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3greytjoys

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    Just Diagnosed With Squama Cell Carcinoma!

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted

    I agree with tbhounds.

     

    Could be other pain, or the medication doing it's job. I'm not a vet, but I read that a potential side effect for a very low percentage of Palladia patients (8%) were reported to have a bit of general pain. I imagine the benefits of the medication are most important for Willie. Be sure to keep your vets informed of the timing of his symptoms.

    Separation Anxiety Not Improving...

    in Training and Behavior discussion

    Posted

    Welcome to GT. :) Many good responses so far. A few more things come to mind.

     

    If Sam is quiet for the first couple of hours, that's a GREAT sign. Vocalizing later may be his only way to communicate that he needs a potty break. Many dogs need more than one or two potty outings before humans' departure. Males especially (and some females) hold a "reserve" in their tank (for marking during walks), so he might not be fully eliminating before your departures..

     

    Also, newly retired hounds are often trying to adjust to a different food or medicines. They may have softer stools requiring more frequent eliminations than usual. Anxiousness can make dogs (and people) need to potty more frequently. Many GH groups suggest arranging potty breaks a minimum of every 4-5 hours during day. (Daytime hours are different from a calm 8-hour night when humans are home.) Good to have a fecal test if he hasn't had one.

     

    If possible, secure a good size mirror several feet away (floor level) across from Sam's crate. Important: Ensure sunshine will not reflect on the mirror during the day. Retired racers are used to living in a kennel with Greyhounds, so this gives Sam (sighthound) a visual feeling that he has a Greyhound friend in sight.

     

    Best for more than one person to share dog duties so dog doesn't hyper-attach to only one person. Try to share feeding and walking duties. I agree that if one of you can't come home briefly during lunch, ask a dog walker, neighbor, friend, or family member stop by mid-day to offer him an outing.

     

    Another option: Your adoption group may know another Greyhound owner willing to watch your hound inside their home during your work day. There are many options that help hounds adjust to new homes. Please keep asking questions as needed. :)

    I Broke My Greyhound

    in Training and Behavior discussion

    Posted

    One of our (elder) hounds is so highly sensitive to neighborhood fireworks that if we take any early evening walks (well before dark), but he hears a couple of small firecrackers from a distance, he's toast until September. We can only do early AM walks for a looong time thereafter. Hopefully Luna will recover much more quickly. Try to be patient, fear is a strong emotion for them.

    Help With Anxiety Please

    in Training and Behavior discussion

    Posted · Edited by 3greytjoys

    Hope Ruby is able to relax more now that Independence weekend festivites are (hopefully) winding down.

     

     

    I would also second the recommendation about talking to your vet about trying trazodone. Clonidine is another option. With these more 'advanced' meds, if your vet is not comfortable prescribing them, see if they will consult with a veterinary behaviorist. Many vet behaviorists are willing to do phone consults with general practice vets.

     

    JJNG, thank you for your timely comment re: more advanced meds. Previously, I asked a secondary vet for Clonidine. This vet was unfamiliar with it, and was only reading historic data. I hope to direct our vets to revised drug use data (and/or a veterinary behaviorist) so we can try it for short-term anxiety needs (like fireworks).

     

     

    We're in the process of trying the CD of classical piano music Through a Dog's Ear for Mika's nighttime barking. Our adoption group bought it for us. It is very slow, gentle and soothing.

     

    It is tested and (allegedly - I haven't read the paper) scientifically proven to reduce anxious behavior in most dogs. You're supposed to play it first during times when they are relaxed, and then you can use it for anxiety. Of course, I left it on last night and we ended up having a thunderstorm. But nobody reacted to the thunder, so good news, maybe?

     

    Through a Dog's Ear CDs are excellent. They relax most of us during most of the year. :) One challenge for us (re: departures) has been having only a "single" CD player, so we rush to get home before the end of the one hour CD.

     

    Now, Through A Dog's Ear offers a wonderful new music player device called iCalmDog. The calming music will repeat for "up to 5 hours" on one battery charge. While listening at home, I can plug it into a phone charger. This player device is small enough to transport anywhere (approx. 2.5"). www.icalmdog.com

     

    That said, just our personal experience during the most intense, loudest booming fireworks, our Greyhound pack still does better with higher volume, non-stop smooth jazz music station (no pauses between songs, and jazz music has many chord changes to help drown out booms). In contrast, TV has many quiet pauses between words/sentences. Through a Dog's Ear music has many quiet pauses within songs, and pauses between the end of one song - before leading into the next song. Still a great, very relaxing music product for dogs, IMO. (I'm looking forward to trying their Canine Noise Phobia series.)

    Help With Anxiety Please

    in Training and Behavior discussion

    Posted

    Xanax is known for creating the opposite of desired affect in "certain" dogs. (One of our hounds is worse on Xanax too.) Some dogs who don't do well on anything else may benefit from a different veterinary prescription... some veterinarians prescribe Acepromazine if nothing else works.

     

    Yes, dogs can overheat under extreme panting/stress. Keep an eye on her gum color (per my other thread). She may need to be cooled by tap water (if needed, even in the shower by gradually wetting down her butt end first). If her gums become more bluish-purple she may may not be getting enough oxygen, then she would need veterinary attention. Good to try to keep her body temp under control at home. Most hounds get through it okay (even under high stress), but Ruby did start stressing very early tonight.

     

    Along with other ideas in my previous thread, relaxing with Ruby in a basement might help (if you have one). Good luck.

    No Hugs? :(

    in Training and Behavior discussion

    Posted

    A general suggested guideline for new adopters is dogs stay off human furniture for at least the first six months. This helps give a new dog time to watch/observe and learn about living inside a home with people (vs. in racing kennels). This is an important time for the hound to slowly begin to "build trust" towards new humans. It also gives humans time to watch their dog's unique personality begin to blossom (and respect the dog's individual comfort level).

     

    I agree with several good options to teach hound to get off furniture with high value treat rewards.

    First: Show hound treat, and happily call dog "off" furniture while you are in same room.

    Second option: Happily call hound from another room to offer treats (e.g., call dog into kitchen).

    Third: Attach a leash to happily and gently guide dog off human furniture. (Be aware that some dogs won't allow a leash being clipped on when they are on human furniture. If that's the case, just show the hound the leash combined with high value treats, possibly adding a brief game with a favorite toy, or go back to second option.)

     

    Important: Please do not reprimand for growling. If some dogs are taught that their only way of communicating their personal boundaries to humans is punishable, some dogs learn to skip a warning growl, and go directly to a bite.

     

    If your hound keeps trying to get back up on your bed. A wire crate is an excellent tool for a hound to sleep comfortably by their owner's bed during these early months. Every hound's time to develop "trust" in their human family is different. IMO, our patience is more than worth the wait, considering the wonderful years of life with our new family member. :)

    Hester Walking With Deer - Video

    in Training and Behavior discussion

    Posted

    I noticed Hester's limp in the original video too. One of your previous posts about Hester's preference for soft ground/lawn vs. sidewalk vs. road made me wonder if he's feeling some pain during his walks. Dogs are so stoic and Hester will do whatever it takes to go on walks (including running, even if painful). Glad you're keeping a watchful eye on him to ensure he's not overdoing it.

     

    I agree about asking the vet to do a physical, including full range of motion if he continues to struggle, even if he's only sore after much exercise. Good to continue checking his pads periodically too. Corns can run deeply and take a while to surface on the pad. Pad toughness can wear down too.

     

    Any previous racing injury to your knowledge that might affect him more after exercise?

    Not Eating, Throwing Up Bile

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted

     

    Quinn has not been receiving his inceptor for 4 mos or so.

    Just a quick share about heartworms (that your ex might not be aware). Mosquitoes are active all year in California. so heartworm preventative is important to keep current. Monthly preventative is cheaper than medically battling a heartworm infected dog. Heartworms kill dogs. The preferred medication required to battle an existing heartworm condition has been in short supply; therefore, limited supply could be more expensive. Heartworm infected dogs continue to infect other animals transmitted by future mosquito bites.
    Considering financial concerns, the following option might be of interest: "VIP PetCare" is a mobile pet clinic that offers free heartworm testing for the pet when purchasing heartworm preventative. (Quinn would need a new heartworm test before restarting preventative now.) Also, they offer basic fecal testing (tests are completed in a reputable outside laboratory).
    Important: VIP is NOT a replacement for veterinary care, physical exams, nor for any veterinary specialty concerns (like Quinn's eating and vomiting problems). Quinn still needs a full-service veterinarian to resolve his current medical condition.
    Salmonella mimics Quinn's symptoms too.
    (This may have nothing to do with Quinn's issue, but there was a very limited Bil Jac food recall last year for food expiring later this year in December, 2013.)
    Positive thoughts for a quick diagnosis and speedy treatment.

    7 Staples In My Head

    in Training and Behavior discussion

    Posted · Edited by 3greytjoys

    I'm very sorry about your scary and sad situation. I understand. Although a completely different circumstance, I was severely bitten as a child by a different breed of dog requiring over 75 stitches across my head.

     

    If you do get any other dog in the future, please remember the golden rule: Let resting dogs lie. This means any dog resting, whether eyes are open or closed. Best to wait for the dog to be standing up before petting (without bending over dog, and not petting on top of dog's head - both can be seen as a threat to dogs). Better to allow a dog to approach a human when dog is ready for attention. This rule is especially important within the first couple of years while the dog is adjusting to a new life and learning to trust new people. (In addition to other signals mentioned, dogs often yawn as a stress signal, but like previously mentioned, if a dog has been punished for a "warning growl" in his/her past, they may be more likely to skip a growl for a bite.)

     

    One of our hounds is an absolute sweetheart 99% of the time, but even after years in retirement, she often awakens herself from a bad dream with sleep aggression. We know to provide her plenty of her own resting space. No one is allowed to approach/invade her bed or resting space.

     

    I agree that you are doing the best thing for your family, and for this Greyhound by placing her into a more Greyhound experienced home.

     

     

    The following is an excellent article about racing Greyhounds' life before retirement, written 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 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 everything 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 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 through 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 adopter 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."

    End quote.

     

     

    Again, I agree that you are doing what's best for this girl and your family by placing her in a Greyhound experienced home soon. I wish you a speedy recovery, physically and emotionally.

    Not Eating, Throwing Up Bile

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted

    Quinn's condition sounds like he needs a vet visit very soon. Dogs can dehydrate quickly in his condition. If unhappy with prior vet, perhaps ask a local Greyhound adoption group for another Greyhound savvy vet. If different vet, take copy of Quinn's prior vet records. (Some vets might offer a reduced payment program or pet assistance program.) Very helpful to make list of all symptoms for vet (+ if blood is in stool or vomit), and any behavioral changes. Include life changes that may be affecting Quinn (if residential move, job/hours change, new animals in house, etc.). Some dogs hesitate to eat if they're feeling highly anxious about something when meal is offered. Dental pain, or hot weather are possible factors, but wouldn't explain vomiting food, unless eating too close to exercise time.

     

    I believe Naproxen (Aleve) is toxic to dogs, and overdose can cause kidney failure. I'm not a vet and I didn't check harmful levels, but 1/2 tablet doesn't seem high enough dose to be harmful after 4 months. Best to mention to vet.

     

    Please ensure Quinn is not nibbling any poisonous plants in house or yard. Trying to nibble plants is common with upset tummy. Hopefuly, your ex is being careful to only let him outside while supervised for quick potty outings, especially in heat.

     

    Inflammatory bowel disease, or pancreatitis could be possibilities but vets likely would have considered those first.

     

    Vet can provide medication and food to handle Quinn's diarrhea. Once he begins keeping food down, the bile problem may be eliminated. A stool sample could be key, and may result in an easy solution. (If doing so, good to drop off fresh stool sample to vet's office within one hour of Quinn's elimination, or refrigerate sample immediately, then transport on ice within the day.)

    Please let us know how Quinn progresses.

    Not Eating, Throwing Up Bile

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted

    Do you know the states in which Quinn raced previously? (If not, his racing name could help.) Important that your vets know his previous location history.

     

    Agree that Greyhounds often vomit bile if they go too long without food, but abnormal to vomit all food/water. Veterinary offices offer extra high calorie, extra yummy canned dog foods for sensitive patients - very helpful during extreme loss of appetite. Also a high calorie gel additive is available, but our hounds go nuts over the veterinary patients' canned food.

     

    Tick-borne disease testing could be important.

     

    Good to be aware of a few medical conditions sometimes seen in Greyhounds who raced in Arizona or the Caliente track in Mexico. (Just guessing Quinn's possible tracks.) Babesiosis, Ehrlichia, and other tick-borne diseases can lay dormant for years. Long chronic infection can progress to organ disease, etc.

     

    Cocciodiodomycosis, also known as "Valley Fever" (breathing fungal spores) is also seen in S.W. states, including California.

     

    Parasites, Giardia, etc.: If previous stool sample test was negative, important to test several weeks later to reveal previously undetected egg growth.

    How Do I Convert Wet Food To Dry Food Amounts ?

    in Food and dietary discussion

    Posted

    Agree with Batmom. Each food's caloric content is different. The kibble bag should also list calorie content.

    (Kibble example: 400 kcal/cup so 1/4 cup kibble would = 100 calories that you could replace with 100 calories of wet food.)

     

    Good to remember that soft foods stick to teeth more easily than kibble, so keeping up with tooth brushing (with pet safe toothpaste) is important to prevent gum disease and tooth decay, which leads to internal organ disease. (Painful teeth/gums are a common reason dogs slow their eating, or appear to lose interest in kibble.)

    Your Thoughts?

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted · Edited by 3greytjoys

    How old is Riley now? Are her walks in cool, early mornings? Great that her heart still sounds good.

     

    Heat often plays a large role in Greyhound appetite and behavior. If our hounds don't finish meals, we taper off treats to encourage eating their higher nutrient dense meals.

     

    Our seniors do slow down, and sleep a bit more as they age. Two of our elder hounds have laryngeal paralysis (paralyzed throat flaps), so they are very sensitive about being in heat. Heavy panting swells the throat which makes it harder for them to breathe easily. LP makes them sound hoarse. We're careful to seek shady walks, and only walk in very early AM or dusk. Pavement/sidewalks can retain heat in evenings so we're careful about that burning their paws too.

     

    One of our younger hounds usually refuses food in the mornings. Food is then refrigerated until dinner meal.

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