FountainLady

Do check out the 4Health dog food at Tractor Supply (you can read the nutritional breakdown on their website) --- This is manufactured by Diamond just for Tractor Supply - it's truly a premium food at a wonderful price!

I'm so sorry to hear that Aaron had to leave you. He knew how much you love him. (and he still knows). Sending hugs your way.

I want to thank every one for their replies! We have tried supplements in the past, including the Greyhound gangs, and MSM. They really didn't seem to make much of a difference. I think that Doc will be doing better when it isn't so d*mn cold outside, too! After this first round of Pred, the limp is much better when he walks, but of course when he jogs/trots it is very noticeable. We had a terrible time with drug side affects with my DH when the doctor put him on Statins and Fibrates for high chlosterol - he had so much muscle wasting and weakness - that he thought he was dying. After I did much research on the internet, I found out that these things should be banned, they cause so many problems in so many people. It has made me very leary of any drugs - for ourselves or our greyhounds. For now, I'll try 1 ten day round of Pred on and two weeks off - see how that works. If he starts limping more at a walk, then I will try the rounds of Prednisone closer together. I had a friend that had a labrador with an auto-immune disorder that had her dog on Prednisone daily for years - but Labs aren't Greyhounds, and they don't react the same way to drugs.

My Doc has been having some problems with arthritis. Some of you know his history, he was a captive blood donor dog for 5 years, caged like a lab rat, never getting out of this small crate unless they were going to draw blood from him. Because of years and years of standing on a metal grate floor - with NO exercise what so ever, his front feet are splayed and now very deformed looking. His knuckles are huge, and his toes go in all sorts of directions. We had him to the vets 2 weeks ago for X-Rays - and let me tell you he has some knarly looking joints. His left ankle can only flex about 1/4 of the distance that it should - due to being so riddled with arthritis because the years of physical abuse on his feet and joints. Anyhow - The vet prescribed 10 mg Prednisone to be given once daily for 10 days, and then also I was to give him 2- 50mg tabs of Tramadol every 6-12 hours. I was give a full year prescription for both meds. I finished the first course of Prednisone earlier this week and was told to repeat the 10 day course of Prednisone when needed. I have read all sorts of things on here about Prednisone, and so that has me worried about this drug. How do I know when a new course of this stuff is going to be needed and beneficial? I don't want to give him this any more often then necessary. I have been giving the Tramadol every 12 hours, and he seems to be feeling better. Those of you that are medicating your hounds for arthritic conditions, do you keep them on the pain meds all the time? With the lack of motion in his left ankle, he will now always limp, due to the type of stride he has .... so the limp isn't going to go away & I can't really use that to judge the effectiveness of the treatment. The vet said that when some of his bones fuse together more he will be more comfortable. Doc is only 11, so he will be on drugs for the rest of his life. Just want to know how you have handled arthritis in your hounds and the medications. I don't want to over medicate, but I also don't want him to be uncomfortable. On the bright side, the 10 days on the Prednisone did not seem to bring on excessive hunger or thirst.

I'm so sorry to hear Sparks has Osteo - hugs to you both.

I was so happy to check in and hear that Harley is making progress! You are doing a wonderful job with him.

We are adding to the prayers and hugs!

She could of bit into the capsule and found the medicine bitter, and since it was in her food bowl, she associates the yucky taste to being the remaining dog food. They will leave a bowl of food if they think it is "bad". Try giving her the capsule in a big wad of peanut butter, it's best if you can get them to swallow it without chewing it. If medication is placed in the food bowl, and the dog bites into the capsule a few times and it is bitter, it can make a dog very wary of what is in their food dish.

After you size up to a KING sized bed - then you need to order a "snarf-proof" and lick proof bedspread/coverlet - then having the hound(s) sleep with you gets much better. This coverlet was the best dog-related purchase we have made. Rainy used to shred up the quilts/bedspreads we put on our bed by her nesting in the blankets, and she would make "wet spots" on the bed, due to her licking and trying to clean the spread all of the time. Orvis Water Resistant Coverlet She has stopped licking (must not like the texture), can't snag this with her claws - and it is the perfect weight for summer & in cold weather - it goes over the top, and protects our heavier quilt in the winter. I no longer am replacing bedspreads several times a year.

I'm so very sorry. Prayers for a peaceful passing for your sweet girl. Hugs to you both at this time. Neyla knows that she is loved and this is the kindest thing you can do for her. I hope the pain you will feel from her passing will soon be replaced with warm and happy memories of the good times you had together.

My heart dropped when I saw his name this morning. You can add me to the list of greytalkers that are sending you hugs.

um...rice is a grain. as is barley. it looks like it's corn/wheat free, which is good. I'm guessing it's a similar formula to Diamond Naturals which is Diamond's line of corn/wheat free kibbles. Sorry - I meant to type it is "junk" grain free ... Just lost my mother-in-law to cancer yesterday, my mind is in a fog .....

If you have a Tractor Supply store near you - check out their 4Health dog foods. They are grain free and manufactured just for them by Diamond. They are a true premium dog kibble, at an affordable price. Their Chicken and Rice formula runs about $30.00 for a 35# bag, the Lamb & Rice blend runs about $35.00 for the big bag. One of these large 35# bags last me about 3 weeks with two Greyhounds.

Unless you are willing to fence in your yard and install a dog door so the poor dog doesn't have to try to hold it for 11 hours every day - or hire a dog walker - I say you are better off getting a cat. (cats have accidents in the house too though ) Greyhounds are wonderful, mellow houseguest - and cleaner in the home than most breeds of dogs. But with you being gone such long hours you are setting up any dog for failure once and awhile. I have a nice neat and clean home - my stuff isn't chewed up and I have two Greyhounds in my home. I think they are the best thing in the world. They have been left for 9-10 hours at a time with no issues. Both have free run of the house, and are never crated. But that said, eleven hours is a much longer time period when you have a full bladder and you're anxious for your owner to return! Would you have someone in place to take the dog out if you are forced to work overtime, or you have to stop to pick up groceries on the way home and you can't make it on time? When you get home from a long day at work, you still have all the normal duties of making dinner, and household chores ... etc. Without a proper fenced yard, you will need to walk the dog several times a day .... and since there is no turn out area for the dog to play and exercise in - this means that you will have to commit to an hour or more of just walking time each day, split between atleast 4 times. The dog will need to go out when it first awakes, again after it has eaten and before you go to work, immediately when you get home, and again before you go to bed at night. You will not be able to stop anywhere after work, you'll need to rush right home every single day to walk your dog. Greyhounds are wonderful, wonderful, wonderful creatures - and such kind souls. They try so hard to please and are the best pets ever. I just want to make sure you are aware of how much work any dog is going to be, even "easy" ones like Greyhounds. What they add to your life is priceless - unconditional love and total devotion. They do deserve the same in return from their owner. If you are willing to make the necessary life changes to bring one into your home - only then should you make the commitment.

Try Bully Bones - long chew time, fully digestable, and they clean their teeth, too.<BR>I don't know of any dogs that haven't enjoyed chewing on the bully sticks / bones. Most dogs really love them.

If you are looking for a premium quality food at a really good price, then check out the 4Health line of dog food at Tractor Supply Company. It is manufactured by Diamond,. This line of dog food has no corn or wheat as fillers. We have been feeding both the Chicken and Lamb versions, and our hounds are doing well on both of them. We like to switch proteins every few months, so we go back and forth between the two of them. 4Health- read the ingredients We buy it in the large bag - 30# ranges from $29.00-$34.00 for the large bag.

If she isn't bearing weight on it, I would take her to the vets.

Hi also from Michigan from Doc & Rainy !! We are up in Gladwin County - where are you? Nice to meet you & Ike! We like IKE

To mix up the marrow bones, plug the ends with peanut butter, fill them with kibble and freeze them. You can reuse the bones over and over again by changing out the filling in them. Instead of rawhide, look into pigs ears and bully bones. They all need to be given to a dog to eat under supervision, but pigs ears and bully bones are more digestable, and less apt to cause a blockage inside your dog. A foot long bully bone will keep a dog chewing happily for an hour or more.

When people ask me why they sleep so much - I always tell them that the reason that Greyhounds are so fast is that they spend so much time recharging their batteries .... They are always fully charged and ready to go this way.

I just saw this ... Gen I'm so sorry to hear about Sassy! Now she can make that lap around the race track that she wanted to last year when we did the meet and greet at the Speedway. I hope she's running free with the wind in her face and the sunshine on her back. Cory, Mike, Doc & Rainy

Just Fish Oil Caps and MSM (both of my hounds are seniors). I also take the Fish oil & MSM, too.

I agree with Pam - could you consider Fostering for your group? It will help you both with some of the emptyness you feel right now. And you would be helping a needy hound in the process.

I'm so sorry - run free Ryan. I'll look for a new star in the heavens tonight.

You put it in the ear as far as you easily can, massage the ear & it does kind of melt and go down deep inside.