schnookums

Oh...........How beautiful.

What a dear boy. Loved his photos. Please know that I feel for you. Please let go of the regrets. He wouldn't want you to remember him that way. Gently rub his ears in your mind and kiss him softly on the head.

Imagine where he would have been without you! Win Win situation I would think. I am so, so sorry for your loss, but so happy for his gain having found you .

I hope my girls catch up with your boys at "camp greyhound" They probably wonder why we are so upset when they are having such a wonderful time. XXXXXX

Tears can help to wash a grieving heart. One week today, and a couple of beers, then Eva, starts a tidal wave. I am so glad that we all have this wonderful sensitivity to the love and loss of these beautiful souls.

Thanks everyone for your advice! I will see if my vet can prescribe Doxepin for Blue. He has the added burden of losing his pack mates very recently. Has known them since he was 5 weeks old.

What a greyt name. So very pleased he is feeling better!!

Loving them so much has it's consequences. Schnookie's litter sister "Lady" slipped and lost her mobility today, she had had back issues for quite awhile. Too much pain, and no chance of reversal, 'twas a mercy dash to the Vet. She is with Schnookie now, and I will do the regret trail again. Just such a bummer, she was so perky this morning. Lady was a different soul to Schnookie, more aloof, but adorable all the same. Just couldn't get my girls to 15. Feeling a bit hollow now, as we all do when our babies cross the bridge. Just wish she could have stayed a little longer.

Had your grey been coughing up food at times when he was eating? Maybe the odd "old man hucky cough" now and then? Panting a bit more than usual when walking? My grey Blue has partial paralysis of the larynx which was diagnosed when he was 8. I need to watch him if he inhales a particle of food. He can develop Pneumonia if I don't watch him closely and treat him early if needed. Not saying that your Boy has this condition or trying to create monsters, but true, they can mask things for a long time. Sometimes they have to get quite ill as Blue did before I was lucky enough to find a vet with enough knowledge to diagnose his condition. Hope your boy fully recovers. By the way, What is his name please?

If it's any consolation, I had a dog eat a balloon once, a white one. Paints an imaginative picture of how it may have come out........... Came out the other end okay, NOT INFLATED!!

Just wondering if anyone can advise me on what is best for Blue aka Blooper/Bloopee. This call comes from a paranoid Mum! He had been diagnosed with partial paralysis of the larynx 3.5 years ago. I was reluctant to have "tie up" surgery, because of my fear of complications. Tried Pred (can't spell it) but he had the most horrid reaction. Blue is coping okay for a 12yo 45kg tall chap with a respiratory condition. I have two types of cooling (installed for the greys of course). We have evaporative (on the roof type) for dry heat days, and recently have had refrigerated split systems installed for the humid days as the evaporative is less efficient on these days. Today I am home for the day trialling the refrigerated cooling so I can set it when I leave for work. It's 33C and humid outside. Can get to the 40's plus in mid summer. Lovely and cool inside set on 23C. Blue's breathing is a little shallow and his nose veins are pronounced. I think he is okay. He isn't panting, and is laying flat on his side (he usually lays flat) . Wondering why this could be so? Could it be the dry cool air perhaps. Any thoughts on this?

I just read about your boy "Garth". No one can brace themselves for such a terrible event. I am so,so sorry for your loss.

I would love to. I am terrible with computers and downloading stuff!! However I will find some time to iron out the gremlins and post. Thanks! Soon as I work it out I would love to send a picture!! Thank you too.

After 14 years and 7 months and several health issues I chose to end her life last month. It was an incredibly hard decision. The regrets haunt me in the wee small hours, and I live through the last 5 months of her life and her final hours. Wonder if we all do that when our babies go? The time was right, the little pet had had enough. Her passing was peaceful in her own bed in my arms. (The Vet came to our home.) I sat and held and kissed her till her spirit left her body. My sympathy to everyone else too. Losing our pets hurts so much, like someone reaching down your throat and ripping out your heart. Just as well there are other needy souls arriving in our lives to put it back again.

My Schnookie has been causing me grief for weeks now. She has an advanced heart murmur and is on medication. Her appetite has been terrible. I have had a breakthrough!! she is finally eating a good meal. I fry a steak of pork scotch fillet a steak of beef scotch fillet and a lamb steak to only just well done. I cut it up very fine whilst it is still quite warm. to this I add 1/4 cup of plain freshly cooked couscous which has had a tiny drizzle of olive oil stirred through. when it has cooled off to a tolerable temperature (not cold) I present the meal and she scoffs the lot. Her stools were terrible before I added the couscous, but now we have something almost solid instead of a tarry mass. She has this meal morning and evening. I think she has esophagus issues so the fresh cooked meat dish slides down easily. Whatever the reason, we now have a skinny dog eating. The lack of vitamins here worries me, but for now my fourteen and a half year old is eating with passion again. Hope this idea works for others!

Just checked in to see how Rocky was. Devastating news. Loads of tears at this end. So sorry about your lovely boy. X

Interesting that only just this weekend my neices' Whippet "River" developed a tennis-ball sized swelling under her chin. Thought it was an insect bite, but was diagnosed as as being related to the salivery gland. It went down. What a coincidence that it was the same day as Lindas' boy!! I will tell Barbie to check this topic out.

Schnookie has just started her tablets 2 twice a day. always a battle to open her mouth. The vetmedin needs to be taken on an empty stomach. She has it at 4am, so I often wake her up. I have two small syringes of water. One for before and one after the pill. She wont take the tablets in food. I find the water good for her gabapentin, as the capsule can stick. I do agree "straight over the mound and it's gone!) Hey LaFlaca Love the sound of chicken hearts. What a great idea. Off to the supermarket tomorrow!!

Thank you all so much for your helpful advice. Tonight Schnookie ate half a bowl of cooked mince, then half a bowl of steamed chicken, then ate a hamburger and wanted more. (didn't get any though- too rich for doggy tummies). Her nutrition isn't special, but at least she is finally eating more. Seems I am the one doing the most worrying out of the two of us. Happy to announce that three sad greyhounds in our local pound have been claimed by Greyhound adoption program in our state of Victoria YAY!!

Great! Thank you for the feedback. Talked to my Vet today. They doubt that either medication is causing stomach or appetite troubles. I reckon it may be her teeth, they are tartered up and her gums are sensitive and very sore to touch. I brush every second day with hexarinse to try to keep things under control. No gingivitis, but definitely gum disease. I lost my beautiful Nola around sixteen years ago when she went to have a dental at a vet I don't normally use, she was only 4. She died coming out of sedation. Since then I have been terrified an paranoid about dentals. Schnookie doesn't handle anaesthesia well and has kidney issues. I suspect that her teeth are discouraging her from eating, this has been happening for awhile. Or is it dementia? My dilemma is whether or not to take the gamble. I guess it is all about quality of life. Any thoughts?????? Thanks

Hi everyone. I have just come back into the system after forgetting my log in details. I agree with consulting a specialist. Amazing things are achieved on people, so why not our precious greys. May I please take advantage of this reply to ask some questions about gabapentin? My Schnookie is 141/2 and has been diagnosed with a severe heart murmer. She has been on vetmedin and gabapentin (100mg twice daily). Her appetite has lessened. I suspect the gabapentin is upsetting her tummy. Has anyone else had a similar experience with gabapentin? (It was prescribed as an alternative to nsaids). Thanks

I am so, so sorry for your loss of a darling boy. Know in your heart that you have honoured your part in your's and Howard's loving contract. Deepest sympathy

My Schnookie was a lame last night. When Dave walked the Greys in the morning, everyone was fine. There was a very slight swelling on her foot. We checked between her toes. There was a residue of a gooie red brown matter near her toenails. The web of her toe appeared as scar tissue looks. We suspected a grass seed had maybe burst from the site. However, their was no inflammation or swelling in that area. This morning we noticed a dramatic improvement in her walking, so took her with the others for a small walk. (and chased a bunny a little way) I had already made an appointment with the Vet. By the time we got to the Vet, her paw was more swollen. In between her toes was normal. The Vet said that it was most probably a sesamoid fracture, and said that all I could do to treat her was rest. Schnookums came home with anti-inflammatorys and antibiotics. If there is no improvement in a week they want to Xray to see if the bones are broken. Why? Rest I have been told is the only thing I can do!!! Is there a possibility that this could be just a sprain? Could owners please share with me how this condition will progress, and maybe be treated. Does it mean that my Baby will have chronic lameness and pain? Thanks so much.

Yay!!!!!!!!!!! Good onya Comet. I'll go to bed with happy thoughts tonight.