PrairieProf

Please send good thoughts for Beth ... this morning she injured the remaining weight-bearing toe on her foot with the amputation. We were on leash on grass and she wasn't doing anything dramatic, just jumping around a little, excited by some dogs behind a fence barking at her! She did a few tripod strides but occasionally does that if something pokes in the gap where her toe is missing -- I pulled out a strand of grass stuck in there and went on without thinking much of it. I did keep a close eye on her gait and she really wasn't lame at all as we walked back to the house. But after breakfast when she was on my bed I noticed the toe is swollen up and there is an odd spot of blood on it, both of these on the outer side of the toe. My wonderful, awesome vet (who knows me and Beth VERY well) wasn't on call but I called him at home and he met me to see her. He thinks with the blood it may well be a puncture wound (we hope) or else a sprain/partial tear of the toe ligament -- at least no signs that it's a full tear like her original injury, which left the toe flopping around. This toe does seem to stay in place when she walks -- he found a little mobility in it but couldn't really determine that it was more than it would have normally. Beth got a dose of antibiotics and will go in first thing tomorrow for x-rays. I am kind of a wreck -- I live in fear of her injuring that one remaining middle toe, and now maybe it's happened, and not even doing anything I thought was a risk! But meanwhile :inlove toward my vet -- as I was apologizing yet again for calling him at home on a Sunday morning he pretty much said that it was fine and I should call him directly any time Beth has an emergency. He loves her very much!

Thank you for that info. What were Beth's symptoms? Edit: Also wanted to add that Azi looks very healthy - she has a good weight (64 lbs) and her coat is shiny and full (thanks to the salmon oils, I believe). Stupid me - I forgot to mention (!) that she will vomit up a small amount of mostly bile when she has one of these "attacks". Beth's symptom was a bout of diarrhea that did not resolve -- or rather, it resolved on Flagyl and I/D but returned as soon as I transitioned her back to regular food. We did the blood tests to try to figure out what might be going on, and I'm so thankful we caught the problem before it became a crisis. FWIW, this D was almost certainly initially triggered when I started adding salmon oil to her food -- too much fat for her pancreas to handle. She had had bouts of diarrhea in the past (probably related, I realize in hindsight, to eating fatty foods). And a couple of months before the diagnosis she had gone through a spell of not wanting to eat her kibble, when she has never been at all picky about eating before or since, which I can't prove but assume was probably related to the same issue.

Oh, this is the saddest update ever. At least Arwen had a happy time and presumably went fast without suffering.

My input (not saying this is it): test for folate/cobalamin and for pancreatic function if you've haven't. Beth's stomach issues turned out to be related to her being just under the threshold for pancreatitis, though we didn't have exactly the same symptoms. She has been much better after we switched her to a low fat diet (and she was on a month+ course of Flagyl after she was diagnosed).

Congrats! He is a GORGEOUS dog!

Just to clarify, do you mean he won't lie down, i.e. down or settle, anywhere but his crate? We're not talking about doing a "sit," right? Others will have more experience, but I'd say for starters, just give him time -- he's very new and still tense/restless. Maybe you could try a treat to lure him into a down on a dog bed? I remember I had to encourage Beth onto the dog bed the first couple of days she was home. Definitely don't get rid of his crate -- that's his comfortable space very obviously, it would be upsetting for him to take it away.

Yeah, he is awfully young to be contained for that long. I would not crate Beth for nine hours without a break even now. Could you put an ad in the paper or something about looking for someone to do regular midday breaks for a set fee -- maybe there's a local retiree or somebody who likes dogs and would appreciate the extra income? Or could even do daytime dog-sitting?

My hound is five, I've had her for over three years, and I still crate her when I go out. She has a tendency to chew stuff, and seems much calmer when she's crated, and runs right in there when she knows it's time. She's happy there (happier than she'd be wearing a muzzle), I feel she's safer, and my cats are safer. I feel like people here tend to leap to "no crate" as the solution to everything, and while I'm no expert I wonder if it really is. Plus a crate makes life much easier when you are visiting in new places, if your hound has to stay at the vet, or if he is injured and needs to be on crate rest. I hate how it takes up most of my TV room, but I love the crate and have no real intention of giving it up. I do feel fortunate that I can arrange my schedule or get a pet-sitter so she doesn't have to be in for more than five hours at a stretch.

TOTALLY agree, and also with the poster who pointed out that the crate ensures your cat's safety. I am not an expert because I've only had one greyhound and she is and always has been totally fine with her crate -- I still crate her when I go out after over three years. (She has a tendency to chew stuff, I like not worrying about my cats, and I know she is calmer in a crate.) The crate helps SO MUCH when visiting people with the dog -- it's a "home away from home" the dog will feel familiar in and no worry about the dangers in a different environment. Also at the vet, and if the dog is injured and needs crate rest. I'm really not clear how the people who don't/can't use crates deal with these common situations! It's not abnormal for the dog to be a little whiny when left the first time in a new environment as Bruce was. I'm glad things are evidently fine!

No experience but sending good thoughts to Bart and you.

:banana :banana

Sorry for your loss. RIP little one.

You missed a question I would have put on there, "Does your grey sit to bribe you for food?" or "Does your grey sit at inappropriate times?" She definitely sits often when we're out walking to demand a treat in a fairly pushy way! I guess she has the association sit = treat very well ingrained. I thought the last question was weird, actually. While Beth will sit on command (if she's paying attention), I do not expect her to sit except when I ask her. She is calm waiting for food and I've never seen any reason to ask/expect her to sit then, as sitting is not a natural greyhound waiting posture. Nor do I expect her to sit before crossing a street, for greeting someone, etc., though I have practiced asking for these things in obedience classes. That might be appropriate for some dogs, but it doesn't seem appropriate to expect of a greyhound. Beth is one of the "sittingest" greys most of my friends have seen and I often get comments on that, but holding a sit on a hard surface takes effort for her, so I'd never expect her to do it routinely. Standing quietly seems the natural and appropriate thing. FWIW Beth sits spontaneously when she's on a slope facing downwards -- she'll choose to sit to survey the scene, and can hold the posture on a grassy hill for an extended time. (That's how I taught her to sit on command and now recommend to others -- teaching her the command on a downward slope.)

Oh poor boy! Hot Rod you are KNOT allowed to be sick!! (But if he does have to have a toe removed he'll match Beth, and she's just fine.) Pawz disposable rubber booties are awesome for keeping a wrapped foot dry for walkies, btw. Much easier than a plastic bag!

Yikes, poor guy! That sounds rough! Keep us posted.

Sending good thoughts!

I understand your feelings ... I'm still dealing with some guilt about taking my new cats to Beth's vet (who is wonderful, has super-advanced facilities, does chiropractic and acupuncture, and everyone there has become like family to me) instead of the cats-only vet I used for my previous cats (who was knowledgeable but didn't have the same facilities and sometimes felt kind of bitchy to me, though she was very compassionate in my Carey's last days). The wonderful Christmas card I just got from my current vet (addressed to me, Beth, and the two cats and signed by every single person in the office) makes me feel a little less guilty. Of course I've spent so much there in the past year they should give me a personal parking spot...

There are lots of threads here (hint: use Google to search <greytalk toe amputation> as "toe" is too short to search on GT's own engine!). Beth had a weight-bearing rear toe amputated in May after a non-healing injury and is fine now. They generally take the toe off at the top where it meets the foot. It only takes a few weeks for the amp site to heal for walking (we had some complications with skin ripping around the sutures requiring a period of crate rest, but most don't) and then longer for running (we leash-walked for a couple of months to be on the safe side, even though the site appeared fully healed to the eye). Some people get all "omigod, it's a weight bearing toe" but Beth has no limp at all, takes long walks, runs full-out, etc. I won't say I don't worry more about that foot and the possibility of reinjury, but you'd have that worry whatever you do. I definitely think you should go ahead and amputate. Poor Riddick will be feeling better and back to normal activity MUCH sooner that way. As Greysmom may well chime in to tell you, after her Dude had a rear leg amputated, his one remaining back foot was missing a weight-bearing toe removed after a previous break, and HE was fine on it too! P.S., if you're on Facebook there's even a club there for three-toed greyhounds! I'm very sorry about Riddick's injury -- I know how upset you must be. And on a weekend too, of course.

Beth is like this too, and I'm glad to know we're not alone. I would try a brisk walk in the neighborhood with Tripp, and I bet he will go.

Oh poor girl and poor you and mom! Sending good thoughts. God I hate to be prejudiced but I loathe boxers. Beth was attacked by one, fortunately with just a small puncture on her nose. Even the mixes I've met all seem really reactive.

I'm so sorry for the loss of sweet Rascal, and for all your recent losses.

I'm so sorry for your loss, and that you didn't have more time with that sweet lady.

I will be thinking of you and Bee Wiseman today.

How scary -- all good thoughts to Ace! And hugs to you - you have been through much too much lately.

Yep, that's poop-marking. Nothing to worry about. Beth does that too when we're walking in the woods, which she finds stimulating (in more ways than one!).