Old wounds reopening

[Cazzie95]

Hi all, 

I have only just signed up to greytalk after finding myself always referring to information on here. 

We recently, only 1 month ago just rescued a sweet ex racer from dogs trust, her name is Grace. However theres one day a week where we have sent her to doggy care care to socialise and exercise whilst we work, we have only done this twice and they said that she just follows the staff around rather than playing. However when she has tried to play they have worried she was more going into her prey drive and muzzled her instead. She is fine with her muzzle but unsure if daycare is worth it for her atm. She does have old racing wounds on her paws but they seem to have opened up really bad after going yesterday and she now doesn't want to walk much and seems to hurt her. Now I'm worried that daycare is too much being on her paws walking around all day and that actually she would benefit from a dog walker for 2 small walks to break the day up instead. 

Also she learnt how to do our stairs leading into our top floor maisonette within a week but has become stubborn and refuses to walk up them now without encouragement of a treat, this started before her paw wounds reopend, which obviously doesn't help now either. 

Is there any advice on these subjects someone can give me. We have never owned a greyhound before but she needed a loving home after being there for so long. 

Any information would be great or recommendations for paw wax etc. 

Cara and grace 🐾

[macoduck]

Is the play area outside, carpeted, or concrete? Running on concrete won't help those wounded paws. Carpets might hurt them too.

Is she playing only with other greyhounds? If not, I would tell the staff NO to roughhousing with other breeds. If she is muzzled then every dog should be muzzled too.

What kind of old racing wounds are on her paws? I've never heard of something like that before.

[Cazzie95]

Thanks for the reply.

Its outside, all grass and muddy from the rainy weather. 

She interacts with similar sized dogs mainly, they have 3 greyhounds she interacts with, labradors, retrievers a husky. Few smaller like a beagle but they separated her from the smallest dogs like jack Russell's. Just wasn't sure if all day outside was too much on her paws. 

We knew she had scars and old wounds or cute but the daycare are the ones who informed us they had slightly opened up so they applied a spray plaster as protection but it's worse than slightly opened up personally, they almost look new.

I have tried to attach a picture but it will not allow me. It looks like when you accidentally grate your knuckle on a cheese grater, like a chunky cut, slightly deep, weeping. I know this is a random way to describe it but it's quite fresh and she does not like me cleaning it. 

[HeyRunDog]

Welcome to GT. My greyhound Grace says hi to your Grace.

As everyone finds out when they get their first greyhound, they are not the same as other breeds of dogs. They seem to have a bit of feline independence, some say stubbornness, in them together with the need to sleep most of the day somewhere soft and warm.

Greyhounds usually heal quickly so if she's not constantly licking her paws and they are kept clean they should heal OK on their own.

I think the doggy care is probably to much for her and the wet grass has softened the callouses on her pads causing them to split and if she's behaving with the other dogs, apart from going into hunt mode, it sounds like she's already socialised. Meeting other dogs while they are both on leads will keep her social skills topped up. Have a search on Facebook and Google to see if they are any monthly greyhound walks in your area. They did wonders for my Grace's confidence.

Don't worry about her not playing as other breeds of dogs do. Some greyhounds play and others don't. My Grace doesn't and as she's got older she doesn't even play with her squeaky soft toys but is happy to observe the world and go for a couple of 30 minute walks a day.

[greysmom]

She's still very new to your house and to retired life in general, so unless you're dealing with a different behavioral issue that necessitates giving her a lot of extra exercise, I would stop the day care for the time being and concentrate on getting her settled into home life.  If she needs toileting walks due to your work schedule, that's what I would limit her to right now.

Also, paw pads need to be slowly toughened up after adoption.  They are accustomed to being on soft sand mostly, so concrete and asphalt just rip them up.  Definitely have your vet take a look at them in case of embedded grit and infection, and see what they recommend for her paws.  There are loads of commercial balms for moisturizing and toughening paw pads, but I would hold off on those until the wounds heal.  Get some good-fitting boots so you can keep her feet clean and dry while they heal.

She probably doesn't want to do the stairs because it hurts.  Let her stay downstairs unless there's a real need and see how she does.  All my dogs know how to do stairs, but they each, for one reason or another, choose to stay downstairs most of the time.  Make sure your stairs aren't slippery by adding treads, and cover the backs of the risers if they are open.

Congrats and Welcome!!

[Cazzie95]

Hi everyone, 

Thank you all for the replies! She has really settled in and has found her perfect spot on the sofa haha! Booties are a great idea thank you greysmom! I shall get some of those and calling the vet tomorrow to get them checked. 

We have decided to cancel doggy daycare and get a Walker in on that day for 2 small walks and toileting. I'll also get some paw balm to help toughen up the pads. 

Heyrundog my grace says hi back! And a greyhound walk sounds amazing, I shall look into a walk in my area. 

All the advice has really helped. Thank you! 

[EllenEveBaz]

Welcome to you and Grace!

One walk rather than two during the day should be fine for a healthy adult dog, as long as she can fully empty her bladder (and bowel, if she's one of those dogs who poops on every walk).  That would be one less time to go up/down the stairs to your flat, too, which right now sounds like a good idea.  

Greyhounds have smaller feet than most other large dogs, so try to take that into account as you're shopping for boots.  

Edited November 28, 2021 by EllenEveBaz

[cleptogrey]

it also takes a couple of months for their paws to harden and toughen up. remember many track dogs have lived on sand. if this doesn't heal promptly then i would speak w/ your vet. i don't want to be the grim reaper but this can be some sort of auto-immune situation. btw- the best thing for healing paws is by keeping them dry. dust a couple of times a day with a medicated foot powder. you will be shocked at how quickly they start to heal. and i would personally stay away from boots. that's calling for a fungal or yeast infection.

 

look into this stuff if you wish. i have used it on awful wounds as the result of stable fly bites. lots of horse people swear by it. https://www.amazon.com/COAT-DEFENSE-Canine-Preventative-Powder/dp/B07ML4Q9LN/ref=sr_1_5?crid=12WABVFLN40E6&keywords=coat+defense+for+dogs&qid=1638192950&sprefix=coat+defense%2Caps%2C270&sr=8-5