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Wow, that's really shocking. Changing the type of dewormer may or may not make a difference... but here's my $0.02. The hallmark of a good vet is to give you options and listen to your input. The fact that she won't even try is something that would piss me off. For you to keep repeating this same process and shelling out tons of money with little results is extremely frustrating. At this point, I would expect the vet to be doing something else, whether that means more aggressive testing, different meds, whatever. Also, I'm not sure why she'd say Drontal isn't as safe as Panacur. Really, I don't even know what that means? Not as safe in what way? Hopefully this vet doesn't come across any patients with tapeworms, as Panacur doesn't treat those. I'm not an expert on the evolution of parasites, but something's not working here. If this turns out to be whipworms, I would insist on a different wormer. You have nothing to lose. By the way, I've always used Drontal Plus with my dogs, just because it's one pill (around $40) and it's easier than having to do the three-day rounds of Panacur. Other than the possibility of diarrhea (which you're already dealing with), I don't know what other safety concerns there could be. Compared to what you've already paid, the price difference is negligible. P.S. Do you know if she's ruled out coccidia? I had a cat once who had persistent diarrhea for about the first six months of her life. Tested and retested, but her stool samples kept coming up clean. Turns out, she had coccidia, and it was easily treated with Albon.

Even when Henry's nails are short, they still click on the floor. Truman's never do because his feet are more arched up. I wonder if it depends on the shape of the foot for some dogs? My guys both get their nails trimmed and dremmeled regularly and at the same time.

Geez Louise. Poor boy. My only question is, did you try Drontal Plus at any point? Panacur doesn't work on certain parasites, so you'd need Drontal.

I do obedience training with my younger dog during the months when it's really hot or really cold. Having the mental stimulation really helps them get over the hump.

I would get frustrated that Truman's dressings wouldn't stay on, so I tried to wrap everything tighter. Big mistake. When it's wrapped too tightly, the tissue loses blood supply and becomes susceptible to infection. His tail eventually got infected, then it was all downhill from there. It's better to wrap higher up than necessary and really anchor it on. This suggestion is also extremely helpful. We used a muzzle with a stool guard, and a little bit of Bitter Apple on the bandage.

Sounds promising!! I'm relieved to hear it's an infection rather than a tumor. Get well soon, Cash.

Just got back from the vet with Henry. They took x-rays, and thank God, nothing was broken or fractured. The vet diagnosed it as a soft tissue injury, but admitted it was really bad. It's likely a tendon or ligament issue. She said that when she was looking at the x-rays, she was amazed it wasn't a break because he was clearly in an excruciating amount of pain. I think the process of getting him up into the car and being handled in the office put him over the edge. They actually gave him a pain/sedative shot in the lobby because he was panting hard and was also really twitchy and whiny. I insisted they give him the meds ASAP because I didn't want him having a seizure from the pain. That knocked him out right away (his tongue was fully hanging out of his mouth). Then they also gave him a shot of Rimadyl (for the swelling) and a Tramadol pill, so he seems much more comfortable now. It's going to take a long time for the injury to heal though- anywhere from 3-6 weeks. He has to be on pain meds and anti-inflammatories during that time. No stairs. Very limited activity. It looks like I'm going to be taking a little vacation from work so I can monitor him and help get him outside to the bathroom. It sucks that he has to be so doped up, but at least his pain is under control. Also, I'm very glad I decided not to go to the e-vet last night. The visit cost over $400, so I can only imagine how much they would've charged.

Search "happy tail" on this forum. You'll find loads of threads about it.

Henry used to be pretty disinterested in the dog park, but every once and awhile, a certain dog would come along and bring out his playful side. We kept going fairly regularly just for the socialization aspect. Then when Truman came along, we were going several times a week. After time, Henry grew to love the dog park. Now, if I even say the words "dog park," he practically knocks me over. So while I do think some dogs are genuinely not "dog park dogs," some are able to enjoy it once it becomes more familiar and they have more positive associations.

He's improved a good bit in the last few hours. No more panting or yelping. I gave him two of his Xanax, which won't do anything for the pain, but has managed to calm him down significantly. Now he's quietly lying next to me on the couch. I already called off work for tomorrow so I can take him to the vet's when they open. I think he's going to be alright for tonight, but we're ready to take him to the e-vet if he starts backsliding. My heart really hurts for my boy. No idea how it happened... Sometimes they go outside and run around, then they fly up the stairs. That's my best guess. I just looked over, and he's roaching now. That's promising.

Out of nowhere, Henry started limping today on his front leg. Upon further look, I noticed that the wrist (at the joint) was very swollen. At this point, he's not putting ANY weight on it and yelping out in pain whenever he tries to move it. I've been putting an ice pack on it, alternating every 30 minutes or so. He's tolerating that well. I also wrapped it in an ace bandage to provide some pressure. He seems okay otherwise, gums are pink. A little bit of panting off and on, as he's clearly in pain. I'm using a towel under his belly to help him get around. I can get him into the vet's first thing tomorrow morning, but I feel so terrible that he's in pain. Is this e-vet worthy? Also, I don't have any pain meds at home. I'm reluctant to give him anything that hasn't been okayed by the doctor due to his seizures.

Yes! Does remind me of brown sugar!

Hmmm... I've never heard of this. The bromides usually cause more peeing, but I have no idea about Keppra.

Are you doing this on your own, or through a therapy dog organization? Henry is certified through TDI, and they are pretty specific about what type of collar they need. Our trainers told us flat buckle collar or flat harness (no martingales), tags have to be visible, and no unnecessary adornments. But if you're not affiliated with any organization, I'm sure you can go with whatever collar you prefer. If tags are an issue, look into a tag bag by Long Dog Leather. http://www.longdogleather.com/index.cfm?content=54&Menu=28 As far as the shedding, some greys have that longer 'bunny fur' that sheds like crazy. The best you can do is brush him beforehand, unless you wanted to start looking into a supplement that helps with shedding. On the dental issue, I use a water additive and that really helps with my guys' teeth. There are also sprays available, like Petzlife, that you could spray in his mouth beforehand. Neither of my guys really do 'tricks' per se, so I can't really help you there. But as long as he's a social dog and enjoys being around people, I'd say those things just come naturally.

It's a powder, but not dry or dusty. It feels a little wet. You sprinkle one teaspoon on their food twice a day, just as it comes.

Replace Cesar with Victoria Stilwell! She is very good.

Belly bands are for marking, not full-out accidents. If you used a belly band on your guy, my thought is that he would soak it, then be left for a period of time, causing bacteria to spread. That will almost always result in an UTI. It sounds to me like he was never 100% housebroken to begin with and has too much freedom. I'd confine him to one room using baby gates. When he proves trustworthy, gradually expand his space.

EXACTLY. Henry has both CGC and TDI. Truman just passed CGC and is working on his TDI. They can both sit, but neither of them holds it for very long. It just seems uncomfortable for them, so I don't make them stay in the sit for more than 10 seconds. For commands that require extended sits, I just put them in a down-stay, and that's always been fine. This person obviously knows nothing about greyhounds if she's asking about hip dysplasia. I'd get a new trainer.

Both of my boys love each other to pieces, and they have lived together for a long time. But they still growl occasionally, and that is totally fine and does not warrant correction (not sure why your adoption group advised you that it does). It has nothing to do with 'pack order' or the role of 'alpha dog.' If you run into issues that require some training (as almost all dogs do) try brushing up on some positive reinforcement types of training methods. Consult someone with a professional affiliation through CPDT (Certification Council of Pet Dog Trainers), APDT (Association of Pet Dog Trainers), or AABP (Association of Animal Behavior Professionals). Many experts in the field of animal behavior don't consider the Cesar Millan approach a legitimate form of training. Even if it's worked for you in the past, the dog is taught to obey out of fear and submission... not the best basis for a positive, working relationship. http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,2007250,00.html

My boys get upset stomachs from raw bones. Too much marrow. We much prefer the smoked/dehydrated knee bones that you get in the pet store. I've recently been ordering Merrick brand bones in bulk through Amazon. I'm really happy with them.

You'll get a lot of different answers. What works best for us is twice a day (6AM and 6PM). My guys get the same portion size at each meal. Some people feed once a day. Others make one of the meals bigger. I think it's probably more your preference than the dog's. As for the housebreaking, just be consistent with whatever feeding and elimination schedule you choose.

Not really. Some need to gain a few, others don't. You can usually tell by looking at the ribs and hip plates. My boy was very thin when he came to me. Here's a before and after.

So glad you have an answer and that it's treatable. Get better soon, Minerva. We all want to see you get back to running around like a mad woman!

If she's fresh off the track, she could probably stand to gain a few pounds. So I think 2 and 2 is probably okay. Also, another thing to mention is that, morning poops tend to be the firmest, and then they get softer throughout the day. Especially if you're leash-walking her to potty, or if she's running around beforehand, that can contribute to softer poops.

Oh no!! So sorry she's going through this, Brie. Keeping my fingers crossed for you and Miss Minerva.