PrairieProf

A lot of us think you can't generalize about this. Racing weight is a good baseline for a lot of dogs, though certainly not all. Beth raced at 56-57 and I think she looks best at 57-58, definitely under 60 -- at 7 pounds over racing weight she'd be a total porker. They lose muscle after they stop racing, so any gain in weight is fat.

It's called trancing, I believe.

Well I'd certainly start by getting her weighed to see what you're dealing with. The vet won't charge you for this. (My vet has a step-on scale right in the waiting area, and we go in every couple of weeks just to check if we haven't been in for another reason.) Your adoption group might well have a record of her weight then (I remember Beth's was on my adoption paperwork), or you could find her racing weight on Greyhound-data.com. I would be at least slightly concerned ... the only times Beth went off her food was, I believe, indicative of a brewing pancreatic issue. But then, I get EVERYTHING checked out that concerns me. Have you had bloodwork done on her? Even if it's perfectly fine, it provides a baseline record which will be useful in the future.

OK, well maybe I was wrong, but everything I've read (and I read everything I could find) says no food for several days to rest the pancreas in cases of acute pancreatitis, because any food you're giving stresses it. But we didn't actually go through that, fortunately.

In the spring Beth had *near* pancreatitis (evidence of pancreatic inflammation, just under the "acute" level) and was on a six-week course of metronidazole (Flagyl) -- it has anti-inflammatory effects on the GI system. We also put her on Hill's Prescription I/D, a low fat highly digestible food that is often recommended for pancreatitis, and she's done so wonderfully on it by every measure that I've kept her on it, though other foods with a similar fat/protein level would be acceptable. We monitored her pancreatic enzyme levels several times over a period of weeks/months to confirm that they got back well within normal range and stayed there. If your dog has had pancreatitis I do think his diet must be changed -- needs to be low fat, moderate protein. I will not put anything in Beth's mouth, even a treat, that is above 10% fat and preferably less. Things like dried sweet potatoes and lowfat cottage cheese or yogurt are safe snacks for her, though I feed some low-fat biscuits as well. Was your dog having pancreatitis confirmed with a blood test (presumably Snap cPL)? If it was true acute pancreatitis, he should be hospitalized and having NOTHING by mouth for several days (IV fluids). From the treatment he got, I'm thinking the vet didn't think that he had full-on pancreatitis -- or else (hate to say it) that's a very casual and incompetent vet. I would insist on a lot more information and probably a trip pronto to your regular vet. At least find out why no metronidazole was prescribed. There's a lot of solid information about pancreatitis in dogs online if you Google. It can be life-threatening and is NOT something to play around with.

I hope Fritz is doing better now! Kristin, sno-caps, bleah!!! I am shocked I tell you. Get yourself some 85% dark, girl, if you want chocolate! Though I did like the crunch back in the old days.

Well, glad for the big relief!!! I assume you'll think about getting a second opinion on the x-rays to gain more clarity? Is it just one toe where the problem is, or does it involve more of his foot? Great if it's just a toe, since if it becomes too problematic, you can just, y'know.... you know how well Beth is doing now even after losing a full weight-bearing one. Good luck with the Deramaxx ... it's never bothered Beth's sensitive tummy any. You do want to give that one with food BTW.

Thinking of you! Remember the vet does have other clients and may wait until s/he gets a gap in his/her schedule to call (I know, how dare s/he!!).

It's sort of a running joke how much I go to the vet, sometimes just to put my mind at ease about something (or have done since the spring, when we've had a number of issues) ... there is no way I could have driven 35 minutes for all of that. Or in the winter, when roads are often dangerous here. I think a vet that far away would mean tending to put off going, which is not necessarily a good thing. I mean, if there were no one competent nearby, OK, but the OP has no reason to believe that's the case. (I should say that where I live, 35 minutes would be going on an exposed rural highway to an entirely different city -- it might be different in a big city where it takes that long to get halfway across down!) And if your vet has emergency coverage, you don't need a different e-vet. A couple of vets here rotate providing emergency coverage for their practices, and that seems like a good arrangement to me. Any ER would be at least an hour away.

Oh dear! I can imagine how sick with worry and concern you are. MANY good thoughts for Merlin and you, and I'll be checking for updates!

Oh good! I'd never worried about it but then you start staring obsessively.... It's definitely sheddin' time in Ioway!

Any vet who is up to date should be using an anesthesia that is OK for greyhounds. I don't think many good vets are using the kind that was a problem. My vet uses the reversible anesthesia. Make sure they know about malignant hyperthermia. But I'll say that anything I asked my vet about, he knew (except for some really recent stuff from OSU). And the techs knew too. This is a useful compendium of info: http://www.greythealth.com/ You can purchase it as a booklet too: http://www.greyhoundgang.org/shop/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=84 I'd say go interview some vets, ask some questions, find one you like/get a good vibe from and take it from there. You should take Marvin in for a "get acquainted" visit before he needs care. Once again, how emergency coverage is handled is a big one to check out.

Do you know anyone else with greyhounds or sighthounds in your area? It is also fine to ask about sighthound experience when you interview vets. Even if they don't have current greyhound clients, a lot of them may have worked with greyhounds in vet school. I personally think a vet you think is good, smart, willing to learn is fine -- if you are a regular on GT you will learn more about greyhound medical idiosyncrasies than the majority of vets! Oh and ideally you want someone who covers emergencies. I love love love my vet and his hospital -- because he's smart and so kind, and adores Beth, and is willing to answer my endless nervous-mom questions and explain things to me at length, and because he does acupuncture, and because the hospital has cutting-edge facilities than can handle advanced procedures and is five minutes from my house ... but I know they have one other greyhound client only (we have only a handful of greyhounds in the immediate area, and we all see different people and are happy with the people we see). But I know the basic greyhound stuff, and have GT to check with if anything more complicated came up.

At a M&G Saturday, my friend asked "Why is Beth missing hair in a straight line?" I looked at what she was pointing to, which I guess I'd seen but hadn't really noticed. In her flank area there is kind of a semi-bare zone, the same on both sides. This is right where the hair changes direction, from the thicker upper hair that grows backward to the thinner hair that grows down toward her belly. So I've always thought it's normal, sort of a cowlick. On the other hand, I do see her licking in that area not infrequently, though it never seems like excessive/obsessive licking. It is pretty sparse where the hair splits if you really look at it. Anyway, as I have no other greyhounds to compare to, I'm wondering what you all think! FWIW she's shedding a lot right now, and her belly hair is looking thinner than it was. She is a very furry girl overall.

Prozyme is digestive enzymes, totally different from probiotics. I give that too -- may not make any difference but Beth has such a fabulous coat, I don't want to stop anything that may contribute. Probiotics I try to remember to give once a week or so, more often if Beth is on antibiotics, or has eaten poop. Not sure what difference it makes. She gets some high-quality yogurt daily too (mostly because she likes it). I'd definitely do probiotics with raw, given that there's always the chance of getting bad bacteria in the food. My vet now recommends a newer probiotic called Proviable -- he used to recommend Fortiflora but thinks this is better. It's pricey, which is one reason I don't use it that often. One capsule sprinkled on the food (daily or however often) is the dose. Some kibbles have probiotics added, BTW, though I don't know how the dosage or viability compares.

I'm so sorry. I can't imagine having to say goodbye to one so young. You were very brave and loving.

I am so sorry. What a beautiful tribute to your loved girl.

Not to argue that the W/D high fiber might not work, but your numbers aren't accurate -- Hill's lists its guaranteed analysis of nutrients on a dry matter basis online, so it's not comparable to what you're used to. I/D dry is in reality ("as fed") 22% protein, 9% fat; I/D canned is 5.6% protein, 2.0% fat (minimums). So it is low fat, but lower fiber too -- it's a low residue vs. a high fiber food.

I've never had itching issues with Beth, but she had GI issues in the past, and I think I have to agree with Batmom about low fat and animal vs. plant fat working better, at least for Beth. She has done better on Hill's Prescription I/D (9% fat, pork fat as the main source) than anything else we've used, grain free included -- so well I can't bring myself to try to change it. AND to my surprise she has the softest coat she's ever had on this food -- she seems to be notably the softest greyhound in any gathering I bring her to. It does have corn. But from what I've read, actual scientific studies show corn allergies are in fact really really rare. (I know lots of people with itchy dogs right now -- is there any chance it could be seasonal rather than food-related?) I've decided vets may indeed know more about what works with food than they are popularly reputed to.

I am so sorry. What a beautiful video of great happiness.

I'm not sure there's some absolute "more bland" -- I/D has more ingredients, but it may be more digestible. And it has extra electrolytes, B vitamins, etc. specifically designed to replenish a dog who's been having diarrhea, so I personally think it's better; the meat and rice isn't complete nutrition. I do think the canned is easier to digest than the kibble, so I'd use just that to start with. Remember one whole can is only equivalent to one cup of kibble in calories though -- a can looks like a lot but because of the water content of canned food it's not.

I am so sorry for the loss of your precious girl. Such suddenness seems the worst nightmare. My thoughts will be with you.

I am so very sorry.

I am so very sorry -- that she is gone, and that it had to be so soon and without enough time to spoil her and love on her. She sounds like the most wonderful girl.

How is Dorie doing this morning? I've given Beth metronidazole while fasting -- I might give her a little dab of yogurt or something. My vet has never said not to do it and indeed always implied I should (he believes in fasting 24 hours from the last incidence of D). I think others have done it as well.