calif_chaz

the two hounds have trained us well. We feed on time, give cookies at the usual times, drive them around when commanded, always the long walks at the usual times, scritches, pets, love all as needed. We were trained in a very brief time! I like to think it shows DH and I are trainable and highly intelligent! ; )

In 2004 (B.G. before greyhounds) we lost our goldie Louie who we had for 14 years. It was just devastating and came just as my DH was retiring and we were relocating. We planned a trip of a few weeks while waiting for our house to be done but picked up Louie's ashes in a beautiful urn shortly before we left. Planned to scatter those ashes on the North Carolina beach where we all had such good times and memories. However, at the end of a week's stay there, we looked at each other and realized we both were not ready to let him go. Maybe it sounds strange but he was still with us urn and all and to just leave him didn't seem right. So we three traveled on to Fla and finally returned north to our new home. The family room has a mantle and that is where Louie ended up, right in the center, place of honor, surrounded by photos of the family he loved and was so loyal to. After a few years Louie migrated to my walk in closet, safe on a shelf with some other very special things. There he will stay until one of the two of us goes and then he will go with DH or me, scattered together somewhere special to us.

So glad to hear the good news!!

Maggie dislocated the same toe on a hind foot. She did not tolerate wrap or soft cast at all and we ended up using a therapaw to protect it after it was popped back in. Worked fine for her.

Sam had first knuckle amputated from inner toe on right hind foot end of June. he came home with a morphine patch on for a few days and never seemed uncomfortable. the biggest problem we had as he healed was licking (he is a big licker!) and we could watch him during the day and at night ended up putting a therapaw on that foot loosely. He is fine now, runs, prances, etc and I am so glad we had it done. Good thoughts for you and Gracie!

I thought I remembered a post about a grey with a corn growing into the bone. Was the pad with this corn very large? Mork's pad with this horrible corn is very strange looking, and seems to be getting larger. I just hope that it can help him...he's never known life (since I've had him) without at least one corn. But this is the first one that has cause such problems, and really is effecting his QOL from what I can tell. The pad seemed larger than the others. There was no external corn that we could deal with and he was three legging even on carpet, could no longer do hardly any walks even with his therapaw boot. I was concerned with muscle wasting on that hip and leg if he continued for a long time with no use of that limb. It was a hard decision because our vet was very honest and said he could not guarantee how Sam would be after the removal but at the same time we had run out of options. Once Sam healed he never held that paw up again and now prances around like our old Sam. This was the paw that we have had corn problems on but nothing since, fingers crossed! Also, Sam was diagnosed as hypothyroid this spring and is on meds since early May. Not sure if there could be any connection in his case but just glad all is well with this sweet boy. We had fun with the recovery with him because he is a huge LICKER!!! Ended up wearing his therapaw loosely at night when we couldn't keep an eye on him. Hope all goes well with Mork!

For similar reasons we had Sam's toe amputated to first knuckle. It is a weight bearing toe on hind foot. I am so glad we did it because once healed he is back to using the foot completely normal. The corn was inside from the pad to the bone and no wonder he would not put any weight on that foot! Good luck to Mork~~and his humans.

Sam had first knuckle of middle weight-bearing toe on right hind foot amputated about 3 months ago. He is doing great on it and now puts his weight on that foot which he had stopped doing because of the pain. He seems so much happier now and I am glad we did it. We are big believers in the therapaw boot and used it all the time while he recovered and to keep him from licking the paw at night (put it on loosely then and off in day for air).

After many corn problems and finally a sore paw with no corn showing we changed vets. Of course we had x-rays done of his leg twice and finally all the vet could say was the only thing left was to amputate part of the toe. By now Sam was only walking on 3 legs even in the house on carpet and would not put that sore paw down. Hard decision for us but we opted to take the chance on the amputation. Vet removed first knuckle, no stitches, just post op care and now a few months later he is great! No limps, no refusal to put weight on the paw, just prancing around on it. Turns out the corn type growth had grown inward and reached from the paw to the bone which must have been so painful for him. I am so glad we opted for this!

I paid $147 for Maggie's dental recently but you would need to add in bloodwork if it was necessary. Neither of my greys have ever needed pain meds from a basic dental procedure so I just had the $147 amt. I am really happy with that after seeing some of the awful prices for so many of you!

Sam had a weight bearing toe on rear foot amputated (first knuckle) end of June. Once we got past all the licking it was a good recovery for him. Had him wear a therapaw boot (loose) at night when he did the most licking. He is completely healed now, running through the house like a maniac and seems to not miss it at all.

Sam had really weird, crumbly nails all around. Vet said (no, wait, insisted) it was a bacterial infection. Meds for that, report said there was bacteria in the nail sample ( well, I bet there is bacteria under my dog's nails). However, nails did not grow in decent at all, I changed vets who immediately wanted a thyroid panel and sure enough, Sam is low hythroid! After second panel he is definitely that and on meds for thyroid now and for the first time has peach fuzz on his very bald belly! An added note, I had recent records of immunizations copied at old vet and they perhaps accidentally included the full lab report and altho it did say they saw some bacteria they also said immune disease, etc could not be ruled out and suggested further testing! My old vet never "happened" to mention that part when she read out the report to me! i am so happy with my new vet and feel comfortable that for the first time Sam is getting what he needs.

We have been dealing with Sam's limp on right hind leg for over a year now. At first it was a corn which was fine and he has his thera-paw boot when he has corn problems. But a month ago he had what I thought was a corn, we gently removed it and pink liquid came out. foot remained tender, took him to vet and he had an infection which he was treated for. foot looks good now but still limps, sometimes 3 leg, won't put foot down with full weight but will go on walks with therapaw with barely a limp. Sam has had x-rays of both legs Feb 08, april 08, and may 09. everything looks clean. foot x-ray in may 09 also nothing showing. vet re-checked foot end of may and no infection. has manipulated leg all over the place and no problem, altho Sam did yelp when he pushed around knee area but nothing showed on subsequent x-ray. Many tests have been run including thyroid which he turned out to be low and is now on meds for it. He has had two thyroid panels run and that is the result. we thought he had SLO because of funky nails but turns out to be thyroid. But here we are, still with Sam limping and I feel bad for him, we are frustrated. We changed vets in april and feel this one is much more competent, greyhound savvy, and thorough. At the other the corn was mis-diagnosed, as was the nail problems. So today we go for another check on the foot and vet is suggesting a cortizone shot. If any of you have any thoughts on all this I would really appreciate them! I am just stumped.

Get a thera-paw boot for the foot with the corn. Without that we would hardly ever be able to walk Sam.

I used a therapaw boot on Maggie with her dislocated toe because she would not tolerate the splint or wrap. Worked fine. Also restricted her activity for a couple of weeks.

I'm so very sorry.

What a beautiful, perfect prayer.

when does Beau get his toe "freed"? What exactly is wrong with it? Maggie had a dislocated toe so bad that it was at a right angel. Really looked gross. She hated the splint, then went to the soft wrap which made her then try to gnaw her own foot off! All this in less than 48 hours. I took the d___ wrap off, leash walked her even through the house at meal times and used a therapaw. She was so much happier and it healed just fine. I feel so bad for Beau with all he has gone through. Maybe it is just the 'straw on the camel's back' for him. I hope you get your boy back soon!

My daughter said we have "giant cats"!!

My prayers and hope are with you and Misty. Joy

Maggie dislocated an outer toe on hind foot last Aug. Vet first did a splint which she hated and she had a pressure sore within 24 hours. Then they did a soft wrap which had my girlie trying to gnaw her leg off. So I took it off, leash walked her out to potty, even in the house in the morning when running to breakfast. All this with a thera-paw boot on. That is what kept that toe protected. She did not wear the therapaw all the time.

I also would like to know if they can have SLO with crummy looking nails but not losing them. My dog simply doesn't do much activity normally and now does less. The article doesn't really say if it is possible without the nail loss.

Thanks for the input. My vet is quoting a "few hundred dollars" if we have to do a tick panel. ouch.

Does anyone know the approximate cost of having a TBD panel done? Is it extra to send to NCState? thanks.

Sorry but can't show you any pics. The vet had Sam put under and cut all the nails way, way back to get rid of all the yucky nails. No one has said anything about yeast or allergy just the bacteria which the report said. I just wonder how in the world he would have gotten that. He is a licker of all things on himself! He has to be seen again in 2 weeks to see how nails are doing now. Vet said it would be a long process. They have him on the antibiotic for 2 weeks and said may extend to 2 more weeks. Thankfully he is not having and D with it so far! I am giving him a dollop of unflavored yogurt with them twice a day. I like my vet but I am just not feeling 100% on this yet. Sorry it has been such a hard road for your girl.