hikinghounds

Glad she is feeling better!

I think the pool took about 24 - 48 hours to go down and spread. I remember that his skin seemed a little loose in that area for a couple days. I guess if it doesn't start to go down after a day or two you might want to check with the vet again. It did take about a week for most of the bruising to go away.

When this happened, a few times, to my greyhound it did pool and dangle before it spread and resorb. It looks bad, but she should be okay.

A lot of times my boys don't eat as well when we backpack, or sometimes even after a long day hike even if we go home after. They tend not to drink as much on overnight trips or big hikes too. I notice they drink less as the hike goes on. My boys have not been thrilled with the powders they make to add to water for energy and hydration, although I keep some for emergencies. I think part of it is they are so excited they don't want to eat as much for meals. I've also noticed that after big hikes or other big activities they want to sleep awhile before a big meal. So, I try to feed them before they totally fall asleep and I leave the food out in the tent or offer food again when they wake up, even in the middle of the night. The best thing I've found to keep their energy up and make sure they get enough calories is to bring and give them lots of high quality treats with high protein and fat, and I bring some cooked meat if it won't be warm too long to go bad. I make sure to give them these throughout the day and I put some in with their food to encourage them to eat. I know one of my boys can get low blood sugar when he exerts himself (found that out through separate vet experience) so that's another reason I give good treats through a long hike. I've also noticed that eating something like treats during the hike will then make them thirsty. Sometimes they will get loose stools, but it hasn't made them feel bad and I guess I'd rather have that than dogs that aren't getting enough food. And, my guys get loose stools whenever they're excited anyway. Some treats that I like are Plato salmon strips, Evo biscuits, cheese, Natural Balance rolls of moist food, and dehydrated organ meat like liver, heart, etc., is nutrient rich and super flavorful. There are other good ones too, I just usually go for grain free and high quality, which usually does mean they are more expensive. Cheese and meats that you cook are good ones that aren't too expensive compared to some of the treats. I hope that helps, or at least lets you know your not alone in experiencing this.

Poor boy. I hope he continues to feel better.

This has happened to my boy a couple times. They always, and I remind them, to draw from his leg and they use a bandage with cotton ball after. I've wondered if it's because greyhounds have larger hearts so pump their blood with higher pressure. But, it's always cleared up quickly with no problems.

I'm so glad the blog helped! There are many posts describing his treatment and progress over the year and a half or so that it went on. I kind of have to agree with the recommendation to not read much on the internet, and that's coming from someone who normally is all over internet research. I did find all the official research or veterinarian articles that I could, but there just wasn't much out there and it was often vague. I found the forums, but in this case for me, I just couldn't spend a lot of time reading them, etc., because it was too scary and upsetting. I think it just depends on the person. I realized there were many kinds of encephalitis and treatment varied. I was already in a total panic and worried sick, and for me reading about the others made it worse and made me second guess things. Zephyr is sensitive and he could tell how upset I was, so I really felt like I needed to stay positive for him to recover. I felt like I was getting him the best treatment I could and worked with and trusted my vet, the neurologist, and the oncologist. I will say that I learned to trust my instinct, speak up, ask questions, and advocate for my dog (always politely, but very thorough) and I know that helped save him. Sorry to go on, it was quite the experience. :-) Again, best wishes to your friend and Yorkie girl.

Hi, just saw this. Yes, my Zephyr went through this and is doing great now. I highly recommend the chemo treatment and I think it's the preferred treatment. I think there are different types of GME, some breeds have a tendency to it, and they might be treated differently. Also, I think there's a lot they still don't know about what causes it, etc. We used Lomustine (CCNU) for four chemo treatments over about 5 months. Then he was on procarbazine for about 6 months, but we started reducing the amount at about 4 months. He was also on a low dose of prednisone, 5mg, for about 16 months, and that was reduced during the last 3 months or so. Zephyr has never had a relapse of the encephalitis. He does still take a low dose of Keppra for seizures, which are totally controlled by the Keppra. Some dogs recover and then don't have seizures, but his seizures returned when I tried to reduce and take him off the Keppra. His seizures are likely from small scar tissue that formed from the encephalitis, although it didn't show on his final MRI. I think Roberta's girl Sara didn't have to continue with seizure meds. She was super helpful when I talked to her when Zephyr was sick. It's very scary. Sara's encephalitis never came back either. I hope your friend's pup does well with the treatment and recovers!

Sending prayers and lots of healing thoughts to Chrissie.

I'm so glad Fionn is doing better! I've been following your post and thinking of him a lot. What a strong boy!

She's beautiful. What a sweet happy face. I'm so sorry you lost her.

My two run in the forest and often get nicks, scrapes, and cuts. I clean them well and use Vetericyn and sometimes an antibiotic cream. Sometimes I have wrapped the bigger ones to help it stay clean and keep them from licking. They've had some torn pads too and do about the same treatment. I've never had to wrap the pad/foot to heal, but if it seems tender I don't do big walks for a couple days. The hanging piece just dries and falls off. The fur has grown back on all but a few of the bigger ones. Mine are often a little stiff after a good run too. :-)

Sorry your Coaltrain is having seizures. I know it's really scary. I hope he continues to do well!

Thanks everyone! I'm going to do some checking around this week.

Thanks for the suggestion to check goodrx.com. The quote is for 120 pills of the 500mg. He would take 1.5 of the 500 mg twice a day. Although on Monday I'm going to ask them why not just prescribe the 750mg. I think they don't know it's available in the 750mg now.

Hi, Does anyone use the levetiracetam extended release for their seizure dogs? Zephyr is currently take the regular levetiractam 500 mg three times a day. I'd really like to switch him to the extended release so I could give it twice a day, which would be a lot easier to stay on schedule. But, so far the cost seems to be at least twice as much for the extended release. I have been getting the regular from Target for $42.55 for 90 pills, one month supply. Last month it dropped to $32.25, but I don't know if it's going to stay that low. Their price for 40 days of the extended release was $86.85. All of these prices are with a discount card that they have and are to apply. At the $86.85 price I won't be able to switch him though. I was just wondering if anyone knows if the $86.85 seems about the normal price or if there might be less expensive places to get it. Thanks for any help.

WooHoo!! What a strong boy!

My boy does this probably a few times a day. His is kind of a mouth and head chatter and vibration, if that makes since. It's different than the small chattering that he does when he smells something and gets excited. It can happen when he gets up an stretches, lifts his head and stretches his neck, or it just seems to happen whenever. It started within the last 2 years, he's 6. I've never asked the vet about it because it doesn't seem to give him trouble, but I've always wondered.

Sorry to hear Thunder had more seizures! Zephyr takes 500mg of Keppra, actually the generic. I didn't know there was an extended release Keppra. I'm going to look in to it. That sure would make things easier. I hope Thunder does well with the addition of Keppra.

I'm so sorry Molly is going through this. I just replied to your message. We are sending lots of positive healing thoughts for Molly.

Both my boys thyroid levels are about 0.4 too.

Mine have always had low thyroid levels, like greyhounds normally do, but they show no actual symptoms of hypothyroid. If they were another type of dog they would probably be medicated, but my vet knows greyhounds are low and therefore doesn't reccomend medication. I think the key thing is whether the dog is showing actual signs of hypothyroid. If you start reducing and she shows signs then she would probably need it, I'm guessing. I do know there is a test that is more accurate for diagnosing true hypothyroid, my cat had it, and I would think it's a good idea to have that done if you can. Sorry you have to worry about this. It sounds like she is healthy overall though and you are giving her the best care. She is a very lucky girl to be with you.

One of mine was really itchy this spring. I was wondering about allergies, but I also noticed he had a lot of dry dead skin when I scratched him and lots of fur was shedding. So, he had a special spa treatment. :-) I gave him a really good brushing all over with a boar bristle brush. I couldn't believe how much dry flakey skin there was and lots of fur. Then I gave him a bath with Buddy Wash, which I think is pretty gentle. I really rubbed him up and a lot of fur came off. While he was still wet I rubbed olive oil (I'm sure I used at least a total of 1/4 cup) pretty much every where, especially in the extra itchy areas, and let it sit a few minutes. Then I put a conditioner on over the olive oil, it will actually lift away a lot of the olive oil, and rinsed with warm water. His lower back was still a little thick with the olive oil, I put a lot in that area. But, by the next day or so it wasn't oily. All of this made a HUGE improvement in his itchiness and there was hardly any dry skin or shedding fur left. Plus, he looked awesome. I've given him one other regular bath since then because he got really dirty rolling in dirt. It's been a few weeks since the spa treatment and I still tell the difference. :-)

Sending good thoughts to Thunder.

I think TPL is very rare in Greyhounds. I've never heard of it in one. I do know that a strained Iliopsoas muscle is often misdiagnosed as TPL, knee injury. Iliopsoas strain can happen if they have run or played hard with fast tight turns or fallen or slipped and a rear leg slid out to the side. It can take weeks or months to heal often reoccurs. I speak from experience as Zephyr has this. Don't know if that's what's happened with DaVid, but thought I would mention it.