Biscuit's stitches

Valerie · Guru

Biscuit's stitches

Lorna · Old Hand

Poor Biscuit - I hope he feels better soon -

- he is sure to bounce back and be his old self again .

-- Edited by Lorna at 11:11, 2007-03-13

JENNY · Big Cheese

Hope biscuit feels better soon.

Looks quite a nasty gash.

niccimac · Old Hand

Poor Biscuit, and poor you as well, it must have been very upsetting for you. I hope he'll be much better soon, and that you recover also.
Best wishes.

Siouxsie · Enlightened One

Valerie

I hope Biscuit feels better soon and you too.

Leolurcher · Master

Poor Biscuit I hope that he heals up soon. One thing that I found out with my lurchers is that they seemed to rather thin skin and cut very easily but they tended to heal quickly.
Eleanorxxxxxx

Abbys Dad · Master

Valerie

Biscuit sounds just like Dylan. The gash looks sore but Lurchers are resilient. Dylan had a similiar cut recently where he ripped part of the muscle also as he run into wire. It was the sorest to look at and even the Vet who treated him was amazed at how mobile he was and how well his cut healed. As for where and how he cut himself Lurchers are just so playful they want to be involved in everything with everyone. In no time will he be back up and full of beans wanting to go out for another round

Dylan even had the stitches in his wound when he thought the time was right for him to chase after squirrels again. Lots of TLC required, the poor me phase has to be encountered. He is well looked after and getting the treatment and checks ups to help him get better. Soon Biscuit will be back to himself.

Dawn · Guru

Valerie wrote:

I do feel really rotten, and at the moment feel as if having let him down, I can't expose him to this type of thing again, so won't be attending any large walks.

I'm sure if you asked Biscuit if you had let him down......his reply would be a definite No! Its natural to feel guilty, but from what I have read about Biscuit, I'm sure by this time next week his wound will be a distant memory and he will be looking forward to his next outing with all his friends.

It would be a shame for him (and you) to miss out from large events, and I guess we can all learn from Biscuits' experience, when too many dogs get over excited without muzzles on.
Get well soon Biscuit

PeterE · Old Hand

Poor Biscuit, hope he's better soon. Sorry we missed you at the walk, I'd intended to go on it but then Daz hurt his back so we didn't. I would have loved to meet Buscuit! I also don't think you've let him down, It was probably just bad luck and overexcitement that led to him being bitten. It is a horrible feeling though when a dog is injured and you feel that you could have somehow prevented it.

Daz and Tess send licks to Biscuit!

Peter

Jax · Master

Poor wee biscuit! He'll bounce back in no time though. You've nothing to feel guilty about, unfortunately these things just happen sometimes. Love and hugs from Dan and Sally.xxx

Teresa · Enlightened One

poor biccy - i didn't know he'd been injured. have i missed a thread? what happened?

i'm sure he'll be his normal bouncy self in no time. as for feeling guilty - DON'T. i doubt biscuit blames you for anything. c'est la vie, eh?

hugs to you and biscuit from me and the gang, xxxx

MojoTilly · Master

Poor biscuit - hope he's feeling better soon. You shouldn't blame yourself for this and am sure Biscuit doesn't think that you've let him down at all. These things happen, he's young, will heal quickly and has probably forgotten all about it already.

Tilly sends hugs and licks to help him get better and hope that he'll come for walkies to Devilla forest with her again soon.

Debbie

Isla · Enlightened One

Poor wee soul. It's in exactly the same place and the same size as the one that Tigger ended up with. I'm sure it will heal as quickly and cleanly as her's did - you'd never know it had been there.

In a couple of days you'll be demented trying to keep him from playing and galloping about.

Indiana · Guru

Poor wee soul. He looks right sorry for himself in that picture. I bet he doesn't regret the walk though - it's just us that are the ones that end up feeling bad when they're right as rain and bounding about in no time! Give him lots of cuddles from us!

Christine Young · GAL Newsletter Editor

Poor Biscuit - he looks so sorry for himself! What a shame he was injured when he was having such a good time!

Please don't feel you've let Biscuit down. In my opinion, Dawn has got it exactly right - that it would be a shame for you and Biscuit to miss large events because of what happened on Sunday. Biscuit is a resilient sort. Even when he was injured, he still wanted to chase Dixie!

Hope the big chap recovers soon. Give him big hugs from me and big licks from Vegas and Dixie!

Christine

Valerie · Guru

Just to say thanks for all the good wishes to Biscuit and trying to help me with my guilt! I really posted his injury so folks can see what kind of accidents can happen around large groups of excited dogs, and in no way want to point fingers. I take full responsibility, and I'm not proud of the way my dog looks, and the fact we have 3 vet trips, antibiotics etc., when I feel I could have avoided it. I lacked experience and judgement, and that's where the forum is so invaluable as a learning tool.

Biscuit was at the vet this morning (even she says he will start to hate to the vets) The wound is looking fine, he has a week of lead exercise and antibiotics. The vet says it looks like a bite. Everyone knows how long drawn out these things are. Stitches to come out next week, and I know Biscuit will be so annoyed at having to be kept on lead for a whole week. Biscuit will recover far quicker than I will from this!!!

feldandjack · Guru

I'm sure biscuit will make a fine recovery. If you are looking for a quiet walk and you are in the east lothian area, I could try and meet up. Cara enjoyed her walk with Noras two and Harvy, she is used to going out alone and enjoyed her trip out in a small group. Sunday was a big day out for her and she tended to keep to herself in order to avoid the rough and tumble. Some dogs are not used to running with big groups, I think Biscuit, like Cara, was a little shy. He was just unlucky to get a bump. Don't feel bad, at the end of the day, you don't know if you like something til you try it. This goes for dogs as well.

Sunny girl · Master

Hugs to Biscuit. Hope he's on the mend soon.

Landess

Dawn · Guru

feldandjack wrote:

He was just unlucky to get a bump.

I felt I had to respond to this totally insensitive comment and one that should be listed as the understatement of the year! Biscuits owner is obviously distraught at the wound inflicted on her beloved pet, because she allowed her dog to run with an over excited pack of dogs. The dogs are NOT to blame. However, as I posted previously, lessons should be learned from this. These walks, however well intentioned to start with, would inevitably lead to someones pet being injured or at worse mauled...thats what over excited dogs of ANY breed will do. To tirvialise Biscuits injury is uncalled for.
In keeping with the nature of this forum.....lets all wish Biscuit a speedy recovery.
Dawn

FAJ · Enlightened One

My wee tupenny ha'penny here.....

Firstly, I don't think that feldandjack intended to trivialise Biscuit's injury. I think s/he was trying, as most people were, to make Valerie feel better about the whole thing and to help her stop beating herself up about it. As ever, it's the age-old problem of forums not being able to put across the same tone that we would when speaking face-to-face. I'm as guilty as anyone, cos I've taken the huff often enough in my time!

Leaving aside the ins/outs of this particular walk or other mass get-togethers for off-lead frolics for a moment, the fact is that each and every one of us with greyhounds (and lurchers) are ambassadors for greyhounds. If things go wrong, it will be greyhounds that get the bad name. And, like it or not, this reflects on GAL. Now, I'm not necessarily saying that things definitely will go wrong, but it is certainly easy for them to do so. Look what happened to Biscuit. Imagine if that had been a dog belonging to someone totally unrelated to the walk....

I'm not saying that big groups of dogs shouldn't run together and have fun or that people shouldn't meet up and enjoy their dogs togther. I've done it myself (albeit ina smaller grouping) with Pearly and we both had a whale of a time. And one of the joys of the GAL forum is that it's a great place to socialise and make new friends, both human and doggy. But, being honest, if I was a new person coming to this forum for the first time, I'd feel a little uneasy seeing reports of a young dog getting bitten whilst out and about having fun. As I say, it is inevitable that this reflects on GAL.

I don't know what the answer is, and would love to hear people's thoughts.

Dawn · Guru

FAJ wrote:

My wee tupenny ha'penny here.....

Firstly, I don't think that feldandjack intended to trivialise Biscuit's injury. I think s/he was trying, as most people were, to make Valerie feel better about the whole thing and to help her stop beating herself up about it.

But, being honest, if I was a new person coming to this forum for the first time, I'd feel a little uneasy seeing reports of a young dog getting bitten whilst out and about having fun.

Fiona, on the whole I agree with your response to my posting. However I have chosen to reply to two of your points. Your final question to the forum members is easily answered.

Firstly, the Vet said, that the 7 stitches required on the wound, were probably from a bite! That does not constitute an 'unfortunate bump' by anyones standards! Perhaps it was just the wrong use of wording, and which you rightly pointed out, people can easily be misunderstood when not talking face to face.
Secondly, who exactly are we trying to protect here by not posting about this experience....new members? I think new members are the very people who need educated about this type of incident, in order that is does not happen again. Experienced dog owners (especially Greyhound), know that when dogs get over excited running around, things like this will happen. New members, be it Greyhound owners or dog lovers in general, should be made aware of the dangers.

yvonne · Master

My view is this. Its a real shame what happened to Biscuit. He got injured in an accident, not a brawl or a fight or anything like that.
Now people can say that it reflects badly on GAL all they like but at the end of the day it was just an accident. Jenna has been bitten a few times and needed stitches just like Biscuits, but it was never at a GAL event or a beach walk. It happened when i was out with friends dogs or running about playing with other dogs. So... whats the answer?
People are up in arms about dogs running about off the lead and Biscuit getting injured - because they can read about it on the forum, but what if it hadn't been posted, just like i didnt posts Jennas injuries? Is it just because it was hounds that were out running about or would it have been the same if Valerie has been out with biscuit with a group of non- gal dogs ( which some were on Sunday)

FAJ · Enlightened One

Hi, Dawn and Yvonne - I'll lump your posts together for a moment, and reply to them both in one. It may not seem like it from my post, but I actually agree with you both!

I'm not saying at all that it shouldn't be posted about, not at all. I don't think that pretending things don't happen does any good and I wholeheartedly agree that new people should know about the possible dangers. Education is a good thing, and I'm grateful for the things that I've learned over the years from the forum. I realise that accidents happen and that dogs can get bitten whilst running together, whether GAL dogs or not. But greyhounds/sighthounds do play rough and their skin is so thin that rips/nips/tears can happen readily. Maybe it's just something we have to live with, or maybe a remedy is muzzles?

As I said in my previous post, I don't have the answers.

feldandjack · Guru

Woops, sorry folks. My first ever posting on a forum and I've gone and put my paw in it. If any of my dogs ever injure themselves while doing doggy things, I say they have had a bump or a knock. It's a terminology thing. I did not want Biscuit's mum to feel bad about the episode, in my experience lurchers have two basic skin types, boot leather or tissue paper. Often the softer the skin, the softer the dogs nature, and Biscuit is a fine lurcher with a great nature. He is a little shy, (like Cara), when in a big group, but I bet he is a different animal on home ground. I hope to see some photos of him on the road to recovery. His mum said he has had 'knocks' in the past, so I may not meet him on other big walks, but I would enjoy a quiet walk with him when he is recovered. I think the two 'shy pies' would get on fine together. All the best to Biscuit and his mum, I'll tighten my halti and try and avoid putting my foot in my mouth in future.

Jax · Master

As Fiona says it is a bit of a problem sometimes getting the right tone across in a posting. I don't think you should worry about it though, sometimes the best debates seem to arise from misunderstandings or problems in tone!!! As long as these things can get resolved in the long run and no one is put off posting messages or stating their opinion.

Steve · Master

I think I'm right in saying that most trainers who care for their dogs always muzzle their hounds when they let them run for exercise. And of course the dogs are muzzled when they race for the same reason - all to stop biting injuries.

It is in their nature to get more competitve and excited when they run, very much so in a pack (more so than other breeds) so I don't see there being a difference when they run as pets - they'll still have that hunt, chase and catch instinct. The instinct is always there and it just needs a wee switch to set it off - it's what they do and makes them greyhounds. Some have higher prey drives than others but all of them have the ability to get nippy or worse, especially in a pack.

Biscuit looks a chirpy chap and I hope he gets better soon - great name for a dog!

greyluvver · GAL Membership Co-Ordinator

Steve wrote:

I think I'm right in saying that most trainers who care for their dogs always muzzle their hounds when they let them run for exercise. And of course the dogs are muzzled when they race for the same reason - all to stop biting injuries.

It is in their nature to get more competitve and excited when they run, very much so in a pack (more so than other breeds) so I don't see there being a difference when they run as pets

Steve, your words ring so true!   Yes, trainers like to keep their dogs protected, especially when they're worth a lot of money!!

And yes its definitely in their nature to get more competitive & excited when running. I experienced this first hand, when I seen our Max running side by side with Tyler on the beach. He was butting into her and barking which seemed totally out of character as he's the dog who won't play with her at home and often retreats into the house to get away from her!   I then realised it was his competitive streak coming out.   He does also like to be up front when walking with a group of other dogs when he's on lead too!

We both decided we couldn't  have him running off-lead beside lots of other hounds in this manner (even if muzzled), especially as he is a large lad!

-- Edited by greyluvver at 01:36, 2007-03-16

niccimac · Old Hand

Steve wrote:

It is in their nature to get more competitve and excited when they run, very much so in a pack (more so than other breeds)

I agree that pack behaviour increases competitiveness and will result in nipping and grabbing or worse, but I dont agree at all that this is particularly so in the greyhound breed. I regularly see labradors, retreivers and german shepherds playing far rougher, biting and tumbling each other and other dogs, and my greys avoid them like the plague because they're so rough. These other dogs dont sustain injuries nearly as easily as greys though, simply because their coats are far coarser/thicker, and so is their skin so they dont rip easily. Also, the only humans (Two) I've known of getting injured by excited dogs were both injured by labradors running into them, one ended up of work for six months with torn ligaments. I have also sustained nasty bruising as the result of a labrador collision, but my three young greys running around excitedly have never collided with anyone (though twice in two years, they have tumbled each other by accident).
I agree though that people who know little about greys might get the wrong impression if they see bite injuries, so in a group, muzzles would be safer.
I feel sorry for fedlandjack for the stormy response to his/her first post, which I didnt perceive as any attempt to trivialise Biscuit's injury, but more to make his mum feel less bad. The first post can be quite nerve-wracking as is joining any group for the first time.

Dawn · Guru

niccimac wrote:

Steve wrote:

I feel sorry for fedlandjack for the stormy response to his/her first post, which I didnt perceive as any attempt to trivialise Biscuit's injury, but more to make his mum feel less bad. The first post can be quite nerve-wracking as is joining any group for the first time.

I assume you are referring to my response when you wrote the above. I have been a member of this forum since it first began, I know most of the members and their feelings on many of the issues, and I am aware that the first post can be nerve-wracking. However, this is a public forum where people are invited to post their opinions and allows others to express their opinion, be it their 1st, 2nd or 1,000th post. It was encouraging to read the response from feldandjack, because most new members do not usually voice their opinions after one or two postings, and I would not like to think that they will be put off in the future.
This is just one of the many emotive subjects that have been covered over the years, and many will concur that some good debates have ensued over a variety of subjects. We have not all agreed on certain topics, but have remained friends nonetheless.
In your opinion my response was 'stormy', yet others who contacted me felt otherwise. Opinions are like TV's we all have one, and we are all entitled to voice our opinions. Once you have been around the forum for a few years I am sure you will get to know everyone and their opinions.
Dawn

Leolurcher · Master

I understand Feldandjack's terminology. I use bump and nip for "Accidental" play damage .It doesn't describe the damage at all nor is it in denial of the heartache caused. It just means an injury caused with no malicious intent.

Hope that Biscuit is recovering well.
Eleanorxxxx