A new Cushion for Pointies!

[SpaghettiTwirlerAndProud]

Pointy hounds include-
Greyhounds (Grunds)
Whippets (Whippys)
Lurchers
Italian Greyhounds (Iggys)
Salukis
Afghans
And any others I have forgotten. If you are a new pointy hound owner, an old and experienced owner or looking into getting one of these fabulous creatures, come and have a seat (that's not taken up with a hound).

Share advice, stories and shopping tips!

I didn?t really want you,
I wasn?t really sure,
And I?ll admit I had my doubts,
When you first came through that door.

Not small, or cute, or fluffy,
With big, soft puppy eyes,
But tall, and thin, and bony,
With bald, pink, bulging thighs.

You weren?t the kind I had in mind,
Not in any way,
?Perhaps it would be better if I took you back today,
Before we know each other,
It really won?t be kind,
To keep you here for one more day,
And then to change my mind.?

But against my better judgement, I decided you could stay,
And quickly I discovered you were kind in every way,
Your gentleness and patience, they really stole the show,
?Why these dogs are wonderful, I must let others know!?

For you?re my gentle giant,
Who just needed the chance,
To show us all what you could be,
To wipe away that history,
And dispel our preconceptions, which put us all to shame,
And so we come to know and love,
What lies beneath that frame.

And now I?ve come to understand,
What I missed right at the start,
That greyhounds need that great deep chest,
To house their great big hearts!
:)

Oh no, how awful for you both. Thinking of you xx

Thanks guys. Heard from the vet around 12.30, it's not as simple as just stitching it back together like they first thought. I couldn't understand the vet very well as she was Polish and spoke fast but the general jist is there's an empty space and fluid, something about bubbles and they have to insert a drain and take it out monday or tuesday. We can get him at 5.

Well he's back home now, feeling very sorry for himself :( he has a drain poking out of his leg and I have to keep him muzzled because when I took it off to let him eat he went straight to his leg (no bandage), poor thing :( he's only allowed upstairs at bedtime now because of his method of going up isn't good for his leg so I'll have to take him up on his lead. So in the daytime he's unfortunately been banished to the kitchen because DD can't get to him there and I can't spend 100% of my day watching she doesn't go and annoy him.

He isn't even insured at the moment because we couldn't afford it when we were in the middle of building the extension, needed all the money we could get and I was going to reinsure him after we'd got back on the straight and narrow after all the work was finished. Cost £181.32! Do you think they'll charge for taking out the drain and the stitches? When I was told the amount they said 'altogether' so I'm really really really hoping that we're not going to end up with 2 more huge amounts to pay!

Poor love, he's so quiet and sad :(

Oh RE the 'empty space', the vet said that fluid/bubbles could get in there and make it swell up so that's why she's put a drain in.

How stressful and shocking for you all. A good idea to keep toddler and sore dog very separate though I'd say - especially as he has something 'interesting' poking out of his leg.

I'm sorry, I have no idea if they'll charge again for taking it all off. The only upside I can imagine to all this is that it's nothing that will prevent him from being insurable in the long run.

Billy sends dogly hugs and here's a virtual from me. You poor, poor things. xx

Just found out, one of MILs very good friends was a nurse and can remove stitches, her vet (same one as mine) has seen her handiwork firsthand and has agreed that when her dog needs stitches (he has a lot of ops) she can take them out herself. I'll mention her name to the vet on monday and if they agree, then she can take them out instead if they would charge for it.

By the way thank you Betsey, I have a very large glass right next to me now actually :o although it's now empty :(

I hope you had a better day than me and a very successful one too Scuttle!

Saw this and thought of us :o

Blimey, Cunny!

All the Butter pack send healing wishes and love to you and Sprocket.

Usually, the post op checkup/stitches/drain removal is included in the price of the op, so that should be OK. Is there any way you can ask the owner of the Staffy to contribute?

Hope Sprocket will recover soon. (Andy says to pass on his wise words about how "Chicks love scars" )

Yesterday was very good, the hounds stayed with their grundparents, so it was very odd being there with so many greys and not ours. Had a few wobbly moments when I saw one who reminded me of Booty. Thank goodness for sunglasses. It was incredibly, baking, searing heat so nobody was buying coats but bandanas went very well. Have discovered that I need to be making whippet sized bandanas - lots of interest, so very worthwhile, and now I'll be testing them out.

That angel card you linked to is gorgeous - really love it.

Unfortunately I believe it was all my fault :( I allowed Sprocket to say hello to the staffy, it's owners were ok with it and both dogs seemed happy enough, but Sprocket suddenly growled (not a warning, it was a proper I'm-going-to-kill-you-now growl) and before I even had chance to react and pull him away he went for the staffy, but the staffy got in there first. So really it only acted in self defence. i'm so glad my friend was with us though, her whippy cut her leg the other week so she had loads of bandages and she nipped home and came and patched Sprocket up so it stayed protected while I walked him to the vets (no transport).

I'm such an idiot, I'm just glad Sprocket didn't manage to harm the staffy, that would've been very expensive otherwise!

Don't suppose you know how they remove drains Scuttle?

i'm glad you had a good day yesterday, hopefully people will remember you when winter is approaching and they'll order coats from you :) I've been spreading the word too although looks like I'll have to wait a bit longer to get one for Sprocket, as I'll be paying my grandma back for a while now! She lent me the money for the vet.

Just rang the vets, we're there at 1.50 to hopefully have his drain removed! And they don't charge for removal of them, phew!

Good news. Hoping Sprocket is continuing to recover. I have NO idea how drains are removed - I had one myself once (after my cancer surgery) but can't recall any of the details (joys of morphine ). It's great that it's happening so quickly though. Just hope he doesn't start to nibble his stitches as they heal and start itching - otherwise it will be the "Collar of Shame"

He's terrified of it, we got one when we collected him and I put it on him and he completely freaked out, thrashing himself around, pawing at it and crying. Took it straight back off and muzzled him. He's had his muzzle on since saturday morning :( I take it off to let him eat. I took it off last night to let him have a bit of free time without it and I was constantly telling him to leave it as he wouldn't stop licking his leg. I feel awful though, he hates his muzzle but at least he tolerates it.

Btw it made me laugh when you referred to yourselves as 'the Butter pack' :o

I love bitter, especially the isigny one that comes in a pack :o

Bitter? Bleurgh, I meant butter :o

Well he's had it out, he must have balls of steel! Considering he hasn't got any :o the vet snipped the stitch and pulled the drain straight out, all 4 inches of it and Sprocket didn't even flinch!! He now has a hole in his leg and is due to have his stitches out in 10 days time. Poor boy :( he's being so brave :)

Blimey Scuttle that other thread's (the GSD one) got nasty. I know it's bad form and all to mention another thread in another thread but it's horrible... You've done some cracking posts though!

Sprocket must be nails. Poor old stick.

I know Betsey, I was waiting for a cry, a yelp or a whine or something, I was poised ready to administer an emergency cuddle (my position made me look rather like I had shat myself, no wonder the vet looked at me funny), when the vet stood up with it all in his hand! I was could hardly believe that Sprocket didn't even react. He's well 'ard though init :o

How's Billy, glad to be back home? How did he get on at the kennels anyway, did he fret or was he ok?

He seemed fine - he loves the man that manages them day to day; when DH dropped him off the man got a lot of wag when Billy saw him. He's settled back in now. For the first few days he was no trouble at all and we hardly even knew he was there. Now he's started stealing stuff again and things are back to normal.

I gave him a full inspection, head to tail when we arrived home and I'm pleased to say he's looking dapper. No scrapes or scratches or anything and poo has been perfect. Because I know you'll appreciate a good poo report!

Well done Sprocket. Big treats and hugs in order I think!

Well done to 'ard man' Sprocket, brave boy!!

Glad to hear Billy has settled straight back in and I love a good poo report

Sam is doing well, his rash has completely cleared apart from a few tiny scabs and his legs are still a wee bit too pink in places.

The histiocytoma is almost completely gone bar a circular outline of where it used to be and a small (less than 5pence diameter) scab.
I think it is still itching him though because he tries (unsuccessfully) to scratch it.

How are things in casa scuttle? Has Norty Minx been up to any funny tricks recently?

Well, the Milgi Coats Tent of Destiny had its first outing on Saturday. Andy and Norty Minx stayed with their grundparents in Somerset, while DH and i trotted down to Upottery. Norty Minx and Andy thoroughly enjoyed being spoiled by their grundparents, which mainly involved being fed sausages from the Farmers Market, lots of tickles and jumping over MIL's bed and making herself comfy. Sofa in living room was covered in a candlewick bedspread ready for hound nesting so all in all v successful.

Am so impressed by Sprocket! Andy was a big jessie at the vets today for his annual booster.

So pleased Sprocket is recovering, and it's lovely to hear Sam is on the mend too.

Perhaps insanely, we are going to be at the Great Greyhound Gathering in September at Nottingham Racecourse (with the Tent of Destiny) and we are going to be there with FOUR hounds. We are picking up two fosters on Friday who are joining the Butter pack for at least six months, while their mum is poorly.

in all seriousness though, the Norty MInx has been a lifesaver this past week and even before that while we have been mourning Booty and now Boola. She is utterly, utterly adorable and so gorgeous and lively and fun - it's been such a tonic having her beautiful brindly face peeping up at us. Casa Scuttle is definitely a much better place for having her around.

Thought I would say a quick hello - I've not ventured over here before, but I've just posted about my poorly lurcher boy and found this thread.

We seem to collect dogs... We have 5 in all - four pointies and a lab. In age order we have a 13yo bedlington / whippy lurcher, a 12 yo grund girl, 10 yo grund boy and a 5-6yo grund girl (can't help be sure as can't be read her tats). The grunds are all rescues, the others we've had from pups.

As I write this, I've just realised that I'm perched on the arm of the sofa as all of the seats are full of upside-down dogs!

at you not being able to sit on your own sofa, due to invasion of hounds... You are very very welcome.

Thanks Scuttle.

I could (and do sometimes) kick them off... Usually when the farting starts - theirs not mine! Trouble is that with three greys in the room it sometimes gets hard to breathe!

Oh Nottingham? That's only about an hour or so away from us, I might try and persuade DP to take us! If we do go I'll be sure to look out for your DHs fez just out of curiosity, how will you transport 4 hounds, a large tent and all your stock? So glad norty minx is helping you all, I guess she's helped Andy a lot too, it must be very confusing for him.

Lock it's great to hear Sams all healed up now. Are his poos back to normal now too?

Betsey I'm glad to hear Billy is back to his usual mischievous self now :o and it's fab that his poos were all good! Are the Paralympics not having any/many fireworks then?