RedHead

IMO light daily exercise is very beneficial for dogs with arthritis, stiffness, etc. The only reason I would stop would be if it was an actual injury that needed rest (or if the dog was reluctant due to pain). Stopping daily exercise only makes the muscles get weaker and things just deteriorate faster. It is so hard to see our dogs age, but a bit of weakness and limping is pretty normal for a 13 year old. It doesn't sound like it is really bothering her and she still sounds like a happy pup!! If you haven't already, you may want to feed some joint supplements/high levels of omega 3.

Cat food/treats are fine, as are cheese, hotdogs, etc. as long as they are fed as treats and in moderation. I do a lot of clicker training where I am constantly giving treats, so I like to buy ones that are very small. That's why I love using cat products. A little scoop goes a long way and does no harm.

My new favourite treat for training is orijin cat food. You can buy little small bags of the kibble or (even better) tiny little freeze dried bits. This food is nearly all meat so most dogs love it. It is also in little pieces so is great to use for training http://www.orijen.ca/products/cat-food/freeze-dried-cat-treats/ I also just make a lot of my own treats by chopping up chicken, steaks, etc. and freezing it in baggies.

I have used the Springtime Longevity for about a year. I got it because I had heard such great reviews from people on here. My grey is almost 9 and doesn't have any health/joint issues so it is hard to tell if it has made a difference. I figure it can't hurt to add preventative joint supplements (and whatever else all the green stuff is in it! )

Oh no

Beautiful pup! She has such a sweet face Congrats on your adoption.

Good luck tomorrow Ry! You will do just fine. Your mom will be happy when you are home safe and sound tomorrow.

Greys just aren't used to having anyone around while they eat. They have always had in the privacy of their crate walls. With time, many learn to relax and not worry so much over food, even without a lot of training. One safe way to desensitize is to toss (really yummy...higher value than whatever they are chewing...shredded chicken, liver treats, etc.) treats to them every time you walk by when they are chewing and in a relaxed state of mind (if they are tense or growling don't reward, but it also means you need to take a step back to the point or distance in which they are comfortable). Don't go too close, and don't make a big deal about it, just toss and keep walking. When you see that they are comfortable you can gradually get closer with the end goal of trade ups. I think with time, and proper training almost all dogs can learn to share. Other people are happy to just leave them in peace when they eat and not worry about it.

I don't think there is anything magical about the Green Bag other than it has a larger amount of beet pulp added. Psyllium husks are another additive that you can try if you can't find beet pulp (as it is sold in stores for humans ). Start with a tsp in warm water over kibble and work your way up as needed. I don't feed kibble so have no experience, but a lot of dogs seem to do well on the Purina ProPlan formulas.

You could probably just leave food out for a day or two and he would eventually eat. I know that is what most people say. Forcing a dog to eat something basically out of desperation/starvation isn't really normal or natural for a dog in my opinion though. Dog's naturally love food, so if they won't eat, it is usually for a reason. There are some really simple add-ins that you can make to mix in with kibble (even just some rice and meat). People seem to have this idea that (healthy) add ins are "bad" but I think they are great. You REALLY have to mix it into the kibble well though so that each piece is coated it the flavour. Also, our petstores here carry ground up liver powder. The smell makes most dogs go crazy. I have a super picky dog and sometimes just a sprinkle entices him to eat. Dogs eat mostly by smell, not flavour

Glad the bloodwork was okay! That must be a relief. Hopefully it is just something minor and he will have an appetite back soon.

I'm sorry about your pup. Hopefully the bloodwork will shed some light on something. Sometimes when animals don't feel like eating solid foods, they will drink liquids. I always have a frozen batch of bone broth in the freezer. I just throw some bones in the crockpot with some water and a tbsp or two of apple cidar vinegar. I cook on low for a couple of days and the bones and marrow break down almost completely to make a very nutritious and (usually enticing) broth. Much better than just regular chicken or beef broth. Good luck with your pup, I hope you can get him eating again.

Dogaware is a great resource for kidney problems and diets. It you scroll down on this link there is a huge list of foods and phosphorus amounts. http://dogaware.com/health/kidneynonprescription.html Tripe is a great addition/supplement for kidney dogs too.

Wow, that really sucks. I have no idea about Animal Control or laws, but if the Pom. attacked you and bit at your leg, I would document it. They tend to react more seriously when people get bit. I would also have a phone handy (or camera) on me. Sometimes the bigger dog can take all the blame in these situations, so I would be ready to gather videos or photos if needed. If a medium or large dog came running at someone and bit at their leg it WOULD be an issue, having a smaller dog is no excuse. People are so annoying, that is unfortunate that you have to share a yard! Maybe you could get a few x-pens and connect them for a small protected potty area?? Then walk elsewhere for exercise?

My sister's dog just completely cracked both back molars chewing these (he is a little dog though). Teague is not an aggressive chewer at all so can handle them, but he refuses to acknowledge them as a food product. lol They just lay on the floor collecting dust.

I find that I can generally tell how a food is almost immediately. I know they recommend several weeks, but I find that you can usually tell within a day or two. I would probably try something for a week but after that I would look for another alternative personally. If your pup has been ill, there could be other issues causing the digestive upset as well. You may want to feed a bland diet (like rice and chicken and a few veggies) to settle things down for a few days.

If you are feeding kibble as half the diet you don't have to be so worried about supplements. Calcium is the main one as was mentioned above. Most of the advice I have read says that if a homemade portion makes up more than half of the regular diet, you should add calcium. If not, you don't have to worry as much. So...you are kind of on the borderline I would say, but if you are doing it long term, a calcium supplement may be a good idea. The dose is around 900 mg per pound of food (or a half teaspoon of ground egg shell). You can add organs if you like, liver is especially nutritious. Eggs are also a great source of (cheap) protein...and as mentioned above you can hard-boil them and then use the shells for calcium. I used to feed kibble/raw mix, but am now doing some home-cooked in place of kibble. It is cheaper for me, and his system does much better on it (and he loves it).

Is there a calorie count on the bag?? Compare it to the calories per cup in your old food to see if there is a difference and adjust from there. 4+ cups sounds like enough to me, but if it is less calorie dense and a lot lower in protein, your pup may feel hungry. Or...maybe pick up some of the canned and add that in.

Welcome! Remember...you are always free to join in conversations or ask questions even if you don't have a greyhound.

I am also curious as to where you live, because a petstore selling a greyhound would be extremely rare. Maybe a whippet (rare too) and more likely an Italian Greyhound. Maybe it is more common in other countries, I don't know. NO....and I repeat NO reputable breeder would ever give dogs to petshops. No exceptions. Fancy petstores like to boast that they use good breeders but it is never true. "Registered" dogs mean nothing. You are setting yourself up for a possibly poorly bred dog with questionable lineage, that you will pay an insane amount of money for. There are thousands of retired racers looking for homes, and a small number of reputable breeders. I mean this in the nicest way, but you may want to research further into dogs and the breed itself if you think it is a good idea to buy from a petstore.

Are you planning to adopt? The only way you will get a puppy greyhound (other than a few on racetracks) is from a greyhound breeder (which are pretty rare). If you do intend to get a puppy from a breeder.....please research them well and make sure they are reputable. Any reputable breeder will NOT be giving you a whippet or get confused between the two. The only way you would get a whippet instead of a greyhound would maybe be a backyard breeder or someone in the classified ads trying to get rid of puppies. I know little about whippets, but I am assuming there is still quite a size difference at 3-4 months of age. They also have a much finer and smaller head.

Welcome! Sounds like you picked a wonderful pup!

I muzzle mine when he is running with other greyhounds. I thought it wasn't necessary and then when I saw them all running together I saw why they were needed!! I personally don't need a muzzle in any other situation, but I do find it handy for introducing smaller animals (such as my cats and rabbits). Greyhounds are different from other shelter dogs simply because they have spent their whole lives isolated to a kennel environment. They are essentially working dogs and have been bred and encouraged to chase and run. Most of them don't get a whole lot of socialization to the outside world like other dogs would automatically have. Many have never even had simple experiences such as meeting smaller dogs, cats, or other animals out in public. This, combined with training and instinct to chase moving objects makes it necessary for some people to muzzle as a precaution. For the most part though, I think very few greyhounds need to be muzzled all the time while in public.

I would suggest maybe stuffing a kong for him. You can stuff it with almost any dry food (kibble, liver treats, etc) and then add a wet food like peanut butter, canned food, yogurt, cheese, leftover meat scraps etc. Put it in the freezer and it will be a perfect midnight snack

I'm sorry for your loss. Sounds like Diana was happy and peaceful until the end. Hugs!