Shai's Surgery

[shais_mom]

Shaianne is doing great with her gastrointestinal problem. Today I took her to the vet for a check on a warty growth on her right front elbow and they decided she has to have surgery!!! She is going in on Thurs to have it removed. She has to spend the night at the vets!!! I was hoping they would just say oh its ok!!! just ugly!!! But she is picking at it and if she does get to it we will have a mess so its best this way!

[wolflady]

Hi Shaianne and mom! Oh! Gotta get your warty growth removed! Poor girl. Don't worry, everything will be just fine. People get these kinds of things removed all the time! Did the vet say what it was? Shai will probably feel a little less self consious once it's removed too
Actually, while we're on the topic of greyhounds, is she a retired racer? What's your experience with adopting a retired racer? What kinds of problems have you encountered? What was your and her adjustment period like? Since I'm in that research mode for deciding on what kind of dog to adopt, it's great to get ideas and pointers from people who own them. I definitely want to do some kind of rescue, and I've been looking at the retired greyhound (there's a rescue right in the same town that I moved to! Unfortunately they haven't been too responsive to me), GSD, Terv, American Eskimo and of course there's always the muttly puppies! It's so hard to decide! My husband's and my life are a little crazy right now and we're not home too much with our work and commute(it's a nightmare), so we're still waiting to bring a dog into the family. But that's ok, because it's giving me Plenty of time to do my research. I bought a couple of books on the greyhound, but would like insight from an owner such as yourself

[tatsxxx11]

Poor Shai! And just when you think you have everything under control! I know the thought of any kind of surgery is so scary. I hope Shai will be up on all 4's soon, well and healing. Warts are icky! I had one removed once too. Better it "be gone" than have her picking at it, getting infected etc. She sounds like such a sweet girl. Like all greyhounds I have met. Such sensitive souls. Please give her a soft kiss and a hug and tell her Cody and Star send their love for a very quick recovery! Love to Shai

[Genia]

Poor Shai! I'm glad her gastro problems are under control. Now a wart! It's probably the best thing, especially if she's picking at it. I'm sure she'll be fine. Keep us posted!

[shais_mom]

Thanks for all your thoughts. The vet just thought it was a wart and since she is picking/biting it it should be removed.

Wolflady, here are the answer to some of your questions.
Shai is not literally a retired racer, she never raced on the dog tracks, but in our area of Ohio there is a big coon dog trials (Kenton National) every Sept and they breed greyhounds with coonhounds to get the look of a hounddog and speed of a greyhound. Shai was never bred, but rescued running around the woods after the trials were over. Last year the count I heard one week after the trials they had picked up 40 abandoned dogs and there probably almost that many more to pick up. The ones that aren't picked up become wild and breed with coyotes and therefore that county has a BAD coyote/coydog problem.
If the dogs aren't fast enough they just leave them, not just hounds either all kinds of dogs.
I moved from Hardin Co to Wyandot Co almost 2 years ago and decided I wanted a dog, I went to the Humane Soc and she just stole my heart. As soon as she come up to me she laid her head on my shoulder. She had been brought over to Wyandot Co Humane Soc by the Hardin Co dog warden (at that time Hardin Co didn't have a humane soc but they do now).
Immedietly after taking her home she began following me around. I took her to my parents that evening and she immedietly bonded with my dad.(GRANPA!! ) Even after just a few hours when I would walk out the door to get something she would whine and pace.
She suffered from separation anxiety, I put her in the garage and she tore up the door, curtains, so I put her in the bathroom, the first night was ok, the 2nd night, I left the radio on (MY BAD) and she tore the trim off the door, and the heater off the wall!! So into the crate she went, I regretted doing it but she does 100% better after that, at first she didn't like it, now I just say get in your bed and in she goes.
Its always a struggle when she gets loose, I have come to my wits end a couple times, and the people on this board are super, and very understanding.
At first I was worried about how she would be around kids, I have a very active nephew, and their dog Scooby does super with him. Shai adores Jake and as soon as Josh is up and running around I am sure she will adore him too. She follows Jake door to door b/c she know eventually he will open the door and she can escape!!! He has done that 2-3 times!!!
She loves kids.
I went looking for a small dog, can you believe that? But I love her with all my heart and wouldn't trade her for the world.
If you have any other questions, feel free I am no expert, but I have read some books also.

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~~"You do not own a dog, the dog owns you."~~
(Anonymous)

[Genia]

Last year the count I heard one week after the trials they had picked up 40 abandoned dogs and there probably almost that many more to pick up. The ones that aren't picked up become wild and breed with coyotes and therefore that county has a BAD coyote/coydog problem.
If the dogs aren't fast enough they just leave them, not just hounds either all kinds of dogs.
[/B]

That's horrible! And they continue to let this happen, year after year? Can't something be done about this? A petition to ban this event or maybe have them policed better to prevent so many dogs from being abandoned? Coonhounds are popular here but I have never heard of anything like this happening. That is completely outrageous! I am so glad your were able to rescue your Shai. I feel so bad about the other dogs. These are not pets. These are possessions used to win trophies for their owners. Sometimes I wish to get a pet were like adopting a child. You should have to go through counseling, have your home inspected and have determined your reason for adopting a pet. There would probably a lot less abondoned pets in the world. Shai is a lucky one to find such a caring Mom.

[This message has been edited by Genia (edited March 19, 2001).]

[Logan]

I will be thinking of Shai on Thursday. Hope the surgery goes well. I know the toughest part will be leaving her there overnight, but won't she be glad to be home on Friday??
Good luck and keep us posted.
Logan

[RachelJ]

One of my previous dogs, Bailey, had many warts removed in her lifetime. She always came through fine. The Vet said hers were caused by virus and her immune system just wasn't fighting off the virus appropriately. One thing you might want to consider as long as she has to go under anesthetic is to see if she needs to have her teeth cleaned and do it at the same time.

[Sudilar]

Good luck to Shai! My Killian has warts and fatty tumors. Some have been removed and others are left. The tumors are always removed. It's an immune system problem also.

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***Save a life, ADOPT***

[wolflady]

Thanks for the info. It so sad how people use animals for profit and (in my opinion) negative entertainment. I never even thought about places having coon dog trials. It's ashame that people can't take responsibility for the dogs they bring into this world. They just dump them like a piece of garbage expecting them to survive. I agree with Genia. What a terrible thing to be allowed to happen year after year! I'm so glad that you found Shai. She sounds like a doll. Greyhounds just seem like such gentle souls. Hugs and kisses to Shai, we'll all be thinking about her on Thurs! Let us know how it goes

[AdoreMyDogs]

My thoughts are with you on Thursday when you have to take Shai to the doctor. It's tough taking them for surgery, even if it's minor. About 2 years ago Graham had a mole on his eyelid that was starting to grow a bit. The vet suggested I have it removed while it's still small enough so that it wont cause much scaring. I was nervous and I called the vet so many times that day to check on my baby that I think they were getting irritated He was OK, there were no problems, but it's still scary. I am sorry that she has to stay overnight. That's probablly the hardest part. Just bring in a sweatshirt or something that you have worn already so Shai will feel a bit comforted having your aroma in her cage on her night without mommy. I'll say a prayer that everything goes perfect.

[karen israel]

Don't worry Shais mom, I'm sure all will be OK! The worse part is leaving her overnight. I will be thinking of you too and of course you both will be in my prayers! Don't forget to call the vet 1000 times! Let us know ASAP! Meantime, lots of kisses and hugs to you all!! Love, Karen

[tatsxxx11]

Good thinking Karen!! Gotta keep those vet's on there toes! Please let us know how Shai is doing. Hopefully she is resting quietly in her little cagey thingy there at the vet's and having a pleasant snooze and is in no pain and the nasty wart is gone. Please let us know how things went. You are both in my prayers. Love you Shai from Star and Cody.

[This message has been edited by tatsxxx11 (edited March 22, 2001).]

[shais_mom]

I called the vet before closing time and they didn't get to work her in today, so she is on for tomorrow and my poor baby doll has to spend another night! She is gonna think I left her there and that she was a bad girl

They said if every thing goes well I can pick her up Sat morning!!!

[tatsxxx11]

Oh No!! Poor baby. But don't worry, she know her mom loves her! Same best wishes for today!! Hope Sat. comes quickly and all will be fine!