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x infinity I'm crying here at my desk. Just awful, awful news. I am so incredibly sorry for your loss, Jan.

Henry had A LOT of shakiness at first. In fact, he was so shaky, he started having problems with the hardwood floor for the first time in his life. It took some time for the remaining back leg to get stronger, but it did go away with regular exercise and a maximum strength joint supplement. The other big thing I later figured out keep his nails as short as possible. He now shifts his hips and holds his back leg differently (sort of towards the middle). It looks awkward, but I suppose that helps him keep balanced.

There are a lot of complicated processes that come into play regarding 'leash dynamics.' It's never a good idea to leash your dog or hold onto their collar in a group of other unleashed dogs. Like Jen said, it can make them feel threatened and unable to escape if necessary. Presented with a large dog running toward her combined with feeling restricted by the collar, I'd say Fanny's behavior was completely acceptable and warranted. I expect that both of my greyhounds would've done the same exact thing. Dog parks are fun, but you have to understand that they're pretty much a free for all (and that's what they're meant to be). There's no way to do controlled introductions with every dog to 'see what what they'll do.' In a dog park, you just have to let them go and see what happens. This is why it's so important to have a handle on your dog's temperament and basic obedience skills (stay, recall, leave it) before testing out a dog park environment. I agree that two months is probably not long enough, unless you're doing formal training and socialization everyday. One other thing I want to mention- a snap is not the end of the world, and it doesn't mean your dog is aggressive. I know a lot of people assume that a 'good dog' won't snap for any reason (and some breeds are less demonstrative than others), but most greyhounds (at least, in my experience) rely on these behaviors to communicate. Your girl was simply telling you and the other dog that she was uncomfortable and needed space. It's likely that you'll be witness to MANY growls/snaps throughout the course of her life with you. What I'm saying is, don't be too disappointed or hung up on this one incident. I'd be rich if I had a nickel for every growl/snap I've seen from my dogs! For now, I think off-leash play groups with familiar dogs are going to be your best bet. Less risky than a public dog park, plus you'll get to observe her behaviors with well-behaved dogs you know and trust. Whether or not she's a good candidate for dog parks remains to be seen. If she does well in play groups, you can always try again. Good luck with Fanny. She sounds like a good girl who probably just needs a little more time.

Agree with all the other suggestions, especially not giving in and lifting them. My Henry has three legs, and he jumps in the back of my SUV! It can be done!

This is something I didn't understand at first either. I had to look it up. Osteosarcoma comes in the form of both osteolytic lesions (tumors that basically eat through the bone) and malignant cells/tumors in other systems of the body. In my copious amounts of research, I read that in 90-95% of osteo dogs, there has already been metastases (spread of cancer) to the lungs by the time the dog is diagnosed. This means that in most cases, even if the x-rays look clean, the dog already has microscopic mets in its lungs by the time the owner notices any symptoms or lameness, limping, etc. Lungs are the most common place for the cancer to spread. After metastases has begun, the disease is fast progressing. It can then spread to other systems of the body, including other limbs.

This is a very normal part of the adjustment period. It's also the inevitable part where we humans say, "Oh God, this was a mistake... what have I done?!" Don't worry too much, though, because it does get better. Around 2-3 weeks post-amp, I had the same feeling about Henry. He just wasn't acting himself. He went through a "blah" period where nothing excited him, and he just wanted to sleep. I started wondering if he'd ever be the same again. I discussed it with the vet, and she said the behavior was most likely attributed to prolonged use of opiate-based pain meds. When we started reducing Tramadol, he hit a real slump. Then once he was totally weaned, he bounced back fairly quickly. I'm sure Jaynie will come around.

Cosequin (for joint health) and Missing Link (for skin and coat).

dogfoodadvisor.com is highly biased and, IMHO, overly critical of most dog foods. Purina has been making dog food for decades. I wouldn't switch kibble just because it contains grain. According to our vet and vet specialists, $60 per bag kibble that are listed as 'grain free,' 'organic,' 'limited ingredient,' etc. are largely a fad.

No input re: the peeing issues. But I always get a heartworm test and stool sample combo every year for my boys. I'm glad I do, because Truman mysteriously tested positive for giardia last year (even though he showed no symptoms). $350 for a dental is almost exactly what my vet charges.

Awww, Jaynie. How is mom doing?

I remember the Seinfeld pups!! He's a looker, for sure. ETA: Just read again and saw that you renamed him Puddy. There was a litter of all Seinfeld characters, though, including Art Vandelay, Bob Sacamano, Izzy Mandelbaum, Nanna Seinfeld, Jacopo Peterman, Rebecca Demornay, and Uncle Leo. Here is the other David Puddy.

A little slice of good news... Henry's discharge summary from his last chemo treatment. These are Dr. Urie's notes.

Ducky Thanks for sharing Pudge's tribute. What a special girl.

Thinking of you both. I remember the waiting being the hardest part.

So sorry to hear about Jaynie. It's promising that her lungs look clear. When it's a slow spread, you can get lots of good months/years with amp and chemo. I talked to the legendary Maggie Mae's dad at Sandy Paws. They went through something very similar. She made it 5+ years post-amp. At some point, her hips started to shift downward. He recommended joint supplements and hydrotherapy.

Green bag. I'll probably just give him some more mix-ins in lieu of increasing the kibble.

I thought that when Henry lost a leg, I'd have to decrease his food intake (the thought was that he now weighs 8 pounds less, so he should be eating less food). But at the same time, he was also going through chemo, so getting him to eat was a challenge. For the last few months, I've been feeding him the same amount as pre-amp, but he seems especially ribby lately. Several people at Sandy Paws commented that he looked thin. Is it possible that he's expending more energy doing normal things because his body is compensating for the lost leg? If that's the case, should I increase his food? He's back to eating well, and he's also very active. We walk/hike 3 miles a day or go to the dog park. I don't have a good picture of his ribs, but I'll update when I get a chance.

I use Dental Fresh. Nothing but good things to say about it!

Re: prey drive. I've read that 20% of greyhounds are VERY high prey (not safe with cats or small dogs, unable to break focus, goes into "the zone" when they see any small animal that could be considered prey). Another 20% are VERY low prey (not fazed by indoor cats or small animals, easily distracted with outdoor critters). Then, the other 60% are somewhere in between. This is probably your guy. The majority of these in-betweeners are trainable and can learn to adapt to the small animals. There are no hard and fast rules regarding prey drive because there is so much variation. I've known some greys to be fine with small dogs, but not cats. Some are fine with indoor pets, but consider anything outside fair game. One of mine is cuddly and affectionate towards a specific cat, but likes to chase the other. Re: dog parks. Your friends are probably referring to fenced-in dog parks. These are totally fenced, therefore, there is little to no risk for escape. The big risk lies in the behavior of your dog and others. On this forum, you'll find many people who are either pro-dog parks or anti-dog parks. While it is fun and exciting to watch your greyhound run full speed and play with other dogs, there are lots of opportunities for fights, injuries, and traumatic experiences. Before trying out dog parks, IMHO, you should spend at least a few months getting to know your dog and deciding whether or not he's appropriate in a dog park situation. It's also important that your dog have at least the bare minimum basic obedience skills (come, leave it) and socialization with different types of people and non-grey breeds. Be prepared for scrapes, scratches, sprains, cut up feet, and the potential for bites. A good alternative to dog parks is a greyhound meet-up group. These are typically groups of other greyhounds in a fully fenced area where all the dogs are muzzled. Hope this helps!

I am so sorry, Connie. What a horrible shock.

My experience is much the same. I have two greyhounds. I've raised Truman from a puppy, and Henry was a retired racer who came home at 2 years old. Henry is actually the one who can be trusted off-leash... Truman has twice as much training under his belt, but half as much reliability. I think it has more to do with personality, prey-drive, and training than the length of time you've had them.

Henry started getting anxious at the vet's office, so our oncologist prescribed Trazadone for chemo visits. That really helped him relax without being sedated. So sorry you're going through this.

I'm definitely the minority here because I off-leash one of my dogs. He's been extensively recall-trained, though, and he's also very low-prey. I only allow him off-leash in remote areas (hiking) or on the beach. Nine out of ten times, off-leashing greyhounds is itresponsible and not worth the risk. But if you've done the work, there can be exceptions to the rule.

5 day course. Once now, then repeat in two weeks.

I will! She's a cool person. I like her a lot.