Insert all the swearwords here including the worst one of all... (TW/CW dog illness)

SaddlePsych'D said:
The gin thing was sad (and annoying to clean up!) but if that's the worst thing to happen this weekend given what we were bracing for, we'll take the hit!


Possibly, we'll have to see how we go this week. My OH it usually very stoic and not a lot bothers him but he's had a tricky time with work recently then the Ivy thing last week hit him very hard. Last weekend in particular was probably weird for her given all the sobbing. I'd feel weird if everyone kept looking at me and crying tbf.


Absolutely exhausted! I think it will take a bit of time to recover and then of course working out the next steps because Ivy still needs some kind of treatment for whatever is going on.


It feels a bit weird reading the OP back now! I feel a bit silly in a way but the vet last week really was giving us bad news and really was preparing us that the CT would confirm OS.


We started out with physio and it was only because the osteo vet was around during the second physio apt that we ended up with x-rays in the first place. At that stage they were thinking maybe severe arthritis in her hips. I guess we need to see what they say after the radiology report next week and work out how to go forwards.

I'd love to work with the CT vet ongoing as she has experience with racing greyhounds but the policy is that we can't for 12 months otherwise they're seen as poaching clients referred to them by other vets. I'm like 'poach us dammit!'

Ivy has been a little quiet today but was really excited for her walk this morning, bouncing and zooming about. She's eating normally again too :)
Click to expand...
I would recommend a good canine rehab vet if you can find one. Greyhounds can be tricky with their backs and soft tissue stuff and often require multimodal pain relief. They don’t get hip dysplasia, so hip arthritis would be very unlikely but I see a lot of back pain and also muscle stuff (gracilis injuries are common from racing). The scratching in the bed might be pain/discomfort related.
 
KEK said:
I would recommend a good canine rehab vet if you can find one. Greyhounds can be tricky with their backs and soft tissue stuff and often require multimodal pain relief. They don’t get hip dysplasia, so hip arthritis would be very unlikely but I see a lot of back pain and also muscle stuff (gracilis injuries are common from racing). The scratching in the bed might be pain/discomfort related.
Click to expand...
I think we probably do need to change vet and see if we can find someone with more knowledge of greyhounds or maybe agility dogs. The first vet said it could be hip dysplasia or severe arthritis which is what we thought we were x-raying for. I thought I had read that HD isn't really a thing for greyhounds so that's interesting. Then the OS seemed to come from nowhere and now we're left a little bit 'wtf happened there?'

We are looking forward to getting the radiology report back, though I don't know if that will only tell us what's not wrong rather than what is.

She had a more settled night last night. We took her for a short late evening walk and gave her a kong before bed. There was a little bit of scratching but she then slept through the night. I do wonder about discomfort. Then last night we were remembering that even without all this upset from the trips to the vet, we've been here less than three months. She definitely likes it here but perhaps we've taken that for granted that she is still settling in.
 
SaddlePsych'D said:
I think we probably do need to change vet and see if we can find someone with more knowledge of greyhounds or maybe agility dogs. The first vet said it could be hip dysplasia or severe arthritis which is what we thought we were x-raying for. I thought I had read that HD isn't really a thing for greyhounds so that's interesting. Then the OS seemed to come from nowhere and now we're left a little bit 'wtf happened there?'

We are looking forward to getting the radiology report back, though I don't know if that will only tell us what's not wrong rather than what is.

She had a more settled night last night. We took her for a short late evening walk and gave her a kong before bed. There was a little bit of scratching but she then slept through the night. I do wonder about discomfort. Then last night we were remembering that even without all this upset from the trips to the vet, we've been here less than three months. She definitely likes it here but perhaps we've taken that for granted that she is still settling in.
Click to expand...
My fist thought about the unsettled scratching was pain/discomfort. Is she on the maximum dose Loxicom for her weight?
 
Could she possibly be cold? They have very thin coats so maybe shes just chilly in the night? Have you tried a adaptil collar or spray on her bed? maybe one of those calming beds? Is she on something like yumove? Ignore me if not relevant!
 
Clodagh said:
That will be full dose then.
Beagle digs when she’s uncomfortable, but she also digs if the bed is not to her liking. 😄
Click to expand...
Yep the digging is not a completely new thing, just the extent of it. If we're staying somewhere away from home she'll do it to ensure the bed is in the specific spot she would like it to be! What's been tricky recently is we move the bed, tuck her under her blanket, but then she moves and scratches elsewhere. We currently have one side of the living room which is three beds and her duvet, just to try to cover all the bases 😂

Last night was interesting spying on her through the Tapo cam. She'd scratch just a little bit then have a look around, almost as if to say 'well come on, humans, I have summoned you to assist me!' It seemed like she could hear something and that's what was waking her up.

She has improved a bit in that we didn't wake up as often, and when I settled her back down she didn't immediately get up again. She's stopped coming into our room too (that was a new behaviour, she normally likes her own room!)

I've also noticed she's started doing a cat stretch (arching her back up) and I'm not sure if that's a good thing because that would have been uncomfortable/painful to do before, or a not good thing if she is doing it to try to relieve pain/discomfort.

Sandstone1 said:
Could she possibly be cold? They have very thin coats so maybe shes just chilly in the night? Have you tried a adaptil collar or spray on her bed? maybe one of those calming beds? Is she on something like yumove? Ignore me if not relevant!
Click to expand...
Not on YuMove. I looked a while ago and in the end went for Omega-3 oil from Riaflex; I think because of something I'd read on the canine arthritis website. I must get some more as we haven't had it for a while. I wondered about temperature but got confused as some nights it's been a bit warm if anything, but then last night and today it does seem chilly so I'll pop one of her thin jumper thingys on and see how that goes.


No report from the vets yet. I'm impatient! I'll chase it up tomorrow. We'd just quite like a bit of clarity now and a plan.

I spent hours last night Googling and searching Facebook to see if I could find a Greyhound specialist vet or physio (even just one that features a Greyhound on their page would be good), or a rehab vet/physio.
 
meggymoo said:
Or ……… just hand over your bed to her and get duvets for you and OH to use on her beds.
Click to expand...
In a moment of grief/despair post-xrays but pre-CT last week, I think I did say to OH 'I don't care, she can have whatever she wants, we will sleep on the floor, she can have our bed!!'

Post-CT scan I now retract that statement 😂

Other than the night time thing, she seems quite happy. I am sure a full week with no vet visits or sedation will help!
 
SaddlePsych'D said:
Yep the digging is not a completely new thing, just the extent of it. If we're staying somewhere away from home she'll do it to ensure the bed is in the specific spot she would like it to be! What's been tricky recently is we move the bed, tuck her under her blanket, but then she moves and scratches elsewhere. We currently have one side of the living room which is three beds and her duvet, just to try to cover all the bases 😂

Last night was interesting spying on her through the Tapo cam. She'd scratch just a little bit then have a look around, almost as if to say 'well come on, humans, I have summoned you to assist me!' It seemed like she could hear something and that's what was waking her up.

She has improved a bit in that we didn't wake up as often, and when I settled her back down she didn't immediately get up again. She's stopped coming into our room too (that was a new behaviour, she normally likes her own room!)

I've also noticed she's started doing a cat stretch (arching her back up) and I'm not sure if that's a good thing because that would have been uncomfortable/painful to do before, or a not good thing if she is doing it to try to relieve pain/discomfort.


Not on YuMove. I looked a while ago and in the end went for Omega-3 oil from Riaflex; I think because of something I'd read on the canine arthritis website. I must get some more as we haven't had it for a while. I wondered about temperature but got confused as some nights it's been a bit warm if anything, but then last night and today it does seem chilly so I'll pop one of her thin jumper thingys on and see how that goes.


No report from the vets yet. I'm impatient! I'll chase it up tomorrow. We'd just quite like a bit of clarity now and a plan.

I spent hours last night Googling and searching Facebook to see if I could find a Greyhound specialist vet or physio (even just one that features a Greyhound on their page would be good), or a rehab vet/physio.
Click to expand...
Agility net is a massive UK agility Facebook group, I think you could search on there or post to find someone good . Stretching sounds like back pain/discomfort to me.
 
Teaselmeg said:
If you are anywhere near The Renew Centre in Gloucestershire, they are fab. Rachel the main vet is very proactive with pain relief methods ( shockwave/acupuncture etc)

Have a look at Antinol, its pure Green lipped mussel, not cheap but effective for a lot of dogs. Also maybe collagen ?
Click to expand...
Antinol has been out here for ages. It’s green lip mussel and krill oil and is a good supplement. Blackmores lyprinol is the human equivalent about 1/2 the price, if you have that there.
 
Teaselmeg said:
If you are anywhere near The Renew Centre in Gloucestershire, they are fab. Rachel the main vet is very proactive with pain relief methods ( shockwave/acupuncture etc)

Have a look at Antinol, its pure Green lipped mussel, not cheap but effective for a lot of dogs. Also maybe collagen ?
Click to expand...
Not super local but also not impossible.

I will have a look on Agilitynet too.

ETA - still awaiting CT report so feeling in limbo at the moment.

ETA 2 - chased CT vets who sent the CT report to our vet yesterday. We now have a copy. Obviously don't fully understand it but as far as we can tell it doesn't show anything remarkable. She's got wonky hip bones of 'unknown clinical significance'.

I cannot help but feel incredibly frustrated by this process.
 
Last edited:
I know you have multiple beds, but my old whippet (15) has settled best on a second hand cot mattress topped with a sheepskin rug. My theory is it’s supportive enough for wonky old legs and the sheepskin is cosy. He also has the Equilibrium massage mitt twice a day, propped up on his bum, which I feel helps with minor twinges and he sleeps better.
 
paisley said:
I know you have multiple beds, but my old whippet (15) has settled best on a second hand cot mattress topped with a sheepskin rug. My theory is it’s supportive enough for wonky old legs and the sheepskin is cosy. He also has the Equilibrium massage mitt twice a day, propped up on his bum, which I feel helps with minor twinges and he sleeps better.
Click to expand...
My lurcher loved her old cot mattress. I got it free from marketplace. And fitted cot sheets make changing so easy! Mine had vet bed on top as well.
 
One of the beds is destined for the bin anyway (dammit Aldi middle aisle!) so perhaps the cot mattress is the way to go for a replacement.

I found a rehab vet during another round of Googling. I think I missed that they are a vet and a physio. Seems like a good shout for next steps so will ask for referral.

Am I being unreasonable? I can't tell if it's from the emotional rollercoaster we have been on or if our vets are being a bit rubbish. The CT report was sent to them Tuesday, the referral vet sent it to me immediately yesterday when I called for an update, then own vets saying the report had come to them blank (it's a pdf so not sure how, or why they've only asked for it to be resent today after I emailed them yesterday for an update). The referral vet said she wasn't supposed to go into the results with us but thank god she did because if she hadn't we'd be here another week later still thinking our dog was terminally ill! And this is before I get caught up in thinking how the heck did we get from 'there's a mass here that is likely a deadly tumor' to 'there's nothing here of significance'. Obviously I am grateful and relieved for her being okay, that is absolutely the main thing and we could well have not been so lucky.

I've never had to do this with a pet before. Everything else has been routine vet care. Maybe this is just normal for all I know?!
 
SaddlePsych'D said:
One of the beds is destined for the bin anyway (dammit Aldi middle aisle!) so perhaps the cot mattress is the way to go for a replacement.

I found a rehab vet during another round of Googling. I think I missed that they are a vet and a physio. Seems like a good shout for next steps so will ask for referral.

Am I being unreasonable? I can't tell if it's from the emotional rollercoaster we have been on or if our vets are being a bit rubbish. The CT report was sent to them Tuesday, the referral vet sent it to me immediately yesterday when I called for an update, then own vets saying the report had come to them blank (it's a pdf so not sure how, or why they've only asked for it to be resent today after I emailed them yesterday for an update). The referral vet said she wasn't supposed to go into the results with us but thank god she did because if she hadn't we'd be here another week later still thinking our dog was terminally ill! And this is before I get caught up in thinking how the heck did we get from 'there's a mass here that is likely a deadly tumor' to 'there's nothing here of significance'. Obviously I am grateful and relieved for her being okay, that is absolutely the main thing and we could well have not been so lucky.

I've never had to do this with a pet before. Everything else has been routine vet care. Maybe this is just normal for all I know?!
Click to expand...
If you have lost faith in your vets then change practices. You HAVE to completely think they are doing the right thing. And it does sound like they are being rubbish, yes.
 
Clodagh said:
If you have lost faith in your vets then change practices. You HAVE to completely think they are doing the right thing. And it does sound like they are being rubbish, yes.
Click to expand...
I think we are heading that way. Perhaps when our vet does get in touch he will explain it all and that will help, but yes at this particular point I have lost faith and we might just need to start fresh with a new practice. If we can get the referral to the rehab vet first that would be great then look to make the change.
 
Clodagh said:
If you have lost faith in your vets then change practices. You HAVE to completely think they are doing the right thing. And it does sound like they are being rubbish, yes.
Click to expand...
I massively echo this. I lost faith with my vet following the repeated visits when Brig was suffering post bite from another dog and repeated antibiotics weren’t clearing the pus/abscesses. It wasn’t helped when they gave me the wrong meds and I checked before leaving. Same thing with my bil, the dog had cancer and the amount of what felt like fobbing off was horrific for him and the poor dog. You have the choice.

Re the bed, particularly with a bony dog like a greyhound, I’d be looking at layering: we have Princess and the Pea ie multiple layers and a memory foam layer on top of the foam base which is about 6 inches deep.
 
Last edited:
As a great vet once said to me 'You are paying the bill, you make the decisions', that was in the context of not wanting to see one of his colleagues but we did change practice not long after because there was so many of his colleagues that I didn't want to see and the accounts dept were rubbish!
 
The most popular bed in my house apart from the actual bed is a proper sheepskin rug. I'd get one and layer that over a cot mattress. Mine absolutely love it, particularly my older boy with the back issues. I think its soft and supportive as well as warm.
 
Tawny was neck not loin but she needed her head elevated, so she had a soft basket where she rested her head on the ‘rim’. Hammock beds are popular here, with an extra mattress on because they are spoiled .
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top