Saffron

Sounds like small seizures to me too. Probably easily treatable. I hope so. Please tell us what the vet says.

for you and Gangster! Hope he recovers well from the surgery. I'm holding you guys in the Light for clean margins and a nothing path report. Please keep the thread up dated with the news!

I'm not a vet and can't judge a boo-boo or tumor from a photo on line (but neither would reputable vets!) Honestly, if that was on my dog's paw I'd go with the best in-person vet opinion I had to date. If I did not trust my vet I'd get a second and third opinion. Presuming you have a vet that you trust and he/she has eyeballed it and thinks it is a tumor that should be removed ASAP, I'd go with that judgement. My wonderful vet says that with a little lump -- aspirate, path report and remove as necessary. But if my trusted vet said remove a toe to get clear margins -- I'd do it in a nano second. Yep, the grey might have a limp but lumps can be horrid and clean margins are all important.. I hate lumps. We have removed a couple here. We have also had to have radical scar revision to get clean margins even with wide margins taken on the first pass. Hope it all works out well and that it is not a cancerous tumor. It could just be a boo boo . . . Hugs.

Ooops, sorry, I just saw the followup question. Good luck on the kitchen reno. I remember that as being the most uncomfortable couple of months of my life but the end result was worth it. I would not bother to wash the dogs -- the Advantage will kill the fleas on them fast. Give them a good brush outside every day or so. The purpose of putting the flea collar in the vaccuum bag is to kill the little beggers before they crawl out again! To be a lot clearer: I bought one flea collar, cut it into two inch pieces, stretched each piece to activate just before putting it in the bag, and keep the rest well away from the dogs. Hope this helps.

Almost certainly a flea, but they are very tiny. You did not give a measurement but the comb will tell. Anyway, the Advantage will definitely help for the grey and will go a long way to solve the problem. It sounds like you caught it early. Good. But, and I'm fairly obsessive, you'll need to treat the house too. Wash all bedding, people and dog. I'd also put a tick collar in the vacuum cleaner bag and vacuum everywhere but especially carpets like a maniac for a month or so disposing of the bag frequently outside. Note, I said put the flea collar in the vacuum bag not on the grey! Flea collars are not good for the grey and neither is flea bombing. Fleas are small and tenacious but frequent vacuuming gets rid of them. Speaking from experience in a rental many years ago . . .

Yay! He is home and it sounds as though you are well prepared already. The only things I'd add would be covering for the cast in rainy weather (trash bag and vet wrap) and perhaps leash him to you for serious quality time and cuddles in the evenings. Also be prepared for it to be much harder to keep him quiet when he is off the major drugs and beginning to feel better. Pilgrim had to spend approx 6 weeks on crate rest and another month on restricted excercise when she had a nerve sheath sarcoma removed from her back (radical scar revision to get clean margins). She came home with 24+ staples in a foot long incision and 4 button stents. She lost a lot of muscle and the tops of 2 vertebrae so: no climbing, jumping, stairs etc. I slept downstairs with her and made sure she had plenty of undisturbed gentle cuddle time. We had to separate the two greys because she wanted to play for almost all that time, but she was an active 4 year old.

Ok, this is what I have learned many pink dogs later : Tomato juice does not work on skunk smells other than temporarily to confuse YOUR nose! Google Tomato juice and skunks if you don't believe me! Neither does vinegar. You just get a pickle smelling dog and vinegar in the hound's eyes will really sting!! This is the only formula that worked for us when we lived in the city and the pups got skunked regularly (they never learn): 1 quart (or liter) of 3% Hydrogen Peroxide, H2O2. Use fresh (unopened) hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Note: Opened HP turns into H2O in time. 1/4 cup (50 ml.) of Baking Soda 1 teaspoon (5 ml.) of any dishwashing liquid 1 gallon water This solution is nasty so do not use near the eyes (see below). Saturate the dog (preferably outdoors) leave solution on for a few minutes. Rinse well. Rinse again. Shampoo and rinse again. The above formula will also work on you and your clothes. Use ALL the formula or pour it away. It will expode if you try to save it. I have heard that commercial douche can be used near the eyes, but I never risked it. I just lived with the smell. Good luck!

Stud tail sounds so much more manly. If the spot is about 6 - 8" down the tail, measuring from the back, I'd also vote for stud tail. Both my very girly girls have it! Gillian

I'm so sorry you are both having such a bad time. Good luck, and I sincerely hope life gets better in Kodiak soon.

Holy Cow indeed! I've been monitoring this thread and have been sending you and Shanti many healing thoughts, but I had nothing substantive to add to solve the problem so I have not posted. I do hope Shanti is improving fast and that the antibiotics are balanced right. It does sound like an opportunistic Staph. infection. Oweee! Poor both of you. And I'm totally over-whelmed by your tail wrapping skills. I couldn't do that! Not the ick factor (been there done that) but the skilled wrap. Care to share how you do it? Again, Back to watching the thread . . . Our positive thoughts are with you and Shanti!

Two white girls here, and they shed a lot. It is just this time of year. I just expect a thinner coat in summer. If their thyroids are OK, they probably are too. I don't worry overmuch. I just deal with the fluff and keep up with fish oil. For purposes of comparison: Catwalk has something of a left side bald butt in summer. She favors the right side in a sit due to her previously broken pelvis and I guess the left just gets worn off. Pilgrim sheds and sheds and sheds but never gets really bald. She actually wins fluffy butt contests. I know the surgery scars on her back seem much more noticable in summer. I used to think the white greys shed the most until I inherited a truly fluffy brindle boy. He is shedding his teddy bear coat everywhere right now. Bald actually sounds good, but there are no signs of Murphy obliging! He is as furry as ever. Relax. The fur will grow back. It is just summer shed.

Ouch! That looks really sore. Poor Shanti and poor you. I'm not convinced the Bite-Not will work on a tail (although I usually swear by it for body wounds.) Evenh in a bite-not I think my pups could have reached the tail. I'd second a muzzle with a poop guard for this particular injury. Can you let us know what the vet says and how you get on?

I'd probably do a vet check anyway on the wound. For a professional clean and possible antibiotics, if not necessarily stitches or staples. We've had something dime sized, that I carefully cleaned and covered, expand overnight to something much, much, bigger. On a shoulder. Somehow the skin on greys stretches. That one took five sutures on the following day, but it was a tiny nick on first view. And if you don't know exactly where the wound came from . . . I'd err on the side of caution, re potential infection, but I'm a bit weird like that. Just saying. It is your comfort zone, not mine.

We used the 6" with 57 lb Pilgrim. I think your vet should be the best peson to fit one correctly. Hope Shadow feels better soon.

Hmm. We have tried Oravet. The vet should apply the first coat after the dental. The second coat is up to you, 4-6 weeks later. I think the cost will depend on the vet but $24 sounds about right for the second coat. It is quite tricky to apply properly. Nice vet offices like ours will help to put it on. Honestly, I'm not sure it made much of a difference with our Miss "Nasty Teeth" (Pilgrim) anyway. We went for the peridontal disease vaccine after her last dental instead. We are crossing our fingers on that. I'm fairly convinced with my 3 greys that some of the tooth issues must be genetic. For those with horrid genetic teeth every little helps, including Oravet, however often you brush and we try to brush daily. I don't know how else to explain Miss "Sparkly Teeth," Miss "Nasty Teeth" and Mr "Horrid Mouth" who all get the same diet and the same regular brushing. Mr Horrid Mouth might not be representative because we only adopted him at 9, but still . . . Gillian, Catwalk (sparkly smile, age 7), Pilgrim (nasty teeth, age 5) and Murphy (horrible mouth, age almost 10)

I'm so sorry. This diagnosis is everyone's nightmare. As other posts have said, I think this is a decision that only you can make, because you know your hound best. It is a case by case decision. Some greys can cope with amputation and chemo whatever the age, but some might not do so well. For me, I'd weigh quality of life. I know you will weigh the options and make the right decision for your grey. Your love shines in your posts. Gillian

Oh damn. Yes, I read your update too. Only you and Bonnie can tell when it comes to quality of life. Talk to Bonnie, you know her best, and ask the vet about dosages that might minimize the sickness. This is the hardest, hardest decision we have to make for our dogs. Go with your gut and what you hear from Bonnie. All I can say is that with one of my beloved dogs . . . in retropect I wish I had read her better. She wanted to go, but I was not ready. My need, not hers. Hugs, Gillian

Ouch! Poor Teo. We use old T shirts to cover wounds. Cheaper than jammies. Cut the T shirt about 1/2 way up the back, place back legs through sleeves, and tail through the neck opening. Then tie the cut ends together over his back. You may need to wrap the sleeves with Vet wrap to stop him nosing under them and he will have to take it off to potty as he is a boy! You can get quite inventive with T shirts and vary where you tie them: I had Pilgrim wearing 2 after her big surgery, the one on the front end knotted to the one on the back end! Wish I'd taken a picture to show you what I mean. Gillian, Catwalk, Pilgrim and Murphy P

My nine year old Murphy (Murphy P) is on pheno and has been for several years, although we have only had him since last November. He came here as a foster (having lost his previous home) prescribed 60 mgs per day to control for "mild seizures" by his previous vet. He is now a permanent member of this family and we monitor levels every 6 months. The dose is apparently low, but as we have never yet seen even a mild seizure my vet is of the opinion that *if it ain't broke don't fix it.* I also used pheno long-term with a cocker spaniel mix. She had grand mal seizures, but lived for years with the seizures controlled and died at a ripe old age (15) from causes unrelated. Gillian Catwalk, Pilgrim and Murphy P

I am so very sorry, Liz. Fly free Finn. Gillian, Catwalk, Pilgrim and Murphy P

If recently spayed it could be left over hormones. Or an infection. I'd check with a vet, just in case. But can I just giggle a little at the pink bits refs. Yes, I'm 12! So hard to be descriptive of those intimate parts . . .

I'm assuming GME is "Granulomatous Meningoencephalomyelitis." Yikes. No experience, but lots of good thoughts and hugs from here. And Bruce is such a beautiful boy! Stay well Bruce, Gillian Catwalk, Pilgrim and Murphy P

We use a tick spoon here and we live in tick heaven. The dogs are on frontline plus, and we inspect them thoroughly before they come back in the house. Can't remember the last time I found an attached (live or dead) tick on a dog! They usually brush, finger pick or (at worst) spoon off. Yuck, I wash my hands thoroughly post removal. Actually, come to think of it, the last living being I seriously used the spoon on for a really imbedded tick was DH. It does sort of scoop it off whole. Always disinfect the spot where a tick latched on, and preserve the tick in rubbing alcohol for ID, whether a human or canine is the victim. FYI, I've had lyme and never saw the tick that caused it It made me feel very ill. I'm still testing positive after treatment . . . Gillian, Catwalk, Pilgrim and Murphy P

LOL! The lack of responses convinces me that I bought the wrong size. Nothing against the Wiggles Wags and Whiskers Freedom Harness, just that Murphy P walked out of/tangled in the too big size . . . I know I can swap sizes, even if I was in the wrong. Gotta love them! Gillian Catwalk, Pilgrim and Murphy P

OK, it came today and so far Murphy P and I are hating it. I've been fiddling with it and it is quite possible that I ordered a size too large. Murphy P was on the cusp between an L and XL. Note: We are putting Murphy P in a harness *just in case* he has early signs of LP. We want to take any and all stress off his neck. But should he get tangled? So: on a tall skinny grey who never pulls on leash where should the D ring end up? Behind the shoulder blades? It seems to be working forward. How tight should the velvety bit be? I have it as tight as possible without going down a size. I know it is velvet but I don't want it cutting in behind his elbows. I just went to the WWW site and they don't have any pics showing it drifting forward. Oh, and where do you attach the tags? Any advice? Thanks! Gillian and Murphy P Catwalk and Pilgrim