PrairieProf

I routinely get Beth up for "last call" with a few spoonfuls of yogurt, much easier than dragging her or trying to tip her off the bed, so I see your issue. However, assuming Selah eats the Z/D for her meals willingly, I can't imagine a grey that won't get up for food even if it's not an exciting treat. Beth is very conditioned to the sound of a spoon clanking on her metal bowl as I put the yogurt in -- she can be in a dead sleep but will be trotting into the kitchen within ten seconds when she hears it ... I'm sure if I were giving her an extra treat of kibble rather than the yogurt, it would still work if I did it that way -- but not necessarily if I were just waving a handful of kibble in front of her as she lay on the bed. So in other words, let her hear that she's getting an additional feeding; feed her a bit less earlier on if that helps. (Z/D is NOT chicken based, or whatever it comes from originally it uses hydrolyzed protein and nothing with regular protein of any kind can be substituted, so the OP is correct here.)

No, that's part of normal greyhound anatomy. You can probably see it more clearly on some greys than others, depending on the shape of their back. It is related (in ways others can probably explain better) to the very flexible sighthound spine, which is part of what enables them to run so fast. Here's Beth -- I assume you see on her the same mid-back dip you see on Faith. Welcome to GreyTalk and to greyhound ownership!

They are worse when it first gets really hot -- they are not acclimated yet. And they still have a heavier coat, too. He may be OK in July with what he's not OK with in April. Even half a mile might be a lot above 90, though. In the hot summer we do serious exercise only early in the morning. We have to walk during the day but we keep it very short at those temps. I second the idea of hosing him off (legs, belly, groin), or if you can't do that, wet him down in those areas using a spray bottle.

I have been following this thread, and I am so sorry for such heartbreaking news.

Sounds like what's known as a cutaneous horn -- you can Google it.

Well, put it in position then Vetwrap the foot to hold it in place, I guess. It will probably slip eventually but you'd want to check it several times a day anyway.

How about a non-stick telfa pad?

I am no expert whatsoever but I have so say that over three years of reading countless medical threads here, I've never seen or read of anything like that. It is not the norm for dogs to lose pads after an amputation or having their foot wrapped. I have to wonder if it is related to the mysterious condition that led to the need for the toe amputation -- have you gotten a diagnosis on that yet? I remember you saying they were thinking it might be something autoimmune. Greys lose nails to SLO, an autoimmune condition, so it doesn't seem beyond the realm of possibility there could be some parallel here. Poor girl, that does look awful. Maybe the beginning of that issue is why she didn't want to put weight on that foot? Good thoughts and scritchies to her.

I would start a new thread on this so you can get people responding who have experience with that -- I've never even heard of it! Glad the rest is looking good. Is Mermie seeming more comfortable putting weight on it now? And how's her appetite? I've been meaning to check in!

Yeah, liquid bandage, that's the stuff. It should help keep it closed up. She'll be fine!

After this crisis is over, go to a pet supply store and get some styptic powder (Quik Stop or some name like that) they sell for just such eventualities. After quicking Beth once early on I now keep the jar of that in the room with me and open just in case whenever I do nails. I wouldn't clip her nails without having it on hand. Actually, my PetSmart is about ten minutes away, and I hauled Beth and her bleeding nail over there at top speed in the car when it happened to to us.... After it mostly stops, you can try some clear nail polish or that "Nu Skin" stuff for wounds (clear liquid in a little jar) over the tip of the nail to help keep it sealed.

Glad there are signs of improvement! The play blow is great.

I am so sorry. Thank you for caring for Lucas.

Akawow, just so you know, jjng is a vet, so he knows what he's talking about.

Glad he is feeling better. I would still consider leash-walking for a few days, and the aspirin. Did the vet do range-of-motion checks in his neck or anything to check his back? If you know a vet who does acupuncture, that might be useful too (my vet does it, and when Beth pulled a muscle in her neck early on we did several sessions).

I don't recall the toes being notably enlarged -- except one time when the vet tried to wrap the foot tightly but leave the toes out, and they swelled up below the wrap (last time we tried that -- it was because of the abrasion problem on her toes from the wrap rubbing. We started leaving the foot unwrapped when she in her crate after that). I worried my head off about everything, so I'm pretty sure I would have worried about swelling if I'd seen it. There was just that one puffy lump of swelling on her foot above the amputation site that appeared at some point and lasted for a few months (visible when the foot was relaxed or curled back, not when she was standing on it).

I guess it maybe could -- I didn't have swelling issues that I recall though so I dunno. The sock isn't taped on in a tight way that could cause fluid retention below, is it? Maybe worth a call to the vet? I forget, is she on any anti-inflammatory med like Deramaxx? Beth never lost her appetite. I had to really cut back her food since I didn't want her to gain weight while she was on such restricted activity.

Acupuncture has helped lots of greys with neck/spine/back injuries, along with the other measures you're following.

Glad there are signs Mermie is feeling more like herself! Really, she will be back!

I'm so sorry Bernie isn't all better. Beth and I are both very worried about her half-brudder -- he is a very important houndie to us! I'm glad you could get an appointment ... will eagerly look for updates.

Oh no, not Bernie, I'm so sorry Lauren! My guess would be back or neck "gone out" in some way. I would take him to the vet first thing in the a.m. at least. Does your regular vet have an emergency phone contact/coverage so you could at least speak to someone? Do you have any painkiller like Deramaxx on hand?

Great to hear good news! May the positive signs continue!

Awww, poor little guy. Hope everything goes smoothly and heals quickly!

How's Mermie this morning? Hoping for good signs!

I am so very sorry.