Hint from Howliweeze - No Boo! Hoos... 

No Boo! Hoos: Treat Your Pets to a Safe Halloween

That parade of kids, adults - and yes, even pets - in funny outfits is due to arrive at your door next week, bringing all the sweet and scary joys of Halloween! But pet parents, as you carve the jack-o-lanterns and fill those bowls of candy, please be aware that your furry friends may stumble upon dangers you hadn’t thought of.

Warns Dr. Steven Hansen, Senior Vice President, ASPCA Animal Health Services, which includes the ASPCA’s Animal Poison Control Center in Urbana, IL, “Many of our favorite Halloween traditions could pose a potential threat to our companion animals. As pet parents start to make plans for trick-or-treating or costumes, they should be aware of Halloween-related products and activities that can be potentially dangerous to pets.”

The following are just a few precautions you should take:

• No Chocolate: Even if your pet has a sweet tooth, ingesting chocolate - especially baker’s and dark chocolate - can be dangerous for dogs and cats, possibly causing vomiting, diarrhea, hyperactivity and even seizures.
• No Sweets for the Sweet: Candies containing the artificial sweetener xylitol can be poisonous to dogs. Even small amounts can cause a sudden drop in blood sugar, which leads to depression, lack of coordination and seizures.
• Dangerous Décor: Keep wires and cords from electric lights and other decorations out of reach. If chewed, your pet could experience damage to his mouth from shards of glass or plastic, or receive a possibly life-threatening electrical shock.
• Don’t Play with Fire: Keep your pets away from jack-o-lanterns with lit candles inside - knocking the pumpkin over can easily cause a fire. And curious kittens can get burned or singed by candle flames.
• Costume Caution: Please don't put your pet in a costume unless you know that he or she loves it. Costumes can cause skin irritations, obstruct a pet’s vision or impede his breathing.

 And if your pet accidentally ingests potentially harmful products, immediately consult your veterinarian or the ASPCA’s Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.

This article was originally distributed by the ASPCA newsletter 1/22/08

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Le Papillon Guesthouse Offers Summer Greyhound Special 

Le Papillon Guesthouse in New Orleans is offering its annual summer special to people who have pets.

Le Papillon rates are $50 per night with a two night minimum. Dogs are welcome on the property at no extra cost. They have a yard to play in and there is a dog park nearby.

The offer ends at Halloween and is not valid for Labor Day.

We know that people with dogs have a tough time finding places to stay. Many guesthouses in New Orleans accepted dogs immediately after Katrina but have since stopped or now charge extra for four-legged guests.

Le Papillon is located four blocks away from the French Quarter in the Faubourg Marigny, the next neighborhood downriver from the Quarter that also rates historic district status. We’re right around the corner from all the activity on Frenchmen Street.

The special was originally intended for greyhound rescuers who live nearby and who wanted a quick getaway to the Big Easy. However, the special applies to anyone in any location who has a greyhound. We haven’t had a greyhound as a guest in several months. There are two beautiful female greyhounds on the premises.

Le Papillon consists of two two-room suites. Each suite of the guesthouse has a private entrance. One room of each suite features a queen-sized bed with armoire, television with cable, and writing desk and chair. The second room features a table, chairs, refrigerator, microwave oven and coffeemaker, as well as private bathroom. Complimentary orange juice, bottled water, soft drinks and coffee are provided as well as a variety of snack foods. Pictures of the guesthouse rooms can be viewed at www.lwpaillongh.com.

The guesthouse maintains a strict no smoking policy.

For more information regarding the summer special, guests can contact Chris Smith, owner of Le Papillon Guesthouse, 2011 N. Rampart, New Orleans, LA 70116; (504) 884-4008.

July 2ist's comings and goings ... 

• Tim's Hope - "Tim" is a nearly 3 yo petite black male that is learning about life on the "outside" He is small dog friendly and preliminary cat test is positive.
• Penske's Dream* - 'Dream" is a littermate to Tim. He is a tall lanky white and brindle boy.
• Rg's Amber Glow* is a 4 yo white and brindle girl that is coming back to GPA through no fault of her own. She is kid cat and little dog friendly.

*these dogs are already spoken for

• Rg's Amber Glow has joined the Warren family in Jackson, MS.
• Penske's Dream has joined the Frye family in Jackson, MS.
• Bobbye's Lucas has joined the Ford family in Monroe, LA.
• Day in the Life has joined the Sullivan family in Shreveport, LA.
• KLP Blazin Pixie joined the Holland family in Slidell, LA.
• DZ Bringitonback has joined the Liuzza family in Denham Springs, LA.

Hint from Howliweeze: Lets Talk About Tags

Lets talk about tags, yes tags.

Does your dog have along with an ID tag a GPALA identification tag ? Each GPA tag bears an individual number that links it to your dog. Should the dog escape and picked up by someone, they can call the number on the tag and we can identify the dog. This system WORKS, I got a call on Friday morning and within minutes I knew who the dog was and was tracking down the owner. Several times a year dogs escape and their tag brings them home. Having said that, IF you DONT have a GPALA tag please contact us and I will send you a form to complete so we can issue you one. If it is lost we wont bark to loud LOL let us know and we will get another one to you. Your dog does not have to have been adopted from GPALA. Should you have a non greyhound and would like us to issue a tag to that pup we would be happy to do so. 

This article is for informational purposes only.
***these hints are to be used as general guidelines and in no way are meant to replace veterinary care or consultations with your attorney.

If you have a question for Howliweeze email it to

July 11th's comings and goings ... 

• Cajun Brown Eyes is a 5 yo fawn girl that is being returned to GPALA because of lifestyle changes. She is said to be small dog and cat friendly.
• Kb's Taco Salad* is a 3 yo light brindle girl with a spunky personality.
• Bobbye Lucas is a fawn male that is a sweet little boy that gets along with everyone.
• Penske's Dream is a white and brindle male who will give us more info once he gets settled in.
• Tim's Hope is a black male that is sibling to Penske's Dream.

*these dogs are already spoken for

• Whytell Scarlet joined the Foss family in Denham Springs.
• SS Candy Stripe has joined the Bailey Family in Baton Rouge.
• RLM'S Jasper has joined the Durham family in Baton Rouge
• Kb's Taco Salad has joined the Richeaux family in Galliano.

Hint from Howliweeze: Hound Myths

The following is an article of Greyhound Myths written by Suzanne Stack, DVM. Permission has been granted to reprint this article for our update and web site.

Hound Myths

Suzanne Stack, DVM

Older greyhounds need low protein “senior” diets.

• With greyhounds, we’re usually trying to keep weight on the oldsters, not off them.
• Low protein diets may cause muscle wasting and weight loss.

Greyhounds with high creatinines are going into kidney failure and need low protein “kidney” diets.

• Increased creatinine does not equal kidney disease if the BUN and urine concentration are normal.
• A 2000 Auburn study found that greyhound creatinines normally run up to 1.6X “other dog” creatinine.

Greyhounds with diarrhea should be switched to high fiber food (i.e. W/D).

• This approach often backfires with greyhounds, who do better on meat based diets.
• Grain based diets or the simple switch from racing diets to kibble are often the cause of diarrhea.

BARF (Bones And Raw Food) diet is dangerous, not adequate, etc.

• If you're willing to do the research and “cooking,” BARF is superior nutrition.
• Other benefits - clean teeth, firm stools, may help with allergies.

Alabama Rot only happens to track greyhounds from eating the raw 4D meat.

• The strain of e. coli that causes Alabama Rot is found in everything from apples to alfalfa sprouts. Feed several small meals daily / feed from raised feeders / make him eat slow / to prevent bloat.
• Bloat is mostly genetic and much more common in show (AKC) greyhound lines.
• Racers gobble one meal daily from a bowl on the floor and rarely bloat.

Leave him in the hospital until he eats.

• Greyhounds are sensitive dogs.
• Unless they're doing something for him there that you can't do at home, he'll likely eat better at home where he's happy and you can bribe him with tempting cookery.
• Take him in for daily rechecks if needed.

The fecal is negative - he doesn't have worms.

• Fecals are often negative, especially for whipworms.
• If a greyhound has had diarrhea ever since he came off the track, de-worm with Panacur before doing further diagnostics. Don't have the $1,000 case of whipworms.

Greyhounds get so many vaccinations at the track that adoption groups should not revaccinate.

• It's hard to count on vaccines that were supposedly given - requirements vary tremendously from state to state.
• I prefer 2 consecutive years of “known shots,” then go to every 3 years if that is your preference.

Dogs need booster vaccines every year.

• Many veterinarians and a majority of veterinary schools have safely gone to every 3 year vaccinations.

Yearly dentals are the best way to keep your greyhound's teeth healthy.

• Brushing at least every other day is the best way to keep your greyhound's teeth healthy.
• BARF, chewies, turkey necks - all is preferable to knocking off tartar once yearly while the dog spends the other 9-10 months with dental disease.
• Dentals should be done when needed, but should not be the mainstay of dental care.

Do all you can to save bad teeth - you don't want to lose them.

• Bad teeth hurt - get them out of there!
• Bad teeth form a nidus for infection which can damage kidneys and heart valves.
• Dogs with bad teeth often feel like new dogs once they're extracted.

His heart is enlarged.

• The greyhound heart is normally much bigger than the heart of other dogs.
• There is a huge left ventricular hypertrophy (thickening of wall) - same with marathon runners.
• An ultrasound can differentiate normal from diseased if in doubt.

His heart rate is abnormally slow.

• he greyhound's heart rate is slower than other dogs - again, due to athleticism.
• 60-90 is normal at rest, it may be faster if excited (like at the vet's office).

His blood pressure is high.

• Greyhounds often run blood pressures on the high end of normal (160,170,180).
• They can be higher if excited - again, an important consideration at the vet's office.

He needs a complete cardiac workup for this heart murmur.

• Low grade murmurs (I & II) are common in greyhounds - they are almost always benign.
• Take a chest x-ray if concerned (where you will see a “big heart!”).

Your greyhound has polycythemia.

• Greyhounds have a higher HCT or PCV than other dogs, normally in the 50's - 60's.
• HCT or PCV can easily go into the 70's if they're dehydrated.
• Actual polycythemia vera is a very rare disease.

Her platelets are abnormally low.

• Greyhounds can normally run low platelets - all the way down to 80,000 - 110,000.
• Ehrlichia can lower platelets (also lowers WBC and HCT/PCV) - titer if in doubt.

We need a bone marrow biopsy to see if this low WBC is cancer.

• Greyhounds normally run lower WBCs (3,000 - 10,000) than other dogs (7,500 - 15,000).
• An Auburn study of 50 retired racers (March 2000 Compendium) found a range of 1,800-14,600.

He can't have a TBD (tick borne disease), we don't have those around here.

• Greyhounds have a disproportionate incidence of TBDs due to their years on dog farms and in racing kennels, sharing ticks with greyhounds from all over the country.
• Ehrlichia can take 5-7 years following a tick bite to show symptoms.

Imizol is dangerous.

• Imizol is safe but not familiar to many veterinarians.
• Imizol is labeled to kill babesia but also kills ehrlichia.

A low T4 means she needs to be on thyroid supplement.

• Greyhounds normally run lower T4s than other breeds (about half is a good rule of thumb).
• They should not be on supplement unless there are clinical signs - too many greyhounds are needlessly on lifelong supplement.
• Use half of the normal dog dose.
• Sick dogs commonly have low T4s (“sick euthyroid”) - the dog is not hypothyroid.

Bald butts are because they're hypothyroid.

• The cause of bald thigh syndrome is unknown.
• Bald thighs are seen with both low and high thyroid levels.

Bald butts are from laying in crates at the track.

• Greyhounds who have never been crated or to the track have bald butts.

He has a toenail fungus.

• SLO (symmetrical lupoid onychodystrophy) aka “pemphigus” is the autoimmune condition that causes greyhounds to lose multiple nails.
• Treat as directed in Care of the Racing Greyhound.

This female is the first hermaphrodite I've ever seen! / This female has cancer.

• That red “button” at the vulva is clitoral hypertrophy from testosterone given at the track to keep females out of heat

Skin hemangiosarcomas in greyhounds are highly malignant.

• Skin hemangiosarcomas in “glabrous” (ventrally “nude” breeds such as greyhounds and Italian greyhounds) are solar induced and have a lower potential for metastasis.

I don't want to amputate (or euthanize) for bone cancer. I'll just make him comfortable for as long as possible (or . . . amputation is not the end of the world).

• one cancer is a constant, throbbing pain - the most intractable pain in veterinary medicine.
• The pain is not well controlled with meds - if it was, veterinarians wouldn't recommend amputation.
• Amputation is done simply to get the dog out of pain, it will not increase survival time.
• Only adding chemo will make him live longer.
• If not amputated, be generous with pain meds and be ready to euthanize.

I don't want to give Rimadyl, Deramaxx, etc. for bone cancer - it might damage his liver.

• Don't become hung up on the possibility of side effects - bone cancer does not have a long term. Give what it takes to keep him from hurting.
• Combine meds (NSAIDs, narcotics, Ultram, Fosamax, etc.)

She's not in pain - she just limps, has never cried out.

• If she does not put the foot down, it hurts!
• Poor appetite, panting, shaking, can't get comfortable, stops participating, and mostly, “that look in her eye” - all are signs of pain.
• Pathologic fractures (the bone breaks at the weak spot) are excruciatingly painful - euthanize before this can happen.

Dogs can't take Tylenol.

• Tylenol /codeine is one of the most common pain meds given to bone cancer/amputation patients.

That hind end weakness is probably hip dysplasia.

• Hip dysplasia is rare in greyhounds.
• Hind end problems are most likely lumbosacral stenosis in older greyhounds.

We sent the x-rays to a radiologist and he can't find a reason why she's limping either.

• Many things that cause limping aren't seen on x-rays (soft tissue, neuro, corns).
• A good orthopedic exam is key - an orthopedic surgeon is a good bet for finding obscure lamenesses.

***these hints are to be used as general guidelines and in no way are meant to replace veterinary care.

If you have a question for Howliweeze email it to

June 26th's comings and goings ... 

• SS Candy Stripe a small fawn female reentering our program. "Stella" is both small dog and cat friendly. She has a nice disposition along with knock out good looks.
• DZ Bringitonback is a white and brindle rowdy girl that is being returned due to schedule changes in the home. "Stella" has a thick beautiful coat and is a very happy girl.
• RLM's Jasper is a 5 yo fawn male, fairly small that is being returned due to life changes. He is small dog friendly and likely cat friendly too.

*these dogs are already spoken for

• Del Ray Laser joined the Guidry family in Rayne.
• AMF Constrictor has joined the Thomson family in Arkansas.
• HM Cowboy has joined the Landry family in New Iberia.
• Kb's Seahawk has joined the Day family in Gulfport.
• PW's Bigleo has joined the Holt family as a foster with intent .