Guest KateWantsaGrey Posted July 5, 2008 Share Posted July 5, 2008 So pace has been with us for about 2 months now, and we've given him 2 baths. He is a white dog and for some reason the dye from his dog beds rub off on his fur. Nothing major, just after a while his thighs start to look dingy from the dark khaki color rubbing off on him. He also has this chemical smell from his Frontline application last week, and I wanted to wash that off. So the first time I gave him a bath, about 5 minutes into it he started getting really tipsy and woozy. First his back end starts getting weak, and he leans on the edge of the tub or sits, and then he gets weak all over and has to lay down or he will fall over. I thought that maybe this was because the water was too hot or something, so this time when I gave him a bath the water was just barely warm. But the same thing happened again, with him getting all wobbly. It's like he is fine for the first few minutes, but once he starts getting wobbly, it progresses rapidly to where he can't really stand on his own anymore. The total bath time only lasts about 10 or less minutes. And I've been using puppy/kitten shampoo on him, which my group said was safe to use. As soon as I let him out of the tub and towel him off, he seems to get his balance back, and by the time i've dried him off and let him out of the bathroom, he is fine. So what's the deal?? Has this happened to anyone else? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ahicks51 Posted July 5, 2008 Share Posted July 5, 2008 Have you tried using colder water? Warm water can cause vasodilation, which lowers the blood pressure. It's not unheard of for greys to collapse in a warm bath or shower. Quote Coco (Maze Cocodrillo) Minerva (Kid's Snipper) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seeh2o Posted July 5, 2008 Share Posted July 5, 2008 It sounds like maybe he really likes it, kind of like getting a massage and melting into it. Quote Sunsands Doodles: Doodles aka Claire, Bella Run Softly: Softy aka Bowie (the Diamond Dog) Missing my beautiful boy Sunsands Carl 2.25.2003 - 4.1.2014 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LBass Posted July 5, 2008 Share Posted July 5, 2008 I have experienced the same thing with Piper at each bath. I had heard that tepid water might help but it seems to make no difference with Piper. The moment the water hits him, even if it is just shy of being stone cold, his legs turn to noodles and I help him lie down in the tub. He is fine afterward. Quote Lucy with Greyhound Nate and OSH Tinker. With loving memories of MoMo (FTH Chyna Moon), Spirit, Miles the slinky kitty (OSH), Piper "The Perfect" (Oneco Chaplin), Winston, Yoda, Hector, and Claire. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest KateWantsaGrey Posted July 5, 2008 Share Posted July 5, 2008 I have experienced the same thing with Piper at each bath. I had heard that tepid water might help but it seems to make no difference with Piper. The moment the water hits him, even if it is just shy of being stone cold, his legs turn to noodles and I help him lie down in the tub. He is fine afterward. that's exactly how it is with Pace. It sort of scares me, what if i'm injuring him? But he is right as rain as soon as the bath is over. It's so odd... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobinM Posted July 5, 2008 Share Posted July 5, 2008 (edited) Greyhounds are known to "faint" during warm baths. My Beau fainted when he was being bathed by the adoption group I got him from. They thought they killed him. Whenever I bath him, I never let the water go above 80 degrees. ETA- I ALWAYS go into the tub with them. Edited July 5, 2008 by RobinM Quote ROBIN ~ Mom to: Beau Think It Aint, Chloe JC Allthewayhome, Teddy ICU Drunk Sailor, Elsie N Fracine , Ollie RG's Travertine, Ponch A's Jupiter~ Yoshi, Zoobie & Belle, the kitties. Waiting at the bridge Angel Polli Bohemian Ocean , Rocky, Blue,Sasha & Zoobie & Bobbi Greyhound Angels Adoption (GAA) The Lexus Project Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fritofeet Posted July 5, 2008 Share Posted July 5, 2008 Diesel does that too, and it doesn't matter what temperature the water is. Usually I get in the tub with him, and pretty much stuff his back end between my knees so that if he does collapse he won't get injured. I end up soapy, and he is always the last one to get a bath because it is more work to bathe him. I use bath wipes and a "dry" spray shampoo in between to get the grungies off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest jg_consult Posted July 6, 2008 Share Posted July 6, 2008 Yes, I've had three different foster greyhounds fade out in the tub. They are terribly stinky when they come off the haul truck, so a full bath is a necessity. Needless to say, I'm in the tub too! That water sure feels tepid to cool to me. They would just slowly lean over and slide down the side of the tub. They were each very relaxed and calm about it. I've had other fosters who stayed upright the entire time. After the bath is done and the hound is all dried off, I put the foster in the crate with a nice peanut butter biskie. They like this part very much! Then off to scrub the tub and me! I had one foster with a just-healed broken leg. The minute I set her down in the tub she leaped right out. Superman couldn't have jumped higher than this girl. Nearly had a heart attack on the spot, I was so worried she might hurt her leg. She was fine and went on to a happily-ever-after forever home. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest KennelMom Posted July 6, 2008 Share Posted July 6, 2008 It's normal. Cool water usually helps. Someone on GT had a foster returned b/c the family thought there was something wrong with the dog - despite all assurances that it was normal. The family didn't want a defective dog. Can't recall who on GT's foster that it was but I remember that whole episodea b/c it was so odd. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest LadyChester Posted July 6, 2008 Share Posted July 6, 2008 I have one that faints almost every time we bathe him if we aren't very careful. We have to be sure the water is barely lukewarm or he melts. The vet said it is exactly what ahicks said ... it affects their blood pressure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest MAXNAV Posted July 6, 2008 Share Posted July 6, 2008 I have experienced the same thing with Piper at each bath. I had heard that tepid water might help but it seems to make no difference with Piper. The moment the water hits him, even if it is just shy of being stone cold, his legs turn to noodles and I help him lie down in the tub. He is fine afterward. My collie used to do the same thing. I thought there was something wrong with him, but my groomer told me that a lot of dogs react this way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest mickey85 Posted July 6, 2008 Share Posted July 6, 2008 We had a pug that just loved the water. They were washed in teh utility sink in the basement, and she'd just sit down with her tail plugging the drain! lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DunesMom Posted July 6, 2008 Share Posted July 6, 2008 Dune has always collapsed in the tub, so does my vet's grey. Water temp doesn't matter; we've tried hot, cold, warm...he still slowly collapses and has to be held up the whole time. It takes two of us to bathe him -- thank goodness we have a big tub! Quote Dash (Mega Batboy), & forever missing Kipper (RD's Kiper, 2006-2015) & Souldog Dune (Pazzo Otis, 1994-2008)"..cherish him and give him place with yourself for the rest of his but too short life. It is his one drawback. He should live as long as his owner."James Matheson, The Greyhound: Breeding, Coursing, Racing, etc., 1929 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest FrostyBottoms Posted July 6, 2008 Share Posted July 6, 2008 Katie....this actually happened to Drake after a hot shower. Poor Pace...give that happy boy a kiss for me! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fiona3 Posted July 6, 2008 Share Posted July 6, 2008 I'm glad to see this post. We haven't had this happen with any of our 6 greys over the years but as we plan to adopt more in the future this is a good thing to have in mind if it happens. I would have the same reaction as you did and wonder if I had injured my grey. Good information to know. There's always something new to learn on GreyTalk! Quote Hobbes - April 2, 1994 to April 9, 2008-----Tasha - May 23, 2000 to March 31, 2013 Fiona - Aug 29, 2001 to May 5, 2014-----Bailey - March 22, 2001 to Jan 20, 2015 Zeke - June 1, 2004 - Jan 26, 2016----Callie - July 14, 2006 to July 27, 2019 Forever in my heart: Chooch, Molly, Dylan & Lucy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest VelvetEars Posted July 6, 2008 Share Posted July 6, 2008 Don't worry - you didn't break him! Jackson does the same thing. I've also had fosters do it. Jumpy needs a bath soon, so we'll find out how she handles it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest luvskinnies Posted July 6, 2008 Share Posted July 6, 2008 Yes! My girl does the exact same thing. She's timid by nature and she sort of goes a bit limp in the bath, it is definately that she is nervous, so we try not to bathe her unless necessary. Actually, while the water is off and I'm soaping her up she's fine, but when I turn the water back on, she reacts the same way. I just chalk it up to a bit of nerves. I wasn't really convinced until we fostered her mother a few years ago and she did the exact same thing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest KateWantsaGrey Posted July 7, 2008 Share Posted July 7, 2008 Wow... this is so odd! But I feel a lot better knowing that this happens to a lot of greys. What if they want to go swimming in a lake? Do they still get noodle-legs? That would be extremely dangerous... I'm very glad to see these posts though because I was about to take him to the vet over it, it scared me that much. Like his eye just glaze over and he melts into a floppy pile of doggy mush Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greytlady94 Posted July 8, 2008 Share Posted July 8, 2008 Use cool water to bathe, that should help. Quote Greyhound angels at the bridge- Casey, Charlie, Maggie, Molly, Renie, Lucy & Teddy. Beagle angels Peanut and Charlie. And to all the 4 legged Bridge souls who have touched my heart, thank you. When a greyhound looks into you eyes it seems they touch your very soul. "A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more then he loves himself". Josh Billings Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest chucknstan Posted July 8, 2008 Share Posted July 8, 2008 Yes, a little colder than you would think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sobesmom Posted July 9, 2008 Share Posted July 9, 2008 Wow... this is so odd! But I feel a lot better knowing that this happens to a lot of greys. What if they want to go swimming in a lake? Do they still get noodle-legs? That would be extremely dangerous... I'm very glad to see these posts though because I was about to take him to the vet over it, it scared me that much. Like his eye just glaze over and he melts into a floppy pile of doggy mush Lake water would be a lot cooler than "bath water", so they'd be fine there. I bathe my dogs in quite cool water - much cooler than I'd get in! And, no need to fill the tub! Just dump big cups of water over them, or get (my favorite thing) a shower head with a long hose. I think that sometimes standing in warm water gets to them. Many other breeds "faint" in warm water, but I think that greys, with so little body fat, are especially prone to have their body temp rise too quickly in warm water. Another possible cause, if the bottom of the tub is slippery, the dog may feel insecure and slup down. Put a towel in the bottom of the tub for traction. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greytlady94 Posted July 9, 2008 Share Posted July 9, 2008 With our first greyhound we had a very expensive ER visit on a Sunday due to a bath. We had no idea what was wrong, and neither did our veterinarian at the time. Not even our adoption group knew what to tell us. That was 1994, I think the word on warm baths for greyhounds has gotten around some since then. Quote Greyhound angels at the bridge- Casey, Charlie, Maggie, Molly, Renie, Lucy & Teddy. Beagle angels Peanut and Charlie. And to all the 4 legged Bridge souls who have touched my heart, thank you. When a greyhound looks into you eyes it seems they touch your very soul. "A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more then he loves himself". Josh Billings Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest TBSFlame Posted July 9, 2008 Share Posted July 9, 2008 Beecher did this unless the water was cool to touch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeorgeofNE Posted July 9, 2008 Share Posted July 9, 2008 George fell asleep getting a bath once. I thought I had killed him--then I realized he had just relaxed so much his knees slowly buckled! You really shouldn't bath Greyhounds very often. They have naturally dry skin. How about washing the dog bed cover and getting the excess dye out instead of washing the dye off the dog? Dry skin = itchy skin! Quote Susan, Hamish, Mister Bigglesworth and Nikita Stanislav. Missing Ming, George, and Buck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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