Moclips

Run boy, Run!

The ABSOLUTE BEST pain control I have been able to find is Acupuncture. Yes, Acupuncture. I found a traditionally trained vet who had also trained in acupuncture and herbal medicine. Her specialty is cancer pain in small animals. She has turned around my sixteen year old Maltese in less than six months; I took him to his regular vet this week and she was ASTONISHED. She told me she was sure he didn't have a month left to live and he is now back to his bouncing, grumpy, 16 year old self -- WITHOUT steroids, anti-inflammatory and all the stomach problems that went with them. He has a old and severe back injury and chronic arthritis and he manages on acupuncture every other week and a baby aspirin a day. It's been an incredible, amazing find. It's brought my faithful and elderly friend not just back to life, but back to a quality of life that steroids and other traditional medication just could not mange. I was a real hard sell for this idea, and frankly didn't even try it until he was at death's door and now I can't forgive myself for having waited so long. Ask your traditional vet for a referral to a vet that specializes in physical therapy and alternative medicine (they frequently practice traditional veterinary medicine in these types of clinics as well) MANY vet schools that teach acupuncture use Greys for the ease of their anatomical access points -- so you're ahead there, too!

My Razzle LOVES the dog park, but his unremitting curiosity sometimes puts him in scrums where he's not safe. I've laid down a rule that if we're there five seconds or an hour, the first time growling, snapping (if I even THINK I see a tooth) we're done for the day right that minute. It's tended to keep his very long nose out of affairs he shouldn't be involved in. Ironically, the only aggressive behavior I have to cope with is a an out-of-control undisciplined labrador (!) that has a contract out to murder my Maltese, Mo. Needless to say, the Maltese wants to fight back -- Razzle, very intelligently, hides behind me every time we see him! Goes to show you, you can turn the nicest breeds in the world into evil finks if you can't manage to be the LEADER OF THE PACK. ! The problem is the HUMANS not the DOGS.

In a pre-blood test for a teeth cleaning, Razzle came back with some values that had the vet asking for urine tests; they came back with a low specific gravity -- otherwise, he's fine. Should I be worried? Is this an early sign of something to be concerned about? He eats a raw diet (wet-noses w/ brown rice to control severe diahrrea). Otherwise, he seems fairly healthy, happy and bright. He did develop, about three months ago a habit of drinking his whole water bowl in a sort of nervous state every once in a while (say once a week); he would get fairly nervy and if the water bowl is almost empty, he has an obsessive compulsive need to empty it. If a pull it up and then put it down an hour or so later -- he couldn't be less interested! Does this profile ring a bell with anyone? Do any of you give milk thistle to your greyhounds for liver support? Thanks in advance!!!

Well, I think the heat and panting is covered -- Razzle is so finiky that if it's over 72 he pants and if it's under 70 he shakes ... Climate control is a big help. As for feeding; it took me a year to find a raw diet and rice combination that works. Razzle literally waters his poop if he gets any dog food at all. I use wet noses and about 2 cups of cooked brown rice (Costco organic brown rice bags are fine) and two patties of wet noses 2 x day. We tightened right up and have been dandy ever since!

Rex - Sounds like your master plan is working to perfection. I've just about managed to house break mine, but it's been a long slog --- she's obviously not quite the fast learner that Angie seems to be. Some humans are just slow learners, I guess. Welcome and happy you're here! Razzle Dazzle in Seattle.

And I've since moved to West Seattle myself, so no more Belltown park for us either. We do go to Westcrest over here in West Seattle though, it's big and has a nice loop trail for walking/zooming. Let me know if you are ever in the area and we'll meet you there! I've never been there ... love to try it out. I have tons of relatives in West Seattle, so we visit fairly often! Wags! Irene, Mo & Razzle Dazzle

We do remember you! Since Capital Hill opened, we don't get down to Belltown much anymore, but we were down about a week ago -- I think spring MAY be here. WONDERFUL to hear from you -- the boys say Wufffff!!!! A Mom A Maltese and Razzle Dazzle!

This is a kind of embaressing picture from when he was first with me .... I was so afraid he would be uncomfortable, I just, well .... You can see ... Razzle and the Pea I've gotton over it. I seem to be obsessed with taking pictures when he's sleeping -- I never noticed until now ... I'll work on some 'stand up shots' for the future! A Mom A Maltese and Razzle Dazzle

Hi, I bought a length of the underlayment used to hold down area rugs at Lowes and ran it in runners between rugs -- Razzle signed my brand new hardwood floors the first week he was in the house! But, houses are to live in not to hang ornaments, so he helped me over the "being delicate" phase when I moved in to my remodel. He has a terrible time with the slick floors at day care on and off -- it's odd, he gets it for a while then fogets--keeping the nails trimmed short as possible seems to help a lot! a Mom a Maltese and Razzle Dazzle

Just glorious -- So pretty! Welcome from an Old Carnegie Mellon Grad -- A Mom A Maltese and Razzle Dazzle

Wow --- Razzle was looking over my shoulder and saying -- SEE mothers who REALLY love their greyhounds give them the jarI Sigh. A Mom A Maltese and Razzle Dazzle

Me too! Evidently she was "jealous" of the greyhound (according to her keepers) ... can you imagine how she'll be with sharing and caring when she's older? Sociopathy begins at home! I, M & RD

This is my reluctant flower child about three months after he came home (GAD, that's been 18 MONTHS ago) Took me long enough to nose you all out! I fell in love with Greyhounds the day I showed up to pick up my geriatric, grumpy Maltese at day care and he was asleep in the paws of the sweetest, softest, gentlest dog I'd ever met -- her name was Peanut and she was my introduction to Greyhounds. My Reluctant Flower Child After a few fits and starts I took the old poop (that's Moclips the Maltese) to meet several greys and we walked them all -- Razzle was the only one who had eyes only for us -- and boy, did we end up with a special dog. To this day, I can't understand how he had a failed adoption. Evidently, the five year old walked into the adoption office handed the leash to the lady who runs it and said "we're sending him back, we don't love him anymore" (they had him for nearly six months??!!!) He literally loves every human being he meets and when we go to the dog park, he wants to meet all the people and be thoroughly petted and fussed over (just a simple pet will NOT do) before he'll even think about playing. The old poop --- He is in training to pass his Orion test (we still have a bit of trouble with focus for long periods) as he needs more people to love than just me, my office staff of twenty and the old poop. He will stand without moving a muscle as long as he is getting attention and I think he'll be great in hospitals. Anyone who has any exprience training their greys for therapy -- I'd LOVE to hear anything you have that will help! We had a terrible time with poo at first, but a raw diet (wet noses) and brown rice tightened us right up. (Razzle is deeply concerned that my poo fetish may indicate a broader range of problems, but he's learned to live with it.) And while they rarely sleep together (Razzle is about 78 pounds and Mo is about 7.5 and sixteen years old to boot -- he has being rolled on issued I think -- Peanut was only about 50!) you can see that my assistants are hard at work -- day in and day out! I'm thrilled to have found you all! A Mom (Irene) A Maltese (Moclips) and Razzle Dazzle!

Beautiful! And what greyt work you're doing -- thanks from the HOUNDS here! A Mom A Maltese and Razzle Dazzle