PrairieProf

Oh, how awful, I can't imagine. I am so, so sorry.

Sorry about the toe. But, your vet can't do xrays?? I have to say I would be looking for a new vet.

I don't know how I would get Beth up for last out without dairy products. I have conditioned her very successfully to the sound of a spoon clanking on her metal bowl -- yum yum yogurt!

Dasuquin with MSM here too. Beth comes over after her morning meal to get the chewable pill it as her treat. If I forget she gives me a look. It's pricey, though!

I seem to recall reading about one with two toes gone when Beth was going through her toe amp saga, but I couldn't tell you where in the archives. I would, however, totally get a second opinion before doing that! Two years after a weight-bearing rear toe amp, Beth is developing some serious arthritic malformations in her remaining toe, which are causing me some real concern. She's *been* fine, but I am nervous about the future.

Lots of greyhounds don't do well on lots of foods. It almost always takes some trial and error to find one that works. Lots of greyhounds don't do well on Blue Buffalo, according to testimony on this board. Iams works well for a lot of them. If you find the right food, he shouldn't have much gas. Are you giving anything else besides food? My friend found that giving yogurt to try to help gas was making it worse (her hound was lactose intolerant).

I can feel a ridge of cartilage in my girl's throat about 1/3 of the way down -- part of the trachea or whatever. Is that what you mean, or are we talking a round bump that doesn't seem to be part of an underlying structure?

Beth has always had pretty long quicks, so she clicks on my hardwood floors pretty much all the time. I do her nails every 2-3 weeks (clip) and she walks a ton on pavement.

http://www.pawzdogboots.com is the perfect solution for walks if you want to keep it clean/dry. Greyhounds wear the blue size.

Great news!! You must be totally limp with relief and happiness!

Zizi, it's important to remember, as others have said, that the second poop will ALWAYS be softer and it's perfectly normal. The first morning poop should be your standard. Poop firmness is entirely affected by how long it's been "in the pipeline." And at least with my hound, it is very clear to me that how firm the afternoon/evening poop(s) are is very dependent on how long the interval has been since the last morning poop. So DON'T stress about a second poop being softer -- so long as it is usually formed. If you took her on a long walk and she went a third time, it would be even worse!

If it is loose because they are getting more than their body can process, yes cutting it back will help. If it doesn't help, you know the issue is something else. But it's something you'd want to find out before you go worrying about switching foods. The idea that a greyhound needs to gain a chunk of weight after racing circulates around; it may be true in some cases but often it isn't. And an amount of added weight that might be OK on a big boy would be ridiculous excess on a small girl. Plenty of pet greyhounds are too fat. If you want experts to weigh in on her current weight post some pictures of your girl that show her physique clearly in a new thread and lots of people will.

I agree on trying to cut back the food a bit. If she raced at 58 I bet she's just perfect at 60. She didn't look overly thin in in the pictures you posted (mine raced around 56-57 and looks perfect at 58-59). Four cups is quite a lot for a female that size. And you'd see the difference it made in poop within a day or two.

It's awesome. My vet is a huge supportive, and it seems like progressive vets pretty much everywhere are offering it. Absolutely zero discomfort or risk to your dog, too.

You are in my thoughts....

That's what I feed my cats (the Ideal Balance Grain Free), I will be emailing you.

I am so, so sorry.

I am so sorry, I can't imagine experiencing that. I just wanted to say that I doubt this is a greyhound thing in any way; I'm sure it could happen to any dog. For that matter, a friend's young, seemingly healthy cat basically suddenly dropped dead while playing. I just don't want you to think that this is something you would be at risk of happening again with another greyhounds -- you're hearing about greyhounds because you're on a greyhound forum.

Sending good thoughts to ALL of you.

I am so sorry for your loss.

How scary! I don't even bring anything with Xylitol into the house, just to be safe.

Thanks, you're the first person I've heard from to really have an explanation for the lump! Good to know it hasn't been a problem.

She isn't bothered by it at all that I can see, but unfortunately Shelley Lake and some others think the bumps will probably never go away. I'm pretty bummed. It will be hard to know when it's safe to let her off leash. And she probably puts more stress on that hind leg because of the toe amputation on the opposite foot, sigh. Second laser appointment tomorrow, meanwhile.

Thanks for the encouragement.

Beth had her first of a series of laser therapy appointments this morning. The good news is that the vet thinks the lumps are notably smaller than they were yesterday. No heat in them so he doesn't think icing or any other topical treatment is necessary -- some racing folks online were recommending DMSO and other stuff but he seemed to think that was overkill. (She is on Deramaxx too.) She doesn't seem to be in any discomfort but I am still nervous not to know exactly what we are dealing with. I guess so long as it is improving....