Penelopesslave

What? Half a piece of bacon is going to kill my dog? I do not understand.

Good wishes to Mac! I would also recommend checking out acupuncture, when Bell's back end gave out earlier this year, it was a lifesaver for her.

We're back from the vet. We had chest and stomach xrays, a blood workup, urinalysis, and she got sub-Q fluids and some anti-nausea medicine. From what they can see on the films, it looks like pneumonia, but not like "normal" pneumonia, it's more "diffuse." There are no nodules on any organs that would indicate Big C, and she's not running a temperature. There's a possibility she aspirated some particulate matter or some vomit (one of the dogs puked on Friday but I don't know which one) and that's where the pneumonia came from. The radiologist is going to review her films tomorrow and give more specifics. The docs and I debated leaving her in the hospital for oxygen and fluids, but she gets so stressed and anxious there, and she's so old and fragile, we decided to let her come home to rest. She's on Baytril right now and more antibiotics might be added later depending on the radiologist and the bloodwork. She is lying on a big pile of dog beds and seems a little more comfortable than before we went to the vet, so I am just going to stay with her today and tonight and check back in with the vets before they close this evening and again tomorrow morning. Her regular doc said given her age, this is possibly something she might not survive. I don't want to believe that and am hoping and wishing with all my heart for another "Bella Rebound." She's famous for them, and she's a tough old Steel Magnolia. Thank you all so much.

The vet just called, and we have an appointment in 90 minutes (vet's is half an hour away). I made Bell some bacon and eggs for breakfast and she ate most of the bacon but not the eggs. She wouldn't touch her regular food. She did walk out into the yard and took a nice pee. Something is very wrong, I can feel it. Thanks for all the prayers and good thoughts. My DH is out of town working on the election and I am 8-months-pregnant worth of emotional and so worried. We still don't know many people here in San Fran and I am so grateful to have GT for support.

I've been up most f the night with Bell. Her breathing is rapid and shallow, occasionally raspy. She's not eating (not even treats), her gums are paler than I would like, and her heart seems to be beating fast, even for a grey. She's also lethargic. I called the e-vet and they recommended taking her in to our regular vet today (thank goodness they have Sunday office hours) so I am waiting for them to open at 8:00. I am so worried about my old gal. There's no way she got into anything bad as I was home with her all day yesterday due to the weather, and she did eat breakfast yesterday (but no dinner last night). She's 14. Anyone have any idea what could be going on? She has no history of CHF or anything pulmonary. Thank you from a scared mommy.

I ordered this harness from Carol through Northcoast Greyhounds' website. She custom-made it to fit our Bell exactly. It has been a godsend for getting Bell up and down the stairs on the days when her rear end just won't cooperate. It is also good for helping her into the van, especially now that I am pregnant and can't lift her up from underneath anymore. http://www.northcoastgreyhounds.net/store/index.php/cat_141

I hope you have good news about Ember soon! Get better soon pretty girl.

We had that problem here last month. Bell was kicking off enough fur to stuff another dog bed! I have been using the Furminator on her every other day, and added an additional fish oil capsule to her food so she gets one every morning and one every evening. Between the two the shedding has definitely improved, though I am still filling up the Dyson canister every week.

Thanks everyone! I am actually kind of glad it is "just" a corn-- we've been through $1000 over the past 6 months dealing with her back & hip issues, so a corn seems like an easy problem to solve.

Bell has been limping a LOT lately. At her age I have been expecting to hear the worst but today I was looking at her feet and saw this on the foot she limps on. In the 8 years I have had hounds I've never seen a corn. Could that be what this is? Sorry about the crappy pic, my camera is old. We have an appointment at 2 pm today to have her checked out. Thanks!

How sudden and sad. I am so sorry Marijke!

Oh no, I am sitting here crying for you Judy and Mike and Andy. She had the happiest life and most loving family a hound could ever wish for.

Hi Steph-- we didn't know you had acquired a new greyhound! I hope Miss Nelly feels better soon and that all her bloodwork comes out perfectly.

It sounds crazy, but the techs at my vet's office swear that even the most anorexic of animals will eat Big Macs. No joke, they have been known to send one out to get Big Macs for patients! Maybe Emmy needs to go through the drive thru at Mickey D's? When my cat was in kidney failure, my vet had me rub meat-flavored baby food on her gums. Maybe that would work for Emmy too? Sending lots of good hungry thoughts to Miss Emmy!

I can second the recommendation for the assistance harness. We also have two flights of stairs up to our house and the harness really helps our 14 year old Bell feel like she has some extra stability going up and down, and makes me less worried about her taking a tumble. Otherwise, everything you describe sounds pretty typical for an older hound. You might want to look into getting the Greyhound Gang's Get Up and Go or Springtime's Joint Health supplements instead of the Missing Link, they seem to work really well.

If she has a respiratory infection her sense of smell is likely diminished, and when that isn't stimulated often the appetite goes too. Try adding something really smelly to her food, like canned tuna or canned salmon. It may be once she can SMELL her food again she will want to eat.

We are in the middle of acupuncture treatments for our 14-year-old. Given her age, she is not a good surgical candidate. She is generally pretty shy, but she actually seems to enjoy the acupuncture and it seems to be helping. If she has a particularly rough day, she gets a mild pain reliever (deramaxx) with her meals.

I am so sorry. That picture of Flake just takes my breath away. You are truly giving her the greatest kindness that is possible. Goodbye, Princess.

Our Bell also get a little loopy on 50 mg of Tramadol. I think it does vary in its affects from dog to dog.

Is this the new one up on Camp Horne Rd?

YAYAY!!!!

Can you tell we are THRILLED??? She has some degeneration in her back that is age related, but at nearly 14 years old that's to be expected. The best news is that the shadow on her other x-rays is not cancer. Today she has already had a salmon burger and about a million treats, and I can't stop giving her hugs. Thanks to all who sent us good wishes and happy healthy chants. They worked! Bell says: "Ha ha cancer, you can't catch me!!"

I'd have her checked for a bladder/kidney infection first.

Thank you for all your good wishes. Miss Bell is feeling better today ate all of her food and a good portion of my breakfast as well.

Yesterday we had Bell (our almost 14-year-old) girl's back and pelvis xrayed to see if there is a disk problem in her back. There is, but that's not the scary part. The scary part is the "inconclusive" incidental pics of her tummy, which show a possible mass on her abdomen. The radiologist says it might just be her thigh muscles in the way (as these were not intended to be abdominal pics, her legs were not in the right position) and that we need more films to be sure. So we are going in Monday for more pics. Luckily she is still eating heartily and enjoying play and walks, so I am just going to keep all my fingers and toes crossed that this is a false alarm. Still, I am so worried about my poor baby girl. She has been through so much in her life already and she is the gentlest, sweetest soul I have ever met, human or canine. Good wishes and white light are requested.