JaneW

Well, the vet has no suggestions since there is no arthritis or obvious injury--the groin injury from a couple months ago is healed. She does have a slightly mis-aligned vertebra. We could try laser healing treatments, but he told me the price and that's just not an option at the moment. Greta has one more accupunture treatment scheduled and then I have to tell the accupunturist that we won't have any more. They did some good, but not enough to continue them for "maintenance" purposes. We've had a couple months of one expense after another and we simply have to stop spending money except for clear necessities. Greta even had to go to the E-vet last week because she caught some contagious intestinal infection and got dehydrated! So, Greta is doing ok, but her back is not right, and it's going to stay that way unless my daily massages help it.

We've never let Greta on the couch or any furniture. Just our rules, but probably a good thing with her. She needs to always know that she is not the boss--or she will assume she is!

Greta doesn't ask, though she may be restless if our pre-meal activities are not our usual routine.

I wondered if Dr Adsit was gone! I didn't know and didn't ask. I just always made sure to specify that Dr Bob needed to see Greta. Greta and Chester pic is on it's way!

Yeah, what macoduck said!

I have a pic of Greta and Chester! I'm using Dr Bob, but Dr Adsit did her physical last year (I didn't like her...) Here is Greta with Chester!

Vet yesterday. Good news is that Greta's probable groin strain is definitely healed--but back is still not right. NOT happy to learn that some blood tests results were not good a year ago and I was never informed! Full blood work-up done again yesterday and vet will call Monday with results. He will probably want to do laser treatments--he does it on himself as well as dogs! He was in a rush yesterday so didn't talk much. I don't know the cost of laser--probably too much. sorry to be choppy--stung on wrist and typing irritates!

I really suspect it's a pinched nerve--xrays taken a couple months ago showed a slightly out-of-alignment vertebra that the vet didn't think was a problem. I only know that when MY back looked like that it WAS a problem. It may have been the root cause of the more acute symptoms she had then--it may have caused her to stumble and strain something. We have an appt for 9 am tomorrow.

A lot to reply to! Yes, normal behavior for Greta to try to goad other dogs into a fight. I have worked hard with her to reduce this behavior on her part, but it is the way she is, and all she has to do is raise the base of her tail a little (the dogging equivalent of the middle finger) and any other dominant dog will take offense. For those of you who have the "typical" laid-back greyhound, I can see that you might find this a bit of a shock! Accupuncture--I have my doubts since it did nothing for ME when I tried it. However, one of Greta's treatments gave instant and measurable results in increased range of motion and less favoring of the leg. That was the only one that did so. Greta is very sensitive and/or allergic to so many meds that her vet (who loves the accupuncturist and uses her himself) wanted to try it. Yes, what concerns me is her reaction was so out of character, and when I ran my hand over her to check for bites, she almost bit me! When she tangled with a groundhog last year and got her lips badly bitten, she let me swab her mouth out with disinfectant with no more reaction than making faces at the taste, so for her to nearly bite me for no visible injury is scary. She has her annual checkup on Friday, and I'm emailing my vet today to give him a heads-up. He will probably want to send her to an orthopedist. Even with pet insurance, that's going to to be a financial strain. I appreciate the sentiments regarding my neighbor!

And I mean she is normally thrilled even if I'm the one who tangles with the other dog! The admiration in her eyes is embarrassing!

Sorry! I haven't been here in a while, so folks maybe don't remember Greta. Greta is a fighter--I do NOT want her to fight, but I can't always stop or avoid loose dogs. She is is always willing to teach other dogs that she is the BOSS, and if a fight occurs (I keep dog repellant on me at all times, but I didn't have a chance to use it this time), she is normally stimulated, not cowed. She was bitten, but no blood, and she was in pain, so I think her back hurt. She has a vet appt Fri anyway, so we can discuss this new symptom of her change in attitude. The other dog's owner put the shock collar back on him and asked me to walk Greta past his house to make sure his dog knew it was on him again. I won't even get into the electric fence issue...

Now I'm worried! Greta has been having some chronic pain/debility in her back/right hind leg. Xrays showed little or nothing and she has been getting accupunture since she doesn't tolerate meds well. She has been feeling better, I thought, but when the mutt up the street charged out and attacked her (his owners removed his shock collar months ago and he finally noticed), she barely defended herself, much less taught him a lesson. Afterward, she was nervous and upset instead of bouncing around asking if we could do it again.

Oops, I clicked total daily walk time, not time for each walk, sorry! Each walk time varies but adds up to about 45 mins. per day (2 miles). I walk her every day twice a day no matter what, though adverse weather does affect total time. Greta can't handle much heat and humidity. She also gets to race around the yard like crazy every day, which tires her out much more effectively than any amount of walking.

The wounds don't need stiches though I think one goes right through her lip--it is closed and not in a location where it it likely to be pulled open. Her rabies vacines are up-to-date! I will keep a close watch on her and if she is in too much discomfort or there is swelling, off we will go to the vet! greynut: she just got a rabies booster a couple weeks ago.

DD saw a goundhog (woodchuck to me) in the backyard so I let Greta out to chase it away--well, the idiot critter tried to go OVER the 6' fence instead of under it (there was plenty of space and that's how it got in)! Needless to say, Greta grabbed it off the fence and started chomping, and it chomped right back. I'm glad I grabbed a shovel as I followed her because it was the only way to separate them! I then used it to kill the groundhog since I didn't know how injured it was and it was the only way to keep Greta from grabbing it again. Greta has bites on both sides of her lips and jaw. I swabbed her entire head with disinfectant and washed off all the bites I could find. She is already on pain med. for arthritis. Is there anything I haven't thought of? BTW don't spend any sympathy for Greta--she is thrilled with the sucsessful hunt! Though, admittedly, not the the disinfectant !

Well, Greta got sick (long story), and is now on prescription fish and potato kibble. Her "ideal" non-racing weight is about 61 lbs according to her adoption records. She was 70 before her illness and is probably about 61 now. She is eating 5 CUPS of this very $$$ food! And doesn't appear to be gaining weight. She gets NO treats except a few tiny bits of baked potato. Before, she was happy with 3.5 - 4 cups of her old kibble and no treats. She is a self-regulating eater. She is perfectly healthy now, and has LOTS of energy.

Well, your poll asked "in the last year" and "last year", so I chose to vote using "last year" which was 4 times--1 checkup, 1 dental cleaning, and 2 times for an ear infection. BUT--this year she has been 5 times aready! 4 for a stubborn ear infection (still ongoing) and once so far for what is probably a really nasty stomache virus. She has at least one more visit this month for the ear infection and to certify her stomache issue cleared up.

standard with routine care for me.

My darling Ivan Vorpatril the parakeet was euthanized yesterday. He had been a teeny bit "under the weather" for a month, but I had assumed it was literally the weather. The changes of the seasons did affect his behavior, but that's not what it was. Yesterday his abdomen was all swollen and he was obviously suffering. I've had enough birds to know that it was too late to do anything even if there ever had been that could have been done. I do feel bad that I didn't realise much sooner that there was really something wrong. I've never been able to keep a parakeet alive into a nice old age, so I'm not geting another one. I feel like a jinx even though I buy the special fresh seed from the local pet bird experts, make sure to provide vitamins and fresh fruits and vegies, and entertainment, and absolutely everything to keep my birdie boys healthy.