Willowsmum

Thank you to all for the words of kindness and comfort. I had never lost a dog before and could not believe how hard it was. I still miss Shadow, more sometimes than others, but because of him I was able to open my heart and home to a new dog, and be an even better dog-mom this time. ❤️❤️❤️ Rest in peace, sweet dog. Still love you lots.

They said they used peroxide then Neosporin. The tail was slick with ointment when I checked it.

There are pics on Facebook, can't recall how to post them here.

So we boarded Sully overnight at "Hotel for Dogs". My husband came home and said, " You arę NOT going to be happy." My sweet white dog was speckled with dried blood and had a bandaged tail! They said another dog knocked a kennel door closed on Sully's tail. They were very nonchalant, utterly unapologetic and did not call us when the incident happened. He was also favoring his right back leg as if he pulled a muscle or something. I took off the self clinging wrap this afternoon, it seems like the top inch is red and bruised, and there seemed to be a small cut two inches from the top. It didn't bleed when I washed it and he didn't flinch when I handled it. I applied gauze and wrapped it with self clinging wrap. We returned home to the wrap on the floor by the wall and small flecks of blood EVERYWHERE in the entryway. Luckily it stayed on until he heard our car in the driveway. Of course I'm the one who grabbed him and pulled off his muzzle, so my nice shirt and Kate Spade bag were also sprayed like little dots of spray paint. It stopped bleeding once he stopped wagging it, and the one big smear on the corner of the wall by the front door is probably where he whacked the bandage off. He's resting comfortably and eating fine, so not an emergency. 1. Do you think he needs a vet visit? 2. Any tips on keeping it covered? It seems if I did anything more than ointment and self cling wrap it's too heave and falls off. 3. Would you be ticked off at the daycare? I know accidents happen, but they acted like its normal to send home limping blood spattered dogs. I'm so upset and angry. I always worry leaving any dog with someone and this did NOT help. I feel terrible for trusting these stupid people with my furkid! I will likely be cleaning up happy tail crime scene for weeks, and thanks to the search feature on greytalk, found out the tissue could die and he might need the top amputated... And not even a sorry! Ugh! Any/all advice appreciated.

I am so sorry you are a new member to this awful "club". We were in your shoes last August. We took Shadow home, to see if on enough meds, he could have some quality of life. I am a realist enough I had phone numbers of two different vets who euthanize at home in our area. 2 nights later it was my husband's turn to sleep downstairs with Shadow. That morning he told me it was time--he had given double the vet's dose and sooner to boot and said he looked restless and uncomfortable. He collapsed on his morning pee break, and we had to carry him inside. Thank goodness the vet had an opening in 3 hours! He got the best breakfast ever and his favorite neighbor came by with yummy homemade treats, his passing was quick and peaceful. If I had a time machine I would have spoiled him the day before and avoided that painful last night he had. He had seemed to perk up a bit the previous day--we thought we finally got the right dose to handle his pain. I could not believe how quickly things went south. You love him with all your heart, you will know when it's time. There is no magic formula. I would try to get some of these wonderful greytalkers to give you mobile vet reccs in your area, or talk to your vet about what he or she can do, and when. If you can't afford in-home, try to have a friend on standby to help drive you guys when the time comes so you aren't alone with a heavy, panicked dog in pain. We had grey neighbor's who came over at 11:30 at night to help us get him in the car the night he was diagnosed, we were so lucky! The only thing I can say for sure is nothing can prepare you for this, but the people on these boards have been there and have plenty of advice, love, and compassion for you and your sweet hound. I really really relied on the support here in our time of need, and am here for the next greytalkers who needs someone who "gets it". I am so sorry you are a new member to this awful "club". We were in your shoes last August. We took Shadow home, to see if on enough meds, he could have some quality of life. I am a realist enough I had phone numbers of two different vets who euthanize at home in our area. 2 nights later it was my husband's turn to sleep downstairs with Shadow. That morning he told me it was time--he had given double the vet's dose and sooner to boot and said he looked restless and uncomfortable. He collapsed on his morning pee break, and we had to carry him inside. Thank goodness the vet had an opening in 3 hours! He got the best breakfast ever and his favorite neighbor came by with yummy homemade treats, his passing was quick and peaceful. If I had a time machine I would have spoiled him the day before and avoided that painful last night he had. He had seemed to perk up a bit the previous day--we thought we finally got the right dose to handle his pain. I could not believe how quickly things went south. You love him with all your heart, you will know when it's time. There is no magic formula. I would try to get some of these wonderful greytalkers to give you mobile vet reccs in your area, or talk to your vet about what he or she can do, and when. If you can't afford in-home, try to have a friend on standby to help drive you guys when the time comes so you aren't alone with a heavy, panicked dog in pain. We had grey neighbor's who came over at 11:30 at night to help us get him in the car the night he was diagnosed, we were so lucky! The only thing I can say for sure is nothing can prepare you for this, but the people on these boards have been there and have plenty of advice, love, and compassion for you and your sweet hound. I really really relied on the support here in our time of need, and am here for the next greytalkers who needs someone who "gets it". Sorry for the double post. I shouldn't post from my phone when I've been crying.

We briefly had a female, she smelled better than either of our boys ever did. I am cursed with a super sniffer too, I feel your pain. I have learned if I can smell it, there is something going on somewhere. My husband takes my word for it now if I smell something bad. Is your girl ever off leash in the yard? Could she be rubbing against any stinky trees or bushes? I wonder if she is having a reaction to the scent beads or soap? I'd try washing bedding with unscented detergent in hot water, no fabric softener, maybe with baking soda or vinegar, or give an extra rinse cycle. Maybe give her a bath with just water or an unscented hypoallergenic dog shampoo, in case she's getting some kind of reaction to the shampoo. I've found my hounds get stinky all over if they are gassy or need their teeth brushed. Maybe cut out the people food scraps and give simethicone with meals. I would def get a vet visit in while she is in full stink mode, and get bumps looked at (allergy? Infection?) Let us know what happens! Good luck!

Thank you all! My husband got crafty with foam weatherstripping tape and the bridge of dog's nose is healing nicely. He is making good progress, and in a month or so we might start short forays with no muzzle and see if all hell breaks loose. ;-) ( He meaning dog, not husband. Husband had had run of house when I'm not home for 8 years with few problems, lol)

Oh Percy! I never met him, but I always enjoyed his posts! I am so sorry for your loss, Ducky. There is nothing better in life than the love of a sweet old dog. It always sounded like he had the BEST golden years of his life with you, and lived and died knowing he was so very loved, pampered, and cherished in your home. I hope that thought brings you some comfort. *hugs*

We love our new boy, Sully! He's a good boy, and has withstood 3 1/2 hours alone with no major incidents uncrated, with baby gates and a muzzle on. He licks the stuff out of his Kong then appears to nap in the office upstairs. He has a small scab on the top middle of his muzzle, from muzzle rub. He had this back in the original adoption picture. It heals, but it opens up when he is muzzled again the next day. We have to muzzle him when we go out at present, he is freaking Curious George and everything to him is a chew toy. Nobody told him at 5 he isn't a puppy anymore! He is also a jumper and counter surfer So To dog proof enough to not worry about him hurting himself, we would have to empty an entire room. I'm sure this isn't forever, he's new to home life and will hopefully be able to be left without the muzzle once He stops generalizing from his toys and bones to everything that's not his. He bats things around with the muzzle on, so even with moleskin or gauze or a combination of both, there are still a few dots of blood on the muzzle and that dang scab is off when we get home. It doesn't seem to bother him but I want it to heal. Any recommendations on muzzles to order online that might cause less friction on him would be welcome .

Good to know. Ordered a harness from Amazon for the mean time. He is a good dog but I suspect his prey drive might be stronger than I am! Part of me wishes I could let him dispatch with some of those damn tulip-bulb-stealers! Hopefully the novelty will wear off.

Sully slept like a champ in our bedroom once we finally got him upstairs. I woke up each time he shifted but he was very good- I got nosey in the face twice but telling him I'm still here, go back to bed was all he needed. We woke him up at 6:00 for morning turnout. Hoping to inch forward to 7:30 eventually. He keeps play bowing at mirrors and at night the windows and tv reflect and kind of wigged him out- he tries to jump up. He is much more mellow today. I went out for an hour, now DH is going out for a few hours. I'm going to offer a Kong w peanut butter while I do laundry in the forbidden basement for a little bit. If all goes well, we'll try to Kong and drive around the block and back. He notices every damn squirrel, but is already more correctable. I shorten up his leash and hold by the extra hand hold and even I can keep him under control (with effort). Walking a new dog is like steering a drunken sailor, I had forgotten about that, lol.

I don't know why it's sideways, but it's been that sort of day! He really does sleep like a dead cockroach! Our last boy had an oblong chest or something, so when he tried to roach he usually flopped over the other way. Sully is just cracking us up sleeping all splayed out like that. :-) Sully is a sweet lovey boy so far. He was overwhelmed at first in the house, but after an hour of perimeter checks, he finally sat down and stopped panting. He's had a short walk, dinner and 2 turnouts. Things we have already learned: • He eats like a champ! • He's a leaner! • Did I mention he is sweet and lovey? • He takes simple correction well- he wants to be a good boy, as soon as we teach him what that entails. • He really really finds squirrels interesting. We kept him moving, but he walked away with his head practically turned backwards. Hopefully that novelty will wear off. • He *can* do stairs, but it isn't pretty yet. • I need to dog proof a higher zone of the house, this boy is a climber and a reacher, unlike our last 2. • We need to secure the TV and or TV stand so he doesn't knock it over (again, not a problem with last 2) • We will definitely need to go through all the steps in alone training. We got home late today and he whined when DH went into the yard to scoop, and I'm told he whined and paced while I took the garbage out. So Greyhounds for dummies suggested the first day we go into another room for 5-15 minutes, to see how he does. We went into the front room and gated him in the family room. That lasted just over 2 minutes. He put his paws on the cutouts in the wall between the two rooms and was peeking at us (and knocked over the knick knacks on it, I thought they were up high enough…. not!) We're sitting again and once he's chilled out we'll try again for 5 minutes in another room without him. Maybe the kitchen? I'm exhausted, it's been a long day, we didn't get home until after 5pm. I hope I didn't make a mistake not getting a crate for him. The plan had been to leave him alone muzzled and baby gated in one room when we left. He seems to work out his stress (like when we've said "no") on chewing the rawhide and bone, and he can't do that in a muzzle. When my husband was outside, Sully was distractible with food, so I have hope a kong will distract him. I guess we'll get through the night, and see what tomorrow brings!

The pictures were beautiful--what a wonderful life Frisby had with you! Walking in the heather, strolling in the woods, perching up on hilltops admiring the view--your boy was lucky, happy and loved! I hope that is some comfort to you. *hugs*

What a lucky, happy girl Brooke was! Thank you for sharing the video! *hugs*

Shadow the greyhound died this Saturday after a private battle with osteosarcoma. He passed away peacefully at home surrounded by friends and loved ones. Shadow’s early years are shrouded in mystery, but we do know that racing under the name J’s Canyon, he won 11 races in Daytona. He took early retirement and passed through several sets of loving hands until he found his forever home in New Jersey. He thoroughly enjoyed his golden years, lounging on his beds and favorite sofa, and sunning himself on the deck whenever he had the chance. He loved his daily walks “among the people”, checking in with his neighborhood fan club, and constantly inducting new members. One neighbor was so smitten, she adopted two greyhounds of her own! Although retired, he did freelance work as a research assistant, copy editor, children’s book author, therapist, and meal supervisor/food taster. In his spare time he enjoyed the occasional game of catch-the-squeaky-toy, chewing rawhides, and getting ear massages. He would like to be remembered for his joie de vivre, charming manner, and friendliness. He would like to be honored by his fans remembering to love hard, forgive easily, and take the time to enjoy the “little things” in life like a good walk with friends or a sun spot to bask in. For version with pictures, please go here: https://www.pdf-archive.com/2016/08/22/shadowpdf/