Feisty49

I gave up on a Kong a while ago. Annie Bella just can't be bothered working on it. She'll go for what's within easy reach inside the hole and then ignore it. I too used it just for a treat because she has no SA issues (knocking on wood).

A thread was started yesterday with this info. There are a lot of responses to it. The thread is at: http://forum.greytalk.com/index.php/topic/286082-bone-cancer-study-in-dogs/page__p__5236573__fromsearch__1#entry5236573

This is a great idea and I so agree about the people plate, which is what I use when hiding pills in peanut butter.

According to my physician (people doc..LOL), it takes 48 hours for the Lyme bacteria to be transmitted. Gotta pull those little suckers off right away, though, and if you've seen one, there may be more.

This. My girl can take PB with no problem and she loves it, so I put a pill in a good size dollop, put it on a plate and walk away. She scarfs it down with no problem.

Feisty49 (Marla) - Greenville, NY (near Albany)

What does it seem cruel? Many people choose to take the amputation/chemo route, so this study is just aimed at those who have already taken those steps and want to contribute to a study and try something extra. I would also add that the specifications of the study are as stated. They are looking to test the treatment at a certain stage of the disease. Therefore, there's really no reason to think of it as cruel. It just is what it is.

Of what? Just interested in your reason. I have no opinion one way or the other but then Annie Bella does not have cancer. If she did, I might try anything. Mostly wondering about the method in which it works and the safety of the procedure. Vaccines work on viruses by inoculating your body with an inactivated (in most cases) strain of the virus which causes your immune system to safely manufacture antibodies against it. This way our bodies are prepared for the real thing when and if we get infected. Cancer isn't a virus at all. It happens when cell growth gets out of control and the body is tricked into thinking it's normal. How is a vaccine going to prevent against that, especially when the dog already has cancer? If it works, that's fantastic! I'm not trying to be a nay-sayer, it's just that I'm always hesitant about new procedures because no one knows what the long-term consequences will be. Good reason. I'm well aware of how and why vaccines work in humans. I also know that no new treatments of anything can occur without experimentation. Again, my sweetie pie pup doesn't have cancer but who knows what will happen to her in the next 8 to 10 years (she's currently 4).

Of what? Just interested in your reason. I have no opinion one way or the other but then Annie Bella does not have cancer. If she did, I might try anything.

A week is barely a drop of water in the length of time you'll have your new pup. It can take 6 months or more for a Greyhound to settle in totally and his personality to come out. The way he acts will change almost daily for a while. If it were me (and it almost was), I'd let my pup have the run of the house without the cat by putting the cat in a room with food, water and litter and close the door. I'd do it for a few days or perhaps longer. The cat will be fine. They don't hold grudges. But your pup will be able to move freely around your house and gain confidence that it is his house too. Once his confidence is more secure, re-introduce the cat. My Annie Bella, who I adopted last July, was sorta afraid of the cat and would avoid her like the plague in the beginning. She still has a slight issue with the fear or whatever it might be. A few days ago the cat was sitting in the doorway to the den, and Annie Bella was standing in the hallway, looking at the cat with a pained expression as if saying, "My bed's in there. Please move. Pleasee??" The cat has never threatened Annie Bella. The cat has never scratched Annie Bella. She just sits there, being a cat. Maybe this picture has something to do with Annie Bella's reluctance to get too close to the cat.

The following information came from my adoption group's FB page: Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Veterinary Medicine are evaluating a new vaccine for dogs diagnosed with osteosarcoma. If your dog has recently been diagnosed or is currently undergoing chemotherapy for bone cancer, (s)he may be eligible for vaccination. http://www.vet.upenn.edu/Research/BasicandClinicalResearch/CanineCancerStudies/BoneCancerStudy/tabid/2392/Default.aspx

Hmm.. sounds interesting. Do you know why laser might work to achieve results and how will the results be measured?

I like common sense.

:lol Sorry for laughing.... well, not really. I'm still fairly new compared to some of you all, but I can read, current and historical posts, and this is soooo not a new subject, and when I read the first couple of comments after the initial post, it struck a funny bone. IMO, and short of empirical facts, food recommendations are based on our own preferences for our dog(s), not what is necessarily the *best* food because honestly, do we really know what is best? (And no, I don't trust the FDA -- they can't do a good job for people how can they do a good job for animals?) To graybookends: Thanks for writing such a graceful post. It was perfect! We can hope that pet parents do the best they can for their Greyhounds but what is best for me isn't going to be best for you or the next person. And what works today may not work tomorrow (trust me on this one.. Annie Bella is just coming out of an intestinal issue that started for no known reason). Regarding Purina products: When Annie Bella started with the formed softer stools (a problem she hasn't had since shortly after adopting her last July), which deteriorated into non-formed soft serve, I tried Purina One Smartblend based upon the recommendation of another poster on another topic here on GT. It didn't do the trick, but she loved it...so much so that she didn't want anything else, to the point where even the bland chicken and rice diet wasn't fulfilling to her palate. Long story short, the vet put her on the prescription Purina (oh my a Purina product) EN Gastroenteric kibble. I am mixing it with her usual Iams Proactive Health Minichunks. Within one meal -- from last night's supper to this morning's breakfast -- her stool has improved 100%. Was it chance? The 'script food? Sheesh, with Greyhounds who really knows? Anyway, to the OP, go with your gut...whatever works for your dog.. and as someone suggested make sure you're reading current info regarding issues with dog food. Nothing is ever removed from the Internet, so articles about recalls from years ago are still out there. BTW, I suspect Annie Bella will spend the rest of her life on a 'script dog food mixed with a bit of something more tasty. My adoption group highly recommends a food out of Canada called Darford. ::sigh:: Like I need another recommendation. I mean seriously, doesn't this just drive us all a bit batty? I'll try it but....

Beautiful boy!

Yes! That's exactly what I'm doing, though obviously I should be more attuned to Gable. We are working on it (both of us) and this morning's walk was surprisingly PERFECT. I've been trying to train him to walk well, loose leash and all that jazz. He's mostly good just some minor issues. THere was even this tiny little white puppy thing that barked at him as we passed, but I Had him close to my side as ya'll suggested and gave the others a bit of a berth. The other people didn't even bother reining in their yapper, just stared at us as we passed. Gable was certainly interested, but no whining and kept going with me. I'm hoping that his awesomeness this morning will rub off later a the Fiesta (yes, I'm attempting at least for a little bit), if he hasn't used up all his angel points for the day. Thanks for the advice! We will keep trucking along. I like the term "angel points." LOL Very cute. Good news about your success. I'm sure Gable felt your control long before a situation could start. Isn't it amazing how people just let their dogs -- whether large or small -- walk way out on the leash as if they own the sidewalk? Success breeds success and it will get better.

It's about control. I'm thinking that if Gable can rush right up to another dog, there is too much leash out. He can't rush anybody if he's at your side. When Annie Bella and I see people or dogs on our walks and it's obvious we'll pass by each other, I immediately put her on a very short leash, as in she is right at my knee and my hand is at the clip of the leash where it joins the collar. AB's not a snarky dog or a jumpy dog, but not everybody likes dogs, so by keeping her close, I'm making them feel comfortable about meeting Annie Bella, as well as not all dogs are friendly and nice, so I am protecting her too.

I just took a stool sample for Annie Bella to her vet this afternoon. They said it can't be more than 24 hours old. Her "stool" was soft ice cream this morning when I got it, and I got it by having a couple of paper plates with me and when she squatted, I put one under her and caught it and double bagged it, carrying it around like a.. well.. a doggy bag from a restaurant. :lol As far as quantity, I have no idea. I had a big enough amount I didn't worry about it. Tests revealed no worms for Annie Bella so I authorized a test for giardiasis, which is not a standard test, at least at my vet's. They send it out at a cost of another $68 on top of the $27 for the simple testing. I hope both our pups get over this ASAP and we can stop watching their poop (if we ever really do).

...then I threw a green bag of Iams in the cart... And it did work for Annie Bella for quite a few months, then she stopped liking it. Damn! Then she got loose stools. Double damn. Now I don't know what to do. Am actually hoping the loose sample I'm taking to the vet today shows something nasty so that she can go on meds and be done with this almost-diarrhea stuff.

I don't think it takes as long as a month to determine if new food is going to work. Greyhounds' tummies may be sensitive, but pretty much I give it about a week and if Annie Bella's got loose stools or diarrhea, then the food's not working for her. She can't use Blue Buffalo either. Actually, any high-end food gives her a problem.

Awwwwww...poor boy. Gosh it does bring home how small Greyhounds really are.

I'm no expert but the info I have from my adoption group is that Creatinine for a Greyhound should be between 0.8 and 1.6. I have no info on normal BUN stats. Actually, from the info I have, a Creatinine stat of 2.9 would be high for any breed of dog. Regarding food: The more you read on here the more you'll find that there is a contingent of us (me included) who don't think that high-end kibble is necessarily the best. Annie Bella, my grey, had bad diarrhea while on Blue Buffalo kibble. As a matter of fact, all high-end kibbles I tried gave her diarrhea. If it were me, I'd follow my vet's advice regarding food and address the type of food you want to feed your pup after Watson's health issues are fixed.

Good grief, he is gorgeous!

You're going to get a lot of different views on eating grass. I posted a week or so ago about Annie Bella just once, that morning, eating grass and vomiting up what was obviously bile. Most people jumped in to say their dogs eat grass -- somebody even said her hounds graze like cows. According to the vet, Annie Bella probably had the stomach virus that was going around this area in dogs and also said that some dogs eat grass! Annie Bella's still chomping on a bit of grass in the backyard and I don't worry about it because she's not vomiting.

ROFL. Honestly, I'm still laughing out loud because indeed, it takes a great deal of dedication to keep it coming out. :lol But nope, Annie Bella doesn't do that. She is a bit of a "walker" when she poos. The majority -- whatever the consistency -- is in one spot, then, still in position, she'll take a step or two and leave droppings, but it's not in response to any outside influence. She does it in the back of my place, on the edge of the woods (I've got 11 acres), and the only thing around are trees, as well as on neighbors' lawns. Ya know, anybody who would ever question our love and devotion to Greyhounds, and our own in particular, would just have to read this type of topic to get it. Oh, by the way, it was your post of "then I threw a green bag..." that got me to try Iams in the green bag.