Her Time Is Comming

[Guest Lovey_Hounds]

I know our old girl has not been doing well in the past few months she has her good days and her bad... latley more bad. She is having hind end weakness issues, her eye sight is off and her mind is going she wont let the other dogs near her she snarls at them she sort of lets Vegas with in 3 feet of her. to get her to go outside for more than a potty break is next to impossible honestly getting her off her bed is hard ( she can get up but she doesnt like to). in the past few months she has gone really white and it's spreading a lot. keeping weight on her is So hard we are just managing but she looks bad. she isnt the same dog we know she seems unhappy and i think she is uncomfortable a lot of the time. We found out that her sister was going through similar things and she went to the bridge 2 weeks ago and they are only 9 1/2. she had a decent race career and 24 registered pups so i know she has had quite a life and all of that ages her more.

Our other 2 hounds are acting funny around her for the past few weeks and last night Vegas attacked her ( she didnt fight back at all they said the lady jumped in and broke it up), they were at the kennel being borded ( we were on our honeymoon) and this morning i got a call from the kennel telling me what happened ( we were already on our way to get them). when the attack happened there was no food or toys around not like it matters i can throw meat into the middle of my kitchen and those 2 share with no issues no matter what is going on i have issues knowing who ate what and how much cause they share one dish and them the other if i let them.

We have been to the vet many times to try to see what is wrong and they cant find nothing at all, the only answer i get is age related issues... her sister had the same answer from the vet too ( i live in canada and the live in the U.S so we have different vets).

I have had so many people tell me she is too young to be like this, but i dont want her to suffer she isnt happy and seems like she is in pain sometimes.... but i am having so much trouble making the final decision and i know my husband isnt strong enough to.

 

I know her time is comming and honestly it's comming too fast for me.

 

I have added some pics of what happened after vegas got ahold of her. ( this is the next day, there are smaller woundes on the other side too)

Edited June 27, 2009 by Lovey_Hounds

[4greyhounds]

I am so very sorry! I really don't know what to say.. I am sure others will that may have gone through similar situations, I am sending lots of prayers!!!! :grouphug :hope

[Tallgreydogmom]

I keep our old ones separate from the active ones with baby-gates. The older ones stay in the bedroom area. They have a big bedroom, hallway and bathroom. They have lots of soft beds, water and I feed them in there.

 

The house is divided up into three doggie zones. The young and active, the old and not active and the middle of the road ones. I can open up the middle of the road zone and combine it with the old and not active zone or open it into the young and active zone. It depends on what I am doing and if my husband and I are both home.

 

Oh, we have 16 greyhounds.

 

PS: We didn't just figure this out naturally. We went thru a lot of vet bills first. There are two that wear their muzzles if we are not sitting right with them.

Edited June 27, 2009 by Tallgreydogmom

[Guest Lovey_Hounds]

I keep our old ones separate from the active ones with baby-gates. The older ones stay in the bedroom area. They have a big bedroom, hallway and bathroom. They have lots of soft beds, water and I feed them in there.

 

The house is divided up into three doggie zones. The young and active, the old and not active and the middle of the road ones. I can open up the middle of the road zone and combine it with the old and not active zone or open it into the young and active zone. It depends on what I am doing and if my husband and I are both home.

 

Oh, we have 16 greyhounds.

 

PS: We didn't just figure this out naturally. We went thru a lot of vet bills first. There are two that wear their muzzles if we are not sitting right with them.

 

she was with her non active buddy when this happened and depending on the type of day she is having was either xpen her or the puppy. she wont let anyone near her unless its me at the moment and she is normally my husbands dog. we were at the vet this afternoon and he told us our time is getting shorter.

Edited June 27, 2009 by Lovey_Hounds

[Guest GreysAndMoreGreys]

Sorry if this has been asked in the past but have they run any TBD test?

To me she's still young even at 9 1/2.

 

I'm so sorry she's not doing well, sending prayers your way

:hope

[jenn8]

I have had so many people tell me she is too young to be like this, but i dont want her to suffer she isnt happy and seems like she is in pain sometimes....

 

Regarding the pain issue only: If you persisit with the vet about your concerns that she may be in pain and you explain the reasons as best as you can, he may be willing to prescribe medication based on what you tell him. This is one way to find out if she really is in pain, depending on whether or not the meds make difference in her behavior. Sometimes vets just have to take the owner's word for it that something seems wrong with their dog but you have to be really pushy about it or they won't do anything at all.

 

Jenn

 

 

Edited June 27, 2009 by jenn8

[Guest SusanP]

Agreeing with above post. It does sound like she's in pain of some kind, and she needs relief somehow. This is rough on you all--

[Guest argolola]

Your sweet baby will be in my prayers.

[Guest greytbookert]

Praying for your sweet girl. I agree with the others, though. 9 1/2 is young. Do you know from what her sister died? I'd talk to the vet and do a Tick Bourn Disease full panel, just to try and find the cause of her pain and if it is tick bourn, it can be treated.

[Batmom]

Bloodwork and a tick panel to start. 9 is young! Can't imagine a competent vet diagnosing something as "age related issues."

 

Hugs and best luck.

[Guest PhillyPups]

I agree - 9-1/2 is young to be acting like that - even something as 'simple' as arthritis can be very painful. I would want a second opinion. My Gremlin just came to me - her first home - at 11 and had 44 pups - and acts like a pup herself -

 

I would definitrly get a second opinion - pain meds if she is hurting - even a coated aspirin can give relief.

 

In reading this, I am thinking of the angels that left me and their ages - only one under the age of 11 - Runner had a massive heart attack -

 

I don't consider them seniors till they hit double digits but that is me.

 

I would ask my vet to do a senior blood panel, full TBD testing, and check for arthritis.

 

It is so hard to watch our pups age. I would also have Vegas checked if she did the attacking, and keep them muzzled when left unattended.

 

 

[Guest Energy11]

Yes. there more than likely IS something more than "age related," going on. She seems to be in chronic pain, which would make her cranky. The others sense her "frailness," and are "packing" on her, most likely. I would have the vet do a full geriatric blood panel, and go from there. Deramaxx is great for arthritis, and of course, joint supplements, too.

 

Good Luck and take this day by day, if you can.

[Guest Pipi5]

I agree with the above.

I have been to Cora's(Tallgreymom) & they have an excellent operation going on. My girls & Halo stayed with them for a week, and before that the girls stayed with them for nearly 3 months when I was recuperating from a fall, so this idea is excellent.

I agree about being persistent with your vet. And remember, they're not always the only vet in town.

9 1/2 is still a very young doggie.

[RobinM]

Agreed with "9" as being the diagnosis. Elsie is 10 and is as puppy like as any 2 year old.

 

Sounds like an underlying issue and I hope you are able to find out what it is soon. In the menatime, keeping you both in my thoughts and prayers.

[Guest TurnerMiller01]

I have no answers for you... but i just read thru this post and saw the pics and i can hear the sadness in your postings... and i just wanted you to know that you and your hounds and your family will be in my prayers.

[silverfish]

If she were mine, it would be time for a referral to a specialist to find out exactly what is wrong. Good luck! These vague things are so hard to pin down, but clearly something is going on with the poor old girl.

[Guest greytful4]

Awwww, the poor darling. It's a tough decision to make for you,I know. She'll let you know when she's ready.

[TheFullHouse]

I too would find a vet that would actively look for whatever the problem may be and at 9 1/2 it sure sounds like there is something going on. One thing I always remind myself of, when going to a vet, you are paying for a service and you have every right to express an opinion or ask as many questions as necessary to put your mind at ease. Get a referral to a specialist if necessary. Your other hounds are very aware that there is something wrong with your baby so I'd keep them separate until you find out what the problem is and get it treated.

[MaryJane]

Has she been tested for thyroid issues - some of the things that you mention might be because of a hypothyroid. If it's that, she could easily be treated and make a good recovery.

 

 

[Charlies_Dad]

I am sorry you are experiencing this with you pup. I agree with others, 9.5 is not that old however she is also not my dog. I can only echo what others have said, have her looked at because there are a lot of things that can cause a dog to act this way. One of ours (non-grey) acted like this when she was 10 and it turned out she had arthritis, we gave her metacam and she lived until 14.5 with 3 of those years being like a puppy again.

[Guest brandi007]

Oy....poor DC!

 

Agreeing with everyone above though - they really don't sound like 'age issues'.

 

Sophie's a bit older than DC and she hasn't really slowed down all that much. I'd take her to a specialist or at least someone different, definitely sounds like something else is going on....

[Guest trevdog]

That's not old, that's middle age....I'd get some more tests done or another opinion, there must be something going on and they are picking up on it....

[Guest kydie]

healing white light from Pa. to your old girl, I truly don't undstand one pack member attacking another

[Guest Lovey_Hounds]

We have added more glucoseamine to the dose she has been getting and i have added some new food to the food she is already eating. i am for sure looking at getting blood work done as soon as i can afford it ( i am off work for a bit because i was attacked by a cat at work and have some nasty damage to my hand) hopefully i should have her in in about 2 weeks or so. she is more active and doing better in the past few days she even play bowed at me yesterday! we have done all of our tick testing not too long ago because our boy had babesia.

[Guest Energy11]

Glad to hear she is perking up :-)))