PrairieProf
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Posts posted by PrairieProf
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That's good!! Don't be too freaked if it gets worse before it gets better -- Beth's did. Big and UGLY for a few weeks. Although few of them rupture and cause all the trauma like the one did with Teddi. But it's kind of magical to watch how they eventually shrink and disappear.
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Oh no, I am so very very sorry.
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A year or two ago, when the vaccine was first being promoted (it's nothing that new), I asked my vet about it and he thought it was pretty much a crock and money-making scheme -- and he is always very up on the latest scientific studies of the actual effectiveness of things. I haven't asked him if he's changed his mind since -- I'm seeing him Monday and might.
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By the way, have you seen the current Iams TV commercial with the returning female soldier and the Irish Wolfhound? I've been noticing that the Wolfhound "gives her the paw" too. It's sweet.
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We walk in all weather (not much of a yard so no choice). 7 degrees is pretty standard for a January morning. Beth wears her coat and often her jammies as a layer underneath. I'd keep it on the short side in that weather, at least if there's wind, but your dog will tell you. Cold is easier on them than heat.
I am a passionate fan of Pawz disposable booties as a protective layer if one is needed. I mostly use them on Beth if there is salt on the sidewalks, but when it's super-duper cold they do seem to help prevent her feet getting really cold. Much more comfortable for them than formed boots. www.pawzdogboots.com I think -- but you can get them on Amazon.com. Blue is the right size for greyhounds.
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I don't know that it should be closed up with EMT gel if it's a bite puncture -- the thing is bite wounds must be able to drain. And if it's a puncture he should have oral antibiotics to be safe. Really.
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Some friends' greyhound survived lymphoma for several years at least, as I recall (I met them after they lost him, so I forget the details). He passed from other things.
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I think it should be open so long as it's stopped bleeding.
Is there any chance it is deeper, like a puncture, even a fairly shallow one? Was a bite involved? Especially if poop was involved, a course of oral antibiotics might be good if that was the case. Beth got two punctures from being bitten by another dog after Thanksgiving so I've just been through this.
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Teaching him a sit from a down when he already does a sit from a stand is not going to get him sitting from a stand in a quicker motion.
FWIW it is easier for greys to sit on a hill facing downwards, and that's a good way to teach them or practice if you are trying to get them to sit on cue. I discovered this by accident when I was first working with Beth and learned later an experienced greyhound trainer uses this method as well. But again, we have been in many obedience classes and practiced sits endlessly and Beth is still somewhat slower in her sit motion than other-breed dogs. Practice will help if he's just getting it, but chances are he'll never be fast.
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My greyhound has known "sit" for years, but she still goes down more slowly than most dogs most of the time. Unless she's sitting to bribe me for a treat.
I do think it really has to do with the intrinsic mechanics of folding up the greyhound body. 
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The OP wasn't asking for feeding response, so this comment is unhelpful.
Actually, Science Diet is very trustworthy because they make their own food, carefully source their ingredients, and do real feed trials, unlike most boutique brands. Buying a food based just on a list of ingredients is, shall we say, a limited perspective, as any real veterinary nutritionist will confirm, and has a lot to do with human ideas of what the dog should eat. (And they are revamping their ingredients right now, too, for people who are obsessed with that -- to what people out there consider "better.") They have had virtually no recalls ever. And zillions of people's dogs do really well on it -- Sensitive Stomach has great user reviews.
Liz, Hill's is extremely responsive to any customer concerns -- you should contact them. The new formula also comes in a different looking bag, so it is easy to know if you have it or not.
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So beautiful -- your girl and your tribute. I'm so very sorry.
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Beth had a bout of near pancreatitis about two years ago (her bloodwork revealed she was just under the level for acute pancreatitis) and I've fed her like a pancreatitis dog ever since.
I have kept her on Prescription I/D because she's done better on it than any of her previous foods, and I trust the actual feed trials and quality control/safety of Hills much more than most brands. It might be that any lower fat food would be OK (I/D is 9% fat) but I haven't wanted to mess with success, and she clearly has a touchy tummy in general. Her weight, coat, energy, poop are all great on it. No real advice on the Blue Buffalo except to follow your vet's advice. (I will say my vet hates BB, says he sees lots of animals do poorly on it.)
I won't feed her anything over 10% fat as a treat, and preferably lower. Our treats include low fat cottage cheese, low fat yogurt, dried sweet potato chews (Sam's Yams, I get them online), freeze-dried chicken breast and low-fat turkey jerky, and low-fat biscuits. If you look in any store, really most/many dog biscuits are under 10% fat. The one we've been using for a while is Nutro Natural Choice grain-free turkey and potato biscuits (they make other flavors too). I do give her a small portion of sardines in tomato sauce or water a few days a week for the Omega 3, but I'm very careful (and give it midday, away from other meals -- remember it is not just percentage of fat that matters but really more the total amount of fat they consume at one time). I believe it was fish oil that triggered Beth's incident.
Also remember, per my vet the diet for a pancreatitis dog is low fat and moderate protein -- so don't go overboard on low-fat meat treats either.
Anything fruit or vegetable would be fine if she likes it. Banana, apple sauce, etc. If you use a Kong, low- or non-fat Greek yogurt works really well to freeze in it instead of peanut butter (Greek yogurt being less runny than regular yogurt, so it is easier to handle for smearing), and Beth loves it.
She gets occasional D if she eats something yucky at the park etc., but has had no further evidence of pancreatic problems.
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Looks like a histiocytoma to me. Beth developed one (near her armpit) in August that looked small and flattish like that, then after a while it puffed up and got bigger, then several weeks later it began to shrink and went away (from start to finish within three months, like most sites say online). You can get a cytology done at the vet to reassure yourself. It's never silly to get a bump checked.
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Welcome from Iowa. You are brave to bring home a new dog in the dead of winter, but I'm happy for you!
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I am a college teacher, and I myself would want to adopt when I had a long weekend at the least; spring break would be ideal. (I brought my girl home the Saturday of Labor Day weekend; but I don't usually have to be on campus for more than half a day at a time.) Among other things, you'll be pretty overwhelmed and exhausted (and entranced) with new dogs and want a little time to focus on them more than a regular week schedule will allow. And, too, you will need to be going outside a lot at first for potty training, and frankly that is going to be easier when it is not the dead of winter! Midwinter is the least enjoyable time to have a dog in northern climes, so I myself would not typically choose that time to bring a new one home.
Summer is fine BUT you have to do "alone training" from the beginning and teach them to be left -- you can't just stay home with them all summer and then expect them to be fine when school resumes. I remember in Adopting the Racing Greyhound Cynthia Branigan talks about precisely this issue with teachers who adopt in the summer and don't do proper alone training before school starts.
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I got the Lepto vaccine for the first time last year -- we walk in the woods a good bit. A dog here on GT just DIED suddenly and tragically of acute kidney failure caused by Lepto within the past week, so you can bet your patootie I'm going to keep vaccinating for that from now on! We do Bordatella (dog park, boarding, etc.) and recently started Lyme too.
We titer for distemper etc. and have not had the actual shot in several years -- there is NO need for them to have a booster every year. Some people just trust that, I feel safer titering; it's not THAT much money.
I spread the vaccines out as much as possible, but my vet is five minutes away and we go there a lot.
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Checking in, fingers crossed .... still holding onto the thought that nothing showed on the xrays yesterday. I am alone with my dog and can so easily envision going through what you are going through some day.
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My group has a kennel and does not foster, so I think fostering is overrated.
I myself would not want another person to get to experience all the "firsts" with my dog. The first week or so may be a little more stressful with a dog that has not been fostered, but I think it's worth it. Beth was my first dog ever, came straight from the kennel, and we did fine. -
Oh dear, that does sound very scary. Sending good thoughts.
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Having a dog with no yard is a huge committment, it really is! Specially when you live alone and there is no one else to share the load.
GeorgeofNE and PrairieProf ... the few, the proud, the yardless, the single, the "yeah there's a reason we only have one hound"....
(OK I do have a tiny yard without direct access but I rarely use it, as Beth mostly sniffs around looking for rabbit poop and doesn't get down to business. It's nice in a blizzard or for training games on occasion.)
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I'm so very sorry.
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Welcome! You are showing your college smarts by doing your research!
We'd be happy to answer any questions you have. -
I'm with George of NE. 4x/day 365 days a year, whatever the weather, and it gets freaking cold here too. After a while you do learn how much "going" is enough for your dog. Probably after you've had her longer she'll get better at holding it too, but she is still new and you have to prioritize keeping a regular potty schedule.
I do think it really has to do with the intrinsic mechanics of folding up the greyhound body. 
Small, Pink Lump On Neck
in Health and Medical discussion
Posted · Edited by PrairieProf
Looks a lot like a histiocytoma to me. Could be a little sebaceous cyst. Probably good to go to the vet for a check and a quick cytology. With bumps it's always good to know for sure.
Anne, mom to Beth the Bumpy (none at present, but she's had a range of cysts and warts and a histiocytoma
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