AEB

Another vote for antlers here! And bully sticks. How long have you had your boy? When we got Kevin he chewed on everything to see how it tasted and/or to destroy it. If it was a treat/a toy it was dead. Just seconds and he destroyed it. Amazing but upsetting. We were going through toys and chews/ chew bones like crazy. Finally we got him bully sticks and antlers. The bully sticks are the thick 12" ones (from bestbullysticks.com). They are expensive. But it seemed to help him get out his chewing. One most nights. He inhaled them but chewed less on inappropriate things. Then with the antlers it became the go to chew. It's always on the floor in case he wants to chew. And we would trade out the inappropriate things for the antler. He got it. And now if he wants to chew he chews the antlers (can't even tell they've been chewed on- they are tough!). He has stopped killing his toys. He also takes a couple days now to finish a bully (used to take 1/2-1hour). He doesn't chew on inappropriate things anymore. It took a few months for this transformation, but like you I was beside myself with the lack of anything for him to chew that could withstand him.

Kevin does this and Sadie did too. Honestly, I think the frequency of walk pooping has to do with excitement and the poop being softer each time has to do with it being further up the digestive tract. Also, both would poop twice maybe three times a day if not taken for a walk. But on a walk 3-4 poops has been normal for my guys. They run out of pee and they try to squeeze out more poop! Even Sadie, the pickiest eater on earth who would go days without eating sometimes would do this being empty. The way to guarantee a poop- or 4- take a walk!

I'm so very sorry.

I am so very sorry. You both tried so hard. I'm sorry you did not have more time together.

I hope things improve quickly. Kisses to Jacey.

How is she doing? Any improvement?

The first time Kevin took Panacur he had loose stool that was lighter. He seemed like he may not feel 100% but not what you are describing. But after that he did fine stool wise on it in later treatments. And loose stools resolved after the treatment. We do give him Missing Link (which seems to firm his stool). He seemed to be weird on antihistimines. Not sure if maybe that could be the case with your guy? In any event, I hope things get better.

I would take her to the vet ASAP. I have no idea what this could all be from. Vomiting on the anti-biotic I could see but the urine leakage and other symptoms (Benadryl should dry her out). Something is wrong. I hope it's just the pills. How old is she? I hope things get better soon.

I'm so sorry. I'm sorry for your loss and that you did not have more time with her.

Poor baby! I hope all goes as well as possible tonight. Thinking of you both.

It is such a hard decision and I am so sorry you are facing it. I think the above is good advice. Our hearts ached because of what we saw. I have not seen this saying before but it is a good measure. Looking at pictures of Sadie from two months before we lost her I am upset I did not see how bad things were. But when the decline is slow it's hard to truly appreciate it. You may want to ask your vet what other options you have at this point and what the pain level is. Also, you may want to evaluate how dangerous the lack of mobility is. I will relate our considerations/story and perhaps it will be of some help. For us the deciding factors were that Sadie could no longer stand without assistance. She would become trapped on the floor or in her bed. Sometimes the positions she was trapped in seemed dangerous or painful. She could no longer be left alone because of this. One of us had to stay with her at all times. And we had to keep her on one level of the house because she might fall down the stairs. ALso, the vet was out of options for us. There was no chance of recovery or improvement. Her weight loss was uncontrolled. She stopped eating. She was not herself. We knew it was not far off and it soon may not have been our decision. I thought back to my parents' experience with their dog and how awful it was because they waited too long. I did not want Sadie to go through that. I wanted her passing to be a peaceful as possible, at our home, with her vet. And we had the opportunity to provide a peaceful passing because she was not suddenly taken from us. I am very sorry and hope you can reach the decision that is right for you.

Good luck with and kisses to Lazer. Let us know what happens!

Kevin has thinned all over. I wonder if it could be a combination of infection and shedding. But the pulling-out so easily isn't normal. He did come to us with much less hair though. He grew a nice coat in the winter and Spring. I have never seen shedding like this! He started the anti-biotics tonight. We'll see how it goes. Thanks everyone!

That sounds like a Staph infection of the skin. We've had a few fosters with that. We hit them hard with antibiotics as well as use Chlorhexidine shampoos and sprays. We have had a few of these infections pop back up after a few weeks off the antibiotics, seems they were hiding and then flared up again. Good luck. Lindsay, thank you for your reply. Did your fosters lose a large amount of hair rapidly? Kevin is now quite thinned-out all over and it's gone on his chest and haunches. The hair easily pulls out. Did you also experience this epilation? I will mention the shampoo when we pick up the anti-biotics today. Kisses to Chase and Sophie!! Yep, Lazer had red rash, sort of bumps that occasionally oozed.. My vet never used the term Staph Infection,, but said skin infection.. probably the same thing, with clumps coming out of his skin. He is starting this routine again,. His fur is so thin that he is looking bald. he doesn't have the "infection" that i can see, but the lethargy, limping and off his food. so I'm headed in today or tomorrow to start him on Pred. again. I hope your boy gets to feeling better soon. I did find a anti itch spray that seemed to help Lazer. Benadryl spray,, and Hartz Hydrocortisone spray,, both from the grocery store. The Hartz is greasy, but it did help. good luck!! Thanks for your reply. The only difference sounds like Kevin is only mildly itchy compared to Lazer. My vet didn't use the word staph either but I saw in online research that those pustules are staph related. Luckily those aren't really around at the moment (but I did notice on yesterday on him in a place you really don't want one!). I will see about those sprays. We have benadryl and his Rx on hand if he gets really itchy. I hope Lazer is doing better soon! Scritches for Lazer. Beth's mom- Thanks! It did seem like the levels were good for a grey. The vet doesn't believe there is anything wrong with his thyroid. Pats for your pretty girl.

That sounds like a Staph infection of the skin. We've had a few fosters with that. We hit them hard with antibiotics as well as use Chlorhexidine shampoos and sprays. We have had a few of these infections pop back up after a few weeks off the antibiotics, seems they were hiding and then flared up again. Good luck. Lindsay, thank you for your reply. Did your fosters lose a large amount of hair rapidly? Kevin is now quite thinned-out all over and it's gone on his chest and haunches. The hair easily pulls out. Did you also experience this epilation? I will mention the shampoo when we pick up the anti-biotics today. Kisses to Chase and Sophie!!

Another update. Vet said the one value that was a little low was his T4 at .9 (normal range of 1.0-?). Anyhow his free T4 and TSH were in the normal range. So the vet thinks that with the history of pustules and the itching it's likely a skin infection that never got knocked-out by the original 2 weeks of anti-biotics. He says he'd like to put him on a round of anti-biotics and watch to see if the hair stops pulling out. If it does he'll treat for another week or so. If it doesn't it's off to the doggie dermatologist. Lazer's issues do sound similar. I hope your boy is doing well!

Glad to hear she is improving!

UPDATE: The vet left a message tonight- I missed his call but should be able to get in touch with him tomorrow. Negative on the ringworm and also the thyroid panel looked pretty normal but he mentioned one value he wants to talk to me about, but he did not say which one. The problem is he only licks himself maybe twice a day for a minute or so. He's not super itchy, not totally without any itchiness. He is, however, losing hair all over now. He has lost much of what is on his back and sides. I have no idea what is going on. I will update tomorrow.

Kevin went through this recently but his weren't itchy and developed overnight. (His feet were itchy though for about a week or so before he developed the pustules and also after).The vet gave anti-biotics. I am not sure why he got those but i have read that they are staph related.

Thank you! This is the information I remembered. I can now discuss all of the tests with my vet. I have never seen this kind of hair loss. He is losing square inches each day.

Mine (OP) isn't but Breezy's is it seems. I hope they can find a solution for him.

Wow, thank you all for all the input! The vet is running what I believe is a more extensive thyroid test but I won't know for sure until I talk to him again, which is most likely Tuesday. I think he is also looking at some other factors but it's too hot outside to remember what. I guess I am concerned about knowing what are the normal greyhound levels so that I know where he falls. His hair is super thin on his bald spots which include legs (maybe one layer of fur). It is spreading up onto the front of his shoulders. This is all uniform loss. Then it gets spotty on his haunches (a patch of hair then more hair loss). He is bald all the way up the back of his legs and his hair on the back of his haunches (butt) is very thin but not bald with some longer hair remaining. He also has spots developing on his sides, his back toward his tail, and in front of his ears. An overall his coat has thinned tremendously and he had nice bunny fur after being with us awhile. This is sudden. He does not constantly lick- just a couple times a day for a short duration. And he's losing hair in places he does not lick. He eats Honest kitchen (a dehydrated raw food) with hamburger. Nothing has changed about his diet since January. There was a lot to respond to- did I miss anything?

Kevin's fur is falling out rapidly. It has been about 4 weeks since it started. It began on his feet, spread up his legs and now is on his body. At first he was licking his feet and legs. We went to the vet and saw a vet new to the practice. He said allergies and prescribed an anti-histimine. When we gave it to him he got very hyper. Vet said give half a dose as needed. We never did give it to him. After a week he stopped licking except for maybe a couple minutes once or twice a day. That licking is always his feet/lower legs. So, when the hair loss spread to his body we took him to the vet (our regular vet). I expressed my concern that it could be mites. He did skin scrapings, fur samples, and blood tests. We are waiting to hear on everything except the mites. None found. The vet said he doubts it is ringworm. He believes it is hypothyroidism. Kev is new to us (6months) and has only had wellness checks and his annual. No bloodwork has been done yet so the levels will be the first we have for him. Can anyone think of something else this could be? Also, could someone refresh my memory as to normal thyroid levels for a grey? He is healthy other than fighting an ongoing battle with hookworms, which is improving. Thank you in advance to all who reply.

This was my first thought; you might want to test for intestinal parasites. Also, I'm not sure when your house was built or what kind of sheetrock was used, but there have been problems with Chinese drywall in new homes and I assume it's worse to ingest it than it is to breathe so I understand wanting to stop the behavior swiftly. As for the alum suggestion you might want to check what quantities are safe for dogs- I think it's ok for humans to consume in small amounts only, but am not sure of this. I will say that Kevin will do the same thing with floors/furniture next to his bed. He just suddenly decides to lick/taste them. It's happened a few times. He usually just doe this once though (thankfully!). Good luck!

Judy I am so sorry. I wish you had more time with her. Rest in peace sweet girl.