Feisty49

Does Costco have a pharmacy? (I have never been in one -- there are not in Upstate New York.) It looks like they fairly expensive 'scripts.

Annie has eye issues anyway, but even if she didn't, at the very least I'd call the vet for advice. If it's nothing, then yeah, but drops might be needed.

Just to clarify: Sileo isn't injected, if indeed you meant injected like a needle in a muscle. It comes in a syringe filled with the gel which is put between the cheek and gum and squeezed into that area and is then absorbed into the tissue. I plan on having it on hand for July 4th but am waiting to see how it affects other Greyhounds before using it.

I'll post when I hear news about its use. My friend got it for thunder storms for one of her Greys but there's not always enough time to administer something to avoid the fear of a T-storm. I am going to try it for fireworks on July 4th.

Oh dear. Another passing and it is so sad. You wrote beautiful words for your boy.

Exactly. The effects supposedly last only about 2 hours, so on a heavy-duty firework night, it would take 2 doses. The side affects are scary to read but it appears the incidents are few and far between and if the dog is healthy, the likelihood of a negative affect are very small. Everything we give our dogs -- or ourselves for that matter -- has the potential for side affects. Nonetheless, I will find out from my friend how her hound does on it.

Ohhhh, I am so sorry for your loss.

A friend who has been a Greyhound person for about 20 years told me that she got a 'script medicine from her vet (also mine) today called Sileo. It came out just this week. It is supposed to reduce anxiety and fear associated with noise, such as fireworks and thunder storms. It is a gel administered via a syringe between the gum and cheek of a dog. To quote from the URL link below: "Sileo works by blocking norepinephrine, a brain chemical similar to adrenaline that pumps up anxiety. It comes in prefilled plastic syringes with a dial for setting a precise dose according to the dog's weight. The needleless syringe is placed between the dog's gum and lip. A little push ejects a small amount of gel that's absorbed by the tissue lining the dog's cheek, which limits how much circulates in the dog's body at a time while enabling the medicine to start working within 30 to 60 minutes. It works for two to three hours, said McFarland, who's used Sileo with good results on his Finnish Lapphund. Each syringe costs $30, about two doses for an 80- to 100-pound dog or fours doses for a 40-pound dog." http://www.nola.com/pets/index.ssf/2016/05/dog_noise_drug.html It's expensive, though for those of us with just one dog it is affordable and would be worth it if indeed it does what it claims. My friend is going to try it today on one of her Greyhounds that is particularly afraid of thunder storms, which we are expecting. She'll let me know if it works. I am interested not for T-storms, though Annie doesn't like them, but for July 4th! Last year was the first year in New York State it was legal for individuals to shoot off fireworks. Since most of my neighbors are law abiding, there was never an issue with fireworks until last year when it was legal. If I'm convinced it works and is safe, I will use it for Annie on July 4th. She was so bad last year I almost took her to the emergency vet.

Annie Bananie had been on Diamond Naturals White Fish and Sweet Potato. I started it last fall and she liked it, which was a good thing because she was no longer liking Iams in the green bag. A while ago, she stopped liking the Diamond Naturals, even when I added something like a bit of cheese or a piece of turkey. She stopped eating breakfast and would eat only about half of her supper. She lost 3 pounds in 3 weeks and since she was in good Greyhound shape to begin with -- could see 2 ribs and hip bones -- she was, for once, as skinny as many people probably thought she looked like before. Actually, all her human friends noticed and asked if she was sick. Long story short, I picked up Rachael Ray's Beef and Brown Rice flavor dog food to try, and Annie went nuts over it, even at first when I gradually introduced it with the Diamond Naturals. The consistency of her poos got better and now that she's totally on the RR food, her poos are better than ever. She's always had formed poos, but they were usually squishy, even with Olewo. They are firmer and easier to pick up. As we always say: Whatever works, and since this is working for at least one Greyhound, I thought I'd share it here in case somebody is looking for a food to try.

Awesome news. When I first joined GT, I found it comforting to read what other dogs do because it taught me that each dog is different and just about nothing a Greyhound does is unusual, short of something harmful. Whining at other dogs: IMO, if he were scared of other dogs, he would try to get away or be aggressive. I think he wants to make friends. When we meet a new dog on our walks, I always ask the walker if their dog is open to meeting mine. If so, we both hold our dogs close to the collar and approach slowly. Annie, though, doesn't really care about other dogs. She's not at all mean. She ignores them once they've greeted, unless it's another Greyhound. She wants to get close to the person. Walking around the house: I've had Annie almost 5 years. She will not walk into the dining room, which has an area rug under the table, more than 3 feet. She won't go into the kitchen. Each one has her/his quirks. Pooping: Sometimes Annie poos 3 times a day; sometimes 4. It depends on how many walks we take. I have an enclosed back yard and she poos there only at first out, about 7 AM this time of year. The other times she has to walk or she'll hold it. I assume if I could not walk her, she'd eventually do it in the back yard. Annie never has gas. Toys and play: Annie hasn't done a zoomie in years. She has a lot of stuffies, including the one I purchased for her before she came home. It looks brand new because she almost never plays with it, or any of them. She *might* play if she thinks I'm taking too long getting ready for our walk. She takes her frustration out on a stuffie. I've tried to engage her over the years with various games and generally being silly. Nope.. she's not interested. Coats: He may get used to pooing with a coat on.... or he may not. Rain won't hurt him and actually, most raincoats are of such a material that they make the dog hot. You're in CT. No need to worry about a coat for cold weather for many months. I'm in the Albany, NY, area. We get cold. Annie loves the cold. If the temp is above 30, give or take, and the sun is out and there's no wind, she doesn't need a coat. If any of those things change, I may put a light-weight fleece on her. She has heavy fleece coats for very, very cold weather, like zero degrees. Baths: Some people bathe their Greys often. In the 5 years I've had Annie, she's had two baths at a grooming place. She doesn't go in the mud. She doesn't go into the woods. She's clean and soft. Greyhounds are not an oily-skin dog, which is why they don't often have a doggy smell. I would think bathing too often would make their skin dryer than it is. Bully sticks: I recommend not leaving him alone with one. As the stick gets smaller, the dog usually puts what's left into her mouth and can choke. I used to buy them for Annie but had a scare with her choking -- thankfully she got it up --and haven't purchased them since. He is a beautiful boy and has greyt ears!

Welcome. My Annie was good from the get go, and it sounds as if your boy is on his way. If he whines/cries only a few minutes when you leave and then settles down, that's a good sign. If your dog is a jumper, it was recommended above that a tension curtain rod above the top of the gate might help to provide more of a barrier, but you don't have to hang curtains, as you seem to indicate above. Just putting the rod there will give the feeling of an additional barrier. I know that many Greyhounds have issues with being alone, whether they cry, P&P or destroy, but I suspect just as many don't have issues. Very often, new hound owners go into an adoption expecting problems and turning themselves inside out to avoid them. Your boy may be totally fine with the run of the entire house/apartment. My girl was from day #1. The best advice I can give is relax. Your boy is a Greyhound, but he's a dog first. We want pictures! :-)

I've no experience, but am thinking and wishing good thoughts for you and your girl. She is gorgeous.

You wrote beautiful words about your girl but it is so sad to lose them. I'm sorry.

I also think it's the heat. As you can see from below, Annie is blonde, but she *hates* the heat. She may not know she hates it, but it's obvious in her demeanor on our walks that it bothers her body. She starts off with enthusiasm, but when the temp is warm -- anything above 50 is warm for her -- she slows down quickly. In colder weather, we usually walk 1.5 miles in the morning and another mile after supper, with turn outs in the backyard in between. With the sun and higher temps, I'm lucky if we get in a full mile in the morning. She pants, she lags behind, she stops in the shade. I will be taking a towel wet with cold water on our walks to rub down her body and feet. I'm hoping that will help a little.

You've got good ideas. I hope one of them works. Your girl is used to having the crate as an option and may not do well if she's forced into it all day.

The first thing that came to mind is to put something in the places over which she obsesses. Something that is big enough so she can't patrol the spots she likes. Or maybe a nasty-smelling spray, non-toxic of course, that would deter her. Her places need to be made unfriendly to her.

Welcome from Annie Bananie Whisker Face and me in the Albany, NY, area. Your guy is a handsome one!

I'll pipe in and agree that grain free is a fad and just another way for food manufacturers to raise their bottom line. I always refer to the dog I had growing up: A Boxer who was fed <gulp> Gravy Train. We got her at 9 weeks of age. She lived to be almost 10. I don't know if they even make Gravy Train any more, but the point is, as said above, whatever works. If the weight stays the same, the coat is good, and the poo is good, then don't worry.

It is scary the first few days. Though I knew Greyhounds were different than say a Golden, I had more or less been assured by my group that Greyhounds didn't break as easily as I thought. Try to relax. It is a Greyhound but he is a dog first. I've had Annie almost 5 years and can't remember exactly how things went, but I do remember it took her a few weeks before she'd come to me easily and with the expectation of getting lots of petting (we call them kisses, even if there is no kissing involved). She hated her crate. On the second day, she stopped using it. About the only time she looks directly into my eyes is when it's time for breakfast, supper, a treat or a walk. Yes, they can tell time. She wouldn't do stairs until about 6 months after adoption and her desire NOT to be alone downstairs was what gave her the drive to learn -- or more likely, I was more insistent than before because I sleep in my bed, not on a couch. She was not and is not food motivated. She was so scared about the stairs that she wouldn't touch a high-value treat on the first step in front of her! I started off by standing behind her butt and gently pushing on it while lifting front paw/front paw then back paw/back paw allll the way up 14 stairs. She trembled the entire way. Bending her leg in order to put her paw on the next step wasn't easy, but it had to be done. On the way down I was one step below her on her right side and gently pulled on the leash/collar. If she got stuck -- forgetting what to do next -- I would put one paw on the next step down. I did this round trip 4 times, one after the other, with each time being just a little bit better. On the 5th try, she took off by herself and that was that. I assume your stairs are carpeted or have carpet treads on them. BTW, I am widowed so am also alone, but we still have to do what has to be done, whether it be teaching stairs, treating a wound or giving medicine. Your boy's personality will bloom and morph over the next few months, if not longer. I bet each of us has a story about their houndie changing after years of being a part of the family. And try to relax. Pretty much almost everything is 'normal' for a Greyhound new to a house. We need pictures!

Links don't work, at least for me. It IS scary the first few days of dog ownership, especially a Greyhound because everything that's read or been told makes them sound like they break very easily. They don't. They are different than other dogs in some respects, but they are dogs. You'll be fine. Just remember: they don't break and you can relax.

I don't know about the effects of this on humans but I always wash my hands when I come in contact with something that contains chemicals.

The only way you'll know if the crate has been your boy's issue is to never put him in it, but if you like, leave it up with the door open for a few days. The only way you'll know if his behavior is good when he's totally alone, is to try it. We just can't answer these specific questions because each Greyhound is different. IMO, I think he'll be fine, based on you saying he was lounging on the couch when you did a 5-minute test run. My girl, adopted almost 5 years ago, *hated* her crate from day one. I stopped putting her in it on day two, and by the end of the week, it was stored in the spare room. Annie also does not roo, roach, cruise counter tops or get on furniture and hardly plays with her stuffies, things that many Greyhounds do. My friend with three Greyhounds (down from five when she lost two in two weeks last month to cancer) will tell you that each of her houndies is different. One digs -- big, deep holes. Another does nothing more than go in the backyard to P&P and come back in. The third one sleeps on the bed with her, while the other two prefer their own beds on the floor. So ya just never know until you try it. Good luck! ETA: Trust your judgment.

It's wonderful you are giving your love to more Greyhounds. They are lucky houndies and you are lucky parents.

This. My girl has zero prey drive. She couldn't be bothered looking at a squirrel let alone chasing it. Nonetheless, I never let her out the full length of the leash. She pretty much heels with me having the loop of the leash through my right hand and most of the rest of the length in my left hand. I learned early on right after adoption, when she got excited in the snow and pulled me over, that letting a Greyhound have more than is necessary to walk, sniff a bit and P&P can be a problem.

I say, "Annie, time to go potty," or "Let's go potty," in the morning when I let her out the back door. When we're walking and I can tell she's got to poo but just can't find the right spot, I'll say, "Annie, go poo now," and very often that settles her into a squat. She doesn't need any encouragement to pee, whether in the back yard or on a walk. I use the word "potty" so much that I use it on myself, such as "I'll be right back, I have to go potty."