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Xan

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Posts posted by Xan

    Vibrating Jaw

    in Training and Behavior discussion

    Posted

    Marc, that's what we call it. The greyhound purr! Brilly is the only one of our three to do it, and he ranges from the jaw quiver, jaw shaking so hard it makes his head vibrate (how can he SEE like that!? :P ), to the full-on castanet chatter.

     

    What does it mean? For Brilly, it means he's not eating or sleeping. :P He doesn't wag his tail much, but he does wag his jaw a lot!

     

    Oh yes. We've had a big smiler (Renie) and chatterers (Jim, Susan, Renie and Jack all chattered to some degree) and a little bit of shivering can go along with chattering.

     

    But now we have a major shiverer in Sid. It's usually just his head and neck and more than one person has said 'Is that dog having a seizure?' :lol But when I went to pick him up from the 'kennel' (actually, his trainer's home) after being away for two weeks, and he caught sight of me through the window, his whole body was vibrating!

     

    It was very funny, because he was standing in a crowd of happy dogs (six others) who were all bouncing, milling about and barking at me, wagging their tails like crazy, and he was standing like a statue, on full alert but shaking like a leaf. When she opened the door and let him out, he ran full tilt to me and stopped on a sixpence, leaning across my legs, so I got the full force of the tremor. Felt like an '8' on the Richter scale. :rofl

    :rofl I can just see this!!

    Deeni Was Hit By A Car Last Night

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted

    WEDNESDAY MORNING UPDATE:

    Thank you, thank you, thank you to Xan and John.

    Last night I tried some of Turid Rugaas' calming signals with Deeni and she relaxed enough so that I could hold her and cuddle her the way we always do at bedtime. While she was in a relaxed state I massaged her entire body including her neck to see if maybe we are dealing with true pain related issues and she never flinched.

     

    That being said, early this morning after checking to see if she was awake, I reached down from my bed to pet her while she was lying on her dog bed and she screamed. I think I am beginning to see the difference between touching her and setting her off. If she thinks I am going for her collar in an attempt to hook her up- she screams. This morning I had reached down to scratch her neck, something she normally loves but an act that could easily be misinterpreted as ‘going for her collar’.

     

    She does NOT want to leave the house- plain and simple. I hate to allow her to ‘hold everything in’ for an entire day but I think I am going to have to let her call the shots for a awhile at least. I did not take her out at all yesterday afternoon and night. At about 3:30 AM she woke me asking to go outside so I took her out with me. Luckily in the small Midwestern city and quiet neighborhood where we live there were no cars driving past our house at the hour so she was relaxed and walked around the yard with me to relieve herself so she will ask when she is ready.

     

    Since it seems that we have the pain well under control, I will start slowly reducing the Tramadol today and hopefully this will also reduce its psychotropic effects which may be acerbating her fears and anxieties. I am beginning to feel that this is going to be just a little rough patch in her healing process and that we will overcome this. I want my little girl back and now I know she will come back to me.

    :yay

    This is fabulous stuff!! I'm so glad you're finding a way in so soon, and that you can begin to deduce the things that are most triggering to her! Yeay!! :)

    Deeni Was Hit By A Car Last Night

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted

    Poor Deeni and you! :bighug

     

    I'm with the time and patience crowd, and also for trying the RR, and also for seeing how she does after the meds clear her system before trying new drugs.

     

    Calming signals might really help, too. If you're not familiar with these, there's a slim volume by that title, maybe you can find it, or someone can send/lend it to you? There are even some vids on youtube. I'm thinking, coming close to her reaction zone (but not in it), sit down looking anywhere but at her, and yawn a lot, like it's just the most relaxing, boring moment. When she relaxes, move a little closer, and repeat. Maybe she'll even come to you. Just yawn, and look around, maybe adding a little "nose lick" (for humans, just flick your tongue up on your upper lip a few times, like dogs do when they're getting a good scritch, or meeting a new dog they might like). Take her cue if she comes to you for how much touch she actually wants. She might just be comfortable with being close only, at first.

     

    I did this a lot in Dewey last week, and several dogs that were pretty wound out, shy, or over-stimulated, calmed down and pushed their noses into me for pets. :)

     

    Good luck for a speedy and full recovery, mentally as well as physically! :bighug

    James' Back Legs Are Giving Up

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted

    Poor James! So sorry to hear he's having problems, Deanna! I hope these suggestions help. I was reading along thinking, "harness ... check... acupuncture ... check ... herbs ... check ... OMegas ... check ... cart ... check!" Everyone got in ahead of me! :lol

     

    Depending on the progression, and his other overall health, maybe one of those wheel-chair doohickies? I've considered them for Wabi, for the future. Some of them are amazing, and the dogs seem to adapt so well to using them.

     

    Hugs to you both!

    :bighug

    Romi Aka Finger Roll

    in Remembrance

    Posted

    Oh! I'm so sorry to hear of your great loss! Romy has been one of my very favorite GT hounds. He looks like such a sweet, happy, gentle soul, with a bit of the goof about him. I hope his presence deep in your heart gives you peace soon.

    :bighug :bighug :bighug

    Taking The Freestyle Plunge!

    in Training and Behavior discussion

    Posted

    This sounds SO fun! The videos I've watched are amazing. I keep thinking my boy Pogo would do well. We already do a lot of fun moves just for brain-activity (he's a busy boy! :lol ) To get his meals, he has to run through my choice of assorted moves, including spins, circling me in both directions, circling me as I move around, shaking, high-five, putting both front paws on my wrist, backing up, sit, down, speak .... All with hand-signals only! :lol You should see him move when I've got a bowl in my hand! :rofl

     

    Have fun with it!

    Snake

    in Remembrance

    Posted

    He sounds like such a nut, and really full of life, even right near the end. I can tell you love him deeply.

    :bighug :bighug :bighug

    His place in your heart is forever.

    :bighug

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