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Reprinted Courtesy of Claudia Presto at
www.greyhoundgang.com
Welcome!
You're part of a growing
number of people who consider themselves fortunate to have greyhounds in their
lives. You'll quickly discover how unique greyhounds are, and I hope this
information helps in that understanding!
What's
Inside
Note #1:
The pronoun "he" is used throughout this guide to denote either sex of dog. I'm
not being sexist, though I do have 'a thing' for the male dogs. It's just more
convenient to use "he" as a generic reference.
Note #2:
Almost all greyhounds adopted through the Greyhound Adoption & Rescue of Las Vegas, will have been in
foster care prior to being adopted. This means they will have been introduced to
homes, grass, cars, cats, etc. However, this guide is written as if you are
getting a dog right off the track because that is how most adoption groups work
and it is better if you can understand your greyhound's mindset from the
beginning.
Note #3:
Thank you to the Phoenix adoption group for allowing me to use some of their
information in my guide.
Your Greyhound and....Adjustment Angst
Helping your dog get
adjusted is a very important part of the greyhound adoption process. And with
patience, understanding and lots of laughter the first few weeks, you'll find
you have the most wonderful pet imaginable.
What you have to
remember during the adjustment period is that your greyhound has lived his
entire life in a kennel. This means upwards of 23 hours in a 2x4 wooden crate.
He may never have been inside a home before, and he has no idea who you are or
why you are taking him someplace. Becoming a house pet involves a very dramatic
change in routine for him, and he can be a little scared and baffled by all the
new things around him. But most of these dogs adapt very quickly to the plush
life as a household pet -- wouldn't you?!
Initial Nerves
You may feel a little nervous about getting your greyhound. Well, your greyhound
is lots more nervous than you are. And that nervousness manifests itself in a
variety of ways. He might pant, whine, move around a lot, have a drippy nose,
sweaty paws, and start getting flaky skin and diarrhea. These are all common
symptoms and will disappear once the dog feels more secure and calm. So you just
need to be patient.
Car Ride Home
Also, remember, he hasn't spent much time in a car, and you're a stranger to him
(but not for long!), so on that car ride home he has a reason to be nervous.
Reassure him with your voice -- calm and soothing, and with your actions --
steady and slow. And make sure, right after the car ride home, before you go
into the house, to walk him around the yard first and let him go to the
bathroom.
Length of Adjustment
During the initial adjustment period he'll be getting used to you, the house,
the car, the kids, the pets, the stairs, the beds -- get the idea? Remember, be
sympathetic with your greyhound's situation -- he has had a traumatic upheaval
in his routine track life, and it may take him some time to adjust. Usually the
initial adjustment period only takes a few days, though. He's an intelligent
dog, and soon he will grasp what you expect of him. Your patience, love and
understanding will help your greyhound.
You'll also find you
have a shadow. Your greyhound will follow you everywhere you go. To the
bathroom, to the kitchen, to the cellar, to the door when you go out. This will
continue until he realizes you are really his and aren't going to disappear.
As your greyhound
becomes more secure with his surroundings and starts to trust you, you'll see
his personality emerging. He might steal your possessions and hide them, or
smile at you when you come home, or start demanding to be let on all soft
things. These signs mean you now have a bonafide member of your household.
Choosing A Vet
Choice of a veterinarian is another important decision. These dogs have
difficulty with regular anesthesia, and a vet that does not follow the
anesthesia guidelines I gave to you in your adoption packet will have a dead dog
on his hands. So, choose a vet who has worked with greyhounds and is familiar
with the sighthound group. Do not be afraid to ask questions of your vet, or to
find another vet if you have concerns! It's your greyhound's life at stake.
Exercise
Exercise and play is addressed in the Running and Playing
chapter, however, during the adjustment period the more you walk, play and run
with your pet in the first few weeks of ownership, the easier the transition
from racing greyhound to family friend.
Some dogs are accustomed
to running up to three days at the race track. They are bred and trained to run,
so up to this point it's been their greatest pleasure. The change from race
track to house is exciting, but also confusing to your new greyhound. Think of
how you would react to a similar situation. Exercise can help you and him keep
everything in perspective. You'll both feel better and less overwhelmed.
Additionally, you'll find your greyhound bonding to you more quickly. And who
knows, maybe you'll drop those pounds you've been talking about shedding.
Bonding
These dogs seem to choose to have a relationship with you. They are very polite
and friendly to everyone, but they learn to trust you. While other dogs seem to
blindly trust, greyhounds are uniquely independent, almost cat-like in the way
they choose to bestow affection. The more you do with your dog, the more solid
your relationship becomes. The more you touch, play with and love these dogs,
the more you get in return. Once your dog feels comfortable with you, take him
with you whenever you can. It helps in the bonding process. It also helps them
to get the picture of their new world. They have never seen cars, grocery
stores, etc. They are very sociable dogs and will be curious about everything.
Another thing that helps
with the bonding process is the sleeping arrangements. Do not shut your
greyhound in a separate room to sleep. From his track days, he is used to
sleeping with lots of other dogs, so he will much prefer to sleep in the same
room with any member of the family (in the same bed, if you let him!). He will
feel more secure and is less likely to cry or cause damage during the first few
weeks if you allow him this pleasure.
Separation Anxiety
It is extremely important to remember that your greyhound has never been left
alone before. He's either lived on a farm with lots of dog friends, or lived in
a crate in a kennel with about 40 dogs. So if you have to leave him at home --
ALONE -- he's going to be scared and confused. He's wondering -- Where did you
go? Will you return? Where am I? There are a few things you can do to ease this
separation anxiety.
- Practice leaving your greyhound for a few minutes at a time. Don't make a
big deal about leaving (if he thinks you're going someplace and having more
fun than he is, then he'll definitely be upset!) and just leave for 15 minutes
at first. Increase your leave to a few hours. He'll get the idea that you're
coming back, and his anxiety about you leaving him forever will be eased.
- Initially, dog proof your home. Keep windows unobstructed from
knick-knacks and blinds. Your greyhound will go to the windows first to look
for you, and if there are blinds or other objects in the way, they could get
eaten when he gets anxious.
- If anxiety is bad, borrow a crate, just for the first few weeks. Remember
your greyhound has always lived in one, so it's very familiar. It can be used
to make the transition from racer to pet more quickly. Here's the routine: For
the first two weeks, the greyhound is placed in his crate when left home
alone. Then, when he knows the family routine, he is again placed in the crate
-- but the door is left open, giving him the choice. After a couple weeks of
this, the crate can be returned and a happy house pet exists.
Crates are not needed by most greyhounds, particularly when you have another
dog in the household, or you are home most of the time. But once in a while
there's an uncertain hound that needs the firm guidance of a crate until his
new life becomes more understandable. I would wait to see your greyhound's
reaction to being left home alone, before borrowing or purchasing a crate.
Becoming A Statue
I'm talking about a greyhound trait of stopping dead in their tracks and
refusing to budge or look at you. This usually occurs when they are scared,
nervous and don't know exactly what is wanted of them. The more insistent you
get, the more insistent they get that they are not going anywhere. And they'll
win.
This most often happens when you are teaching them stairs, or trying to give
them a bath in the tub. The best thing you can do is be very patient and wait
them out, the whole time offering verbal encouragement and making it seem like
what you are asking them to do is the most fun in the world. When you've tired
of waiting and encouraging, then as a last resort just pick up the greyhound and
move him to where you want him to be. (Don't lose your patience and yell,
because you'll ruin whatever good you had accomplished.)
Smiling
Some greyhounds smile, and this causes people who don't know them to jump a mile
back. They have a lot of long white teeth showing when they smile. My theory is
they smile to ingratiate themselves to those around them. If you've got a smiler,
it is really quite amusing and very harmless.
Ears Back
Most greyhounds keep their ears pinned back to their heads unless they hear a
noise that causes their ears to straighten up. This is not a sign of aggression,
my guess is they think it makes them more streamlined and cool-looking.
Eating Grass
When your greyhound is meandering around the yard, you'll see him eat grass. Let
him. The grass provides a nutrient he feels he needs, and doesn't do him any
harm. A few dogs will then vomit up the grass and whatever was in their stomach
that was making them feel out of sorts. The majority of greyhounds do not vomit
after eating grass.
Leash
Every greyhound will come to you leashed trained. They know to walk quietly and
easily next to you. However, please keep your greyhound on a leash when he is
not in a completely fenced area. Centuries of breeding will cause them to chase
anything that moves. They will take off, they will not listen and chances are
that they will get hit by a car before you catch up to them. The best way to
hold a leash is to place your hand through the loop and then grab the leash.
This way the leash cannot slide out of your hand. Retractable leashes are not
recommended as they can get tangled easily, especially with a big dog. And they
don't provide the stability of the nylon leash. Four or six foot nylon leashes
work well.
Flatulence
And you must be warned. A greyhound fart will wake you up in the middle of the
night, and can clear a room. During this adjustment time, he will be expressing
himself this way. The stress, the newness, the food, the treats -- it all
affects his gastric. Some people say that giving a greyhound one to two dollops
of lowfat, plain yogurt will cause the flatulence to cease.
Again, the more time you spend initially getting to know our greyhound, the
quicker his adjustment period will be. If you can take days off when your
greyhound comes into your home, it can really help this adjustment period. You
will be surprised at how quickly your greyhound becomes attached to you and your
family and what a difference your presence makes to him...and his presence makes
to you.
Your Greyhound and...The House -- Household Horrors
Everything in your house is familiar to you, but not at all familiar to your
greyhound. You'll have a lot of fun watching your greyhound explore his new
home. But he's going to need your help too.
Stairs
Your greyhound has probably never seen nor had to deal with stairs. So you have
to teach him to climb them. The best way is to get down on all fours and show
him. (joke) If that doesn't work, stand behind him and move one paw at a time --
step by step, showing him what he is supposed to do. And make sure you give lots
of verbal positive reinforcement. Gradually increase the number of steps he
climbs. When going down stairs, hold his collar securely and go down the stairs
slowly right next to him. They are quick to learn and soon become old pros at it
He may initially resist (that statue routine we spoke of in the Adjustment
chapter), but just keep gently and positively asking him to climb the stairs. No
matter what method you choose to teach your greyhound stairs, DO NOT EVER FORCE
your greyhound up or down stairs by dragging him by the collar. If pushed into
doing the stairs, he will become frightened and may try to jump them all, and
possibly break a leg -- or worse.
Mirrors, Doors and Floors -- Oh My!
Everything in the house is new and can be confusing. Full length mirrors may
cause your pet to stare for hours at the mysterious dog on the other side of the
mirror. Sliding glass doors can cause a sore nose when your greyhound tries to
walk through it. Please put masking tape at eye level for a day or two. Hardwood
and linoleum floors are also tricky for greyhounds to negotiate. Flushing
toilets, TVs, refrigerators and more will provide you with lots of laughs at
your greyhound's expense.
Garbage
One man's trash is another man's treasure -- this applies to your new greyhound
as well. He doesn't know he's not supposed to root around in the garbage, and he
finds those smells simply delightful and well worth investigating. Protect your
greyhound from getting into trouble or possible harm by keeping the garbage out
of his way, or by using a tight-fitting lid on the can. A sharp, verbal
reprimand if he should try to nose around the garbage will soon teach him not to
disturb it.
Counters, Tables
Kitchen counters happen to be nose level with most greyhounds. Remember, they
have been raised in a kennel, where every time they smelled food, it was THEIR
food. Your new greyhound has not been taught proper manners yet when it comes to
food on the counter. A sharp "NO" when he shows interest is enough to deter him,
at least when you're around. However, a temptation such as a steak defrosting
within his reach might be too much to ask.
Sofas, Beds
If it is soft, your greyhound will like it. Shag carpeting is bliss for your
retired racer. But a comfy sofa is even better! A good rule to enforce right
from the start: if you don't want your dog on the couch, don't ever let him on.
He'll quickly learn to love the luxury of the sofa cushions, and you'll never
get him to stay off. If your greyhound figures out the couch all by himself, and
lounges on it while you aren't home, then take an old blanket and cover the spot
he's chosen prior to leaving the house. It's a lot simpler than fighting it.
Your Greyhound and...The House -- Feeding Frenzy
As you introduce your greyhound to your home, you will also have to teach him
a new concept -- that not all food he sees is for him. He'll need to learn the
difference between dog food and people food. A greyhound's diet at the track
consisted of 6-8 cups of quality dry meal/kibble, with 1-2 lb. of meat
(sometimes 4-D -- diseased, deadly, dying, etc. ) added, and cooked vegetables.
In retirement, as a house pet, your new greyhound won't need that volume of food
nor the added meat.
Initial Eating Adjustment
Some greyhounds may seem nervous when eating. They are just worried that someone
else is going to come and take their food. My first greyhound would load his
mouth up with kibble, go into another room, drop it and then eat it in privacy.
He eventually realized the food was his, and he could eat it in peace. Also,
they may be very sloppy initially. You'll find more kibble on the floor than
what's in the bowl. Again, they are chowing down because they are afraid someone
else is going to take their food. Eventually, better manners will prevail.
What To Feed
Everyone has their own favorite kibble. I recommend a high-quality kibble
(Nature's Recipe, Nutro-Max, Sensible Choice, etc.) from a pet food store.
Grocery stores carry lower grade foods that use corn as a filler. The first few
ingredients on the bag should not contain by-products or corn. An additional
supplement (Vital Nutrition, Derm-Caps, Missing Link, etc.), whether powder or
oil, helps greyhounds coats become sleeker.
Greyhounds generally have excellent appetites and will eat everything.
Unfortunately, everything doesn't quite agree with them. Like most sighthounds,
greyhounds have sensitive digestive systems that respond to changes in their
diet with diarrhea. So too many table scraps is not necessarily a good idea.
How to Feed
I've successfully free fed all of my greyhounds. This means I leave dry food out
in their dish 24 hours a day, and they eat when they are hungry. My dogs do not
ever get fat, and are not that food oriented because they know they can get food
whenever they want. Other greyhound owners feed their greys twice a day,
totaling about 4-6 cups of kibble. You may need to modify the amount after the
first few weeks according to your dog's activity level, age, and size. You
should be able to feel ribs, not see them.
Greyhounds need their food elevated. You can buy the feeding platforms, or
just invert buckets or a box and put your dog's bowls on them.
Treats
Your greyhound may have eaten bananas, apricots, pumpkin, applesauce, spinach,
and even vanilla ice cream as a racer. Oftentimes marshmallows were given after
a race. When selecting snacks for your pet, choose good quality basics such as
Milkbones and natural biscuits. Avoid treats that contain lots of dye and sugar.
Rawhide bones (American only), Nylabones, other toys, and stuffed animals are
all treats your greyhound should have. Treats are an excellent positive
reinforcement.
You should be perfect about one thing though -- CHOCOLATE CAN BE DANGEROUS.
Reactions vary from dog to dog, but none are good. Chocolate contains
ingredients that can speed your dog's heart rate and can cause allergic
reactions.
Don't Say You Weren't Warned
And you must be warned. A greyhound fart will wake you up in the middle of the
night, and can clear a room. This flatulence usually occurs because you've given
him something he's not used to in his diet, like a new treat or some of your
food (!). Or he could have gotten into something in the yard or garbage that
didn't quite agree with him. It could also be a sign that he needs to go out, so
let him out! Some people say that giving a greyhound one to two dollops of
lowfat, plain yogurt will cause the flatulence to cease.
Your Greyhound and...The Yard -- Pee and Poop
Most greyhounds are very easy to train. They have been crate trained and so
they don't go in the area they consider their kennel. However, they have never
been inside a house. And they are used to being let out up to six times a day to
relieve themselves in a fenced-in pen.
So for the first few days when you get your greyhound home, make sure you
take him out often, stay with him and praise him effusively when he goes. He'll
catch on very quickly that outside is where he does his thing. Try to establish
not only a fairly set routine that your new greyhound can learn, but a word or
phrase that your new greyhound can identify and respond to, such as "Do you want
to go out?" You will notice, if you watch carefully, that within a few days your
greyhound will adapt to his new routine, and also start giving you "signals"
when he needs to be taken outside.
Having An Accident
If your dog has an accident in the house, and you are right there when it
happens, give him a sharp, verbal reprimand, then take him outside, wait with
him until he goes, and then praise the dickens out of him when he goes in the
right place. Do not hit your dog or try to put his nose in the accident, as your
dog will respond more quickly and more positively to kindness.
If your greyhound is a male, he may attempt to lift his leg in a few places
around the house to "mark his territory," especially if you already have a dog.
He is making the house HIS house, so he feels more at home. Watch him carefully
as he walks or sniffs around the house the first few hours and days and try to
catch him before he does it, so you can reprimand him verbally and strongly. If
this should happen, it does not go on for long, so try to be patient.
Greyhounds are very clean dogs by nature. If your greyhound has any type of
accident, rather than blame the dog, look for the reasons why it happened. He
either wasn't taken out early or often enough, or not allowed enough time to
fully relieve himself. Remember, a dog which has fully relieved himself has
nothing left in his bladder to make an accident on your rug. Also remember that
your new greyhound does not have any way to tell you he needs to go out. He is
used to a set routine, where someone came and got him and put him outside in a
turn-out pen.
Greyhounds from the Greyhound Gang are housebroken (at my home) when they
arrive at yours. They are also used to a doggie door. If you can put one in your
home, do it! They are invaluable, and give the dog the ability to go in and out
at will. This means you don't have to worry about there being any accidents in
the house when you've been gone an extra amount of time.
Cleaning An Accident
Pet stores have lots of solutions to help make cleaning up after your dog
easier. I would definitely purchase one, like Nature's Miracle, before bringing
your greyhound home.
Prevention
However, prevention is the best solution to any house-breaking problem. For the
first few days, it's a good idea to walk or let your greyhound outside in a
fenced yard more frequently than you ordinarily would -- as often as every
couple of hours. This teaches your greyhound where his new home is and where he
is supposed to "go," and helps relieve the tension of a strange place, thus
preventing accidents.
It is very common in their first few days for greyhounds to drink a lot more
water than they would normally. They do this because they are nervous about
being in an unfamiliar place. But all this drinking plus being nervous means
they will need to go outside more.
Also, quite often the change from kennel dog to house pet can give a
greyhound diarrhea, caused by nerves, change of water, change of diet. If your
greyhound should have loose stools the first few days, mix cooked rice and/or
hamburger with his kibble. You can also try solid-packed pumpkin. Also be sure
you allow your greyhound the ability to relieve himself quite often if he has
diarrhea, as he cannot "hold" it for long. This type of diarrhea doesn't last
more than a few days. If it does, take your dog to the vet, as there may be some
other problem, such as worms, food allergies, nerves, etc. which could be
causing it, and it needs to be treated by your vet.
Your Greyhound and...The Yard -- Running and Playing
One of the questions you'll be asked most often is -- Don't greyhounds need a
lot of exercise? Once you live with a greyhound, you'll know the truth -- this
is a very lazy dog.
Lazy or not, your pet will need physical activity -- just like you do! The
most obvious and easiest answer is in your own backyard. However, most
greyhounds will not play with themselves. They will want you to play with them
and walk them around the block, on leash.
On-Leash
Your greyhound is leashed trained. You need to keep him on leash unless he is in
a totally fenced area. And he needs to stay on leash until he's obedience
trained, and even then, you need to be extremely cautious.
Most greyhounds walk very well on a leash. If your pet starts to pull or
freezes as he sees something on the horizon, "pop" or "snap" the leash to
quickly jerk the collar and give the command, "heel," "let's go," etc.
If you plan to use your greyhound as a partner in a walking or jogging
fitness program, you should have an enthusiastic partner as long as you start
slowly and use a little common sense. Greyhounds exercise primarily on sand in
their kennel situation, which means the pads on their feet are smooth and soft.
A little time must be taken to build up the calluses needed to exercise on
cement or blacktop. Start your dog's regime the same way you did yours --
slowly. Walk or jog 2 or 3 blocks at first and then gradually increase.
Off-Leash
Care should be taken to introduce your new greyhound pet to your yard or any new
fenced area before turning him loose in it. This means that you need to check
the entire fence for potential openings (because if there is one, he'll find it
and he'll be gone quicker than you ever thought possible). While you're walking
the fence with the dog on leash, it also enables him to familiarize himself with
the boundary. You should also let the dog investigate hazards in your yard such
as a barbecue or planter. The first time your dog exercises in your yard off the
leash it should be daylight and you need to be there and watch him.
Surprisingly, you may need to restrict your dog's activity in a new area. For
example, when you take your dog to a fenced football field, you'll want to
monitor the running your dog does. Greyhounds have been conditioned for
sprinting and may be so excited and interested by a new exercise area that they
overtax themselves. If this happens, they'll react just like any athlete who's
over-extended himself -- heaving sides, heavy panting, vomiting, wooziness while
standing. You'll need to walk them very slowly to cool them down, and dowse
their feet in water. Don't let them drink a lot of water fast, as they will
choke and vomit it back up.
Weather
Care should be taken during extreme temperatures. Your dog is susceptible to
heat stroke, just as you are. During hot weather it is wise to exercise early
and easier. Make sure your dog is completely cooled down before feeding.
Cold weather presents other hazards for this desert breed. A warm-up blanket
(coat) made for greyhounds is an excellent idea for walking or jogging in
winter. Check you dog's feet for snow packing, which can split webs, or ice
cuts. It's also a good idea to swish the dog's feet in lukewarm water to rinse
off salt and other ice melters after your walk.
Each dog is an individual with different activity levels. Generally younger
dogs enjoy higher activity levels.
Warning
It cannot be stressed enough that exercising your dog off leash in an area that
is not entirely enclosed is asking for a disaster to happen. Your pet may be
entirely devoted to you and never leave your side at home, but you must remember
that this pet is the product of centuries of specialized breeding to produce a
lightning fast hunter. The greyhound has been bred to scan the horizon and run
after anything that moves. A paper cup blowing across the street from the park
could mean your dog's death. This is not about disobedience. The explosive
hunting run is instinct. Once your pet is focused in on a moving object, he is
running on pure instinct and he'll no longer hear you. The car driving down the
street does not expect to see a 45 mph blur of a dog bounding after the paper
cup crossing in front of it. Don't take the chance.
Playing
Your greyhound may not know how to play because no one has ever taught him or
showed him how. He was bred as a business, not as a pet, so it's your job to
teach him to play. And it's the 'funnest' job you'll ever have!
I recommend a box or basket of toys that are just his. He'll get the idea
quickly and pick and choose his playthings when he's in the mood.
You may not get to see the silly side of your greyhound for a while. He will
probably not feel like letting his puppy personality out until he feels quite
secure. When you see the classic bottom up, front end down pose bouncing in
front of you, you'll know it's time to play. One of my favorite pictures from an
adopter is when the human is on the floor with elbows down and butt up in the
air facing off with their greyhound who's in his play posture.
Toys
One of the most popular toys is a cotton rope toss about a foot long. Not only
is it safe, durable, and fun for your pet, it also flosses his teeth!
Greyhounds love to adopt stuffed animals, pillows, etc. Tag sales are great
places to pick up an inexpensive toy for your greyhound. Just remember to remove
the eyes or any other part that could cause damage to your hound.
Additionally, little squeaky toys will get any greyhound's attention. When
they were trained to chase a lure, squeaky noises were part of that training, so
you'll see them become very intent on the squeaky toy.
Bones
Pick and choose your rawhide purchases carefully. American-made rawhide is the
best type to buy. Inexpensive rawhide is cured overseas, often with dangerous
chemicals like arsenic. Also, the compressed rawhide is safer than the ones with
the knots on either end.
A Nylabone may seem expensive, but will last forever and provide good
cleaning action for your dog's teeth. A shank or marrow bone at least 5" long
will provide hours of enjoyment for your dog and can be a great doggie pacifier.
Try putting some peanut butter in it, and your grey will be in ecstasy.
Balls
Some greyhounds like to play with a tennis ball. Remember, your pet was bred to
chase critters on the ground -- so roll or bowl the ball, don't throw it. Once
the ball is punctured, it should be discarded.
Running and playing are key to your greyhound's well-being. Discover the joy
he feels by joining in with him!
Your Greyhound and...The Yard -- Bugs and Baths
One of the nicest features of your greyhound is that he doesn't have a lot of
hair and this makes him easy to care for. A quick brushing with a grooming mitt
(nubbed rubber glove), and lots of petting keeps him looking great.
Baths
Your greyhound only needs to be bathed when soiled, like if he decides to doze
on poop. Otherwise, he's fine with his routine petting and brushing. Greyhounds
have very little oil in their skin and so have little "doggy odor." If you do
need to shampoo, select an all-natural, mild, conditioning shampoo.
My greyhounds were not into baths, even though they got them very seldom. I'd
have to pick them up to put them in the tub, and as I bathed them their legs
would turn to rubber and they'd sink to the tub floor looking very helpless and
put out. Just keep bracing them up on their feet. Their shower should take no
longer than five minutes and they do survive.
Ears
Once a week you should inspect your pet's ears and clean gently with a cotton
ball and baby oil if needed. Don't use peroxide, as it can cause damage to your
dog's ear drums.
Skin
Their past living conditions (fleas, ticks, poor food, etc.) were not conducive
to good skin. Most greys I get from the track have some kind of skin condition.
You'll need to provide a good supplement to their food (Omega 3 fatty acid,
Vitamin E, Vital Nutrition, Vitamin C, etc.) and give their hair and skin time
to grow in nicely. Trust me, it will!
Teeth
Greyhounds have notoriously bad teeth when they come off the track as they've
been fed a lot of soft food. They've been cleaned before you adopted your
greyhound, but those teeth get plaque build-up just like yours. Brushing them
regularly helps them to stay clean and healthy.
Another way to keep teeth clean is to buy knuckle/soup marrow bones at your
supermarket. The gnawing greyhounds do on these big bones help to keep off any
plaque. Bad breath is a sign of mouth problems, so please check with your vet
when your dog breaths on you and you gag.
Nails
Greyhounds are used to having their nails trimmed while they stand. Just lean
over and bend each foot backwards, so that you can see the underside of the
nail. If you do a little bit regularly, then you don't have to worry about
causing the dog to bleed. If you're nervous about trimming the nails, ask your
vet or local groomer to show you how much to trim. Greyhound toes and nails are
longer than the average dog, but will still need to be clipped. Make sure you
have styptic powder on hand when you do this to stop the bleeding.
Fleas
DO NOT EVER put a regular flea collar on a greyhound!!
Regular flea collars work by releasing their flea-killing chemicals onto the
skin of the dog, which is then absorbed into the dog's bloodstream. Most breeds
can have their livers/kidneys filter these toxins out. But a greyhound's
liver/kidneys do not work that fast, so the toxins continue to build up until it
eventually kills the greyhound. For this very same reason, do not ever use any
of those internal flea preventative pills.
One caveat -- there are a few "totally natural" flea collars out on the
market. These collars are treated with pennyroyal, mint and eucalyptus oils.
They are perfectly safe for greyhounds. The best way to handle fleas safely is
to use natural flea shampoos and flea sprays that use natural-based pyrethrins
and do not contain organic phosphates. Take time to read the label. Many flea
products cannot be used on a dog who is taking heartworm preventative
medication. When in doubt, check with your vet. Also, many flea sprays that
advertise long duration protection are far too strong to be used on greyhounds.
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