First Person: Breathing Easy After Trusting My Gut
It was a Saturday, and Sophie, my Galga was breathing a little oddly -- a bit fast and shallow. She would occasionally hack a little too. I gave her Benadryl, thinking maybe her time outside had triggered some allergy. She was not any better the next day, so I took her to the emergency vet.
He said her trachea was inflamed, and likely it was an allergic reaction or a virus. He gave her some meds, and the hacking stopped. However, a few days later, she was still not breathing any better. (I even took a video and asked for input from experienced dog owners.) After some debate, I took her to her normal vet.
The vet agreed something was not right. X-rays of her chest revealed a huge, white mass. There were two likely possibilities – lung lobe torsion or a tumor. We rushed to a specialist clinic in Pittsburgh. (We live in West Virginia.) And it was confirmed that it was torsion. Her right-middle lung lobe had twisted, and it had become engorged with blood. The only thing to do is surgery to remove the lobe. She stayed on oxygen Wednesday night and had surgery on Thursday. She then stayed in the hospital for a few days, with a chest tube.
She’s healed really well. I could tell she was in pain initially because she whined every so often, but her spirits were good, so I think the pain was tolerable. Plus she got her appetite back.
The photo of Sophie on Day 12 after surgery with staples removed is at the top. When I weighed her at the vet yesterday, she is down to 39 lbs. Normally, she is 42 lbs. So she gets to indulge for a bit until we can get a couple of pounds back on her. Other than that, her recovery has been beautiful and I am so proud of my brave, strong girl. She’s completely bounced back from this ordeal.
The lesson here -- if your pet is breathing abnormally, no matter how minor it may seem, GO TO THE VET. I never would have dreamed that Sophie's minor symptoms were caused by something so dangerous. And oh yeah -- thank you, pet insurance!
The author is SHUG Adopter and Supporter Beth Shaw.
Update: Sophie had a little setback a few weeks later, hacking occasionally and wheezing during the night. After more X-rays and a chest tap to remove 180 ccs of fluid, it was confirmed she had an infection in two of her lung lobes. More antibiotics were in order, but Sophie is taking it in stride. Beth – not so much. “I never want to see a huge syringe filled with pus again,” she said.
Now, a bit about Lung Lobe Torsion:
Unlike humans, dogs and cats have separate lung lobes, which make them more prone to torsion (twisting). The most common location for torsion is where an artery, vein, and air tube enter at the base of the lobe. When the lobe is twisted, the artery is able to continue getting blood into it, but the vein, which is weaker, can’t get blood out. The lobe ends up letting fluid into the chest cavity, eventually accumulating and causing the other normal lobes to collapse.
Symptoms of lung torsion include pain, fever, lethargy, loss of appetite, coughing (sometimes with blood), difficulty breathing especially while lying flat, faster breathing and heart rate, pale or bluish mucous membranes, and even shock. Surgery is usually recommended to remove the effected lung lobe. This is typically done through an incision on the side of the chest. A chest tube is usually necessary for a few days afterward.
Dogs with broad chests, including Sighthounds, can be at greater risk than other breeds, but there is usually no known cause.
The Wallflowers
If they were at the prom, they’d be hanging out by the punch bowl, pretty in their dresses and corsages, but a bit quiet, a tad shy. But we promise, if you take Reyna, JoJo or Zettie for a spin on the dance floor, you won’t regret it.
These three lovely girls have been in their loving foster homes longer than any others. And while the girls come from very different places – one from the U.S., one from Spain and one from the Middle East – we want them to end up in the same place. In their forever homes.
Reyna is a sweet Galga (yes, the one who went missing for a time in Virginia). Her photo is above. She is thriving in her foster home and is even learning that the male half of the human species isn’t so bad after all. She’s great on her leash and beautiful to watch.
JoJo is a Saluki mix who is coming out of her shell, playing with the other dogs in her foster home, and becoming a happy girl. She’s good on a leash and the little wonkiness in her front leg doesn’t slow her down one bit.
Zettie is a retired racing Greyhound who has been around the block a few times, as they 
say. She is a sweet, quiet, easy-going cat-safe brood momma who is about as “turnkey” as they come.
All three of these girls are fostered on the East Coast but can be adopted throughout the U.S. and Canada. Their adoption fees are $350. Are you looking for a new dance partner? Put in an application here.
From the Director: How SHUG got an RV!
You may have seen our recent GoFundMe campaign to raise money to buy SHUG an RV. In the last two and a half years our volunteers have transported over three hundred dogs! Until now we've done this in our personal vehicles--up to 6 dogs at a time plus humans! In addition to the chaos of moving so many dogs in an open vehicle, we also often have to stop and take a "nature break" at rest stops along our routes. Not only can the facilities be gross and sometimes dangerous but we also had the added fear of leaving the dogs alone in the car.
What we really needed to carry on our work was a larger vehicle--with a bathroom! We needed an RV! Obviously we didn't need anything new or fancy since we were just going to fill it up with dogs. Over the last couple of months I've approached several RV owners about donating their vehicles with no luck, so we started the GoFundMe campaign to raise the money to buy one.
Just as our campaign was getting under way, an ad popped up that caught my eye. This was for a vintage RV that had been stripped down inside and primed but never finished. The engine was in good shape, the inside was ready to be customized, and the price was right! The owner was really just looking for someone who would keep this classic machine on the road and help it keep having awesome adventures.
On Thursday morning I called the owner and not only was the RV perfect, but the owner even has Sighthounds! And he offered to donate the RV to SHUG!!! Woohooo!
The only downside to this wonderful confluence of events was that the RV was in Michigan. But, hey, we're SHUG! We can do anything, right? In all seriousness, it was a near thing. This totally wouldn't have happened without Fawn Friedman, who drove us 8 hours to Michigan and then followed us 12 hours home. (Did I mention I've never driven an RV before and it rained the entire way? And Pennsylvania is very curvy.) And there's no way I could have dropped everything and gone on this trip without Julie Valeriano, who changed her own plans to be able to take care of the dogs at SHUG HQ for the day. Seriously, you ladies rock and this wouldn't have happened without you.
But of course, the weird thing isn't that we were able to find two awesome volunteers to drop everything and make this happen. The weird thing was driving 20 hours with no dogs in the car! We set out at 11:30 p.m. that night and arrived in Michigan around 8 a.m. After spending a couple of hours learning about the RV and getting a feel for driving it around a parking lot, we hit the road home. Twelve hours later, we were back at SHUG HQ, tired but happy. (I think. I don't actually remember it that clearly. There were several 5 hour energy shots involved. Although when you're trying to stay awake, nothing beats the shot of adrenaline from almost hitting the Jersey wall.)
And here she is! This is Harvey the RV! And yes, she's going to need a little work but she's actually pretty easy to drive. There isn't a lot in the interior and we may remove what's there and start completely fresh with a dog-optimized layout. In the short term we're going to do some shorter trips to work out any kinks and decide what works best for the dogs. Harvey actually was built as a broadcast production van for NBC right off the assembly line in 1978 so she doesn't have any windows down the sides which means we can be really flexible on our layout. And it means we can paint a really big logo on the side, too!
Keep an eye out for our adventures!
July 4th — Let’s Be Careful Out There
Fireworks are great. Well, they’re not great if you have a noise-sensitive or thunder-phobic pup. Actually, sometimes they’re not great even for the most chilled-out pooch. So with the July 4th holiday coming up, we asked SHUG supporters how they deal with fireworks.
Robin -- I stay in with them and cuddle. And never let them out of the house.
Fawn -- I call the police on neighbors shooting off fireworks.
Sarah -- I take my Borzoi to a finished room in the basement, turn the TV on to the Toddler Tunes music channel, and cuddle with him on the couch.
Sheila – I give Benadryl or Xanax to help them sleep.
Beth – This is what works best for us: a Benadryl, blinds drawn, white noise machine on high, and TV turned up loud.
Sally -- Keep them inside, pull down the shades, turn on some lights. Play music on the radio or CDs. And hope they don't have any fireworks left over to shoot off on the 5th, too.
Elizabeth -- A Greyhound resort out in the country has quite a few bookings for the 4th for dogs afraid of fireworks. (Side note: Some country locations don’t have fireworks restrictions, so a trip to the country might not always be a good solution.)
Emily -- In addition to much of the above, I also do frozen Kongs with extra yummy treats inside.
Anne -- Get an RV. Go to a really strict state park that does not allow fireworks. Hide.
Wendy -- I have a sound machine that plays a soft thunderstorm as I’m trying to desensitize them. But I seriously dread it!
Rochelle -- I put mine out early for a good bit, then blast the TV in both rooms, but don't baby them.
Susan -- I make sure everyone's fed and pottied before dark. I turn on the A/C and fans and the TV louder than normal (making sure I'm not watching PBS's “Fourth of July on the Mall” special).
Louise -- Melatonin and Rescue Remedy (link) an hour before fireworks are anticipated.
Jacki -- I stay home with the blinds shut, TV loud...make sure if I feel myself tensing up, that I relax so they don't pick up on my anxiety.
Hopefully, one of these approaches will work for you. Just a reminder -- double-check your gates and fences so a startled dog doesn’t have an escape route. Be cautious when opening the front door and make sure open windows aren’t open wide enough for a frightened dog to dash through. And be especially careful on walks around this time of the year (use the slip knot!) or even skip the walk for a day.
Oh, and don’t forget to enjoy the festivities! Happy Independence Day!
First Person: Winter TallDog’s Happily Ever After
First Person: Winter TallDog’s Happily Ever After
Winter is a two-year-old Borzoi who came to SHUG with a diagnosis of bone cancer. Unable to send him to the bridge without ever knowing the love of a family, SHUG Director Michael Owens OK’d an amputation, raised the funds for his medical care, and crossed her fingers that he’d have many good years of life ahead despite his diagnosis. Winter healed well and began to make up for lost time. Then he found his family. This is their story.
A year and a half ago, I reached out to SHUG because my husband and I wanted a Borzoi. A week after we put in our application, we picked up Alma, one of the irresistible Afghan/Ibizan Hound puppies, but having a Borzoi never escaped my mind. Plus I always knew we would somehow end up with four dogs.
In January, Winter came to SHUG followed soon after by another Borzoi boy named Tommy Bahama. Winter’s story, particularly, broke my heart. I followed his progress on his Facebook page, and I kept thinking about the time I was 12 and I insisted that my parents had to rescue a three-legged dog because they have a harder time finding a home.
Fast forward to several weeks ago when my husband and I were on vacation in New Orleans. I saw a video on Facebook of Winter going down the stairs and Tommy Bahama playing, and then I looked at my husband and told him it was finally time for us to foster. Life had slowed down, and we had the space and love to take in another dog. I called Michael and talked about taking Tommy. We’d visit the next day and bring our three dogs to see how they got along.
We showed up early Saturday morning, and, truthfully, Tommy wanted nothing to do with us. I knew that could happen – there WAS a lot going on. Winter, however, was a different story. He walked over to me as I was sitting on the floor and kissed me on the face. Our miniature dachshund was extremely interested in him, and Winter was equally pleased with him. I couldn’t stop looking at him.
It wasn’t until Michael said to me, “Well, you know, you could take Winter,” that the thought entered my head. I hadn’t been thinking of it as an option when we walked in. I was worried about our deck stairs and how he’d be with all the dogs. The reality of Winter’s situation hit me hard -- we could take this dog home, but there’s no way to know how long he’d be with us. I’m an emotional person, and I truly had no idea how I’d handle the various scenarios.
I must have stared at him for 30 minutes as Michael explained his raw diet and when his next vet visit was. Then I had a serious revelation -- it was time for me to put on my big-girl pants and learn to deal with rough situations and possible heartbreak. That was it. We were going to bring that dog home, give him love, and hope that everything worked out.
Winter came home with us that day. By the next evening he figured out how to go down and up those deck stairs. After 72 hours, I knew we were keeping him and he’s what SHUG calls a permanent foster.
My dogs did a wonderful job getting him used to our house. Alma has truly become his best friend, and Winter loves to groom Gus, the mini dachshund. He likes to share beds with Lillie, our greyhound, and after two weeks of observing how the house works, he’s made the couch his favorite spot. He went from hanging out in our bedroom to spending his day in the living room with the other dogs.
Thanks to the amazing fundraising for Winter, SHUG will pay for his medical bills for the rest of his life. I am so pleased to be Winter’s mom. That dog has stolen my heart. I’m thankful he can finally be a dog and enjoy romps in the backyard, naps on the couch. The other night, he climbed up into my husband’s lap while we were watching a movie. As I’m writing, he hopped over to me for cuddles.
He really is a wonderful dog, and we are cherishing every moment we have with him. He chose us the day we met him. My 12-year-old self would be proud of me -- we gave a dog a home that needed one.
First Person is an occasional series where we hear from SHUG adopters and volunteers. It was written by Maegan Dominguez.
Skinny Needles for Skinny Dogs
A decade ago acupuncture for your dog may have seemed pretty extreme, but today more and more dog owners are finding acupuncture an effective treatment for pain, mobility, and other issues in our furry children.
It’s no longer considered “alternative medicine,” but acupuncture can still seem a bit strange. After all, needles aren’t usually looked upon favorably by most people. Yet acupuncture has many uses and should be considered a viable tool for healing what might be ailing our pups.
Here at SHUG we have seen firsthand the benefits of acupuncture, and we hope you will consider it if your dog is in pain. To provide you more information, we asked Dr. Francie Dougherty, a veterinary acupuncturist in Montgomery County, Md., to answer a few questions.
Q. What is acupuncture?
A. Simply stated, it’s the insertion of very fine needles into specific points on the body. These points are particularly rich in blood flow and nerves, and parts of the lymph system. The needle stimulates the nerve fibers to release neurochemicals that travel throughout the central nervous center. A cascade of feedback mechanisms in the body then brings the release of endorphins -- the body’s natural painkillers -- as well as increased circulation of blood and lymph. It works the same way in humans, and in cats, dogs and horses. The beneficial effects of acupuncture extend well beyond the needle insertion sites.
Q. How can it be used?
A. One of the most frequently used applications is to help relieve muscle spasms and alleviate localized pain. The pain can be caused by a variety of things -- trauma, surgery, arthritis. The relief of pain is often very rapid and fairly obvious right away as the patient (your pup, in this scenario) becomes more relaxed and frequently walks away from the treatment with a much more normal gait than it arrived with.
Less obvious are the effects on the circulatory, metabolic and hormonal systems. In dogs, cats and horses, it’s most commonly used for any musculoskeletal problems, skin problems, nervous disorders, reproductive disorders, respiratory problems, poor immunity and internal medicine problems such as cardiac and renal disease. It is well documented to affect all major bodily systems. It’s important to note that animals don’t respond to a placebo affect (as humans can). So when you see an animal respond well to acupuncture, you know it’s real.
Q. How does acupuncture work in conjunction with conventional medicine or treatments?
A. Acupuncture can be used to bridge the gap between medicine and surgery. For instance, your dog can have an orthopedic procedure and you can have acupuncture done to decrease surgical pain and increase speed of healing of skin and tissue around the surgical scar. It can also help the animal be more relaxed with the confinement after surgery, as well as to detox from anesthetics.
Acupuncture can also be used in addition to medications for animals with allergies. The immune system gets more normalized, which can actually increase the threshold for allergens and decrease the need for anti-inflammatory drugs.
Q. Since needles usually hurt, is there pain associated with acupuncture?
A. Generally, no. The needles in acupuncture are very slender. They have nothing in common with a hypodermic needle, which is larger, thicker and built to transmit fluid. Acupuncture needles actually slide between cells -- they don’t puncture cells.
Q. How do you find a veterinarian acupuncturist?
A. In an ideal situation, your regular veterinary practice has an acupuncturist on staff so that the acupuncture is fully integrated into the dog’s care. But your vet can also consult with an independent acupuncturist, such as one in a holistic veterinary practice. Your dog’s acupuncturists should be a vet -- not a human acupuncturist. You can look for one here, although not all credentialed vet acupuncturists are listed here.
Thanks to Dr. Dougherty for this information.
First Person – A Beautiful Lurcher Makes a House a Home
In the late 1990s, while living in Florida, my husband and I admired ex-racing greyhounds for adoption, but our lifestyle wasn’t conducive for a dog. And our situation didn’t get more conducive until we moved to Northern Virginia in the summer of 2014. Hot on our list for house hunting was a fenced yard for, you guessed it! A DOG!
One day in my front yard I spotted two people walking a whippet and all my greyhound loving memories returned. In discussion with friends I was told to reach out to a neighbor, Maureen, who had recently adopted a Spanish Galga (Maxima). Maureen referred me to SHUG and brought Maxi by for us to meet.
Unfortunately, none of the galgas SHUG has at the time was a match as we only had a four-foot fence, and the dog would have to be an “only.” But there was another possibility – a young Lurcher girl fostered in Illinois. After discussing Phoebe (the Lurcher) with her foster mom, I was smitten.
SHUG swung into “underground” action and organized multiple people to transport and overnight her through the necessary sections until several days later Phoebe ended up in Maryland. We took her home after the first meeting and she has slept in our bed ever since.
Phoebe was bred to be a coyote hunter in Kansas. The breeder posted an ad for her on Craigslist stating she was half Greyhound and half deer hound. Fortunately, thanks to volunteers in the area who were on the alert for Sighthounds in need, she became a SHUG dog. No one knows what conditions she lived in or why they didn’t want her – but after having her in our family for several months, my bet would be on her complete lack of prey drive! She isn’t much of a hunter. One of her BFFs is a neighborhood Jack Russell and cats don’t interest her at all. She loves everyone – except perhaps birds and the occasional perky squirrel.
Phoebe is the most awesome dog (unbiased opinion). She is incredibly bright and quickly learned all of the standard tricks. She didn’t have much experience on the leash, but I learned early that she walks much more comfortably with a harness and now walks like a champ. She loves everyone in and out of the house. Her favorite games are to play fetch with a Nerf football and squeaky stuffed animals.
Phoebe walks my son to the bus stop every morning and she starts sitting at the front window waiting for him as soon as the buses begin their afternoon rounds. We walk down to the stop and when he gets off of the bus, she “roos” and he “roos” back. I’m still trying to get that on video! And when my daughter was sick, Phoebe was right by her side.
Out of curiosity I had her DNA tested; she is predominately greyhound and three generations back she was mixed with another type of hound. It is so distant that the DNA isn’t certain, but their best guess is coonhound (so much for the deerhound ancestor!). She has a softer coat than a regular Greyhound and a fluffier tail, but looks Greyhound in structure. It is very common that she gets stopped for photographs; the funniest are the people who want me to use their camera to photograph them and Phoebe together. I simply warn them that I cannot be held responsible for random Lurcher kisses!
First Person is an occasional series where we hear from SHUG adopters and supports. The author of this post is Traci Picciano.
Note: If you're thinking a Lurcher might work in your home, check out our Foster Friday post on Willy and Goldie.
Foster Friday – Lurcher Style
This week SHUG has some Lovely Lurchers looking for their forever homes! Willy and Goldie were rescued by the American Lurcher Project – and are great examples of why we love these special dogs. Both are very sweet and, in our eyes, look as much like Greyhounds as their tattooed brethren. In many cases Lurchers are used in underground competitive hunting. While most are bred from retired racing Greyhounds, their ancestry may also include other breeds as well.
Willy is all ears while settling into the soft life of his foster home. He’s very sweet, but a little bit timid. He is learning that people are good and to trust them. And he’s a quick study. He’s already following his foster mom around the house (no peeing in private allowed). He is just discovering toys, and he’s great on a leash. This two-year-old brindle boy is on the smaller side, about 55 pounds.
Goldie is a beautiful fawn girl who hasn’t quite reached her first birthday. She walks well on leash, is clean in the house, gets along well with the other dogs, has no food aggression, and enjoys her nap time. She does, however, like to rearrange things around the house. She thinks her style sense is better than her foster mom’s. Oh, and, well, she will sneak food off the counter, but who can hold that against such a lovely, happy girl?
Both Willy and Goldie are currently fostered in Indiana, but are available for adoption throughout the U.S. and Canada. Their adoption fees are $350 and includes their spay or neuter and vaccinations. If you're interested in either of these lovelies or any of our other dogs in foster care, the first step is to fill out an application at https://sighthoundunderground.com .
Check the blog on Monday for Phoebe’s story – how a young Lurcher also from the Indiana area is making one family in Virginia very happy.
Celebrating “Eat Your Veggies” Day
We’re not making this up. It really is National Eat Your Vegetables Day. But we’re not going to lecture you about a good diet. We’re going to lecture your dog.
Pups – your ancestors may have been carnivores, but vegetables and fruits can be good for you, too. So listen up to these suggestions:
Potatoes (regular or sweet). Eat these boiled or baked and cut into wedges. What the hell -- mashed with a teeny bit of butter won’t hurt you either.
Broccoli. Microwaved or steamed until crisp but tender is just right. It can be given as a little treat or tossed into dinner for a bit of green.
Carrots. Baby carrots can be eaten raw on occasion as a little treat. Or they can be cooked in boiling water or steamed and added to your regular food.
Green beans. Unsalted canned beans or cooked in boiling water and then added to food when cooled are yummy. For those pups who might need to lose a few pounds, your folks can swap out some green beans for an equal volume of dry kibble without you feeling hungry (and grumpy and deprived and all that).
Apples. A raw wedge is an awesome treat. Don’t mooch the core, though -- the seeds aren’t good for you.
Blueberries and Cranberries. These are a good source of vitamins and antioxidants, plus cranberries are good if you’re having pee problems. Blueberries can be given as a raw treat. Cranberries can be stewed and cooked until tender and added to your dog food.
Pumpkin. This is a good source of fiber and beta-carotene. Make sure your folks get plain, canned pumpkin, not pumpkin-pie filling. A couple of tablespoons helps if you’re getting mushy poops.
Watermelon. So sweet. So juicy. So great for dogs. We promise. Make sure your folks take out the seeds first.
Oh, and to the humans in the house, go ahead and help yourself! The dogs don't mind sharing!
A Message From Avery . . .
I got the best birthday present ever - a forever home! My mom and dad are a little slow on the uptake sometimes. They knew way back in December, when I had my second surgery, that they were going to keep me. They may have said it was only going to be long enough to make sure I was totally recovered, but everyone could read between the lines.
And let's face it, there was no way I was letting them go--especially after all the effort I put into training them! Please note the exhausting curriculum they have covered while fostering me:
Lesson one . . . I don't do stairs - you shall carry me up and down them.
Lesson two . . . Kibble shall never be served. When I don't feel well, I shall only be offered fancy luncheon meat and peanut butter. Acceptable everyday meals shall start with fancy dehydrated dog food base and include ground beef, pulled pork, poached chicken, sardines, or eggs. There best be cheese (calcium is good for me!) - out of the shredded mozzarella you bought just for me? I do believe there is some manchego. And bedtime snack shall ALWAYS be served on time. Made with the Greek yogurt.
Lesson three . . . The back door shall be opened whenever I ask.
Lesson four . . . You shall allow yourself to be snuggled all night long; my nose tucked behind your neck or gentle breathing into your ear is a special privilege. We shall get up no later than sunrise. There shall also be snuggle time after breakfast. NOTE: I am ALWAYS the snuggler, not the snugglee.
Lesson five . . . Morning activities shall also include Second Nap and a flip chip. NOTE: I hear other puppies eat couches, coffee tables and shoes. I am totally willing to try those things if we run out of flip chips.
Lesson six . . . My siblings shall endure proper greyhound greetings. You shall hide me behind your legs when the cat objects. My sister Bella shall play with me whenever I want. It is not rude to squeak toys in her face. NOTE: Toys shall be bought in multiples. Please do your comparison shopping based on squeak potential.
Lesson seven . . . I shall rotate crates; I must ensure they are all comfortable. Crates shall be cushioned with blankets; should you choose to include a dog bed, I cannot be held responsible for any bed "malfunctions." NOTE: If I crate, everyone crates.
Lesson eight . . . I shall be held during thunderstorms and whenever the vacuum is operated.
Lesson nine . . . I shall supervise all activity in the dining room from under the table.
Having mastered the beginner's course in Avery Care 101, I believe my parents are now ready to move onto the intermediate level, where we shall explore the quantity and quality of my martingale collection and esoteric subjects like toenail polish. I have the utmost faith in their abilities.
love, Avery
Avery is a young greyhound who suffered a birth injury and needed her leg amputated. SHUG took her in and your willingness to buy a T-shirt or send a donation helped pay for her surgeries (yes, there were two) and gave her a great life.