My greyhound is sick, but getting better - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

greytone · 01-08-2007, 05:52 PM

I have a had a bad scare this week with one of my two greys. I was driving home from a long holiday break when I recieved a call from the kennel that she had gotten some ulcers on her legs and they were taking her to the vet. She has some seperation anxiety and I thought it was probably nothing. Then I called as we neared town that I would be able to get there before they closed. They told me she was still at the vet. I raced the last two hours home to find her listless and full of skin lesions, some with ulcers, and a high fever. She was having blood in her stool and urine. It was not until I leaned over and looked in her face that she even knew it was me. Then she tried to get up, but of course she could not.

It turns out that greys are prone to an auto mmune vasculitis I had a long talk with the vet about options. It seems to respond to steroids so I took her home and worked all night to keep her fever down so she would not have a seizure. She is on steroids and two antibiotics and has been improving every day. I am doing dressing changes on her feet and she seems to be leaving the bandages alone.

Today she actually pranced a little when I got home from work and she climbed an outdoor staircase to roam a little farther than she has in the last week. Then she came in and jumped up on my bed, something she failed to accomplish just yesterday.

So I am very hopefull. Has anyone else had a similar experience?

amonkie · 01-08-2007, 08:28 PM

I haven't, but it is heart wrenching to have a family member in pain ... hoping her recovery is speedy! *hugs*

Acetylene · 01-12-2007, 08:20 AM

Autoimmune problems are so frustrating. If only it were a disease, it would be so much easier, we worry.

It helped my dog to have a low-allergen food. Sometimes allergenic foods make this sort of autimmune thing harder to control. It certainly wouldn't do any harm, at least. I like Old Mother Hubbard's low allergy formula, fish and sweet potato is good, and you can get it at good pet sotres. Also science diet makes one that is even lower in allergens but it tastes like styrofoam. Good luck!

analog · 01-13-2007, 01:08 AM

I'm glad she is doing better, that's quite a grim scare to have. I hope the medications knock this out of the park right away- she seems to have a great person to care for her, and that's a big plus.

Brewmaniac · 01-13-2007, 04:32 AM

I'm sure that scared the Shit out of you! I'm glad to hear she's doing better. As was said earlier it's rough when a family member gets sick!

01-08-2007, 05:52 PM	#1 (permalink)
greytone Junkie	My greyhound is sick, but getting better I have a had a bad scare this week with one of my two greys. I was driving home from a long holiday break when I recieved a call from the kennel that she had gotten some ulcers on her legs and they were taking her to the vet. She has some seperation anxiety and I thought it was probably nothing. Then I called as we neared town that I would be able to get there before they closed. They told me she was still at the vet. I raced the last two hours home to find her listless and full of skin lesions, some with ulcers, and a high fever. She was having blood in her stool and urine. It was not until I leaned over and looked in her face that she even knew it was me. Then she tried to get up, but of course she could not. It turns out that greys are prone to an auto mmune vasculitis I had a long talk with the vet about options. It seems to respond to steroids so I took her home and worked all night to keep her fever down so she would not have a seizure. She is on steroids and two antibiotics and has been improving every day. I am doing dressing changes on her feet and she seems to be leaving the bandages alone. Today she actually pranced a little when I got home from work and she climbed an outdoor staircase to roam a little farther than she has in the last week. Then she came in and jumped up on my bed, something she failed to accomplish just yesterday. So I am very hopefull. Has anyone else had a similar experience? __________________ I was there to see beautiful naked women. So was everybody else. It's a common failing. Robert A Heinlein in "They Do It With Mirrors"

01-08-2007, 08:28 PM	#2 (permalink)
amonkie Drifting Administrator Location: Windy City	I haven't, but it is heart wrenching to have a family member in pain ... hoping her recovery is speedy! hugs __________________ Calling from deep in the heart, from where the eyes can't see and the ears can't hear, from where the mountain trails end and only love can go... ~~~ Three Rivers Hare Krishna

01-12-2007, 08:20 AM	#3 (permalink)
Acetylene Addict Location: under a rock	Autoimmune problems are so frustrating. If only it were a disease, it would be so much easier, we worry. It helped my dog to have a low-allergen food. Sometimes allergenic foods make this sort of autimmune thing harder to control. It certainly wouldn't do any harm, at least. I like Old Mother Hubbard's low allergy formula, fish and sweet potato is good, and you can get it at good pet sotres. Also science diet makes one that is even lower in allergens but it tastes like styrofoam. Good luck! __________________ There's no justice. There's just us.

01-13-2007, 04:32 AM	#5 (permalink)
Brewmaniac Searching for the perfect brew!	I'm sure that scared the Shit out of you! I'm glad to hear she's doing better. As was said earlier it's rough when a family member gets sick! __________________ "That's a joke... I say, that's a joke, son"

01-13-2007, 01:08 AM	#4 (permalink)
analog Banned	I'm glad she is doing better, that's quite a grim scare to have. I hope the medications knock this out of the park right away- she seems to have a great person to care for her, and that's a big plus.