Dog...Toothpaste?

Greyhound Dental Care

 Just an update, and some information for anyone considering adopting a greyhound.  When Winnie was rescued, the adoption agency took care of her first dental visit.  She had a tooth extracted because of an exposed root, which is very painful, and can cause a lot of problems for any living creature.  Greyhounds need to have their teeth checked once a year at minimum.  They have a unique snout and mouth that can cause food to become trapped in their teeth.  This breed requires a little extra care in this area.  Thankfully I was informed about this need well before we met Winnie.  I started collecting items for our future dog about five months ago.  I visited a Petsmart, and asked for help picking out dental hygiene products for my future greyhound.  I recommend spending a good amount of time in pet stores, chatting with people who work there well before you bring your dog home.  The toothpaste I chose is a Nylabone Advanced Tartar Control Paste with Denta-C.  I was informed that the main thing to look for is a tartar control toothpaste.  There are also liquids you can add to your dogs water to help strengthen teeth.  The worker also told me to just buy a soft toothbrush at a dollar store, rather than spending extra money on the expensive ones they sold.  The assortment of products can be quite overwhelming.  If you can't decide, ask for help.  Most pet store workers have a lot of knowledge about the products, and are usually pet lovers themselves with firsthand experience.

Dog Teeth-brushing Tips 

Force brushing is not the way to go.  I gave Winnie two days to get used to me before I introduced the toothpaste to her.  The first time she just got a taste of it, and I was only able to swipe a bit on her long front teeth with my finger.  I kept the experience short and sweet.  She licked a lot, and didn't seem traumatized by it, but I didn't want to push her.  She received a lot of praise, and then I left her alone.

I waited two days later and tried again. This time after she licked some toothpaste off my finger I attempted to get more toothpaste smeared on other teeth further back, and in the front.  This was difficult because she just wanted to eat the toothpaste, and lick the air until the taste was gone.  Dog toothpaste is made to taste yummy I guess.  I spent less than three minutes this time, and then praised her and gave her space.

Tonight I let her spend some time licking the toothpaste off my finger, and just enjoy it.  After she was done, I put more toothpaste on my finger and used my other hand to gently open her mouth, praising her for letting me.  I tried to get toothpaste on a small section of her teeth at a time, and then gave her a moment to lick and just enjoy it.  Then I reopened her mouth to try to spread more toothpaste in a different part of her mouth.  I was a little nervous about sticking my finger back into her mouth to reach her molars, but I was successful.  It took about five sessions of opening her mouth, rubbing the paste on a section of her teeth, and then letting her relax and lick it off.

Once she becomes comfortable and familiar with my fingers rubbing the toothpaste on her teeth I will try the toothbrush.  If she has a negative response I will go back to using my finger.  The important thing to remember is patience and consistency will bring about the best results.

Here is a link with more information about dental care for greyhounds.

 Greyhound Dental Care Information

Winnie in the back of the VWBug. Our first day with our sweet little girl. She was so shy.


 

First Time Greyhound Parents

Today is our one week anniversary of bringing Winnifred (Winnie) into our home. As first time greyhound owners/parents, we have had a pretty educational week. Our love for her grows every day.



The Decision and Commitment

Last Friday we received a call about Honey, a very small, mostly black, tuxedo greyhound. She was a stray in Oklahoma who was brought to Colorado with other greyhounds who were retired racers. They estimate that she is 1 1/2 to 3 years old. When I received the call I wanted to go get her that day. We had taken several months thinking about what it would mean to adopt a greyhound. I read the below link with the pros and cons about adopting greyhounds a while ago. We've spent about four months waiting to adopt a greyhound, but almost a year researching different breeds. We decided that greyhounds were the breed for us at a meet and greet we went to last Autumn. These dogs were unlike any we had ever met. Elegant and gentle, friendly and shy. We read they lived well in apartments, and slept 18-20 hours a day. When I read they were described as "45 mile an hour couch potatoes" my husband was sold. He liked the idea of getting a couch mate to watch Star Trek with. I was more attracted to having a furry friend to accompany us on our walks and hikes. Greyhounds are the best of both worlds. There are many things we had to consider when thinking about adopting a greyhound. I urge anyone considering adoption to read the article "10 Reasons Not to Adopt a Greyhound." They are a blessing to many, but not for everyone. We chose a new name for Honey. "Winnifred" (Winnie) just made perfect sense for this particular greyhound. Meaning of Winifred: "holy peacemaking, gentle friend"

Ten Reasons Not To Adopt A Greyhound

Making Our Home Her Home

Our precious girl has been very shy. She is somewhat cat like, but her puppy qualities are starting to shine. When we first brought her home, she didn't really know what to think of our apartment. The expensive floor pillow was invisible, and her crate was just a big wire box in the corner of the room. She chose to lay behind a recliner on the carpet. She napped quite a bit, but woke up easily. We didn't want to make a lot of noise so we sat around watching her. Looking back it is somewhat comical. If she would sigh we would both look at each other. I have a hard time not chatting away constantly, and sometimes I would start out in a whisper, but grow into a laugh or excited voice that would scare her awake. We didn't want to leave her alone the first day, so we decided it would be best to take her with us to buy her food dishes. The night before we got Winnie, we went to four different stores looking for a large dog kennel and some supplies. I couldn't find the perfect dog dish for a greyhound that first night, but Winnie's lovely foster mom suggested that we buy plant stands to put her dishes on. Greyhounds are tall, and need elevated food dishes for a more comfortable meal time. We found a good strip mall with a store that sold plant stands, and a pet supplies shop relatively close to each other. First I purchased the stands and dishes while my husband and Winnie waited in the car. I thought Winnie would love to go into the pet store and pick out her own toys. This was a bit much for her first day. She seemed pretty calm and confident until we approached the entrance. Something happened that she probably never experienced. The automatic sliding doors opened, and Winnie became more alert, and quite nervous about the place we were entering. On top of that, this was a new store in the community, and the staff wanted to be extra friendly. We warned them that it was our first day with her, and she was very shy. They didn't seem to mind, and continued to chat loudly, and ask many questions. Winnie leaned on me a lot and seemed to retreat behind my husband. I knew we had to get her out of there, but she didn't want to go near the terrifying automatic sliding doors. I tried to build up her confidence, but she just pulled me to a corner of the store farthest away from the doors. A worker brought her free treat samples that she respectfully ignored. My husband decided to stand in the door to keep it open as I gently dragged Winnie outside to our car. When we got her home we gave her space as she hid in the bathroom. We felt so incredibly guilty. A feeling I think goes hand in hand with parenthood. She was scared the rest of the day, and we had to pick her up to get her to go outside for potty breaks. We worried about her so much the first three days. Sometimes she would grow more courageous and curious about us, and her new environment. With two steps forward, there would be one step back. A new noise in our apartment, or the sound of our laughter when her ears perked up would send her back into retreat. It has taken a lot of treats, and cuddle sessions to help her see that we are safe. There were points we felt she would never open up, but our patience is paying off.

Celebrate Every Victory

I'll never forget the snow day this week. My husband and I usually wake up together to take care of her. He planned to go to work after a road, that was closed because of the snow, reopened, and slept in a little later. Winnie seemed more curious about the apartment this particular morning, and after breakfast, and a potty walk she explored the apartment thoroughly. When my husband woke up, and stepped into the hallway, she reacted in a way we had never seen before. She jumped down into the play position with her head and paws down, bum high in the air, and ran around in a crazy little spin. She approached my husband with energy instead of caution melting his heart once he realized what she was doing. It didn't take long for her to return to her timid self, seeking a refuge to take yet another nap. Every time she displays an act of excitement and curiosity we rejoice and warmly welcome her. Now she has my husband wrapped around her little paw. That morning she didn't particularly enjoy going out into the snow and whimpered a little. I wrapped her legs in leg warmers, and put on her beautifully hand made fleece coat her Foster mommy made her. My husband insisted on carrying her to her potty spot, and carrying her back into the apartment after she was done to avoid her walking in the deep snow. She seems to enjoy being carried around. Although small, she is still a 50 lb dog. We try to only do this in extreme weather situations.

Greyt Lessons Learned Our First Week

1. We are new parents. Greyhounds require a lot of devotion, but it is such an honor to have one in your home. It is not easy, but it is incredibly fulfilling to have a furry baby depend on you.

2. Patience is essential. You can't rush things. You must give your greyhound time to adjust, and try to avoid pushing them into situations they aren't ready for. They are timid and gentle creatures that require a sensitive owner who is willing to wait for them to warm up.

3. Greyhounds bring so much joy and happiness into a home. They are well worth every effort put into caring for them. As their love grows for you, you can't help but adore them. Winnie has become the topic of most of our conversations, and the source of our laughter and joy. I can't imagine ever bringing another breed into our home.