Guest FawnFan Posted July 7, 2013 Share Posted July 7, 2013 As some of you know I lost my nine year old named Gunner at the end of May. Since Dawson, who is my oldest, my first greyhound and my only remaining greyhound, seems to be fine as far as grief is concerned. Yet he also seems to be deteriorating health-wise somehow. It is just a feeling for me at this point. So here's what I'm seeing. First, he'll be 11 at month-end. Next, he's been panting more than usual, imho. During the day he'll wake up from a sound sleep (the boy loves his sleep) and lay there, head up panting. After 2-3 minutes or so, he'll lay his head down and go back off to sleep. Gunner used to do this at a more frequent pace yet it reminds me of this when Dawson does it. I have the air conditioning on and he doesn't go outside for long (maybe 5-8 minutes to do his business and then back in) and we don't do walks because of corns on each paw and arthritis in his ankles. He also seems a little tiny bit "wobbly" (best word to describe it) yet I chalked it up to him getting older, the legs are just not working as well as they used to and the corns (he sometimes looks like he's walking on egg shells). If I take him to the Vet, which is not his favorite place, what do I tell her? Just what I'm seeing and noted above? Or do I try an aspirin once a day to see if there is a difference? Or do I give him some of Gunner's leftover meds? I think I have tramadol left and the gabapentin. Ran out of the Rimadyl. I feel like he might be in pain yet there's no real indication as to where other than his feet. And now that I'm typing this out, maybe it is just his feet. We haven't been successful with any of the corn treatments yet. I'm thinking of trying the homeopathic one from Lori Rose. Given all of the above, it seems he just isn't right yet I can't pinpoint what, where, how much it hurts, etc. Any suggestions, thoughts, ideas? Thanks for your help, Jean Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walliered Posted July 7, 2013 Share Posted July 7, 2013 Can you hull the corms? They can really hurt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krissy Posted July 7, 2013 Share Posted July 7, 2013 Please don't give any medications without consulting your vet first. You can cause some serious medical problems or if he ends up needing other medications you may be seriously limiting what the vet can give due to drug interactions. There is nothing that makes me cringe more when I am taking my history than the owner telling me they have been giving aspirin... especially when I was going to want to give Metacam or some other NSAID... and then I can't. When in doubt about an animal's health a call to the vet is in order. Quote Kristie and the Apex Agility Greyhounds: Kili (ATChC AgMCh Lakilanni Where Eagles Fly RN IP MSCDC MTRDC ExS Bronze ExJ Bronze ) and Kenna (Lakilanni Kiss The Sky RN MADC MJDC AGDC AGEx AGExJ). Waiting at the Bridge: Retired racer Summit (Bbf Dropout) May 5, 2005-Jan 30, 2019 Like us on Facebook! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Batmom Posted July 7, 2013 Share Posted July 7, 2013 I'd hull the corns and get a physical and probably some bloodwork at the vet. Quote Star aka Starz Ovation (Ronco x Oneco Maggie*, litter #48538), Coco aka Low Key (Kiowa Mon Manny x Party Hardy, litter # 59881), and mom in IllinoisWe miss Reko Batman (Trouper Zeke x Marque Louisiana), 11/15/95-6/29/06, Rocco the thistledown whippet, 04/29/93-10/14/08, Reko Zema (Mo Kick x Reko Princess), 8/16/98-4/18/10, the most beautiful girl in the whole USA, my good egg Joseph aka Won by a Nose (Oneco Cufflink x Buy Back), 09/22/2003-03/01/2013, and our gentle sweet Gidget (Digitizer, Dodgem by Design x Sobe Mulberry), 1/29/2006-11/22/2014, gone much too soon. Never forgetting CJC's Buckshot, 1/2/07-10/25/10. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Remolacha Posted July 7, 2013 Share Posted July 7, 2013 I know what you mean. I lost Fletcher (11 yr old) three weeks ago, and Molly, also 11, has been a bit off. She is not obviously grieving, they got along fine but weren't close, and I have another greyhound. However, I believe part of her behavior is related to the change in the household, I am certainly still grieving, and I know she picks up on that. She has been doing that panting thing, but I am fairly sure it is related to the heat, even though she doesn't go out for more than a few minutes at a time. She is also getting more wobbly, although she doesn't have corns. I am going to see if her vet can see her next week, just to do a general checkup. You know your dog best, and if you feel there is something off, there is, although it may just be corns and age. It wouldn't hurt to have a checkup done, to ease your mind if nothing else. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbhounds Posted July 7, 2013 Share Posted July 7, 2013 One other thought that crossed my mind when I read about him waking from a deep sleep panting. Does his breathing sound different to you I wonder if he's developing Laryngeal Paralysis --aka LP, Lar Par. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PatricksMom Posted July 7, 2013 Share Posted July 7, 2013 I'd take him in, and definitly no asprin in the meantime. Hoping it's nothing serious. Quote Beth, Petey (8 September 2018- ), and Faith (22 March 2019). Godspeed Patrick (28 April 1999 - 5 August 2012), Murphy (23 June 2004 - 27 July 2013), Leo (1 May 2009 - 27 January 2020), and Henry (10 August 2010 - 7 August 2020), you were loved more than you can know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest FawnFan Posted July 8, 2013 Share Posted July 8, 2013 (edited) Thanks everyone for your responses. I'll take him in and see what they have to say. TBHounds, nope his breathing doesn't sound different at all. It is just like with Gunner with the osteo... all of the sudden, he would be up (awake) and panting. And given that Gunner's experience is relatively fresh in my memory, it was the first thing that came to mind. Thanks again, Jean P.S. I forgot to add, yes I hull his corns as frequently as he lets me. I just took out the two in the back feet last week. His front feet are a little more sensitive and take more time. So I'm working on those. I also try to massage bag balm into his paws too. Sometimes he won't let me do that either. But yes, the corns are hulled when possible. Thanks again Edited July 8, 2013 by FawnFan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4My2Greys Posted July 8, 2013 Share Posted July 8, 2013 Think about having his heart checked out. Nadir had been doing a lot of panting, which I had been attributing to pain, which I now know was due what is going on with his heart. I'm so sorry that you too are having to go through this with another sick pup after losing Gunner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbhounds Posted July 8, 2013 Share Posted July 8, 2013 (edited) Jean-I see you're from NJ--if those corns really become crippling to your guy send me a pm. I work at a clinic in northern Nj that is staffed by an amazing surgeon. She has performed successful corn surgery before. The recovery time is something like 5 weeks (in bandages) but, wow-to be corn free--priceless. Edited July 8, 2013 by tbhounds Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest erssie Posted July 15, 2013 Share Posted July 15, 2013 We had the same with our boy. Putting the head straight up in the air, and panting like that, it could be some sort of chest problem. With our boy, he had a mass in his chest pressing on the trachea which just turned out to be a lung lobe twist, and not cancer at all. However greys will do that panting thing, whatever sort of pain they are suffering or as a stress reaction to pain. I would ask them to do a full check up, even a chest xray which can be done without any sedative if they can get him to lie on one side. it might be about £50 but with us, not doing that chest xray cost us a lot of time. There are lots of reasons for being short of breath,or having laboured breathing (panting more than normal) and most of the reasons are not that sinister, but it can make you worry. With us, our dog was coughing badly but it was not until we videoed it, after 4 mths of having it, that our vet really listened to us and did an xray. I would take a viddy on your phone, and show it to the vet....what they see before their eyes they believe and can diagnose so much more easily than what they see when your dog comes to the vets or you describe it. Trouble with greys is that they are standing, wired and adrenalin pumped when visiting the vets and that can mask a lot of things. It is when your grey is at rest, and snoozing, but overbreathing that you probably notice it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MP_the4pack Posted July 15, 2013 Share Posted July 15, 2013 I was leaning towards a heart problem too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest FawnFan Posted July 16, 2013 Share Posted July 16, 2013 Thanks everyone for your advice and for sharing your experiences. Taking a video is a great idea and I will do it the next time he's in the office with me. And right now I'm still getting over the loss of Gunner to osteo mid-May and the panting reminds sooooo much of G's last few weeks. So initially I was thinking it was pain related yet I also was being in denial too. I will get him into the Vet this week and then let everyone know. Thanks again. I appreciate the guidance and support, Jean Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krissn333 Posted July 16, 2013 Share Posted July 16, 2013 Hoping if it's anything at all, it's something easily figured out and treated Quote Kristin in Moline, IL USA with Ozzie (MRL Crusin Clem), Clarice (Clarice McBones), Latte and Sage the IGs, and the kitties: Violet and Rose Lovingly Remembered: Sutra (Fliowa Sutra) 12/02/97-10/12/10, Pinky (Pick Me) 04/20/03-11/19/12, Fritz (Fritz Fire) 02/05/01 - 05/20/13, Ace (Fantastic Ace) 02/05/01 - 07/05/13, and Carrie (Takin the Crumbs) 05/08/99 - 09/04/13. A cure for cancer can't come soon enough.-- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
galgrey Posted July 16, 2013 Share Posted July 16, 2013 Hoping if it's anything at all, it's something easily figured out and treated What krissn333 said. Quote Cynthia, & Cristiano, galgoAlways in my heart: Frostman Newdawn Frost, Keno Jet Action & Chloe (NGA racing name unknown), Irys (galgo), Hannah (weim), Cruz (galgo), & Carly CW Your Charming Princess http://www.greyhound-data.com/d?i=1018857 "It came to me that every time I lose a dog they take a piece of my heart with them. And every new dog who comes into my life, gifts me with a piece of their heart. If I live long enough, all the components of my heart will be dog, and I will become as generous and loving as they are." -- Unknown Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeorgeofNE Posted July 17, 2013 Share Posted July 17, 2013 Just my 2 cents: as counterintuitive as it may seem, dogs with arthritis REALLY need to be exercised. Just like people. He needs to maintain flexibility, which he won't do laying around, and muscle tone. The more muscle tone a dog has, the more support his joints have. Just like people. Like me... Quote Susan, Hamish, Mister Bigglesworth and Nikita Stanislav. Missing Ming, George, and Buck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest FastDogsOwnMe Posted July 18, 2013 Share Posted July 18, 2013 I agree with George Also, take care of the corns if you can. As for the panting, my 11.5 year old pants randomly like that, too, and there's nothing wrong with her that I know of. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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