Moany post

[CorvusCorax]

So my young dog is faaaaast.

So fast she repeatedly skins her pads/feet by skidding/doing sliding stops. Feels like it's happening on a weekly basis.
I started a new regime of walking her on a 1m line (unless on grass) last week and she's still managed to do her front foot, so she's now got two hurt feet.
Because she's off games until they've healed, she is wired. But I can't give her a good run because she'll hurt herself more. And I don't want to do too much static training or tracking as I don't want her to make a bad association, ie 'when I do this thing, my foot hurts'.
She's also coming into season and is itchy AF (got a Cytopoint jab today).

I know it's not the worst problem to have but it's frustrating, neither of us is getting enough exercise or brain training and she is a running dog, I really feel for her. And it's making her even more of a bitch with other dogs and more likely to scrabble, because of all the pent up energy.

She's getting lots of chews and scatter feeding.

Anyhoo, no real point to the post, her father (who has very hardy feet!!) gave me a bit of a scare last week so the whole dog ownership thing feels a bit stressful and grindy at the moment. To the extent where I wonder if I am the right home for her, even though I love her to bits and realistically very few people live somewhere where there is no tarmac/concrete. And she's nuts. And I'll be working from home FT soon, so things will be easier.

Feel free to add your moans!!

 

[I'm Dun]

My youngest, the supposed but isnt whippet, is making me think similar thoughts. I adore him, my other dog adores him, but he just doesnt ever seem to get tired. Today we walked 5 miles into Oxford, had a wander round the quieter areas, got a bus to my local village 10mins away, wandered about, they had a puppacino, we went into the charity shop where they get a biscuit and fuss and a mile and a half home. Yesterday we went round 250 hectares of meadow and wet land and he ran flat out the whole time playing with my older boy, the day before we went 7 miles down to the Thames and back. We never do the same walk more than once a fortnight, I train with him and teach him new things and practice them. I let him sit outside on a blanket while I work on the boat. I take him out sniffing/running/lead walking in busy places. Hes always up for more. He will settle when told but then just lays there staring at me looking miserable. I'm used to whippets who sleep a lot!

He gets about 90mins walk most days, then 4 x 10mins wee breaks. For a while he had settled and was quite easy and I thought he was growing up and settling, but hes back to being a complete live wire again. Hes about 21months now. He needs a job. Hes super initelligent and incredibly athletic. But for another month or so I dont have a car so I cant get places without loads of hassle and I cant leave the other one home alone as hes got severe separation anxiety that didnt resolve with medication and behaviourist help until I got another dog, so rocking the boat is not a good idea. When I finally have a car again I can leave him in the car and take the youngster off to do something. I have no idea what though, and its made doubly hard as from next month we are back on summer time boat stuff and have to move every 2 weeks to a new location, and it will be september before Im back in oxford again.

People stop to tell me how lovely they are and how well behaved they are and they really are. I can take them anywhere, do anything with them, never worry about them bothering other dogs or reacting if a kid runs up and pokes them or anything. They are incredibly tolerant of my distinctly average attempts to train them as well, But I'm really really tired today, tired of boats and dogs and not having car and just life really so thats not helping at all and I'll hopefully feel better about it all tomorrow, but this afternoon I've been so fed up of it all.

 

[Boulty]

Random thought but when her pads are a bit less raw but still not up to charging about like a loon would some swimming be an option in terms of physically tiring her out?

 

[CorvusCorax]

Random thought but when her pads are a bit less raw but still not up to charging about like a loon would some swimming be an option in terms of physically tiring her out?

That's a good idea, thank you. I wish I had room for a treadmill!! This week has mostly been Going Places and Looking At Things/Practicing Down Stays.
I think I should buy shares in wound powder.

I injured my foot and the old dog had an infected toe in January so it just seems like we're all permanently limping!!

 

[KEK]

Could she wear boots? They walk funny on them initially but then generally get accustomed.
And I feel you on the dog with too much energy I’m Dun, one of my BCs is like that and also is horrible to my other dogs it’s really hard.

 

[Clodagh]

Tawny had constant skinned or cut pads from working. It was so frustrating, work a day then a week or more off to heal.
Is she on concrete in her kennel run? If not maybe that would help harden them up. Tawny always had gallons of mushers paw wax on as often as possible and it seemed contraindicative but I used to use stuff like super strength hand cream to moisturise them, as they seemed marginally better when more flexi.
Not that I ever found anything that worked, or any boots that stayed on.
Swimming sounds good, as suggested. Maybe if you could do something like cycle her, with boots on, being a repetitive less likely to rip them off exercise she could burn off some steam?

 

[rabatsa]

John Boy greyhound has scrapes all down one side from doing a slide when cornering too fast on the yard. Poor chap is having to live in his muzzle in order to stop him licking them raw. Hopefully one more day should see him able to have it off. Today at least he is aware that it is the licking that makes me put the muzzle on and a growl or two from me has stopped him trying while I am about.

 

[ycbm]

That's a good idea, thank you. I wish I had room for a treadmill!! This week has mostly been Going Places and Looking At Things/Practicing Down Stays.
I think I should buy shares in wound powder.

I injured my foot and the old dog had an infected toe in January so it just seems like we're all permanently limping!!

This may be just the stupidest idea ever, .....

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.

 

[CorvusCorax]

She's kennelled on concrete and won't keep boots on. I don't have room for a treadmill so I definitely don't have room for a pool lol. Everything about the house is fun sized, even the dogs

 

[Clodagh]

It’s such a bloody pain.
On here, to me, someone suggested feeding biotin supplement. Have you tried that?

 

[MurphysMinder]

Can't really help with suggestions but a mutual friend has this problem with Norm . He has corns on his hocks from skid stops and frequently skins his pads , and she doesn't even do IGP any more. I presume you have tried paw wax or similar ? Could you put some sort of rubber matting in her kennel ?

 

[CorvusCorax]

It’s such a bloody pain.
On here, to me, someone suggested feeding biotin supplement. Have you tried that?

I haven't but it's worth a go!

 

[CorvusCorax]

Can't really help with suggestions but a mutual friend has this problem with Norm . He has corns on his hocks from skid stops and frequently skins his pads , and she doesn't even do IGP any more. I presume you have tried paw wax or similar ? Could you put some sort of rubber matting in her kennel ?

Oh I didn't know that about Norm.

I haven't tried wax but they've never been dry/cracked if that makes sense?

The rubber matting would probably get eaten lol but I can look about for some.

 

[MurphysMinder]

The paw wax forms a sort of seal so might help. Norm does everything at 100 miles an hour given the choice, he no longer does the sport due to his owners knackered back

 

[Pearlsasinger]

So my young dog is faaaaast.

So fast she repeatedly skins her pads/feet by skidding/doing sliding stops. Feels like it's happening on a weekly basis.
I started a new regime of walking her on a 1m line (unless on grass) last week and she's still managed to do her front foot, so she's now got two hurt feet.
Because she's off games until they've healed, she is wired. But I can't give her a good run because she'll hurt herself more. And I don't want to do too much static training or tracking as I don't want her to make a bad association, ie 'when I do this thing, my foot hurts'.
She's also coming into season and is itchy AF (got a Cytopoint jab today).

I know it's not the worst problem to have but it's frustrating, neither of us is getting enough exercise or brain training and she is a running dog, I really feel for her. And it's making her even more of a bitch with other dogs and more likely to scrabble, because of all the pent up energy.

She's getting lots of chews and scatter feeding.

Anyhoo, no real point to the post, her father (who has very hardy feet!!) gave me a bit of a scare last week so the whole dog ownership thing feels a bit stressful and grindy at the moment. To the extent where I wonder if I am the right home for her, even though I love her to bits and realistically very few people live somewhere where there is no tarmac/concrete. And she's nuts. And I'll be working from home FT soon, so things will be easier.

Feel free to add your moans!!

Can you get her padded boots, like emergency service dogs wear to work?

 

[Clodagh]

My youngest, the supposed but isnt whippet, is making me think similar thoughts. I adore him, my other dog adores him, but he just doesnt ever seem to get tired. Today we walked 5 miles into Oxford, had a wander round the quieter areas, got a bus to my local village 10mins away, wandered about, they had a puppacino, we went into the charity shop where they get a biscuit and fuss and a mile and a half home. Yesterday we went round 250 hectares of meadow and wet land and he ran flat out the whole time playing with my older boy, the day before we went 7 miles down to the Thames and back. We never do the same walk more than once a fortnight, I train with him and teach him new things and practice them. I let him sit outside on a blanket while I work on the boat. I take him out sniffing/running/lead walking in busy places. Hes always up for more. He will settle when told but then just lays there staring at me looking miserable. I'm used to whippets who sleep a lot!

He gets about 90mins walk most days, then 4 x 10mins wee breaks. For a while he had settled and was quite easy and I thought he was growing up and settling, but hes back to being a complete live wire again. Hes about 21months now. He needs a job. Hes super initelligent and incredibly athletic. But for another month or so I dont have a car so I cant get places without loads of hassle and I cant leave the other one home alone as hes got severe separation anxiety that didnt resolve with medication and behaviourist help until I got another dog, so rocking the boat is not a good idea. When I finally have a car again I can leave him in the car and take the youngster off to do something. I have no idea what though, and its made doubly hard as from next month we are back on summer time boat stuff and have to move every 2 weeks to a new location, and it will be september before Im back in oxford again.

People stop to tell me how lovely they are and how well behaved they are and they really are. I can take them anywhere, do anything with them, never worry about them bothering other dogs or reacting if a kid runs up and pokes them or anything. They are incredibly tolerant of my distinctly average attempts to train them as well, But I'm really really tired today, tired of boats and dogs and not having car and just life really so thats not helping at all and I'll hopefully feel better about it all tomorrow, but this afternoon I've been so fed up of it all.

I wonder if you’ve inadvertently got him too fit/raised his expectations too high? Dogs have to learn to switch off sometimes, for our sanity. In January Scout was shooting three days a week and so fit he was absolutely tireless. A month on and he gets what he’s given, which is maybe an hour and a bit walks a day and a few minutes training.
Be kind to yourself and let him be bored. IMO.
ETA I know it’s horrible when they do the misery stare thing.

 

[Clodagh]

Can you get her padded boots, like emergency service dogs wear to work?

With T they just came off at the first bit of proper work. Even expensive made to measure ones.
Not intending to answer for CC!

 

[Cinnamontoast]

I don’t know what to suggest re her pads if she’s already on concrete and won’t keep boots on. Buster collar so she can’t yank off boots? Surgical spirit on healed pads to harden them up? Obviously she’d need to be stopped from licking.

My moan: Goose is obsessive. He still wants to chew his right fore. We have to be super vigilant and keep his buster collar on if he’s not supervised. The steroid cream from the vet really helps but if we don’t use it, he’s straight back to chewing. Can’t use it long term or it’ll do more harm than good. The wet weather is not helping. I can walk him in the flat wet woods or the stony drier areas. Our area is notorious for being stony, putting posts in for fences etc is very hard!

 

[Clodagh]

I don’t know what to suggest re her pads if she’s already on concrete and won’t keep boots on. Buster collar so she can’t yank off boots? Surgical spirit on healed pads to harden them up? Obviously she’d need to be stopped from licking.

My moan: Goose is obsessive. He still wants to chew his right fore. We have to be super vigilant and keep his buster collar on if he’s not supervised. The steroid cream from the vet really helps but if we don’t use it, he’s straight back to chewing. Can’t use it long term or it’ll do more harm than good. The wet weather is not helping. I can walk him in the flat wet woods or the stony drier areas. Our area is notorious for being stony, putting posts in for fences etc is very hard!

Why is he chewing? Is it stress? When B was young she used to lick her leg repeatedly if stressed. We used to put bitter apple spray on it. (Covering the raw bit).

 

[I'm Dun]

I wonder if you’ve inadvertently got him too fit/raised his expectations too high? Dogs have to learn to switch off sometimes, for our sanity. In January Scout was shooting three days a week and so fit he was absolutely tireless. A month on and he gets what he’s given, which is maybe an hour and a bit walks a day and a few minutes training.
Be kind to yourself and let him be bored. IMO.
ETA I know it’s horrible when they do the misery stare thing.

Yup, thats exactly what I've done. My phone broke and without the constant distraction the ADHD has been running wild so I've upped the walks/play time/interaction even more than usual. Hes hard fit. I walk 7 miles, he gallops closer to 20. He has the whippet sprinting thing but endless stamina as well. And part of it is when the weather is nice he likes his bed outside and to just sit and watch the world go by, but this mooring hasn't got any flat ground other than the towpath itself so he hasn't got anywhere he can sit like that so he wanders up and down outside along the boat sighing and driving me mad, so gets sent inside where he stares at me out of the window!

I'm making him sound awful, he's the most loving affectionate dog, gets on with everyone and everything and is really trainable for a sight hound. Hes just fit enough to run a marathon and I am not and neither is my older boy. They do whippet racing not far away so when I sort a car I'll take him over, that should give him something to think about and take the edge off. I might teach him some tricks as well to keep his busy little mind occupied with something new. We've just got back in today and he's gone to bed, straight under the duvet and to sleep, so maybe he was just over stimulated yesterday. Hopefully he's quiet and settled today.

 

[poiuytrewq]

It’s such a bloody pain.
On here, to me, someone suggested feeding biotin supplement. Have you tried that?

I was going to suggest that. Although our issue was claws I have the same problem when my little dog was younger. It seemed every time he went faster than a trot he'd rip a claw out. This meant rest because he'd be so sore on it and then as it healed he'd rip another one out.

Onychotin is for claws and skin and I really can't tell you what a massive difference its made for us. I used to dread him hobbling over, foot in the air and blood everywhere but i really cant remember when it last happened. He gets one capsule in his food and a squirt of salmon oil.
Obviously its not an instant fix but in the long run might be worth a try.

 

[Cinnamontoast]

Why is he chewing? Is it stress? When B was young she used to lick her leg repeatedly if stressed. We used to put bitter apple spray on it. (Covering the raw bit).

The vet said there was thrush, no skin scrape, but it did smell a little and looked a bit raw. I think he’s just now in the habit of chewing then lames himself. He is strictly not allowed access, even has his helmet on in the car. Currently on my knee, paddled himself to sleep with his monkey teddy after a massive run in the woods.

 

[MurphysMinder]

I was going to suggest that. Although our issue was claws I have the same problem when my little dog was younger. It seemed every time he went faster than a trot he'd rip a claw out. This meant rest because he'd be so sore on it and then as it healed he'd rip another one out.

Onychotin is for claws and skin and I really can't tell you what a massive difference its made for us. I used to dread him hobbling over, foot in the air and blood everywhere but i really cant remember when it last happened. He gets one capsule in his food and a squirt of salmon oil.
Obviously its not an instant fix but in the long run might be worth a try.

Zenya had awful claws, kept splitting so I started her on Onychotin after seeing it mentioned on here and it has made a huge difference . Didn't realise it covered skin too, would be worth a try as it is not that expensive.

 

[CorvusCorax]

Ordered, thank you!

 

[CorvusCorax]

The vet said there was thrush, no skin scrape, but it did smell a little and looked a bit raw. I think he’s just now in the habit of chewing then lames himself. He is strictly not allowed access, even has his helmet on in the car. Currently on my knee, paddled himself to sleep with his monkey teddy after a massive run in the woods.

Have you put Canesten on it?

 

[Cinnamontoast]

Have you put Canesten on it?

He’s got cream from the vet. I’m sticking his helmet back on while I go shopping, might have a look in Asda.

 

[skinnydipper]

He’s got cream from the vet. I’m sticking his helmet back on while I go shopping, might have a look in Asda.

I seem to remember he was also licking his stifle.

At the moment you are treating the symptoms, do you know the cause?

 

[Pearlsasinger]

We took our brown Lab to the vets recently because when chasing around for 30 mins oe so she was panting far more than the others and the skin around her eyes was going pink. Vet diagnosed an allergy, which we had suspected but weren't sure what she was allergic to.
To cut a long story short, we worked out that the problem was the blanket for the car that had been given to us by DD's owner. She had washed it in Vanish/Febreze/ something smelly. Dog is now much better but I'm still moaning about the perfumed blanket.

 

[druid]

GoldLabel pad hardener and biotin/zinc supplementation are my go to for this sort of thing

 

[Andie02]

We took our brown Lab to the vets recently because when chasing around for 30 mins oe so she was panting far more than the others and the skin around her eyes was going pink. Vet diagnosed an allergy, which we had suspected but weren't sure what she was allergic to.
To cut a long story short, we worked out that the problem was the blanket for the car that had been given to us by DD's owner. She had washed it in Vanish/Febreze/ something smelly. Dog is now much better but I'm still moaning about the perfumed blanket.

I wash our dog bedding with Nikwax Rug Wash.