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3greytjoys

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  1. Curious how Percy's mass looked during his bandage change?

     

    It's just odd that before it burst, some days it would be taller and other days completely flat. :dunno

     

    I'm still hoping that Percy's growth is nothing too concerning. :)

    However, I'm puzzled regarding multiple vet delays in testing those cells by FNA (if surgery might be the desired treatment). Hopefully not, but if it happens to be a cancerous mass, every week of vet delays could be rapidly strengthening it's presence.

     

    To elaborate on my previous post: Our 9 y.o. (LP + excessive bleeder) hound's subcutaneous hemangiosarcoma (red/dark red) mass on her (white) leg was surged within a few days of discovery. (Cancer possibly caused by early life sun damage to light color hound.) It's my understanding that type of cancer mass (and perhaps others?) happens to behave similarly, meaning mass size can fluctuate and leak blood internally or externally.

     

  2. While I love the look of it, I didn't know if it would be more challenging for a dog that likely already has to learn how to navigate stairs.

     

    Welcome to GreyTalk! :)

     

    This is an excellent question.

    Many Greyhounds are uncomfortable walking on open riser stairs; however, it's not so much whether they can learn to navigate the stairs, but more important is Greyhounds' safety.

     

    Interestingly, open riser stairs are a deal breaker for some adoption groups due to the additional danger of Greyhounds' long legs slipping through the openings. There have been horrific injuries caused by open riser stairs, some injuries leading to hounds being euthanized.

     

    After Greyhounds learn and become comfortable navigating stairs, they love to run fast up/down stairs. Also, they often try to skip several stairs at once, further increasing risks of their long legs slipping in between those openings.

     

    Adopters have had risers built to enclose open riser stairs as a condition for their adoption.

     

    Many Greyhounds manage walking slowly on deep, wide, open riser stairs (e.g., outside of public buildings) while safely leashed with their human's guidance.

     

    Good luck with all your exciting life changes! :)

  3. If any of the antibiotic pills (or other medications) were given without enough food, it can do surprising harm to an elder hound's system. Also, I wonder if Riley might be having additional tummy upset due to lactose intolerance, fat, or certain ingredients in Ensure.

     

    If you haven't already tried the following, it might help:
    Canned meat dog foods.

    Plain meat baby food (Gerber Stage 2 does not have any pet toxic spices added like onion or garlic).

    Veterinarians use (and sell) a canned pet food that is highly appetizing and works well for their ill/recovering hospital patients.

     

    Our 13.8 year old Greyhound had an awful, long-lasting illness after one antibiotic tablet was administered immediately before a meal (meal was suddenly refused) vs. immediately after a fully eaten meal. During the following days/weeks, severe lack of appetite worsened. Surprisingly, Pepcid worsened this already poor condition. All drugs were stopped. Canned soft meat pet foods eventually resulted in our hound's much improved appetite.

     

    Hoping Riley's condition improves very soon.

  4. I completely understand all your your concerns.

     

    If you decide to try it, I recommend finding a veterinarian to perform the non-anesthesia cleanings. Some vets will make exceptions for certain medical reasons or far advanced aged hounds. Vets have much more dental and dog handling experience with instant access to stronger medications if needed. Also, dislodging dental tartar causes a massive bacteria party in the dog's mouth and body, so the vet could prescribe antibiotics to reduce risk of infection.

     

    That type of non-anesthesia cleaning is considered cosmetic because they really can't work as deeply under the gums. A major problem is they can't probe without anesthesia, so if there is underlying dental disease, the hounds come home looking pretty for several weeks, but they would have to endure another full year of worsening deep tissue disease or root disease; internal organs could become more affected/diseased; it would not be any easier to chew or eat meals; then hounds would be yet another year older and may have developed unrelated medical conditions that put them at greater risk for surgery.

     

    If your hounds are awake and being manhandled by non-veterinary professionally trained people, hounds may not be returned to you as wonderfully willing to have their teeth brushed or their mouths/bodies handled.

     

    Good luck with whatever you decide.

     

     

    Side note to other readers: Daily tooth brushing with a pet-safe toothpaste is important for Greyhounds of all ages. Dental health becomes even more important as hounds advance towards their double-digit years. Dental heath becomes a huge factor when hounds advance into their teens since good dental health can prolong Greyhounds' lifespan, and helps prevent kidney disease and other organ disease.

  5. I'd ask your specialty vet to please squeeze Percy in as an urgent appt. (if their next opening isn't within a couple of days).

     

    FWIW, one of our senior excessive bleeder hounds, who has advanced LP, was placed under general anesthesia for removal of subcutaneous hemangiosarcoma and other masses about 5 years ago. (Margins were not clear.) Although she's not on aminocaproic acid (aka: Amicar) 24/7, we do keep tablets stocked at home for emergencies. The tablets have worked successfully on all of our excessive bleeder hounds during off-hours emergencies. A couple years after that hemangiosarcoma surgery, she underwent a successful toe amputation (while on aminocaproic acid). Now, she's 14 years old, so surgeries are weighed even more carefully. That said, this particular hound doesn't over-stress terribly during hospital recoveries. (Our other advanced LP hound + excessive bleeder could not tolerate hospital stress as well.)

     

    Hope the T.A. helps eliminate Percy's bleeding for now. Looking forward to seeing answers to your veterinary questions.

     

    Did your vet try a FNA? One of the reasons I think you're smart to involve a (surgical) specialist is location of that mass to vessels, tendons, thin skin, etc. Surgeon's expertise would be most important if that surged opening bleeds excessively. Also consider if Percy isn't under general anesthesia, could Percy and the surgeon handle it successfully...

  6. So glad Chase is recovering at home now. He is in our healing thoughts.

     

    A couple of our hounds have had extreme stress-related medical circumstances while at the vet hospital. You may already do this for Chase, but something we found helpful is to minimize their hospital waiting times. Example: If their surgery is scheduled for mid-day, we don't drop them off at 7:00 or 8:00 AM, leaving them to stress out (over heat) while waiting several hours for their scheduled surgery time. If they have an early morning surgery time slot, we pick them up as soon as they can be safely discharged, meaning we don't leave them waiting at the hospital all afternoon until it's more convenient for their human to pick them up.

     

    Please let us know how Chase's condition progresses.

  7. She is a 63 lb grey.

    All of the areas in my house are hardwood floors and she is okay will all of the floors in the house. It's not the floors that are a concern to her, it's me leaving. I would leave her out in the dining room area but I've seen her try to scratch the wood floors and my landlord would have her out of here so fast. This is the best option for her at the time.

     

    If the dose seems to high for her then I will adjust it accordingly with my vets suggestion.

     

    Understandable re: her crate (as long as she doesn't harm herself trying to get out). Please remember to remove her collar whenever she is locked inside her crate (to prevent strangulation from her collar and/or tags from catching on crate).

     

    Our most severe SA hound is similar weight. When she was on Fluoxetine (aka: Prozac) her Greyhound savvy vet started her treatment at 10 mg. for several weeks for her body to adjust to the drug. Thereafter, she was increased to 20 mg. total for several more weeks of evaluation. The 20 mg. dose worked most effectively for her longer term treatment. Eventually, she was tapered back down very slowly to end her drug treatment. (That drug should not be stopped suddenly.)

     

    (Alternatively, after slowly adjusting to Fluoxetine on lower doses for multiple weeks, hounds who eventually reach up to a total of 30 mg. to 40 mg. usually consider it the final maximum high-end dose for Greyhounds of that weight; however, many hound owners report extreme lethargy and loss of appetite at the higher doses, so hounds need to be tapered back slowly to a more manageable dose.)

     

    Just to touch on your mention of her trying to scratch wood floors, not sure if you meant she was playfully scratching (which is common), or if she needed to go potty, but every Greyhound we've ever had, including all our fosters have done indoor zoomies (racing around a room or through the house). Our house happens to be fully carpeted except the kitchen and family room. For the Greyhounds' safety, we have a large area rug in the family room, plus runner rugs (with gripper mats underneath) in the kitchen. I understand you are a student, but a cheap rug or two in your most used rooms (during day) could help save your landlord's wood floors from having to be refinished, and your hound from expensive vet bills.

     

    To answer your previous question, ideally, alone training should be practiced daily; however, you can only do the best you can considering your class schedule. The more alone training that you can do (within her comfort level) the faster she could potentially progress.

    Generally, the most important thing for humans to remember is positive, loving patience. Also, to never reprimand a dog for doing something undesirable that is rooted from their fear. Separation anxiety is fear-based. Greyhounds are an extremely sensitive breed. If they even emotionally feel a human's intense displeasure, their reaction can result in their fear-driven behavior becoming intensified and prolonged.

     

    Time and alone training are your friends. Good luck with Suki. :)

     

     

     

  8. How much does Suki weigh? I hope your vet is Greyhound savvy. Greyhounds can be more sensitive to drugs than other breeds. IMO, starting a female Greyhound on 30 mg. Prozac could be too high a dosage before her system even begins to adjust to that medication.

     

    Ideally, these medications are best started while you are home to evaluate the hound's reactions. Besides Xanax and Prozac, please don't combine any other medications without your vet's prior approval. Prozac is strong, and combining certain drugs can be unsafe for the hound.

     

    There is a hallway in my house (between my bedroom and bathroom) that is decent is size (7x3) that I feel would be a good area for her. Floors are wooden so I can clean it up pretty easily. I just bought her a slumber ball so I can leave it in there with her along with some goodies. While I'm in class I decided to crate her today though because I thought four hours in a new place would freak her out even more. I gave her a benadryl this morning to hopefully take the edge off a wee bit. I'll work on the new area and see how she does.

     

    If you leave her in the hallway, be aware that many newly retired Greyhounds are fearful of hard floors (and can easily lose their footing causing a potentially serious fall). She may need to walk on rubber-backed bathroom rugs, or a cheap runner rug with a rug gripper mat underneath. Assuming you received her "Greyhound turn-out muzzle" upon adoption, you may need to use it if she's likely to chew the rugs. Of course, she should not be allowed unsupervised in any area with a cat.

     

    I'm guessing this is not the mature 7 year old hound you were originally considering.

     

    Please contact your adoption group to let them know about Suki's separation anxiety, and let them know your plan. Ideally, while alone training, the dog should not go above her relaxed comfort threshold (i.e. she needs to stay under her first sign of anxiety).

     

  9. I'm so very deeply sorry for your sudden loss of your beloved boy who left much too soon.

     

    Many thoughtful posts from others with whom I agree. I wish we could help lessen your grief.

    The deepest intense sadness comes in fewer waves over time...

     

    I lost my heart hound recently, and currently have another deeply beloved hound with hemangiosarcoma. I hope to think our pets that have crossed the bridge remain close in our hearts and feel our love from afar whenever we're thinking of them.

  10. You might try K.O.E. Kennel Odor Eliminator. We use it outside on the hounds' playground bark potty area, inside house, and on dog beds. Per Thornell (K.O.E. manufacturer), any of their odor eliminator products can be used directly on dogs (for skunk odor, etc.) It's non-toxic, non-carcinogenic, biodegradable, and highly concentrated so one bottle lasts a very, very long time. The built-in easy measuring section ensures no product waste. http://www.entirelypets.com/koe-concentrate-fresh-scent-16-oz.html

     

    I've also had laundry success with some other pet laundry detergents made for quick rinsing, available at pet stores.

  11. The Pom should be considered a dangerous dog since he/she already attacked you (and your thin-skinned hound could be next). For the welfare of all passersby/public safety, Animal Control should be informed of any potentially dangerous dogs who are not controlled by leash or secure fencing. The State of New York has laws to help protect it's residents, including it's law abiding pet owners. Please contact Animal Control or your local police dept. (non-emergency phone# in front section of telephone book). If needed, your city or county's codes/laws can be found on-line. I'd encourage you to add Animal Control's phone number to your cell phone's address book.

     

    Agree to try to create a temporary fenced area to keep Poms out of your hound's immediate potty area. Tallest ex-pens are 4 feet high, portable, and made with a ready-made gate. They can be connected to (temporary) 5' long metal fence posts, including a couple posts placed against the exterior wall on your house to create a larger U-shaped potty area. 2 or 3 ex-pens would make a larger space, or 1 ex-pen with gate and additional cheaper metal fencing as needed. All can easily be removed when/if you decide to move.

     

     

  12. Greyhound-to-Greyhound head rests/hugs are very common in our pack. Also by other hounds at Greyhound events, Meet and Greets, etc. Many hounds do that behavior when they're tired. One of our hounds stands with her head pushed flat against her sister's side while her sister is in an extreme panic from fireworks, or SA. They are wonderfully sensitive beings.

  13. Welcome to GreyTalk, and congratulations on your new addition! :)

     

    Good advice by Greysmom.

     

    Do the best you can at managing (protecting) your new hound's resting space without threat of close invasions, and keep your other dogs (especially your elder deaf girl) away from him while he's getting adjusted in his completely new world. He may be feeling a bit more fearful than normal after being dropped into an existing resident canine pack.

     

    Remember that growling is a dog's means of communication. If humans attempt to "correct" dogs' (safer) verbal communication, dogs can quickly learn to skip their (punished) warning growls, and go to a bite to get their point across. Generally, most Greyhounds adjust to their new environment over time and accept that other resident dogs can walk around the room without harming the hound.

     

    Our hounds communicate between themselves with warning growls periodically. The other hounds understand this canine language, and respectfully retreat to allow their personal space. Your deaf girl will need a little more help from her hearing aid human/s.

  14. OP, you might find the following seminar excerpt interesting.

     

    Thoughts of a Greyhound

    By the late Kathleen Gilley

     

    This breed has never been asked to do anything for itself, make any decisions or answer any questions. It has been waited on, paw and tail. The only prohibition in a racing Greyhound's life is not to get into a fight--or eat certain stuff in the turn out pen.

    Let us review a little. From weaning until you go away for schooling, at probably a year and a half, you eat, grow and run around with your siblings. When you go away to begin your racing career, you get your own "apartment," in a large housing development. No one is allowed in your bed but you, and when you are in there, no one can touch you, without plenty of warning.

    Someone hears a vehicle drive up, or the kennel door being unlocked. The light switches are flipped on. The loud mouths in residence, and there always are some, begin to bark or howl. You are wide awake by the time the human opens your door to turn you out. A Greyhound has never been touched while he was asleep.

    You eat when you are fed, usually on a strict schedule. No one asks if you are hungry or what you want to eat. You are never told not to eat any food within your reach. No one ever touches your bowl while you are eating. You are not to be disturbed because it is important you clean your plate.

    You are not asked if you have to "go outside." You are placed in a turn out pen and it isn't long before you get the idea of what you are supposed to do while you are out there. Unless you really get out of hand, you may chase, rough house and put your feet on everyone and every thing else. The only humans you know are the "waiters" who feed you, and the "restroom attendants" who turn you out to go to the bathroom. Respect people? Surely you jest.

    No one comes into or goes out of your kennel without your knowledge. You are all seeing; all knowing. There are no surprises, day in and day out. The only thing it is ever hoped you will do is win, place or show, and that you don't have much control over. It is in your blood, it is in your heart, it is in your fate--or it is not.

    And when it is not, then suddenly you are expected to be a civilized person in a fur coat. But people don't realize you may not even speak English. Some of you don't even know your names, because you didn't need to. You were not asked or told to do anything as an individual; you were always part of the "condo association"; the sorority or fraternity and everyone did everything together, as a group or pack. The only time you did anything as an individual is when you schooled or raced, and even then, You Were Not Alone.

    Suddenly, he is expected to behave himself in places he's never been taught how to act. He is expected to take responsibility for saying when he needs to go outside, to come when he is called, not to get on some or all of the furniture, and to not eat food off counters and tables. He is dropped in a world that is not his, and totally without warning, at that.

    Almost everything he does is wrong. Suddenly he is a minority. Now he is just a pet. He is unemployed, in a place where people expect him to know the rules and the schedule, even when there aren't any. (How many times have you heard someone say, "He won't tell me when he has to go out." What kind of schedule is that?) Have you heard the joke about the dog who says, "My name is No-No Bad Dog. What's yours?" To me that is not even funny. All the protective barriers are gone. There is no more warning before something happens. There is no more strength in numbers. He wakes up with a monster human face two inches from his. (With some people's breath, this could scare Godzilla.) Why should he not, believe that this "someone," who has crept up on him, isn't going to eat him for lunch? (I really do have to ask you ladies to consider how you would react if someone you barely knew crawled up on you while you were asleep?) No, I will not ask for any male input.

    Now he is left alone, for the first time in his life, in a strange place, with no idea of what will happen or how long it will be before someone comes to him again. If he is not crated, he may go though walls, windows or over fences, desperately seeking something familiar, something with which to reconnect his life. If he does get free, he will find the familiarity, within himself: the adrenaline high, the wind in his ears, the blood pulsing and racing though his heart once again--until he crashes into a car.

    Often, the first contact with his new family is punishment, something he's never had before, something he doesn't understand now, especially in the middle of the rest of the chaos. And worst of all, what are the most common human reactions to misbehavior? We live in a violent society, where the answer to any irritation is a slap, punch, kick, whip, or rub your nose in it. Under these circumstances, sometimes I think any successful adoption is a miracle.

    He is, in effect, expected to have all the manners of at least a six-year old child. But, how many of you would leave an unfamiliar six-year old human alone and loose in your home for hours at a time and not expect to find who knows what when you got back? Consider that if you did, you could be brought up on charges of child abuse, neglect and endangerment. Yet, people do this to Greyhounds and this is often the reason for so many returns.

    How many dogs have been returned because they did not know how to tell the adoptor when they had to go out? How many for jumping on people, getting on furniture, counter surfing, separation anxiety, or defensive actions due to being startled or hurt (aka growling or biting)? So, let's understand: Sometimes it is the dog's "fault" he cannot fit in. He is not equipped with the social skills of a six-year old human. But you can help him.

     

    Source: http://www.northerngreyhoundadoptions.org/ThoughtsOfAGrey.php

  15. Greyhounds have been in the adoption system since the 80s. That's several decades even by my fuzzy math.

    I thought about that for the U.S., particularly '87-'89. Early adoption numbers were so limited, it likely wouldn't have made a significant difference in these worldwide pet studies. I was considering the more widespread worldwide adoption years.

    Quote: Retired racing Greyhounds haven't been in the adoption system to be included in "many decades long" studies. End quote.

     

     

     

  16. 3greytjoys, your previous post was all about greyhounds and why it would be bad to adopt a grey with a young child. My point was that greys are dogs first. Your statistics are good information for anyone with dogs and kids to be aware of but not greyhound specific.

     

    A case study of 341 patients isn't really statistically significant given the numbers of households worldwide with children and dogs.

     

    What your comments seem to say to me is that you never learned why you experienced what you did. I'm not saying your fears are not valid

     

    My OP touched on dogs living with toddlers, elaborated GH specific info., and explained reasons behind some adoption groups' guidelines.

     

    I posted the pediatric study in response to your following comment: "In my opinion, having a senior grey and a 2 year old, I think you're making a lot of assumptions that aren't universal."

     

    That study (19 references worldwide) happened to be the first I pulled (and was based on more cases than replies in this thread). Clicking study link reveals chart data (second tab) to see "Hounds".

    Retired racing Greyhounds haven't been in the adoption system to be included in many decades long studies, but I, and others who work in adoption groups, have seen many returns resulting from issues involving young children. (Rarely the hound's fault.) Adoption groups create business practices for good reasons.

     

    Your last comment (about me) is far from the truth! I generalize things on a public forum.

     

    First, I was not at fault whatsoever for the dog bite.

    I simply opened a door and the dog charged/attacked before realizing I was a familiar family member.

     

    Second, I am not fearful of dogs in the least.

    Mindful, educated, respectful, and careful: absolutely!

    I've lived with many multiple large breeds (at a time) from birth and throughout life. Studied animal behavior for more training purposes than anyone cares to know. My original suggestion to the OP was based on decades of collective experiences for general breeds, and Greyhounds.

  17. In my opinion, having a senior grey and a 2 year old, I think you're making a lot of assumptions that aren't universal.

    I was attempting to post (#32) delicately; however, my comments are based on true facts, and medical science.
    Additionally, I've had a personal interest in studying this topic for five decades after surviving a severe dog bite to the skull as a young child, and later witnessing others being bitten.
    There are many documented studies. Below are several facts quoted from a 10 year long pediatric study of 341 cases (mean age 5.9 years old).
    Quotes from:
    Analysis of Dog Bites in Children...

     

    - Because of the accumulation of dog bites in younger children, we agree with Thompson et al17 that parents should postpone purchase of a dog until children are of school age.
    - Children who are younger than 10 years represent the high-risk group for dog attacks.
    - Incidence was highest in 1-year-old patients and decreased with increasing age.
    - The [other] highest incidence being among 5- to 9-year-old boys
    - The relative risk for a dog attack by a German shepherd or a Doberman was >5 times higher that that associated with a Labrador/retriever or cross-breeds.
    The present report covers dog bites over a 10-year period. Taking into consideration that <50% of all dog bites are reported to doctors or police"
    End quotes.
    ------
    Brief article below discusses commonly linked behaviors:
    Why Dogs Bite Kids Study Shows Common Links

    As medical reports of dogs biting children continued to increase, researchers started to ask, “Why?” Henceforth, a veterinary behavior clinic in Philadelphia embarked on a study to help us understand what makes a dog’s mind tick…or at least what ticks it off when it comes to kids.

    As reported in the medical journal Injury Prevention, researchers at the veterinary behavioral clinic examined 111 cases of dog bites by 103 dogs (representing 41 different dog breeds) that took place over a four-year period.

    Several notable patterns came to their attention: the dogs displayed territorial behavior, anxiety, or were coping with medical issues at the time the biting occurred.

    Territorial Behavior

    Researchers suggest the main cause of aggression in dogs stems from territorial behavior:

    • Children under the age of 6 were more likely to be bitten when a dog felt the kids were threatening to take his food or toys.
    • Older children were bitten when the dog felt the kids were intruding on his territory.
    • A dog was more likely to bite children he knew while he was guarding his food.
    • A dog was more likely to bite children he didn’t know while he was protecting his territory.
    Anxiety May Lead to Biting

    Of those dogs studied, three quarters exhibited anxiety due to:

    • Separation distress
    • Sudden noise, such as thunderstorms or fireworks
    • Noise and unpredictable movements from young children

    An anxious dog frightened under these circumstances may be more prone to bite children, whether or not they are familiar with them.

    Other studies have revealed that boys ages 5 to 9 are bitten five times more by dogs more than any other group or people.

    Pain Pushes Dogs Over the Edge

    Common sense may tell an adult not to touch a dog in pain. Kids, however, may not be able to discern when a dog is hurting. In fact, half of the dogs studied by researchers had medical conditions such as liver and kidney disease, eye problems, and diseases that affected their bones and skin.

    Small Children, Big Threat

    Other studies have revealed that boys ages 5 to 9 are bitten five times more by dogs more than any other group or people.

    Their loud, energetic and sometimes aggressive actions simulate behavior displayed between young dogs. What do dogs typically do when playing with one another? They bite.

    The faster and louder kids get, the more dogs become stimulated.

    In addition, dogs bite when they don’t like they way someone is playing with them. Study a fed up dog’s behavior: a turned back, lying down, a curled lip, or quite obviously, growling. Children have a tendency to tug on dogs’ ears, pull on their tails or jump on their backs. While some dogs may tolerate this, others will grow tired of it quickly.

    To learn more about children and pets interacting, such as teaching your children how to care for and behave around pets as well as deciding which dog might be right for your family, read our article on pets and children.

  18. Great that you're doing advance research; a toddler/child's behavior changes so frequently during their early years.

     

    If I were in your position, in my experience, I would wait at least 5 (or more) years for a Greyhound. If you want a dog before that time, there are other breeds that are better suited as pets living with children.

     

    One of the primary reasons many Greyhound adoption groups don't adopt to families with young children is because a human child's brain has not had time to form/develop enough to comprehend animal safety, or to control their own behavior to act rationally, and respectfully around dogs inside a home 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. In fact, some adoption organizations only adopt to adults, or families with nearly fully grown teenagers. Retired racing Greyhounds are professional working dogs who have not grown up inside a normal family home environment like other "pet" breeds. Adult Greyhounds are not rough and tumble dogs, and many won't play with toys. Greyhounds are like living, powerful machines that can reach up to 45 miles per hour within 3-5 strides, creating an exceptionally strong force. (Imagine mini-race horse.) A child can't even handle a Greyhound's leash during walks. Being sight hounds, they can see (and try to chase) a moving object, whether it's litter blowing in the wind or small prey 1/2 mile away. Greyhounds lack body fat which also makes them more sensitive to touch (vs. other pet dogs), and they're extremely temperature sensitive (both to warm and cold temperatures). This limits when it's safe for them to go outside, go for car rides, or take walks, etc.

     

    Like other large dogs, they have large pointy ends that can open very wide.

     

    Before adopting a Greyhound, I'd recommend reading "Retired Racing Greyhounds for Dummies" by Lee Livinggood.

  19. Hopefully others with more experience will chime in to answer your specific questions.

    Meanwhile, if you're not already familiar, there's a Yahoo group for people treating dogs with SLO:

    https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/SLOdogs/info

     

    I'm so sorry your poor hound is struggling with SLO, and thyroid cancer. :(

    Your girl will be in our thoughts on Feb. 10th for a successful thyroid cancer surgery.

    Hopefully, they can address any additional nail problems during same surgery.

  20. Many Greyhounds are more sensitive to medications anyway, but for whatever reason, our eldest Greyhounds are much more sensitive to medications than in their younger life (possibly underlying conditions).

    Perhaps your vet clinic's answering machine provides an e-vet contact that you could call to ask about reducing Wally's dose(?).

    (Personally, I would not want to keep dosing Wally that heavily while waiting and waiting for your own vet to return next week.)

    We've had to open and split 300 mg. dose capsules before (it was okay to do that since our hounds' gabapentin is not time-released). We opened the capsule(s) and poured 1/2 of the powder into a food treat for the hounds. (The other half dose remained in the capsule that was recapped, and set aside separately from the bottle, to await their next dose time.)

    In case you missed it, below was my post to your previous thread:

    Posted 28 January 2016

    Our Greyhounds' vet prefers to start our 70 pound (+/-) hounds on a lower dose of 100 mg., and observe their reactions.

    If pain is not controlled with lower dose, with vet's approval, it can be increased by 100 mg.

    Their high end dose of 300 mg. every 8 hours is only used for extremely serious disease pain.

     

    Our eldest hounds have become more sensitive to medications as they've aged.

    (Not sure if that's unique to our 13 and 14 year old hounds.)

     

    Considering Wally's leg issues, it may help to be aware that ataxia is a side effect of gabapentin, and should be mentioned to your vet if noticed.

     

    Link below provides overdose symptoms:

    http://www.wedgewood...rinary-use.html

     

     

  21. Aww, Cody looked like a sweetheart who was fortunate to have had a wonderful life with you.

    What a great shark (model)!

    Cody will live on in your heart forever...

    Thanks for sharing your photos.

    (You're not alone in missing your hound. I still miss all of mine, especially a beloved girl who passed 17 years ago.)

  22.  

    Zeke%2012-19-08%20copy_zpswx2yrfek.jpg

     

    He was always a gentle, sweet presence that made me smile whenever I looked at him. His loss has been a hard one for me.

     

    Zeke has been a true heart dog. He seemed to touch my soul. All of our dogs are loved but sometimes one just finds a place in your heart that stands alone. Being with him made me feel good, he brought sweetness and joy with him that just could not be denied. His gentle presence was something I will always be grateful for.

     

    I know my heart will hurt for a very long time.

     

    I am so deeply sorry for your loss of your beloved heart boy, Zeke. Your thoughtfully written remembrance brings tears as I understand some of your feelings to the core while sharing a similar loss. Your photo of Zeke above is particularly heart-warming.

     

    May Zeke's spirit fill your heart and bring you comfort as you process this sudden loss of your beloved boy.

     

    Godspeed Zeke, until you meet again...

    :f_red

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