Brandiandwe

Update: so we saw the vet today. The good news is that it isn't osteo. But there is bad news. Benny has corns on all four paws, but the leg he was limping worst on has the worst corn. But he's torn both triceps. The vet thinks that he's been holding himself tense from the pain in his feet, and this has resulted in micro tears in the muscle when walking and last week it just got too much. This has then resulted in his holding his back stiff which has resulted in more pain through his back and hind legs. The problem is that he's also arthritic, the corns come back within a week of hulling, and he's losing some muscle tone, and he didn't have much to start with. He can't really be walked, because of his triceps, but can't be left at home because of the arthritis. We can't leave him on the anti-inflam drugs for more than three days at a time. Band he doesn't tolerate boots. So, we're going with ultrasound on the muscles, magnets across his back, heat packs and gentle massage and stretching. Then we'll need to get him back to the underwater treadmill once a week or so to build up some strength. But there is no cure for this. It's only management. And while it wasn't said out loud, we were talking about how we'd 'know' it was time. He's still responsive and happy, and lives his walks and his cuddles. He's eating with zest and is enjoying watching the world go by. But it is very clear to me that we're entering a phase of watching and caring, but not curing.

He managed to hop up onto our bed last night so I'm thinking he'll be sleeping with us for the next few days. I've checked his neck and back - above mentioned friends have shown me how in the past and all my greys get regular checks, stretches and massages - and apart from the 'normal' issues from arthritis,corns and old injuries, I've found nothing. But I'll definitely keep it in mind. Meanwhile, Paige seems to be having an intestinal response to Advantix, so she needs a bath! Raining and pouring here.

Looks like I'm in for a worrying few days. Benny is on three legs. Initially we thought it was his corn, but today he's toe-dragging and not happy. There's some tenderness in his shoulder as well. Greyhound vets here are few and far between, but a good friend is one. Unfortunately she lives three hours away and works an hour and a half away, and isn't in till Monday. She also knows all of his history, and knows I'm a worry wort. She's told me which painkiller to give, told me its probably age, arthritis and the cold. Another good friend has the drug on hand (greyhound trainer and breeder of show greys) and will be giving it to me tomorrow. And Benny is in for a weekend of limited movement and a vet visit Monday. I guess I should be getting him in somewhere before then. But if we can manage his pain, my feeling is that if its arthritis, it won't degenerate. If it's a sprain, it'll begin healing. And if it's osteo, well, his kidneys and heart and back legs are such that there isn't much we would do beyond palliative care. I feel awful.

This, too. Thanks for having the guts to say it. A dog of that age with those issues would be incredibly difficult to rehome. I think you are probably faced with either keeping him safe and comfortable or putting him down. And you would need to do that at home, with you there. Because as someone who pulled her senior out of the pound where his family had left him, I know how terrifying those places are for all dogs, but particularly for a senior who is confused, hurting, and scared and whose family has vanished.

I'd be checking for pain, hearing and eyesight. How's his mobility? Is he arthritic? And is he still 'with it' mentally? I know our senior, Benny, who is 11, gets very spacey, needs to be close to a human of his (me or DH) or in a very safe bed with noone else near. He's having a few mobility problems and his hearing and eyesight are not what they were. And I'm expecting him to get increasingly grumpy as he gets more confused.

We also found that a food intolerance was the main cause of Brandi's ongoing UTIs. We shifted to raw which seemed to sort things out (which I realise might not be an option), but it seemed that the kibble was inflaming her system. We also found B1 helped, as did trying more acidic foods, like tomatoes.

Keep her moving, is what my vet hs told me about mine. You might like to investigate some other options as well. If you've got an animal physio with an underwater treadmill, they can be great for strengthening muscles and exercise while reducing the weight being carried. It's hard when they get old.

My high prey girl does something similar. How soft and submissive is his body language? Are his eyes soft or hard? Is he quivering, sending calming signals, shaking, whining or whistling?

You probably don't want to see my behaviour if someone comes near me when I'm enjoying Belgian chocolate. It was a very high value treat and she doesn't know you well enough to trust you. I am still the only one who can remove those sorts of treats from my dogs mouths, and even then its very very carefully and only in an emergency. The newest dog here has been here 18 months, and I still don't venture near him while eating unless absolutely necessary.

Paige is a dominant bitch but she has exhibited similar traits towards housemates who are afraid or in pain, and also to other dogs who are vulnerable. I, like you, constantly underestimate her and my others.

So now try buying a second bed, so you don't have to carry it up and down all the time.

Have you changed her diet? How much exercise is she getting?

So (confused), she's messing overnight? Does she sleep in your room with you? If not, why not? If she's in there, she's with her pack, and you can hear her if she's moving around. Is she cold? Does she have a uti? Worms? Change in diet?

Advantix. It's the only thing I trust to protect against paralysis ticks.

I'm delighted that this thread is still going! OK big issues right now are a bit of storm phobia. Sadly it's a bad year for it this year so the boys have been shaking away in their thunder shirts several times a week. Wet grass. Paige dislikes getting her feet wet and insists on balancing on any piece of concrete she can find to avoid the wet grass. Unfortunately, this also means that she can't reach all the really interesting pee mail everyone else is sniffing. That, of course, is my fault.

Hate the burst the bubble, but she might be plotting against you.... Certainly my Paige is far too intelligent for her own good and generally uses her intelligence for evil rather than good.

I muzzle by law. But I'm one of the outliers on this board! Really, I don't care what people say. I have people crossing the road to get away from my vicious dogs and, as a woman walking alone, I admit to liking the intimidation factor of a big muzzled brindled dog (or four large dogs all walked by one person). That said, there's been a lot about greys in the media here and it's got people coming up and talking to me. Two of mine don't play well with other breeds and are high prey/ fear aggressive. They are muzzled. Two aren't, and they're not muzzled. After one meeting with my dogs, I tend to have repeat visitors and compliments on how well-behaved my gang are. The best way to be a good ambassador for ghe breed, muzzled or not, is to have well behaved, polite dogs who are under control and not allowed to approach other people or dogs without permission, to clean up after your dogs, to get out of the way of others on the footpath, and to be friendly, well informed and approachable. I'm always up front about why two of my dogs are muzzled, and what some of the issues are, but I also know that really, my dogs' behaviour and their personalities speak for themselves.

Do you have access to any greyhound masseurs or 'muscle men'? He might have popped his shoulder out when running. Here most trainers use these guys to check for sprains and shoulders/ backs/ hips being knocked out when racing. Like a chiro. It might be worth checking.

A beautiful tribute to a special girl. Run free Diana.

I'm posting because, although it's summer here, I am watching my old boy Benny struggling. It's just that time of year. Instead of freezing temperatures, we are dealing with 40 degree C days, high humidity, thunder storms and no relief. I know he feels the heat terribly. He doesn't sleep, pants constantly, and gets very confused ...... At least he can go outside, but I know it exhausts him. I wouldn't trade him, but I can't wait for winter.... These older dogs just steal our hearts, don't they?

Hi there. One question I'd ask is how much you're feeding him. Mine get the runs when they've been fed too much (looking at you DH!) as well as when they have multiple poops. I'd also be checking for worms just in case. as for the rest, we make sure ours have lots of stuff to play with in their toy basket, but we also muzzle our top dog. None of the others ever bothers him, but he has destroyed three remote controls, several books and two pairs of shoes....

Just this morning my four once again spent ten minutes with a neighbourhood toddler. My two girls have never been around children (we don't have kids and have had them from a young age), the boys we don't know. But they are all very gentle and sweet, and Hermon particularly enjoys babies and toddlers. but Brandi happily lay on the ground while the toddler 'washed' her with her hands rubbing her fur every direction, and then sat beside her gently stroking her side.

Yeah. The only thing I'd check is whether she's cold or if your heating or something switches on at that time. I know that I tend to wake up cold at that time of morning if I haven't got enough covers on, so I'd check that first. Is she in PJs? Assuming she's not cold, I'd be ignoring it. But I'm with BatterseaBrindl. Opening your eyes is fatal. My Paige rests her nose on my pillow beside me and staes at me. Unfortunately she can now tell by changes in my breathing whether I'm awake or not, and this morning chose to jump on my head and bang me with a front paw to tell me to get up. It's been going on for over four years now.

Work out what is important to you, but also what might be fun. I'd google some Sophia Yin videos. She was an amazing dog trainer and behaviouralist who really emphasised positive reinforcement. Personally, I'd be doing recall (so lifesaving but also handy for removing hounds from furniture), 'wait' (very handy on walks when opening gates or doors, picking up poop or waiting to cross the road), 'leave it!' 'Drop it/ give it!'. Otherwise, we have 'What've I got?' (treat time!) 'let's go! = time for a walk/ release from wait on a walk. 'Righteo then!' (see above) 'In the car!' 'Time for bed.' Hermon has also god 'Who's my good boy!' which is when he's been a clever dog and unwound himself from the tree or lampost that the other four of us on the walk managed to avoid, and he managed to entangle himself around. He then get's a treat. All of the above are things I use every day, so other than recall, wait and leave it/ drop it I didn't 'train' any of them except through doing. So 'righteo then' is something I say as I'm getting up to go for a walk, or to get dinner. so the hounds have learned that at certain times of the day, those words are associated with specific and very good things. Let's go was one which I used, in a really positive and excited voice to help Brandi walk past Very Frightening Things. They all now use it as a cue to move forward and be happy. The other thing I wanted to say is that it's great that you're wanting to do this. From your other posts you're working hard to both do the right thing by your grey, but also to overcome your own fears. Fairly soon, particularly if you head off on some decent hikes with her regularly (carry treats. Walks can be awesome places for training too) and you also do this training with her, you'll look at her and realise that trust and love is growing between you. It's a great feeling.

I'm so sorry. Diana is a huntress - she will not give up, like her namesake. But I think you know that no one here will judge you whichever decision you make. I am of the school that it is better too soon than too late, but I'm here when you need someone.