cjdavis

UPDATE: Magic is hitting the pee pads more often than not, however she still seems to hold her bladder until after I go to bed, which is something I'll tell the vet. Pooping...not so much; either the need to do so seems to catch her by surprise and she runs away after, or she poops lying down and doesn't seem to be aware of it (will also mention to the vet). She eats from a feeding ball that she pushes around (for mental stimulation/exercise). She is walking the length of the home once with the harness on (which is an improvement) but has yet to go downstairs. I encourage her by giving her treats when she stands at the top of the stairs without immediately turning around. She has occasional abbreviated zoomies. I spoke with American Greyhound; for the near future she'll stay with me and I'll keep an eye on her and the vet updated on how she's doing, but Jeff will speak with someone who he thinks is a good candidate should Magic need to be re-homed. Many thanks to everyone for the advice and help offered here, in this thread, over the past few weeks.

Many thanks for getting back to me Wendy, and thank you very much for the advice. I'm still not sure what the best decision is for Magic. On the one hand I am helping her acclimate to the harness and taking her as close to the stairs as she is comfortable with...and rewarding with treats. She appears to be happy...eating and drinking normally, zonking out on her beds and sticking her nose in my keyboard from time to time. I've ordered some treat/food puzzles to help keep her mind and body stimulated and I've got heating pads for her hips and back. On the other hand, over the past 3-4 days of being mostly inside, Magic has developed the new habit of holding her bladder and bowels so that she only goes once per day. When she finally does pee it appears to be because she can't hold it any more; she crouches in one of the few places there are no pee pads and lets loose...trotting away before she's done so that she leaves trails (or presents) behind. And she appears anxious beforehand (panting, pacing) and after (trotting away). I've never yelled or spoken to her in frustration when she's had accidents in the past and I definitely don't do so now. I have a phone chat tomorrow morning with her adoption group. Afterwards I'm calling her vet to give her an update on Magic. I hope the decision will be clearer afterwards.

Sorry, no. Thanks for asking though. Chicago is a large, yet surprisingly small, city.

This is a long shot, but Is her last name Knowlton?

Unfortunately there's no one in the building I'm familiar with and who is around (and awake) to help. Also, for now, the objective is to build Magic's confidence back up with the stairs. She's afraid of them now and will turn away once she gets to the top of the long flight down.

I received a call from my vet last night; we had a discussion during which she recommended Magic stay with me and be an indoor dog while I help her regain her confidence with the stairs, unless there's a close friend or family nearby, in a first floor place, whom I can visit regularly. She, and the other vet Magic sees, are concerned that the cortisol levels induced by the stress of re-homing Magic would have an adverse affect that would cancel out the benefits of her being in a single floor dwelling. She also gave recommendations for transitioning Magic to being an indoor dog: things to watch out for, toys that can help her body and brain stay active, et. cetera. This morning I got a reply back from American Greyhound, about getting in touch. In our past discussions the person I spoke with there said...contrary to what the vet is recommending...that re-homing Magic would not be as stressful for her as it would be for me; that she would adjust quickly. So for now I'm in a holding pattern.

Unfortunately I do not; the one friend I do have nearby lives on the third floor as well. I've messaged the group on Facebook and, as per the instructions I received, have emailed their contact address for adoptions. Crossing my fingers now.

I don't have a balcony. There is a small area outside my back door that's shared with three other doors and, down three stairs there are two wider stairs; today Magic pooped there before turning around and going back up the stairs. I have pee pads laid out inside on the place where she...if she does have an accident in the house...has an accident. Since the back landing and stairs are wood, with gaps, I'm reluctant to let her go there, even with pads. I did try the Ruffwear WebMaster harness. I still have the Ruffwear Front range harness and, up until the most recent spill, I put it on her when we went out. I also have a sling lift that I practiced using with her numerous times...before she stopped moving when it was on, or went up the stairs to avoid me putting it on her. What I'm trying to say is that I'm not throwing a harness on her and expecting results, I know that she is scared and I give her treats when she makes it to the top of the first flight of stairs before turning back. Neither am I expecting an instant response from American Greyound or any other volunteer organization that I contact; today's email and text to A.G. is after sending an email a month ago, then a text this Saturday. This is the first time I've seen Magic repeatedly refuse/avoid going downstairs after tripping on the stairs and I'm not sure what action to take and which would be best for her. Look for another home for her where she can go outside whenever? Continue to work with her on the stairs while putting down pads for accidents? Stop trying to help her with the stairs and try to acclimate/train her to be an inside-only dog? A combination of all of the above?

Thanks Ramonaghan. Headed out to pick up a harness option at PetSmart, then back to call around to other groups if I haven't hear anything from AG.

Thanks Victor. I've made a list of all greyhound adoption groups in the IL area; I'm going to start calling/emailing if I don't hear from American Greyhound by noon. Caveat: The agreement I signed when I (and ex) adopted Magic states that she will be returned to AGGL and ownership/possession will not be transferred to anyone without their express written consent. Not sure what to do about this if I can't get in touch with AGGL and another group finds someone who agrees to take her.

I sent another, more detailed, email this morning followed up by a text. Waiting until a reasonable hour to make a follow up call. If there's no response by noon, I'll start contacting other adoption groups. Heading off to compile a list now. Magic has shown zero inclination to go outside and downstairs since she and I were up this morning at 5. Not sure if I should wake her to try or let her come to me when she wants to go out.

Thanks all, for the quick replies. I'm in the Chicago area. I adopted Magic from American Greyhound and contacted Jeff Coggins earlier this year about rehoming before Magic got the diagnosis of IVDD; I agreed to give him a head's up if/when Magic's condition got to the point when rehoming was a necessity. I sent him an email a month or two later, when Magic was going through a difficult period, then I texted him this past weekend while Magic was boarding at the vet. I've not heard back from him either time but I'll try again today. Additionally I ordered another harness yesterday, and will be spending some time today looking for other harness options I haven't tried. I've also put down more pads (Magic had some incontinence issues in the past and I would put pads in the area she'd have accidents; she knows to use them now). I'm taking today and tomorrow off to work on a solution for Magic and to help her with her (new) fear of the back stairs. I'll check this thread throughout the day.

Magic is my 12-year old greyhound who is healthy except for arthritis and IVDD. We live on the third floor of a building with no elevator. Magic is 73lbs at a healthy weight. Recently (this past Friday) the IVDD took a sharp turn for the worse; she failed the turnover test for her right rear leg and had a very delayed reaction for the left when I took her to the vet after she slipped going down the stairs, then refused to go down the stairs at all. She hates support anything...I've tried slings and several kinds of harnesses...but I boarded her at the vet for the weekend while I rush ordered two harnesses I hadn't tried yet. Just tried them about an hour ago and neither worked for her. She won't go down the stairs at all. I've ordered another harness option (Ginger something) and looking for others but if I can't find one I'm now facing a difficult decision Rehome Magic with someone who lives in a first floor dwelling and is willing to take in an aging greyhound with medical needs. Put Magic to sleep, even though she's healthy in every other way (eating, drinking, walks around the house just fine, limited zoomies). I'm probably forgetting information (like I haven't heard back from the person who agreed to help her find a new home if necessary); it's because I'm gutted and just need advice. Feel free to ask questions so I can fill in gaps.