VooDoo broke his toe (one of the middle ones on his right rear) and had to have it amputated. Post-surgery he developed a mild skin infection and several rub sores. He's had 3 weeks of weekly bandage/splint changes and finally got the OK to go comando on last Thursday. problem: I finally got a good look at it today and the main large pad is still very raw looking and seems to have some skin peeling. The vet didn't seem overly concerned, but I'm wondering if there's anything I can rub into the pad that would help the healing, toughen up the skin, and ease any leftover ouchiness??? suggestions????? greysmom

Our Copper isn't completely blind, but I'm sure his cataracts will make him so in the next several years. He loses toys and treats if you throw them and he doesn't follow it, but other than that he acts just like his younger brother and sister. He runs the "track" outside at full speed, goes up and down the stairs (though we had to teach him to go slowly and not race with the other two), he plays inside and out with toys and the others. Just like normal! We had a Great Dane that also went blind from cataracts and she didn't seem to be bothered much either. As long as she had another dog to follow she was just fine. I'd say Go For It!!!!! greysmom

Sorry, I just posted this over on Johnny's thread. I'm glad I got it mostly right! """"Oh, my!! It is very scary! We had a 2 yr old Great Dane that Bloat/torsion surgery. Fortunately we caught it is time and she recovered and went on to live a normal and long life. The symptoms I look for are unproductive dry heaves, or vomiting with little or no output beyond a little yellow bile, a "humped up" posture indicating abdominal pain, whining and biting at mid-section, indications of shock such as glassy eyes and pale gums, racing heartbeat and panting. It used to be that feeding from the floor was a no-no, and/or eating and drinking large amounts soon after hard exercise. I believe the current thinking is that genetics play a larger role, and that feeding from raised feeders is now considered a factor. Stress seems to also figure in. Plus the ratio of length-to-width of a breed's chest/abdomen - which is why sight hounds and other dogs shaped like sight hounds are at higher risk for bloat/torsion. The squarer the dog the less risk of bloat. In my Alex's case, she had a littermate die from bloat and another brother survived - so three pups from her litter had it. Her father (a champion show dog and prolific sire) also died from bloat while an experienced dog sitter was taking care of him while his owners were on vacation. Frisco was a beautiful dog and a lot of Great Dane owners were shocked by his passing."""" greysmom

Oh, my!! It is very scary! We had a 2 yr old Great Dane that Bloat/torsion surgery. Fortunately we caught it is time and she recovered and went on to live a normal and long life. The symptoms I look for are unproductive dry heaves, or vomiting with little or no output beyond a little yellow bile, a "humped up" posture indicating abdominal pain, whining and biting at mid-section, indications of shock such as glassy eyes and pale gums, racing heartbeat and panting. It used to be that feeding from the floor was a no-no, and/or eating and drinking large amounts soon after hard exercise. I believe the current thinking is that genetics play a larger role, and that feeding from raised feeders is now considered a factor. Stress seems to also figure in. Plus the ratio of length-to-width of a breed's chest/abdomen - which is why sight hounds and other dogs shaped like sight hounds are at higher risk for bloat/torsion. The squarer the dog the less risk of bloat. In my Alex's case, she had a littermate die from bloat and another brother survived - so three pups from her litter had it. Her father (a champion show dog and prolific sire) also died from bloat while an experienced dog sitter was taking care of him while his owners were on vacation. Frisco was a beautiful dog and a lot of Great Dane owners were shocked by his passing. Here's prayers for Johnny and hoping he has a happy ending, too!!!!! greysmom

Dude is always hot. I've always thought it had something to do with his out-of-whack thyroid rather than being big or black. Plus he's really got a very thin to non-existent hair coat, so the extra internal heating is needed most of the time. He doesn't necessarily pant overmuch, but his normal temp is definitely higher than "normal." I've taken to sleeping on top of the bed with no covers even in the winter as he's a major snuggle bug, too. Fortunately, he loves the wading pool in summer and chewing ice cubes year round. greysmom

The Dude takes 1.2 in the morning and .8 in the evening. He's due for a recheck soon though, so we'll see what's what. He's been on this dosage for a year. I was wondering - Dude is always really warm, as in, hot water bottle warm in winter and way too warm to cuddle with in bed in the summer. His body temp is at around 102 consistently. I also have trouble keeping weight on him, part of which I attribute to his hyper personality, but wonder if it's due to an out-of-whack thyroid. He has the typical bald tummy, neck and butt to go along with everything else. Anybody else's grey this way? greysmom

Sounds like your doing it fine. If you're concerned about licking while you're away you can always put his basket muzzle on. OR, you could try your "boot" (probably w/o the sock) as long as it's not too tight and air can still circulate. Good luck! greysmom

Sometimes it can take several weeks to level out. You may also have to adjust their dosage. My vet said that, like with other Rx's, greys react differently and the usual dosage may be too much or too little. And the type of thyroid can make a difference as well. The Dude is on soloxine and it seems to be better for him than the levothyroxine. I'd talk to your vet and see if an adjustment might be needed. greysmom

The longer you can do it, the better the healing will be. If you let her run on it too soon, she may dislocate it again, or break it - then you're looking at surgery. Obviously, this is going to depend on how easily Frannie heals, and how long you can keep her quiet. My Dude had his toe amputated last week and I caught him starting to run full speed on three legs today! It's incredible how they can adapt to it so fast! greysmom