phall

Kerri, I'm so sorry for all you're going through. I don't have any advice, but want you to know I'm thinking of you. Pat

My girl runs a low specific gravity. I have her checked regularly for it and it's stays at her low of 1.13 or 1.14. Been that way for a few years. Everything else tests as fine. My vet and I agree that it's normal for her, so I just monitor it. I, too, would recommend retesting after withholding water. Good luck! Pat

I hope Red is feeling better even today. Don't ya just love it when they insist on rubbing their faces against you when they're either food covered or recovering from something like this? I'm glad the dental is done and Red is back home with you. Pat

My girl, Chick, has just finished her doxy for treatment for RMSF. She was symptomatic before putting her on the doxy - lethargic, poor appetite, and was showing some soreness in one shoulder. She's now much better - close to being back to her old self - active, eating better (she's always been a picky eater) and the soreness seems to be gone. When we started the doxy it took a while before we started seeing the improvement - I'd say 4-5 days anyhow. Good luck! Pat

Oh Nancy, I am so so sorry. Miss Sprite is such a very, very special girl. I will always remember her laying in your lap at Barbara's condo in Dewey, with her tongue hanging out the side of her mouth, totally happy and enjoying the attention. I will miss her greatly. She knows how well she is loved. You're in my thoughts, Nancy. Pat

Several years ago my male started leaking when he slept. His problem was a loose sphincter muscle. He's been on PPA since then and it has really helped him, too. Pat

Irene, I'll be sure Louise knows of John E.'s passing. Please take care. Pat

Maria, I'm thinking of you and Rizzo. Please do keep us posted on how things go. He is such a little character! I still picture him in his tent on the beach in Dewey.... Pat

Irene, I am so so sorry. I remember John E. from his days at the kennel at Greyhound Friends. He had been there a long time. I was so happy when you took him home, I'm glad he was well loved all these years. I know he took a piece of your heart with him. You have my deepest sympathy. Pat

I hate corns! My 12 year old has one and it cycles around from being not painful to being very sore. His grows back very quickly - within 2-3 weeks. For those of you who have been able to remove the corn yourself with your fingernail, what did you do about the "thread" that often keeps it attached to the pad? Did you just pull the corn out or did you snip the "thread"? Pat

Thanks, everyone. It is so helpful to hear of your experiences. Patty - your experience with ASPCA is good to know as I research all this. Pat

I've decided to try an insurance policy on our newest, and youngest, greyhound. I've been doing some research on the available plans and after visiting websites and reading information, I've narrowed it down to a choice between two plans - the ASPCA plan and the Pets Best plan. They are very similar in coverages and costs, so I'm having a hard time making the final decision. Has anyone got any experience with or comments/thoughts/recommendations on either organization's plan? Thanks in advance. Pat

Thanks, Lynn. I appreciate your helping to understand what these nucleic red blood cells are. I'm learning! And I'm monitoring Chick closely. Thanks, Maria for your good thoughts. Pat

I had my 9 year old female greyhound into the vets for an exam due to her loss of appetite and seeming a bit lethargic (that lasted for about a week and a half, but she is now getting back to normal). All of her tests and bloodwork came back normal with one exception - my vet just called and said she is showing some nucleic red blood cells - three per one hundred white cells. My vet said she has seen some cases of a lower level (one per one hundred white cells) but she thinks the three per hundred that Chick is showing bears watching. Since Chick is doing okay now, we've opted to monitor her for a few weeks and then do another CBC to see what that shows. But in the meantime, I wanted to ask here if anyone has any experience with this or knowledge they can share. Thanks in advance. Pat

Oh Nancy, Poor Sprite. This has to be such a hard decision for you. Knowing Sprite and how good she seems in all other aspects it may be worth doing for her. Questions, though, that came to mind - did the vet have any idea on how he would expect her to react to the surgery, i.e. could it be a longer recovery than expected, very painful, etc. This surgery wouldn't be effective in slowing the tumor growth, it's to help close the surgery site, right? I know from your posts that the tumors do grow back. Did the vet know how long it could be before the tumors come back again? Do you think Sprite would do okay being a temporary tripod? I'm sure these are all questions you've thought of yourself - I'm just thinking out loud here. From the last time I saw her, Sprite seems to take things in stride and handles whatever comes her way. Sprite's name fits her so well - she's such a little "sprite". You're in my thoughts as you go through this, Nancy. Pat

Thanks, everyone. I really appreciate hearing your thoughts and about your experiences. After reading through these replies and talking with some friends, I've decided not to have the corn surgically removed. Pat

My 11 year old boy has to go through a procedure by an orthopedic specialist on Friday that will require anesthesia (he's getting a cortisone injection for a soft tissue injury). While he's out, I asked the orthopedic vet to hull the corn that he has on one front foot. (At the initial exam, the orthopedic vet said he had done hulling before - a while back). The vet said he wouldn't hull it, he'd surgically remove the corn and then put a stitch or two into the pad. I've read the information from Grassmere Animal Hospital and they say not to surgically remove the corn because it won't resolve the problem and will leave the possibility of an infected toe. I've done hulling on my boy's corn previously and within weeks it grows right back. Has anyone gone the surgical route on their grey's corn? If so, can you tell me your experience? Thanks. Pat Hall

Nancy, Sprite looks great! I'm so glad she's recovering so well. My thoughts are with you also for Red. He's such a sweet, sweet boy. Please continue to keep us posted. Pat

Nancy, I'm so glad to hear that Sprite is home! She looks so happy to be back where she belongs. I'm thinking of all of you - give the boy a hug from me too. Pat

Nancy, You and Sprite are in my thoughts. I hope she's recovering well - spoil her rotten (like you always do) - she deserves it. Please keep me posted. Pat