Bone cancer?

[SkylarkAscending]

I feel for you so much - been there done that with greyhounds so many times I won’t share details unless they might be helpful, but sending lots of positive vibes your way

 

[TwyfordM]

Managed to get some videos if there's any thoughts. Please excuse the state of her, the weight loss is awful never seen her so skinny

 

[Titchy Pony]

Oh poor love, she does look skinny, doesn't she. And very lame on that first video. I hope you can get her seen and sorted soon. Fingers crossed here and good vibes on their way.

 

[splashgirl45]

Silly question, does she have a corn or something in her foot ?

 

[TwyfordM]

Silly question, does she have a corn or something in her foot ?

Been double checked by the nurse today, no corns/cuts etc

 

[SkylarkAscending]

She's actually not that skinny for a greyhound, I've seen plenty like that, but I understand that she isn't where you would like her to be weight-wise.

I would very much recommend x-rays but as I'm sure you know, even those may not be conclusive - it took from August (mild lameness) to November for me to get a diagnosis on my boy, 3 different vets couldnt even initially tell me where the lameness was and x-rays in September didn't show anything.

It took a physio to find the source of the lameness immediately (in his shoulder) in late September, I then had a second set of xrays done in November which gave the diagnosis.

Sending lots of get well soon thoughts for Lucy

 

[planete]

I would also be tempted to take her to a physio for an assessment of the lameness first unless you have a vet very clued up about injuries in greyhounds. It is terribly easy for sighthounds to over extend and pull a muscle when running. A blood test to investigate the weight loss though. I agree she is not exeptionally skinny for a hound but a steady weight loss would worry me as well.

 

[splashgirl45]

Been double checked by the nurse today, no corns/cuts etc

That’s a shame, I said that as she seemed to be putting that foot down as if she was walking on something sharp . it’s something easily fixed , the weight loss could be linked to the pain

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

I would echo the physio thing. Ivy had very subtle lameness and the vet apt wasn't particularly conclusive. They didn't push us to x-rays. Vet physio identified problem very quickly (iliopsoas injury).

Agree I'd want the blood test to investigate weight loss though. Hope you get some answers soon.

 

[oldandgold]

Keeping everything crossed for Lucy and you

 

[Cinnamontoast]

She is very skinny

 

[TwyfordM]

She is very skinny

She's normally pure solid muscle and you can see where they've almost wasted away I know she's getting older and been off her food, plus not jumping and running around as much but it seems such a drastic change in a short period. She's on high calorie food as it is, and she's just picking, I've tried some sardines tonight but she turned her nose up

 

[Pearlsasinger]

I would be looking g for a differe t vet tbh. You are paying for this 'service"

 

[Cinnamontoast]

I would be looking g for a differe t vet tbh. You are paying for this 'service"

Absolutely this. It's a customer choice, might be really useful to have a fresh perspective. We have been mostly very happy to have switched.

 

[leflynn]

She's normally pure solid muscle and you can see where they've almost wasted away I know she's getting older and been off her food, plus not jumping and running around as much but it seems such a drastic change in a short period. She's on high calorie food as it is, and she's just picking, I've tried some sardines tonight but she turned her nose up

I think she is skinny for grey, you can see too many ribs and too much spine for my liking esp for a retired. (Have had 2 greys, also rehome for a charity so familiar with them)

If she isn't eating might it be teeth and a tweak in the leg? Agree blood test/physio, not sure what area you are but there are usually some very good greyhound ones wherever you are, and while normal vets are excellent sometimes it helps to talk things over withone familiar with their quirks, as my vet says they are not the same as other dogs....

 

[TwyfordM]

So just been back to see the vet, she confirmed it's definitely shoulder, urine sample came back very high protein. So potentially she's got some kidney issues going on and she doesn't want to sedate to X-ray unless absolutely necessary so we are putting her on stronger painkillers that don't effect the kidneys for 5 days and will reassess if we need to X-ray then. Taking another urine sample to check if anything's changed in the mean time.

 

[Roxylola]

Not very related but my little hound had to have an anaesthetic for a dental (turned out to be a grass seed in her tonsil) due to being in severe pain when eating.
She's recently been diagnosed with kidney disease and the vet queried if a dental was necessary before going ahead. We did, and she's bounced back amazingly from it, just as a little positive for the kidney issues

 

[TwyfordM]

Grr, had to take in another urine sample today and asked when she could go in for an xray, as she's still very lame even on the stronger painkillers. I said I'd accept the risk as I don't want her suffering on if it is the worst case scenario - told no xray appointments available until after 9th July ... I'm in absolute shock, she's on three legs and not even walking properly on painkillers. How that's not classed as an emergency I have no idea ...

Will be taking her elsewhere. But how can vets get away with that

 

[AmyMay]

Grr, had to take in another urine sample today and asked when she could go in for an xray, as she's still very lame even on the stronger painkillers. I said I'd accept the risk as I don't want her suffering on if it is the worst case scenario - told no xray appointments available until after 9th July ... I'm in absolute shock, she's on three legs and not even walking properly on painkillers. How that's not classed as an emergency I have no idea ...

Will be taking her elsewhere. But how can vets get away with that

If there’s no appointments, there’s no appointments.

So yes you’re going to need to ring around, and in this case it might be a good idea to get a referral appointment as the imaging may be better.

 

[meleeka]

Grr, had to take in another urine sample today and asked when she could go in for an xray, as she's still very lame even on the stronger painkillers. I said I'd accept the risk as I don't want her suffering on if it is the worst case scenario - told no xray appointments available until after 9th July ... I'm in absolute shock, she's on three legs and not even walking properly on painkillers. How that's not classed as an emergency I have no idea ...

Will be taking her elsewhere. But how can vets get away with that

It does seem that veterinary care is going the same way as the NHS. A family member couldn’t get an appointment for teeth x-rays/extraction for months either, despite the dog being in pain.

 

[TwyfordM]

If there’s no appointments, there’s no appointments.

So yes you’re going to need to ring around, and in this case it might be a good idea to get a referral appointment as the imaging may be better.

I fully understand that but it's a question of prioritising surely not a blank, we can't do it. Or even a suggestion of ringing round other practises which I'm happy to do. Seems like duty of cares gone out the window and they'll happily leave a dog waiting in pain so they get the money for the xray

 

[TwyfordM]

It does seem that veterinary care is going the same way as the NHS. A family member couldn’t get an appointment for teeth x-rays/extraction for months either, despite the dog being in pain.

So so wrong

I know most x rays will be urgent to some extent, but you'd think the practises would communicate those who had space sooner for the welfare of the animals

 

[AmyMay]

I fully understand that but it's a question of prioritising surely not a blank, we can't do it. Or even a suggestion of ringing round other practises which I'm happy to do. Seems like duty of cares gone out the window and they'll happily leave a dog waiting in pain so they get the money for the xray

But if they have no available appointments what exactly do you want them to do?

 

[SkylarkAscending]

That’s a very poor response from your vets - I’d hope they could signpost you to another practice who could do the X-rays sooner? Maybe not all vets are like that, but I think my local vets would do that.

I know I got criticised on here for calling him the best vet ever but my favoured vet knows if I ask for something urgent, it’s urgent - and he will always go above and beyond to support that.

 

[TwyfordM]

But if they have no available appointments what exactly do you want them to do?

Be a bit more understanding of the situation rather than a blank no. I totally appreciate there's two levels with the X-rays - booking in and emergency.

I asked for her to be xrayed the first day but the urine test came back with high protein so vet advised we check it again in a week and treat with painkillers until then as the risk for anaesthetic is higher if she has something going on with kidneys/liver etc so I was under the impression that's what we were waiting for, not due to lack of appointments. If they'd be honest and said look we don't have any available appointments for a few weeks for xrays. Let's book her in and see how we get on in the meantime with treating with painkillers and see what the protein levels are doing, potentially blood test etc. I would have said ok, I feel like I've been fobbed off in the hope that it's something she's tweaked and painkillers would help (I knew from day 1, they wouldn't)

If they knew there was a several week wait for xrays - be transparent and I would have rung round a week ago!

There's a ton of vets in my area, or even the huge practise I take the hedgies to (it's a trek so I don't take the dogs there usually)

 

[Cinnamontoast]

Swap to somewhere that has appointments or ask for the referral as mentioned. 9th July seems very far away.

 

[TwyfordM]

Lost further weight despite still eating
Got results from urine today and proteins still high, vet said "not to worry" about that ... safe to say my response I'm not going to post and I am in utter shock. They've booked her in for an xray for three weeks time. I'm appalled. I'm ringing round tomorrow to find a practise that can take her for an xray sooner so we have an answer sooner, plus actually investigate why she's got high levels of protein in her urine as that's a serious red flag to me!!!!

Will be taking it further and reporting to make sure this practise gets investigated because I can't let this slide, animal welfare and care should be top priority, she's been prescribed anti inflammatory today too and if her kidneys aren't working (no bloods done - not needed apparently!) that could kill her.

She will get the care she needs, I'll make sure of it. But they've full on tried to blind and given the "we know best" attitude, so another owner without the previous experience I've had. Might go along thinking the professionals know best

Shes getting more poorly by the day, something which I've told the vets repeatedly. I don't think we are going to get a good outcome, so I need to make sure she's getting treatment asap

 

[misst]

Sorry to hear this poor dog. Poor you. I hope you can get her the help she needs tomorrow. x

 

[SkylarkAscending]

A scenario I have encountered on several occasions with greyhounds sadly - they reach a certain age then unexpectedly begin to deteriorate in this way, blood tests ostensibly come back clear and the vets declare themselves baffled.

In my own mind I call it “fading greyhound syndrome” now, I’ve had it 3 or 4 times over the years.

In the end I’ve had to make the right decision for the dog concerned in my experience, as the vets have been useless (and that’s more than one practice/those supposedly experienced in greyhound care)

You have my absolute sympathy, it’s a vile situation to be in

 

[poiuytrewq]

TwyfordM, you must be out of your mind. That wait does seem utterly crazy. Hope you manage to get something sorted. It sounds really stressful
I wish there was something i could do to help! I expect you a a million miles from me? Cirencester/Burford area? A huge long shot i know....