jetcitywoman

Our vet has prescribed Adequan for Capri to see if it helps ease her aging joints (she's 12). They did the first injection to show me and are allowing me to do it at home. I'm comfortable with that because I do my own injected sub-q medication. Here's the odd part: the medicine says it has several different uses, so to ask your vet what is the correct size needle to buy. I asked them and the answer was: any size is fine. Derp. I know enough to know that's not true. A 2 inch long needle would work? How about the tiny syringes designed for insulin? Fortunately, I'm not completely stupid, and ended up buying 3cc syringes with 3/4" needles. But now that I have them in hand, I think they're still a bit long. I think I can use them as long as I'm very careful not to go too deep. But here's my question for you all here... what's the real answer? For a sub-cutaneous medication for a dog, next time I need to buy syringes, should I get 1/2" needles? Shorter than that?

Cool, thanks! He does seem pretty steady, but we'll see how he does. I'm having a good time stalking him through Trackinfo.

Dick, I'm curious your thoughts about this dog, or if you've heard any buzz about him amongst the racing people. Check out his track record: Now You See Me He's either peaking early or he's about to be a champion, I think. This is the dog that I sort of fell in love with in Wheeling in August. At that time he ran his last maiden race, which I got to see. He's gorgeous, tall and lanky and strong. My Capri has a bell curve track record that looked almost like this in her early career but Now You See Me is even more consistently upward through the grades than she was.

Oh, absolutely, Dick. I used the word correlation, and smart people (hopefully everybody here) knows that correlation is not equal to causation. And personally, I never thought that if they stopped breeding the sire identified in the correlation that the cancer would disappear. That's magical (and wishful) thinking. Knowing just a tiny bit about genetics, I do think that the risk factor climbs if the sire in question is on both sides of the family tree. But yeah, I don't know if they've published any actual mathematical risk statistics to go along with the reported correlation, so... we still probably just don't know what the risk chances are. I think it was my sore heart speaking when I posted that, earlier. My gorgeous, sweet as candy boy should not have died the way he did, nor so young. But ... well, sometimes life is just a pile of suckitude and I'm gradually coping better with his loss.

Okay, thanks. I kind of have the feeling that a correlation on few statistics isn't a basis for a decision, so I accept your answer on that. I think the cat-safe issue is the only one I really need to be concerned with, and for that I have to wait and see. He only ran this past Saturday and was mid-track and "never in it". Poor baby having a off-day, I suppose, but it's still too early to tell if he's a good racer. This past saturday was his first non-maiden race at the C grade. I'm having fun watching his results.

Ack, thank you for posting the correct link. I don't know how I messed that up. Dave reminded me of another question... He has to be cat safe. I know they're not going to worry about that while he's racing so I not even ask about it. But it seems like it would be awkward and disappointing if I threw my hat in the ring for him and waited and watched only to discover he's a cat eater once they retire him. Has anybody else struggled with this question?

At Greyt Escape this weekend, we were one of the few vendors at the track on Sunday. When I got too hot, I went inside to cool off and watch a race. I was ogling this gorgeous, long, tall black boy named "Now You See Me" as they lead him out with his competitors. He's number 6 in this video: http://www.trackinfo.com/video-box.jsp?raceid=gWD%2420160807A03 As you can see, he won handily! (Wish I'd bet on him!) I see in his records that this was a maiden race for him. I have this whimsical idea of greystalking hims beautimus self and see if I can adopt him when he retires. I don't have a still photo of him, but you have to trust me, he looked like a panther and moved like poetry. This thread is rather long so I apologize if this has already been answered. But should I contact the track/kennel to inquire about him, or his owner (Michael E Stout)? I'm not in a hurry to adopt, but would like to let them know I'm interested whenever he's ready. I have another question... after losing Ajax to osteo, is it irrational to avoid dogs out of the Dodgem or HB Commander lines? I remember hearing that they've traced a correlation of high osteo risk with those pedigrees. This hansum young man has both in his background. Should I not worry about that?

Again, thank you everyone. Nearly everyone I know in greyhound circles has gone through this, so I sort of knew my turn would come. A couple years ago I heard that the OSU found a strong correlation between specific bloodlines and osteo, the big one mentioned was Dodgem by Design, but also HB commander. Ajax had HB Commander on both sides of his family, so... again, I knew the risk was high. Any time we took him to the vet for pain in his legs, I would insist on an xray. It never occurred to me that it may pop up in his spine. One of those 20/20 hindsight things. My only regret was that the last 2 hours of his life were such pure agony, but I ended it as soon as I was able to. Bush Neurology were (as usual) very, very good, helpful and compassionate.

Here's an unhappy update. We had to deliver Ajax into the hands of God this morning. We ended up not needing to do an MRI because the xray showed us what we needed to see. He had osteosarcoma in his spine. The mass that I saw/felt was what used to be one of his spinal processes and the top of one thoracic vertebra, replaced and blown out into a swiss cheese mass. That's the clinical summary. This morning was an experience from Dante's Inferno. His pain meds wore off around 6am because the last dose I could give him was 12am. When we walked him the short distance to the front lawn to pee, he started dragging his rear toes a bit. I got help getting him out of the car at the vet and into the exam room. The vet tech supported his back end in a sling and he walked on his front legs, but his back legs were even more draggy than before the car ride. The following then happened all within the next 5 minutes: He couldn't lay down, so stumbled around the room, dragging his back feet. He lost his bowels. After I cleaned that up, he tried to walk forward a couple steps and walked on the tops of his back paws (textbook neurology). His back end collapsed awkwardly and painfully for him, so I held him by the chest and wrangled a dog bed under him and laid him over on his side. When they came to take him back for xrays, they had to walk him out with two slings and his entire back end was then paralysed, dragging his back feet upside down on the floor (they were gentle with him). It was such a rapid decline it was pretty shocking. The vet said that's common with spinal cord infringement: the cord continues to work as long as it can, then it gives out rather suddenly. Dave and I cried and said goodbye to him and comforted him as the vet gave him the shots. Now the pain is ours to bear (but we're strong). He blessed our lives so much. thank you all for your suggestions and words of comfort.

Thanks everyone for the well wishes. When taking him to the vet tomorrow, I plan to let him climb in the side door because he seems able to go up a step easier than down. And when I get there, I'll call into the vet's office and ask them to send someone out to help me lift him out of the car. Whether Ajax likes it or not, I'm not letting him jump. And he's having trouble going down one step into the back yard to potty, so anything other than a ramp won't help much. And you're right, we don't have a ramp (yet, I ordered one which will be here on Tuesday).

Yes, we're giving him his meds on a shorter schedule today and keeping him quiet. He's comfy right now, breathing normally and sleeping off and on, so I'm trying not to do anything that might make him want to get up, although I need to give him his next dose in a few minutes. What I noticed last night, on the prescribed schedule, was that the pain meds were wearing off and it takes about 30 minutes for the next dose to "kick in". So today I'm not going to let each dose wear off before giving him the next one. It's less than 24 hours until his appointment now, and I think the most critical thing right now is as you all said, keep his pain under control and keep him as still as possible. Seeing a dog in so much pain (during the time his meds wore off) is really hard to see. He was panting quickly, drooling, slowly walking around or just standing with his head drooped, trying and failing to lay down again, coming to us for reassurance, and repeat. I don't know who is torturing my boy, but I hate their guts with a passion. Re: the robaxin: Is that something they will likely prescribe just from my describing the issue over the phone? Because if they want us to bring him in that won't help. We're bringing him in first thing in the morning anyway.

I don't know the doctor's name but we're taking him to The Hope Center in Leesburg. Specifically the neurology practice is Bush Veterinary Neurology. They're pretty great, we've taken him there a few years ago for another spine issue. He does have history of spine issues. The earlier one was a disk in his lumbar/sacral area that was bulging enough to put pressure on his spinal cord. We had that surgically corrected, and his recovery was terrific. So this could be the same thing in a different spot. But apparently much worse. It's also possible that it got worse and the goose egg developed because he jumped out of the car for those vet visits last week. The spot between his shoulders is exactly where things get compressed when he lands on his front feet. That's one reason why we don't want to take him for extraneous car trips. Dave tried picking him up to get him out of the car but Ajax freaked out and wouldn't let him. But he did yelp both times he jumped out.

We were going to take him to our regular vet for xrays this morning (they charge less than the neurology vet) but decided that the agony (to him) of getting him into and out of the car wasn't worth saving $47. He's spending most of his time sleeping, which is good. His pain meds are prescribed on an 8-hour schedule and last night we realized they're wearing off around 6 - 7 hours, so today we're giving them to him every 6 hours. If we can just keep him quiet, somewhat sedated until tomorrow morning, that will be good. But since he's not supposed to have his meds (no food or drink) after midnight tonight, when I take him in the morning, I'm going to insist that they give him intravenous pain relief.

Hi Everyone, We're having an agonizing wait until tomorrow when we can get Ajax in for xrays and MRI. He's been seen by a vet and a neurologist last week, who put him on gabapentin, rymadil, and tramadol. At the time we saw them, his issue was pain that seemed to be in his neck, perhaps disk issues, but we weren't sure. We scheduled him for the diagnostics test tomorrow, the soonest I could get him in. As it turns out, he has just gotten worse each day, and today is absolutely heart breaking. I'm just hoping he can hang on until tomorrow. He's in agony, slightly relieved by the meds. He's eating somewhat, and drinking, so that's good. He comes to us frequently for affection also, so he's not depressed. He's a fighter, I have to give him that. But he hurts to stand up and walk around, he hurts to lay down, it looks like everything hurts. He's having trouble laying down, standing up, stepping up or down one step because whatever it is hurts so much. On Thursday night, after we'd seen both vets, I noticed a lump the size of a goose egg on his back, slightly to the side of his spine, just behind his shoulder blades. It feels hard, like it's a swollen part of his spine, not soft. It also doesn't move with his skin. Until we get the diagnostics, some guesses are cancer or a completely blown out thoracic disk. We've been putting cold packs on it and I've been gently massaging his neck and shoulders. Just any little thing we can think of to help him endure until tomorrow. But it's hurting my heart soooo much to see him in so much agony. Do these symptoms sound familiar to anyone here? He's 10 years old. I am hoping beyond hope that it's not his time to leave us but I may have to accept that it is. We won't know until we get the MRI results.

Thanks! I'll check that out.

Bumping this thread: so both of my guys are getting up in age, and along with that are having increasing weakness in their hind legs. We think it's time to start gently training them to tolerate a little assistance getting upstairs. (Going down is fine for now.) The comments so far talk about helping dogs go out to potty and wearing the harness all day, etc. We want something we can easily slip on and off just for when we need to go upstairs to bed. Thoughts?

It sounds like what my Capri does when she flirts, but she doesn't do it to get out of things. She'll do it to strange men we encounter on walks. You know how dogs just instantly like some people on sight? It's that kind of thing. She'll lower her head a bit and wag it side to side as she walks up to them, with her eyes sparkling and mouth loose. It's a complete flirt! If she sees that you have food and she wants some, she will also beg by suddenly becoming very pretty. That one is hard to describe but she just "turns it on".

While we wait for GreyhoundPoet to answer, I'll say that the poddies I've met have seemed a little standoffish with me, just like many greyhounds, but didn't mind when I respectfully approached them and petted them. The whole time I was chatting with Terrianne at the event, I was petting one of her pods who was laying on the floor. He actually seemed to welcome my attention more than Lucas and her other grey, who let me pet them for a couple seconds and then moved away.

I got to talk with a lady named Terrianne at a greyhound event last year who is a big podenco fan. She's the lucky lady who adopted Lucas from Galgos del Sol, anybody remember his adorableness? He's doing GREAT. Anyway, she had two poddies at the time I met her, and she's since adopted another one. She knows her dogs. She runs her poddies through agility tournaments and takes them running with her a lot. She was telling me that they're fantastic dogs but you absolutely HAVE to know what you're getting into, and be prepared to supply them with enough exercise that they don't go crazy. Think border collies with adorable pointy faces. They need a LOT of both mental and physical exercise.

A quick thought triggered by Banjoman's adorable picture: sometimes the dog will surprise you, too. Capri started out with sleep startle/bed aggression. We managed to teach her (using the advice from GT) that such behavior is not allowed on the couch (but she is allowed to defend her actual nighttime bed and we respect that by not messing with her there). In the early days she corrected both hubby and I at least twice (we're slow learners) with a scary growl and pulled-punch bite. (She has very good bite inhibition. When I realized she just banged her front teeth against my forehead, I respected her SO much!) Anyway, some years later, we're sharing a rental house at the Outer Banks with hubby's family, which includes his 9-year old niece. We'd taught the niece proper manners with the dogs all along. So I walk into the living room and notice niece and Capri laying on the couch watching tv. Then I realize niece was laying ON Capri (head and arms on Capri's butt). And Capri didn't look at all bothered. They looked like total besties, so I let them be. I have mixed feelings on this. I'd say for the first two years you have the dog, don't let your child hold the leash (unless you also have it). Once you really, thoroughly know your dog, then it might be okay. I have no problem letting the niece mentioned above walk my gang by herself, although when Ajax was new we walked him and only let her handle Capri. At the time he was a bit squirrely, but now he's settled down into being a good boy on walks. But having said that, I can also attest to the strength of these guys when they bolt. My two have pulled me onto my face on the ground on two occasions. Both were totally my fault, we'd crept up on dumb squirrels both times and I thought it would be fun to give the squirrels a fright. It was really stupid. I'm lucky that neither my dogs nor I got hurt. (I had the on martingale harnesses, too. If they'd been on collars they could have really injured their necks.) Basically when greyhounds LAUNCH after prey, they'll go like out of the race track starting box, literally 0-45 in one second. You'll be on your feet and then on your face before you know what hit you. And that's an adult. A kid will be pulled over and then dragged.

It looks good to me, too. You might have already figured this out, but if she occasionally goes nuts, you should attach the leash to the D-ring at the withers instead of the one on her chest. The withers D-ring is on the martingale loop of the harness and that's what prevents escapes. Also I prefer it because it holds the heavy leash hardware up so that it doesn't pull the leash down to tangle around the dog's legs (like what happens with collars or putting the leash on the chest D-ring). Then when you get in a situation where you need to assert more control over her, (gently) pull UP on the leash, not back toward you. Up tightens the chest strap the most.

Most non-greyhound people have only ever seen the type of muzzle that holds the mouth shut, which is (in my opinion) rather punitive to the dog. I don't take mine out in public with their muzzles all the time, but they do wear them in the car and if someone sees that then I consider it an educational opportunity. I tell everyone (and I have done a few Toastmasters speeches at work on this topic!) that basket muzzles are safety equipment NOT punishment. I tell people to think of them like hockey masks for dogs and it seems to help.

I don't mind a sweet lick or two, but I hate obsessive lickers. (I already said that, I know.) And never, EVER lick on my mouth - ew! It grosses me out when I see people mouth-kiss a dog. After describing Capri's heart-melting kisses, I should also mention that Ajax is a hand-kisser in true gentleman style. He never kisses on the face, only backs of hands. Chivalry is not dead...

It took Capri a couple years before she would kiss me (licking). I didn't really train her so much as just encourage the behavior so she gradually did it more and more. She jumps up on the window seat behind me when I sit there to take my shoes off or put them on. So up there when we're eye to eye, she would give me little nose touches like a cat. Then one day she did a little lick on my cheek. Now she kisses me all the time and I smooch her on the muzzle or cheek. There is some kind of affection behavior where dogs lick each other on the muzzle. Licking anywhere else is just grooming. Some dogs take it to ocd levels when they lick obsessively. I don't like that.

Even though both of my hounds have learned sit, I don't require it for basic obedience and managed to get them Canine Good Citizen certificates without it. In my opinion, if they're capable of standing calmly and quietly at my knee (and they are, greyhounds are good standers and naturally calm) that should satisfy the "good behavior" criteria. Our CGC teacher took one look at how my dogs stood calmly waiting with me while she dealt with the other uppity dogs in class and told me "good enough, they don't need to sit". Also, the leap thing sounds familiar. Not actually a jump, but my two both interpreted the release command as "launch". LOL! BTW, a 3 year old greyhound is technically adult, but I've found that they still do have some puppy energy. Especially the boys! I think the boys are late bloomers, part of their charm, though.