Does Anyone Else Get Paranoid.

[Guest greyscot]

There has been so much sadness recently. Too many greys dying too young.I just wondered if anyone else gets paranoid when their dog howls, limps, whines etc. Sporty gets 'pins and needles' because he likes to lie in the same position too long and of course I start to think there is something seriously wrong. I'm sure my vet already has me down as absolutely his number one paranoid client. My DH thinks my whole purpose in life is to keep my vets in business with my paranoia . Please assure I'm not alone.

[ShantisMom]

You are NOT alone! I think we financed the new building for our vet. She calls to "harrass" me these days if she has not seen us in a week.

[KahluasMagic]

I am totally paranoid. I am at the vet for every little thing. And since Magic's osteo, I look for things all the time.

[4greyhounds]

You are not the only one, my Champ passed after only 10 days after getting her dental and Sophie goes for her dental on Tuesday and I have been checking her all over and called the dentist twice already and every single night I check mine over for any bumps and I get so worried if they don't walk exactly like I think they should.....

 

[laurie]

I'm waaaayy paranoid. It's so bad that I can't just PET my hounds, I EXAMINE them. Constantly.

OMG, is that a lump?? Was this wart here before? Is it JUST a wart? Is this black spot a zit, or could it be...

 

:lol

 

 

Nope, it's not just you.

[LaFlaca]

Most assuredly, you are not alone. A sneeze, one day without zoomies, God forbid she skips a meal, and I am imagining the worst!

[Guest simile]

You're not the only one. I'm lucky I have the director of my rescue group, though. She's been doing rescue for so many years, there isn't much she hasn't seen. When anything comes up, I usually worry and fret to her. She's pretty good at letting me know if my concern is vet worthy or not.

[Guest IrskasMom]

 

 

I am not quiet as bad and my Son always has to keep me calm . But yes ,the slightest whimper or panting or pacing set's

me on the Edge.

[Guest Cris_M]

My first grey, Gabriel, died at 4 -- not of OS, but of pancytopenia (think leukemia/lymphoma plus some). When we got Duncan, I was constantly checking his gums to see if they were red enough, monitoring his energy level, looking for depression or any other signs of illness.

 

As I had him longer, I relaxed. I realized that although it seems like a lot of greyhounds die young, there are more that live reasonably long lives. If they didn't, a lot of people would be forced to stop adopting them. Believe me, caring for a sick dog is expensive and not being able to pay puts one in a doubly heartrending spot.

 

Any relationship with these dogs is amazing. Most of us get to spend many years with our grey. It is totally devastating to have an "old" grey end up with an illness they will die from. Unfortunately, all our dogs will die of something.

 

Don't spend your time with your precious pet worrying about when he will die. He doesn't even know he's going to die -- ever. Enjoy him.

 

And, if you need to, stop reading Health and Medical. I certainly had to for a while.

[5blackgreys]

I feel the same way. It seems lately every time I log on there's another precious pup that's gone to the bridge far to young, or far to soon.

 

I find myself looking at my crew and wondering which, if any, will have some catastrophic illness or injury. I guess I've decided that the only thing I can do is to love on them and give thanks for every day that passes that they are still with me and that they are healthy.

 

Someone has posted that with each one that leaves a little piece of our heart goes with them and with every one that follows a little more dog enters our heart. It's a greyt philosophy to live by and I think it's what gets me through the day.

 

Cherish every day with them and know they love you back.

 

 

[Guest sheila]

I don't consider myself paranoid at all. I suppose it's because I have had dogs long enough I have learned to recognize the difference between a dog being a bit off for a day and when something is seriously wrong. My vet also seems to trust my judgement now. There have been 2 times in the past where the vet or his staff seemed to pooh pooh my concerns over the phone and both times I insisted that my dogs be seen. Both times it became obvious when I arrived that my concerns were dead on. Now whenever I phone the vet (no matter what time of day/night) he will get me in ASAP.

[Guest bonnebike]

Funny this should come up now.

 

Delgado was limping around all day yesterday. His left front leg was tender to touch. He wouldn't even jump up on the couch which is a huge deal for him. I made an appointment with the vet for today. Of course he woke up fine today and didn't exhibit any of the symptoms of yesterday. We went to the vet anyway and she took xrays. She couldn't see anything, certainly no tumor. She couldn't see a "mouse" (something floating around in the joint) either which would be a better match symptomatically. Wait and see I guess.

 

We know a couple of folks who lost their greys to OS so this kind of thing freaks us out a bit.

[Greylover97]

You aren't alone. I lost Kira to osteo, so any limp and I go crazy.

 

I think I paid for the new waiting room at our vet.

[MandysMom]

I'm also paranoid. I watch Mandy for any little change. I try to tell myself that, although far too many pups die before their time, there are even more who live a long, long life. And, I have also spent quite a bit at the vet.

[Guest gottaluvgreysindy]

Wow...good to know I'm not alone.

[MerlinsMum]

Oh gosh, are you kidding? SUPER paranoid mum here

[greytpups]

Every time one of the pups limp, I dash over and check it out, meanwhile praying that it isn't OS. It's my biggest fear.

[Guest tennesseegrey]

It seems it's just an example of how fragile life can be. We've all read up on our precious babies because of our interest in this unique and beautiful breed. We all know the common illnesses this breed is susceptable to and prepare ourselves for them. How many of you have felt after falling in love with our greyhounds that sometimes it feels like the doctor has given our babies a ""few years to live and time seems to tick away when they become seniors. It's so unfair. But God has his reasons I suppose. I think it's just fine to be alert. We're that way with our children too.

[patricia]

I worry too.

[cmc333]

I'm paranoid too. Gypsy was in to the vet's a few weeks ago for her heartworm test and she flinched when the vet touched her tummy. So I insisted they take x-rays right then and there....vet was laughing when she called me back in to look at the x-rays...Gypsy had bad gas. Take some Gas-X and call me in the morning!!

 

I had DH take my little westie in when I had to work one day - she was swallowing funny the night before. Absolutely nothing wrong at all....

 

X-ray ...$65

Throat exam ,,,$28

Peace of mind... priceless!

[MP_the4pack]

YUP!

 

My vet must think I'm nuts too. But he understands, I lost a 5 yr old and 8 yr old.

 

What does he have to complain about, he gets paid!

 

 

But if Pearl looks at me funny I think she's not feeling well then get all sorts of worried. Nana, the old lady (she'll be 13 next month) is busy running around and acting fine. But he coat is crappy. So of course I'm worried because a bad coat is a sign of ill health.

 

My 4 yr old doesn't have as much energy as I think she should have. So that scares me (actually, that was the only symptom my 5 yr old Topaz had up until a month before she died)

 

So..........yeah, I'm nutso paranoid.

 

 

I also read of GTers who have had 2 or more pups get OS. I'm on numbers 3, 4, 5, and 6. No OS. However, hemangiosarcoma claimed my Brindle. So I've had cancer, just not bone.

 

 

[Guest ss556]

I'm pretty much right here, with all of you, especially being that Alan has a few different things going on for the past two years. It can make me nuts at times.

[Charlies_Dad]

Hah! Sounds like many of us are the same. If there is anything wrong with our pooches, away to the vet we go...and not any vet. We insist on specialists if there is any hint of a serious problem. We learnt our lesson the hard way by listening to one vet over the phone diagnose what he thought was an upset stomach. Deep inside I thought I should go to the emergency but I didn't. Two weeks later he was incapacitated and the same vet came for a visit. Of course the signs weren't as bad when he arrived late...my wife and I were in a panic and he only said it was a slipped disc this time. Well I rushed him to emergency we trusted in the early morning hours and I realized then that he was dying in my arms. He was diagnosed with cancer of the spleen and it had ruptered so I made the final decision to let him go....I failed him, I will not fail another.

 

So no you are the same as many of us...

[Guest Pipi5]

Nope, you're not alone.

[Bevd]

I don't consider myself paranoid at all. I suppose it's because I have had dogs long enough I have learned to recognize the difference between a dog being a bit off for a day and when something is seriously wrong. My vet also seems to trust my judgement now. There have been 2 times in the past where the vet or his staff seemed to pooh pooh my concerns over the phone and both times I insisted that my dogs be seen. Both times it became obvious when I arrived that my concerns were dead on. Now whenever I phone the vet (no matter what time of day/night) he will get me in ASAP.

I'm exactly the same as above.

 

I think there's a massive difference between being paranoid & at the vets every time the dog farts - and being aware and taking action accordingly. I don't take mine in every time they get a graze or every time one pukes or else I'd be living in the little appartment above the surgery! However, I am very aware that it's good to follow my gut instinct, even when outward signs may say I'm being an over protective dog Mummy.

 

With Darcy, I do worry, for obvious reasons. I am, as you will understand, always waiting for 'the other shoe to fall' or whatver the phrase is.

 

With Wallace, I now also watch very closely.