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brandimom

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    Thyroid meds

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted

    I have had a few ghs on thyroid meds.  I have always given it to them one hr prior to meals or 3 hours after meals.  Now I am being told don't need to do that just pop it in their food.  Thoughts?  Here is picture of our 8 y.o. gh, Patch, that we adopted in Dec.

    patch 1.jpeg

    Dottie B 02/10/07-10/18/18

    in Remembrance

    Posted

    I am not on GT much but I knew I had to come to this forum. As always your tribute's to your pack are heart warming and melt our hearts. I am so sorry that your time with Dottie B was short but thankful she had the best home after she lost her other guardian. Can't begin to tell you how sorry I am to hear this. Your heart and soul has always been filled with love for your "campers". All the "campers" are blessed to be with you and I am truly blessed to have you as a friend.

    Trevor (Carolina Coffee) 06/07/05-11/08/18

    in Remembrance

    Posted

    Oh Jan I am just seeing this post. I am so very sorry. Knowing you like I do you so love your ghs with all of your heart and I know this was a passing that was very hard on you. Three years with you was not enough time as we know but it probably was the best three years of his life. Hugs to you my dear friend.

    Rocket (Hi Noon Rocket) 11/24/05 – 10/8/18

    in Remembrance

    Posted

    Sadly, we had to help our boy Rocket cross the Rainbow Bridge today. I was able to write this over the weekend while looking at the screen through many tears, as I knew that once the scheduled time arrived, I wouldn’t be able to do this.

     

    To say that we are devastated doesn’t even scratch the surface. The boy who answered to a million nicknames and never met a French Fry he didn’t like started having mobility issues about 8 weeks ago, and thanks to his vet who came to the house to treat him, and others who provided help and advice, he was holding his own until last week. We started seeing a rapid decline in his mobility, and his daily routine with things such as strength, appetite and interest in being wherever we are every minute of the day. We each knew that the time was coming, but his decline over the weekend convinced us that a day too soon is always better than a day too late.

     

    His vet and her assistant came to the house and ensured that he left us the same way we first met, happy and with a wagging tail. He had a very peaceful crossing.

     

    We first met Rocket at a Meet & Greet in a Petco in Indianapolis, IN on a day where we drove for hours through two ice storms, passing a fatal accident on the interstate and constantly thinking that we should turn around and go home instead of going to meet dogs. We continued on, and met all of the hounds on our list of potential adoptees with no success. There was not a dog there who gave us the time of day. After meeting all of those dogs, a big brindle boy in a green coat walked in the door with his tail whipping like he owned the place, and eventually he walked over and leaned into me. He never left my side for well over two hours. We shopped for toys, we walked the store, went outside for a poop and a pee. I still remember the guys from GPA Indy laughing and asking if I had met any dogs of interest – while the big brindle boy was practically attached to my hip. He wasn’t on our list, and he wasn’t even supposed to be there, but his foster had gone out of town and Bev Creamer was keeping him for the weekend. She just happened to bring him to that M&G. That boy picked us. It was meant to be. The rest is history. We bought him a toy and plunked down the deposit to hold him until the home check could be done. He was already costing us money. Yup – he was ours. That day on the way back home, we hit another ice storm, had to stop to get a hotel for the night, and miss the Willie Nelson concert I had waited my whole life to see. He was already costing us more money. Yup - he was ours. (I still haven’t managed to see Willie Nelson in person.)

     

    He was brought to us a few weeks later by Shelby (GottaluvgreysIndy) and her husband Ben. They needed to do our home check and deliver him. The wind chill outside was 25 below zero, and the boy was not used to peeing while on a leash. After many attempts, he peed – on the artificial ficus tree in the corner of the living room. Yup – he was ours. That tree graced his turnout area for years.

     

    He quickly adjusted to home life, loving walks, car rides, toys, visitors and his established routine that 8:15 PM was time for ice cream. You could set your watch by him showing up at ice cream time. He was also the timekeeper of the nap clock. Almost every afternoon he would approach my chair and stare me down until I asked if he wanted to take a nap. He would then lead me to the bedroom. Again – like clockwork.

     

    There are way too many great times over the years to recount here. The biggest event of his life was the day that he and Lexie got married in a virtual wedding right here on GreyTalk with all of their friends in the chat club attending. A wild time was had by all, but what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas. He and Lexie never got meet in-person but he did get to meet his mother-in-law, Lexie’s Mom when she visited us here in Phoenix last year.

     

    Over the years he got to travel and was a road trip expert. He traveled to the east coast where he spent time with my family, and he took a big road trip when we moved from IL to AZ, stopping at the Greyhound Hall of Fame to have his picture taken with his Grand Daddy’s Hall of Fame Plaque (Gable Dodge). If the suitcase came out, he was waiting by the car. Sometimes if the car door was open he would get in and refuse to get out. He went to Kanab and other greyhound events such as group picnics. That tail would whip in circles when we would pull into a parking lot and he saw other hounds. Oddly enough, he rarely played or interacted with those hounds, instead preferring to hang with people, because people have treats. He also worked some Meet and Greets before he got older and a little cranky. He worked the Open House at University of Illinois Vet Med School like an old pro. He loved the hundreds of kids who came by to pet him during his shifts there. He also donated blood for a canine cancer study at the Vet Med School. Later, they repaid the favor by treating him a few times in their ER when he wasn’t feeling well.

     

    While we had our moments when he bit me and others due to being startled, those things weren’t his fault. Sometimes humans do stupid stuff. It didn’t make him any less “ours.”

     

    Rocket was a favorite of the neighbors and people well beyond the immediate streets when we were out walking. He has fan clubs in IL and here in AZ. He also knew every house on our walking route that might have a treat. He loved kids, because kids love to pet dogs. That tail would whip anytime he saw a kid coming his way.

     

    We are going to miss this boy beyond belief. He has been at my side, all day, every day for almost 10 years. I used to work from home, and have battled multiple types of cancer for the past several years. Rocket has been my office mate, walking buddy, nurse, doctor and most of all, my best buddy. I think you only get one “heart dog.” I got lucky and found mine on the first try. He was a character. There wasn’t a day of his life with us that he didn’t make us and many others laugh hysterically. Those who watched him or boarded him over the years always commented on how much he made them laugh. That’s probably his legacy – he was hysterically funny. DW also worked from home for years so he was our excuse to get out of the office and take a walk. He loved having his humans at home with him all the time.

     

    He was also smart. He didn’t miss any clue as to what was going on around him. If my hand went into my pocket, I must be getting the keys out to go for a ride. If we were talking about picking up dinner, the question “What do you want on it?” was his clue that there was probably going to be a ride to the drive thru. He didn’t miss a thing, ever.

     

    We will probably be taking a break from pet ownership for a bit, but the rest of Rocket’s greyhound family will be here to visit and get us through this. Trolley, Snickers, Conner, Val and assorted fosters will still be staying with us as needed to carry on the need for the toy box and all of these beds. We will also be checking in here with our GreyTalk family and maybe attending a few events and picnics in the future. It is going to be a rude awakening for a while to wake up in the morning and find a bare space on the floor, and not see 4 white paws sticking straight up in the air (which still makes me laugh).

     

    He had a great last few days. Last night, Trolley and Snickers and their Moms stopped by to see Rocket and brought him some French Fries. On Saturday morning he had his favorite fast food, an Egg McMuffin for breakfast. He had his ice cream that he loves. This morning he had his third favorite thing in the world behind fries and ice cream, Daddyman’s scrambled eggs with cheddar cheese. He made me feed them to him by hand. Not that he’s spoiled. We checked all of his favorite boxes.

     

    Run pain-free, Rocket. Go find your litter mate sister Katie Scarlett, your cousin Taylor, your friends Sallie, Boomer, Holmes & Cosmo, and your annoying little old lady sister, Allie. You will be well taken care of by them and all of your other GreyTalk friends who arrived there before you. Be sure to belly up to the French Fry and Bacon Buffet that Chef Seamie is preparing for your welcome party. I also heard that there’s vanilla ice cream on tap. You can eat all you want. There’s no more grumbling tummy. There’s going to be a new hound in a pimp hat at the Bridge Mixer tonight. Sorry girls, he married.

     

    Love you, buddy. Save me some ice cream.

     

    YLgf5OA.jpg

     

    I had to add this after the fact. : I got some great pictures the past few days and took this one yesterday when Rocket went outside to do outside things. It’s an awesome picture. He was in pain and having trouble getting up and down, but you would never know it.

     

    o9yvhtO.jpg

     

    At the same time, a storm was coming through with the sun out – rain and sun at the same time. We looked up and saw this – double rainbows while Rocket was in the yard. I think his friends at the bridge were letting us know that he will be okay.

     

    ih0noZ1.jpg

     

    A27gOpX.jpg

     

    Then, last night, we were outside saying goodbye to Snickers and Trolley. We looked up and saw of all things – a rocket. It was a booster rocket from the Space-X launch in California lighting up the sky. I guess the signs are just everywhere that our boy will be just fine. As for us, I’m not so sure.

     

    Rocket's Greyhound Data Page with a few good pics. If someone with access would add his date of passing I would appreciate it.

    So very very sorry to hear this. A greyt tribute to him and thank you for sharing him with all of us

    Paddy Mayhem (U C M E Ringneck) 8/03/09 – 4/18/17

    in Remembrance

    Posted

    This is likely to be the most chaotic, unorganized, disordered eulogy I have ever written, no doubt due to the mayhem that is scattered throughout. After a sudden and brief illness, our beautiful Paddy ALVIN! Mayhem was given his magnificent wings and has joined my 10 campers at the Bridge. While we have some thoughts as to what, the autopsy results will take some time before we can be sure. Our camp is being refilled with air, as Paddy did surely suck it out of any room he entered, but I am counting on mayhem dust to remain in every corner.

     

    After having lost so many senior campers, including two on the same night, friends far and wide planted the seed: “Get a young dog” they said, “it will be great!” The grooming had started earlier and a bright, strikingly handsome dog with THE most beautiful eyes appeared on the radar. “He’s incredibly smart, too smart, and a bit of a handful but you can do it!” What was I thinking? :crazy Four years ago April 25, a friend and I met the hauler from St. Louis that carried “Ringo”, collateral hound Aiden, and 38 LWFs. It was a glorious weather day, just as yesterday was, and I can still see the hauler looming bold and large, coming up out of the horizon, and remembering the tears streaming down my face as I cried “Here they come!” http://forum.greytalk.com/index.php/topic/297643-the-boys-are-here-cinco-aiden/?hl=cinco Little did I know how the next four years would be shaped and ever change me. Once you live with mayhem, all bets are off. It would be unlike anything I had ever experienced.

     

    He didn’t like the name I had planned to givel him - “Cinco” - so we called a family meeting and talked it out. http://forum.greytalk.com/index.php/topic/298008-very-important-announcement-from-cinco/?hl=cinco Mostly he did all the talking, as I was quickly learning that it was all about him. None of the names I suggested were acceptable until we came to the name in the middle of the options and he brightened and was in full agreement that he should then and forever be known as Paddy! Last name Mayhem! And, his middle name ALVIN! he earned almost immediately after that. Paddy ALVIN! Mayhem. That’s all you really needed to know to know Paddy. ‘Nuff said. It was all about him.

     

    Paddy was such a contradiction as everything had to be all about Paddy and yet he wanted to be friends with everyone and couldn’t understand why they might not like him. He could be a real killjoy, a PIA in the grandest sense of the word, and he lived UpMyButt. But his heart was far too big for his body - he had a wonderful spirit and so much try, and he *wanted* to be good and do right. I told him quite often how sorry I was that he had ended up with us, a multi-hound camp, when he would have loved being an only. Because, you know, it was all about him.

     

    Paddy had two short months to fall in love with Seamie :heart:brokenheart and how he loved my old man. He met his *real brother* Buster who lives nearby! http://forum.greytalk.com/index.php/topic/316370-temporarily-six-rooooooers/?hl=%2Bpaddy+%2Bmayhem He must have bonded with Aiden during the haul and they were the best of friends here. The Young’uns, my boys! http://forum.greytalk.com/index.php/topic/313610-paddy-mayhem-concerned-for-aiden/?hl=%2Bpaddy+%2Bmayhem Paddy often used Aiden as a headrest, yoga mat, or some sort of support.

     

    Headrest%203_zpsdg5q4rhi.jpg

     

    Aiden is still the first one in the door after turnout, and Paddy would be right on his heels, talking all the way. He has his own brand of whiskey! http://forum.greytalk.com/index.php/topic/312536-its-st-paddys-day/?hl=whiskey&do=findComment&comment=5811639 "That dog ain’t rite” is a phrase we used a LOT with Paddy and truly, he was just KNOT rite :lol:inlove He had his own, personalized, um, “training” spoon. He danced with himself and scratched his own back. He stole my socks, he encouraged Aiden 1-5 (sweet Aiden!) to think about getting into trouble, he collected Easter eggs and then pooped on a friend’s hearth. He shredded grocery bags, duct tape, and newspape :riphairhttp://forum.greytalk.com/index.php/topic/300703-knot-cute-nor-funny-total-mayhem/?hl=naming&do=findComment&comment=5559464 He destroyed seven different colored muzzles until we discovered that indeed, turquoise was his color. That required an entire new matching wardrobe, sigh…

     

    Paddy went to school and earned his Obedience certificate. http://forum.greytalk.com/index.php/topic/314600-paddy-mayhem-may-need-a-new-name/?hl=%2Bpaddy+%2Bmayhem Thank you to Martha for being the best dog trainer on the planet, and seeing the intelligence and kindness in a dog named Paddy Mayhem and knowing how to help him succeed. My next goal for Paddy was to earn his CGC and I regret that I didn’t focus enough to help him achieve that. Entirely my fail, not his. He had just started Noseworks with Lorrie and she too paved the way for Paddy to succeed at a new and exciting occupation. He loved Noseworks and he was good at it! On Tuesday, we should have been in class, instead we were saying our goodbyes. Tuesdays are simply the worst day of the week.

     

    Thank you, Kelly, for the Mayhem. You believed in us both and were always there to prop me up whenever the air in the room got too thin. I am forever grateful to you. There will never be another Paddy ALVIN! Mayhem. You are right, he burned too bright to stay too long.

     

    Paddy Mayhem. Your whiskey last night burned my throat and the tears served as a chaser. Hmmm, tears the day you arrived and the day you left. As you left the last thing you heard me say, again, was that I didn’t always like you but I DID, always, love you. Godspeed Paddy Mayhem :kiss2

     

    Picture%20003_zpsmg5g1phc.jpg

    Needless to say I was shocked to get your email today saying Paddy was at the bridge. An absolutely beautiful tribute to his life. Jan, you have a way with words and you bring them to life each time I see your writing. So wish I had the chance to meet Mayhem. RIP Paddy Alvin Mayhem. You were well loved and your certainly left Camp Greyhound way too soon

    Angry Pee-Er

    in Training and Behavior discussion

    Posted

    Does your husband do any one on one with your dog such as walking the dog, taking rides in the car with him. Any interaction with hubby alone with the dog when you are not around. Does he feed the dog or give the dog treats. In all the years I have been involved in gh rescue I have only seen this once and it was in a house where the gh was ignored by a member of the family. I am not saying that is the same situation but that is what I encountered many years ago with a family. The dog did not like the wife and the dog would pee on her clothes and shoes. The dog ended up being a bounce back. I know your husband works long hours but perhaps see if he can have some one on one time with your dog and see if that makes any difference. Worth a try. Good luck!

    What Treats Do You Use?

    in Food and dietary discussion

    Posted · Edited by brandimom

    I do homemade treats at our home so inexpensive and so easy

    pure canned pumpkin, organic brown rice flour, cinnamon, fresh parsley, fresh cranberries, raw eggs, dry milk, molasses, raw oats. use melon scooper. bake 25 mins for crunchy 35 degrees. need to freeze or refrigerate as there are no preservatives.

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