Time4ANap

We've used the Springtime Joint Health Chews and Fresh Factors for quite a while. Rocket is just starting to have some similar issues and will be 11 in November. We are trying some Rimadyl at the moment, but just started today. I also increased his Joint Health Chews this week to 4 a day from 3. He still runs and plays like a puppy and races around the yard every night, but is starting to show the signs of aches and pains when he gets up to start moving around.

Have you tried feeding smaller amounts more times per day. Rocket is almost 11 and loves to eat, but was having more frequent diarrhea. I went to three smaller meals per day instead of 2 larger ones and that seemed to help. I've talked to others who have had to make similar adjustments as their dog aged.

TOTW caused soft poop and diarrhea for us after a few months of using it - no matter which flavor we used. Others have reported similar issues over the years. It is a very rich food and may be the issue. If you continue feeding it, I would try the Olewo carrots mentioned above mixed with it. You could also try cutting back the amount a little in case it;s just a matter of him getting too much since it;s so rich. Cut back 1/4 cup and see if that helps. Be sure to make only one change at a time so you know what works.

I'm so sorry for the loss of your sweet boy. Love the picture with his Boo Bear. Run pain-free, Riley Roo.

Beautiful tribute to your sweet boy. I'm so sorry for your loss. Run-free, Shadow.

Sounds great! I'm curious, what's the cost like on this? Looking at the website we have someone who stocks it nearby. Might be worth a try for Rocket and his on again / off again tummy issues.

You have my utmost respect and the respect of many here for making one of the most difficult decisions in life. You are doing what's right for your dog. Your group will find you a "city dog" who can handle the big city like a pro. This dog obviously isn't in the right place. He will be just fine. I know several re-homed greys and these dogs are so flexible that it's amazing. They are used to moving around from track to track or farm to track to farm etc. They go with the flow.

Could his leg have been asleep after laying down? Rocket is doing something similar with his right front after getting up from a bed or the floor. Not all the time, but more often than I like. No pain, and no dragging or limping once he gets moving. Yesterday he walked a mile with Trolley and had no issues. I'm assuming that his leg is numb or going to sleep when he lays down, but we are going to go the vet this week to check it out. We took an x-ray about 6 months ago when that same leg had some tendon sensitivity and it was perfectly clean, so I may have another one taken since we have a clean x-ray to compare it to.

Sounds like eating is causing some distress. You might try feeding her more times per day but just a little bit of food each time to go a little easier on her tummy. I've recently had to go to 3 smaller feedings a day for Rocket who will be 11 soon. His digestive system seems to work better with smaller meals more times per day. I'm sorry that you are coming to a point where you may have to make a decision, I hope you have much more time together.

Behind it. There's a small white dot that could be a corn, or nothing, but is very round. I actually noticed that first and thought it looked like the start of a corn. We haven't dealt with corns here, and I would want a few other opinions that it is definitely a corn before doing anything. I know some people get them hulled, others use the duct tape method. Hopefully one of the greyhound medical folks will answer shortly.

Looks like a corn to me, but it also looks like there's possibly one starting on the next to also (small white dot).

Yes - the experience of selling to them and maintaining Service Level is something else. No matter what you do, you did it wrong, even if you didn't. I had 10 years of that with them as well as Home Depot and others. When you get that big, the vendor has to play by their rules, which they make up as they go along.

The consensus has always been that sight hounds are so focused if they are going after a target (prey) that they will not stop for one of those collars if going at full throttle. A long line isn't a good option as you've found out. The other problem is that they will dart across a road without looking or stopping. If it were me, I'd probably just put an x-pen in a shaded area if I wanted the hound outside with me. Also do some squawker training and keep a squawker handy at all times if he responds to it. Rocket has been here almost 8 years, and we still do not leave the house without a squawker if he's with us. We know he responds to it, and it brought him back to us one time when he got out of a fenced area. Edited to add - the other concern with going into a rural area is other predators such as coyotes. I would want to retain complete control of a leash to get the hound out of there if a predator wanders in. (We are thick with coyotes here, and they are bold. They routinely eat small dogs left outside, but may well attack a larger dog who is alone or running away.)

First check to see if the kibble you are feeding changed in any way. If they changed ingredients that affected the calories, he may just be eating fewer calories even though you are feeding the same amount. If you can't find any reason for it and he loses another pound or two, I would head to the vet now and not wait for November. Better to have the vet say that everything is okay instead of asking why you waited so long to come in.

If you think he's hearing noises from outside that are disruptive, leave a radio or TV playing so that every little noise from the street isn't heard. Music or TV is played in most of the racing kennels for that reason, so it's something he is most likely used to. If you come home and he's changed the station, then you need to have a talk with him.

Good to know about their reputation. I honestly had never heard of them until seeing that food on the shelf at Wal-Mart - also a sketchy company, but sometimes there is no choice but to go there.

Thanks. Lowfat seems to be just one part of the equation and I've tried several others but not that one. There is no rhyme or reason to what works, or what stops working eventually. It may be time to think about raw. Unfortunately, this is one that the green bag can't fix.

Thanks. I know nothing about them or even that they existed until I saw their food on the shelf. If it is the same as a Diamond Naturals formula that won't work anyway. We've tried those previously without success.

I didn't see anything that would make me not try it. Rocket is having some more tummy issues off and on, so we have been trying to find a new food that agrees with him. So far, the only one that has worked well is Rachael Ray Grain Free Turkey and Potato. The other Rachael Ray foods, Nutro Senior, and Premium Edge all resulted in projectile Big D a few times. I'm thinking that the low fat content of Gentle Giants may be a good thing for his stomach. It's worth trying a small bag.

Walking through a Wal-Mart yesterday I spotted a dog food that I hadn't seen before, although I guess some of their stores have carried for a year or so. Gentle Giants Dog Food was developed and is sold by Burt Ward (Robin of Batman and Robin) and his wife who run a giant breed dog rescue. Reviews on Amazon are mostly good, although the ingredient list is fairly common, I do like that the fat content is pretty low compared to other stuff we've been trying. Has anyone tried this food, and if so, what were the results? The packaging and their website make me dizzy if I look at them too long. http://www.gentlegiantsrescue.com/gentle-giants-dog-food.htm Amazon has a regular and a grain free version.

Run free, Sophie.

Panacur is effective for whip worms but they could also have been given Drontal Plus or 1 of a couple of other meds that would work. Panacur should be repeated in a second treatment according to the package directions. If they are buying it OTC, it is packaged as SafeGuard brand, but is produced on the same manufacturing lines as Panacur which is the product that vets sell. Most large pet suppliers have SafeGuard. I think that most of the product require a second treatment 10 - 21 days later which varies by product. Many of the monthly heart worm pills also contain ingredients that guard against whip worms. They should check the specs on their monthly heart worm meds. If it controls whip worm then they shouldn't need another treatment for the others unless a problem develops. Here's some more whip worm info regarding transmission and cleanup etc : http://www.doodycalls.com/resources-whipworms/

We give monthly heartworm prevention year-round here in AZ. I feel that it is pretty much necessary anywhere in the US now given that it has shown up in all 50 states over the years. I'm not a vet nor do I play one on TV. Hopefully one of the vets on the site will be able to provide some insight. You might want to take a look at this heartworm site and refer your vet to it as well. There are resources for pet owners as well as vet-specific resources.

i'm so sorry for the loss of your sweet girl. Run-free, Raven.

When Rocket wouldn't drink I used a splash of Gatorade in his water. The boy has a sweet tooth. You don't need to add much and don't want to add it all the time, but it might encourage her to drink a little more.