greysmom

If you have the space, the time, and the funding to support another large breed dog in your house, then there really is no reason not to have more than one!! Greyhounds have always lived around other greys, so they are more comfortable with company. Very rarely do you find a greyhound who is more comfortable as an only dog, or, really *needs* to be an only dog due to behavioral issues. I second going for walks or having playdates with friends to see how he does. Most "experts" recommend two dogs be opposite sexes, but I've never found that to be an issue. Your experience may vary, obviously, depending on your dog's personality. Work with your adoption group to find a second that fits in appropriately.

Back in the very beginning of Felicity's issues, when we first started DES, she had to have a loading dose (1 mg every day for a week), then a week of every other day, then she settled in to one 1 mg pill once a week. It has a very large and flexible dosing range and she's been on everything from once a day to once every other week. We are still adjusting her DES currently to see what works the best with her new medication - currently she's taking one 1 mg pill twice a week. She weighs 62 lbs currently.

If it started recently I'd suspect turning on the heat as an issue. But second the vet visit for bloodwork, and especially a thyroid test. Hormones can change drastically as they age, and a thyroid imbalance will cause anxiety in some dogs. I'd also try putting some putting some DAP diffusers around the house (and maybe a collar on the dog) to see if that helped at all. He might need a short course of an antianxiety med to get him through this.

It's more about the percentage of protein than meat. Some greyhounds have **HORRIBLE** gas from too high a protein content in their food. Some have indigestion issues, soft stools, or even pancreatitis from food that is too rich. The other issue we're discovering is that a diet that does *not* contain a whole grain (and adds protein through the addition of legumes) somehow contributes to dogs developing "Nutritional Dilated CardioMyopathy" (N-DCM). A disease that causes their hearts to balloon in size, have difficulty pumping blood, leading to heart failure and death. It's not know how or why this occurs and it is being actively studied. Since your food does contain 10% rice, it's probably OK. Here in the US it's very rare for a dog to eat a diet of only canned food. It's usually a combination of dry kibble topped with canned food (or just dry kibble). I do have a dog that only eats canned, and even though it does contain oats and says it's a "complete and balanced food," I still add a couple tablespoons of oat bran to her meals to make sure she does not develop N-DCM, and to add insoluble fiber to her diet to help with her stools. All that being said, I say, stick with what works for your dog. Every dog reacts to every food differently, and, if you've found something that works, that your dog eats, that maintains weight and energy level, and is *safe* for them to consume - don't mess with success!!

!!!!!!!!!!CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!

Gotta learn how to post pictures of you sweet kids!!! Welcome!!

!!!!!!!!!!Welcome Home and Happy Birthday!!!!!!!!!!

Spooks are a special issue and not everyone can deal with them. As said above, it would not be a failure on your part if you considered returning him. I know there are many differences between US adoption groups and UK ones, but you might contact the group you got him from and discuss your options. How long has he been on anti anxiety meds?? And what is he taking?? If it's only been a few weeks, you need to give them time to work, sometimes it can take as long as a couple months to build up to a clinical level in their bloodstream and begin to help. They are NOT a miracle cure, however. The only thing they do is rebalance brain chemicals so you can use behavior modification techniques to help him work through his fears. Hopefully it's enough to give him a chance at living more or less normally. And there's no guarantee the one you are currently giving him will be the one that works. We had to try - four?? five?? - different drugs before we found one that worked for our spook. It took about 2 years of discussions with our vet, trying a drug, letting it build up, behavior modification, deciding if it worked, weaning her off that one, trying another. It's a process and a commitment, and it can feel at times like you aren't accomplishing anything. All the behavior modification work helps, but it's a slow slow process. Cash eventually ended up being a great dog inside, loving and affectionate and pretty normal, but I had to walk her - on leash - in our own fenced backyard for pottying for her entire life. She was afraid of doorways, wind, metal food bowls, moving bushes, loud sounds, hard rain on the roof, the heater/AC turning on, planes flying overhead - the list was endless. We also had either four or five other greyhounds all this time - it never made any difference to Cash. Much like an autistic child, she never bonded with any other dogs, and never seemed to need them. She would do repetitive soothing behaviors like licking and pacing. And in many ways it helped to view her as a dog with autism than a normal dog with behavioral challenges She was on meds (Trazadone is what ended up being her savior drug) for the last 6 years of her life. She ended up passing at 12 years old from liver cancer. We've been where you are, so I wish you all the luck in the world, because every dog deserves a good life. Good luck!

Anything pickled or sour is usually a no from most hounds, along with things with hot peppers like salsa. Though our Angel Toni would eat all of those, and just about anything else we ever handed her!! She never turned down anything that could even vaguely be labeled "food." I miss that girl!!!

Even when you don't think the dogs in the house have bonded, or would even care one way or another if their housemate was gone, they definitely react when it happens. Just the change in home dynamics will cause a reaction, let alone actually knowing their companion is dead. We always try harder to keep them occupied with new things after one of ours has passed. It helps them and it helps us. {{{hugs}}}

A good, compassionate vet is a true blessing. I love our vet now, but I only found her after another refused to listen to me, and, IMO, caused the death of one of my hounds through misdiagnosis. I left that practice immediately and wrote an angry letter to the owner. I am going to be very depressed when our current vet retires, even though the other vets in the practice are all very good.

SWEET!!!!!

A healthy dog (usually) won't soil his own denning area. Get another opinion. It could be related to a prostate issue, a complication from neutering surgery, a bladder or kidney issue that doesn't show in urine sample testing, diabetes OR diabetes mellitus (water diabetes), reflex dyssynergia, cancer, a spinal nerve issue like a blown disc or lumbosacral stenosis, or a whole host or other problems. It sounds like he doesn't "feel" when he needs to go. That sounds like a nerve issue to me. Schedule an ultrasound exam of his abdominal cavity to see if his organs are working properly and if any tumors are present. Xrays of his back half - including spine and lower extremities - would also be useful. In the meantime, a belly band with a human incontinence pad will help save your house. Just check it often so he doesn't get chafed or a rash.

Consistent distraction-redirection. And she may need a course of anti anxiety meds or CBD calming aids to help her work through this. I would also do a bunch of DAP diffusers, and probably a collar, to help keep her calm.

If you can fit two fingers in a buckle collar he can easily pull his head out of it if he's startled or scared. Their particular anatomy makes a martingale collar the safest option. If you're particular about wanting a leather collar on your dog, there are plenty of options available - fishtail collars, chain martingales, even adjustable buckle-martingales. But get him in one for his own safety.

I don't hear or see anything unusual. A lot of times they will open their mouths when sniffing - sort of like a flehmen response in cats. But the collar thing is real. Both for safety and for health reasons, he needs to be in a martingale collar, probably at least a 1 1/2 inch wide one (2 inches would be better). It only tightens as they pull against it, and is much harder for them to escape from in the event they get startled or scared. Collars can become an obsession though, so be warned!! A harness may be a solution though. Try the No-Pull Freedom Harness from 2 Hounds designs.

{{{bump}}}

Really very normal for greyhounds. My yard often sounds like WWIII when my pack gets out there running and smashing and wrestling. The problem comes when other dogs don't understand what's happening and respond in fear or with over-the-top arousal. Which is why I rarely let them play with other breeds. In dog park situations, you not only have aroused dogs who don't understand, but also their owners. So many people pay little-to-no attention to their dogs as play goes on in the park until the something bad happens, and then it's too late and someone is hurt (or worse). And don't even get me started about owners who put their smaller dogs in with the big ones. There are very good reasons for greyhounds to avoid dog parks. If you feel they are a valuable option for you and your dog, please monitor the situations carefully and pull your dog out before things get out of hand.

She's thirteen and doing reasonably well. Will the results of any testing have a significant impact on how you're treating/maintaining her? Probably not. There really isn't anything to treat, other than old age, which, no matter how much we wish it, we can't do anything to hold back. My vet and I have a good, collaborative working relationship that I really appreciate. She'll listen to my opinion and give me hers, and we can decide together if a particular test or medication will change anything going forward. I have had several dogs through the years where the testing is definitely worse for them than the problem, so sometimes we just don't. You know your girl. You do you! Not every issue has to be resolved completely for good quality of life.

I'm so sorry, Jen. Cancer steals so many of our dear friends, leaving only memories behind. {{{hugs}}}

Just be aware, if you purchase meds online and it comes from outside the country, it could take WEEKS longer to get to you due to the supply chain issues. Don't order something critical that you need in a few days, because you often don't know the real shipping time until it's too late.

Could be a rubbed off spot, or even just shedding. Watch it and see what happens with it. It will more than likely fill in and disappear. If it doesn't, mention it to your vet the next time you go in (unless he starts bothering it, then get him in sooner, as it could be something like ringworm).

Sure. If you have the time and the energy, why not?? But Greyhounds are *very* good people trainers. If a human does something with them *twice* or three times, then they expect that same thing to happen every day, at the same time, and they pitch a fit until it does, or the human outwaits them and they go back to napping!!! At 2 1/2 he's still pretty much a puppy, with an excess of puppy energy, so I'm sure an extra walk will do him good. But the training sessions - tiring his mind - can be just as useful for everyone. You might also try food puzzle games or a snuffle mat for days when you can't be personally involved in those sessions, and to change up the activities for variety.

Or make them out of a stretchy material - jersey? - or polyester something. FWIW, when we first got our greyhounds we went over-the-top buying pjs because they are TOTALLY CUTE in them. And we keep our house fairly cool, even in winter. They start out liking the pj and sleep well until about 2 am, then they are either shaking the bed with their panting or standing over a sleeping human with drool dripping in your face, and then struggling to get a too-hot dog out of their jimjams in the middle of the night! Give him a nice blanket to snuggle in. Or pjs with no legs like Irene suggests above.