claudiav

i would crate only over night to assist in potty training. If he knows to hold it, and most of them do, i wouldn't bother with the crate. Same thing when leaving for work. If he likes the crate, and wants to be in it, feel free to use it. But if he doesn't need it, and he doesn't have Separation Anxiety, where he destroys things in the house, don't use it. Mine only needed it for a few days, then it went in the garage/shed. good luck and post more pics... he is gorgeous... and don't worry about the hair loss on back legs or tail... it may or may not grow back... doesn't mean anything troubling...

why would anyone spend the money to do that, when they can simply pull the teeth and pain is gone? I don't understand this. Cosmetic reasons? there is no reason at all for dogs to get root canals and caps... pull the teeth... if they could talk, they would thank you... i have seen proof of dogs being 180 degrees turned around simply by ridding the mouth of diseased teeth... keeping them is pointless... they can eat perfectly well without them... 100% agree with you!!

my 12 yr old German Shep could not get up anymore, after two yrs of worsening symptoms and increasing meds.... the difference in our situations is that i work full time and did not have anyone to help during the day... nor could I lift him @ 100 lbs... but you can lift her, you BF can lift her, and she is enjoying life still.... so treasure these moments together... you'll know when it's time... give her burgers, ice cream, and whatever else she wants... spoil her until she doesn't enjoy life anymore... Previcox twice daily seems like nothing... we have pups on multiple meds, dealing with multiple issues... She sounds very healthy to me... can we see a pic of the lovely girl?

I don't know how much pain dogs have from receding gums..... but i can tell you how AWFUL it is for me.... the roots are exposed and anything touching them is excruciating!!! cold water, hot water, cold air, food, etc... i have had countless root canals because of my receding gumlines... that is the only way I can cope with leaving the teeth in... Again, I don't know how it translates to dogs... but if they are in pain, i would pull them... they are already under, so why not, if it makes them feel better? Dentists here in NY charge a nominal sum for each extraction, but it is definitely not a cash cow... the whole procedure alone is $1000, so what difference does another $50 make for pulling a tooth?

I buy a beef & tripe chopped meat mixture from a dog food supplier (frozen in 7 lb tubes). I cut those 7 lb tubes into 8 patties and feed one every night, with chicken necks, chicken hearts & gizzards (bought from local meat market), and for bkfst and treats, i feed turkey gizzards and necks. i don't feed veggies or fruit, pasta, eggs, oil, or anything else. For treats, I also feed tripe sticks and DentaStix. occasionally, cheese, hot dog, or chicken thing when hoomans eat.

i also think it's a wild animal outside, that's tickling his smell/hearing sense... my Reese does the same thing.... he'll be sound asleep, and out of nowhere, he bolts up, growling, runs thru the doggie door, and barks his head off at some animal in the dog run... likely squirrels, as he HATES them, and hears their chirps... but i haven't tried to catch the animal... i just know that he's in "guard dog" mode.... he takes his guard dog role very seriously, while my girl is looking up at him from the floor, thinking "all his dogs are definitely KNOT barking"

i can't believe it got to that point either.... i can't imagine what could have gone wrong... but definitely some infection.... hope ABs are working and it is looking better, even if taking fur with it... poor poor pup please don't give up on him.... i was so worried when you mention PTS earlier....

ohhhh.... poor baby.... i just wanna hug and kiss him... i hope he's feeling ok, even though aesthetically, he doesn't look so well...

i've never heard of dementia @ 9 yr of age..... isn't that too young???

i second applying for Care Credit... at least that way, you can take 6 months to pay it, interest free..... longer with interest.... and it can be used at any medical facility... animal or human... i just used mine to pay for my $2,500 bridge.... and am still paying for older vet services...

actually the very light circle lower on the second toe from left, looks very much like a corn... the slight discoloration on the upper part of the next toe looks like more wearing on that part of the toe...

I really believe that Mac is fine, and will continue to be fine. Because he was an outdoor cat, i know he can defend himself. I have a high prey, non-cat-safe greyhound. My cat had been living with my parents for 6 yrs, when i adopted my high prey, non-cat-safe grey. In the meantime, the living situation with my parents changed and i had to bring the cat to live with me, and my crazy grey. My cat is 15 yrs old, was declawed by his former owners, and has never been an outdoor cat..... but he can hold his own against my crazy hound, any day... and i have found that in every cat & grey household i know, the cats rule the greys. They just do. Even the senior cats, or the declawed cats, will rule the greyhounds. I have seen my crazy, high-prey, cat unsafe grey run away from my hissing, swiping cat, with his tail between his legs. You just have to have the confidence that your cat knows how to defend himself, if for no other reason, the fact that he made it as an outdoor cat for all those years. He is a smart boy. And greyhounds are curious, but they will not fight a cat if it comes down to it. your boy is young, and he's fresh off the track.... he's going to need work, but he will respect Mac and keep his distance.... i truly believe that... whatever he did that scared you, I'm sure was chase and play.... not hurting or killing intended... he's curious about the cat.... Follow the above mentioned suggestions to keep them separated but be able to smell each other, so he learns that the cat is part of the family, and when he's ready to interact with Mac, he will learn to keep his distance or get swiped with a cat paw... even if he gets caught with a claw, he'll be ok, and he'll learn to keep his distance... I have seen it happen not just in my house, but countless times.... but you have to have the patience and the confidence that it will work out.... do not give up on him at the first chasing incident... let them both work it out in their heads... Mac will learn that the houndie stays, and he just needs to find a hiding spot if he decides to chase... or he will turn around and swipe him... Cyrus will learn to keep his distance, or that he will get hurt by this little kitty... i know it can happen.... i believe in you... just keep up the training.

i would recommend pet insurance immediately, and remember that it comes with a 14 day wait period... if you take him to the vet in those 14 days, they will not reimburse, and if it becomes a lifelong condition, they will never cover it... i insured my pup from the day of adoption, knowing he likely had pannus, as it was very visible, and waited 14 days to bring him to the vet... that way, they have covered his pannus treatment, and will do so for life... congrats!!! so excited to hear about Kirby... i've enjoyed all your Bella posts... it's time for her to show him the ropes... can't wait to see pics and hear how he's loving retirement....

she spends the day in the living room, all alone, while you're at work, and she sleeps in the living room, by herself, at nite too????

i have found that cats will rule the dog, no matter the dog's size... I tend to believe a boy that has lived outdoors knows how to defend himself if he needs to... but i don't think it'll come to that... dogs know instinctively to fear the little monsters... i also think Cyrus should be allowed to sleep with his people at nite... how else will he bond and learn you are his pack/family? I think the noises he makes in the crate, downstairs, when he's all alone, will disappear if he's allowed on the floor in your bedroom, and Mac will be fine in bed with you guys, if that's where he sleeps... he can also hide under the bed, where Cyrus can't reach him... and the room can remain his safe space the rest of the time... he'll just have to share it at nite... i really do think Mac will be fine, and i think Cyrus will respect his older brother and give him his space, as soon as he hears that hiss... Call him what you want, but always call him by that name, in a happy voice and with good things associated with it, and he will respond to it in no time... Most importantly, relax and enjoy your boys... spend time with them, talk to them, and they will begin to relax too.. Cyrus is still shell-shocked.... it will take some time for his personality to come out... i think he will fit in beautifully... Mac may always keep his distance since he was an outdoor kitty... but he may surprise you and warm up to Cyrus too... it is much too soon to know.... just enjoy your time with them... they are both beautiful, and you are a wonderful mom to have taken them in...

WOW!!!! that is all i can say.... never heard of this before...

what is a snuffle mat? how do you make one?

my boy is the same.... but even worse... he absolutely WILL NOT poop on walks... he saves it for the dog run.... he will pee TWICE in a 30 minute walk, while my girl is a marker and has to stop & pee on every blade of grass... from the moment we walk out the door, he is on FULL ALERT!!! Squirrels, rabbits, birds, people, bike/scooter riders, etc.... everything catches his eye.... but what's worse is that he has also designated himself my security guard, and barks/pulls/jumps at other dogs like a bucking bronco.... he hates non-greys and wants to tear them apart, like the squirrels, bunnies, etc... same thing in the dog run... he will bark at various critters he can't reach, for an hour, if i don't call him in... doing his business is an afterthought... his mission in life is to protect us from ninja squirrels and the like.... it's not easy... and the walks have not improved... i stopped going on our weekly greyhound walks in the park b/c he is really out of control... yet he has learned to live with a 15 yr old cat, with no problem.... why do cats rule every animal 10-100 times their size???? i don't get it...

My 5 y/o boy strained his neck too, and it took over 3 months to finally heal.... was giving him Gabapentin 300mg three times a day, along with Tramadol.... now, i just keep him on Gabapentin, no Tramadol... but it took a loooong time to fully heal....

my girl has me trained well.... her groans/moans mean "feed me"

I love that you were able to keep this pair together!!! how old are Manny & Ruby?

I am typing this thru tears as well... I went thru the exact same thing you are going thru... i know the difficulty and guilt you're feeling... I had 12 magnificent years with my first dog, and when he could not get up anymore, it was time... even though he was bright-eyed, smiling, and wanted to be there with me no matter what... that's what made the decision so heartbreaking.... the fact that his body failed him, but his spirit was not ready to go... i couldn't put him thru any more, and i had to carry him to the evet, in a blanket that he soiled... I completely soaked him in my tears as i told him he was the best friend i'd ever had, i loved him more than anyone i'd ever loved, and hoped we would meet again someday.... spoil him in the next few days... treasure every moment.... take lots of pics.... give him anything he wants to eat (steak, hot dog, hamburger, ice cream).... do anything he's able to do that he enjoys.... and when the time comes, help him cross over.... i am not a religious person, but i sure hope we will get to see our pets again, someday....

my 12 y/o girl takes Gabapentin 300mg 3 times/day, as well as Tramadol 100 mg 2 times/day.... it has been a godsend.... arthritis pain is soooo much better.... she gets up easier, can still go for half hour walkies... and even gets the zoomies in the house or yard, at times.... i would focus on higher pain management for Pike.

when i went to the kennel to find my next houndie, i looked into Reese' eyes and knew immediately he had pannus. I asked the kennel/adoption manager if he has pannus, and she said "oh no, it's just sand" Bulchit! I knew it was pannus, and adopted him anyway. He spent 6 months in the kennel and had turned 4 yrs old there. I got him insured immediately, but waited 3 weeks to vet him b/c of the 2 week wait time when insurance won't cover anything, especially if it becomes a lifelong issue. When i brought him to the vet i asked right away if he has pannus, and she confirmed it. Opthamologist specialist put him on Tacrolimus 0.02% Ophthalmic solution twice a day, and NeoPolyDex Ophthalmic solution once a day, for the rest of his life. Pannus in both eyes, developed at the adoption kennel, or possibly before that. The constant drops have stained his fur by his eyes, and he must wear doggles if he's going to be outside in the sun. Otherwise, no problems. Both eyes are cloudy, vet says it is scar tissue that would grow back if it was removed, so it makes his iris look blue... everyone who meets him says he has beautiful eyes, but i have to tell them it's a disease, he does not have blue eyes... and when they look closer, they can tell it's clouds... he only itches when i put the eye drops in.... otherwise, no significant problems...

I was just thinking of you last nite... i am sooo glad he's doing well Taylor is one brave pup and he is still my celebrity crush keep doing what you're doing.... you're the best daddyman!!