Skin-So-Soft by Avon is the best solution to the hordes of mosquitoes that plague our greyhounds during the Spring Season.  Either spay on or rub on "S-S-S" to the underbelly and inner thighs of your hound to keep the mosquitoes away.  It is also good for the human beings who accompany the Greys on walks and at PlayGroup.

25 mg of Dramamine.  Don't feed before traveling, wait till you get there.  Gingersnaps (the actual human cookie) may help alleviate motion sickness.  Something in the ginger itself.

The pancreas is a gland in the abdominal cavity that produces enzymes that aid in digestion, and hormones such as insulin that regulate the metabolism of sugar. When the pancreas becomes diseased or injured the resulting condition is known as pancreatitis.

A bout of pancreatitis can also be brought on by the consumption of spoiled or contaminated food or water. It is a symptom of various infectious diseases and trauma or injury to the abdominal area, such as being hit by a car, can contribute to the development of the condition.

If an animal is suffering from severe vomiting or diarrhea, consideration should be given to testing the animal for pancreatitis. Often a definitive diagnosis will require blood work that will determine enzyme levels and white blood cell count.

Treatment of pancreatitis involves the withholding of food and water so that the pancreas is able to rest. Ingestion of even the smallest amount of food or liquid will reactivate the pancreas, causing it once again to begin producing enzymes and hormones.

Animals who are taking in nothing by mouth must receive intravenous fluids and be closely monitored by a veterinarian. Solid food, which is lower in fat and easy to digest, must be reintroduced gradually.

Foods that are Poisonous to Dogs
Based upon material developed by Sandra Fikes-Kalahari Ridgebacks. <http://www.geocities.com/~kalahari>  (Most of the information above has been gleaned from data and information developed at, and published by, the New York State Department of Health Hematology Laboratory.)

Chocolate, tea, coffee, cola:

• It is not chocolate itself that is poisonous to dogs, it is the theobromine, a naturally occurring compound found in chocolate. Theobromine causes different reactions to different dogs: dogs with health problems, especially epilepsy, are more affected by theobromine than healthy dogs. Theobromine can trigger epileptic seizures in dogs prone to or at risk of epilepsy. The size of the dog will also be a major factor: the smaller the dog, the more affected it is by the same amount than a larger dog. Therefore, toxicity is described on a mg/Kg basis.
• Theobromine can cause cardiac irregularity, especially if the dog becomes excited. Cardiac arrhythmia can precipitate a myocardial infarction which can kill the dog.
• Theobromine also irritates the GI tract and in some dogs can cause internal bleeding which in some cases kills them a day or so later.
• Theobromine is also present in differing amounts in different kinds of chocolate. milk chocolate has 44-66 mg/oz, dark chocolate 450 mg/oz and baking/bitter chocolate or cocoa powder varies as much as 150-600 mg/oz. How much chocolate a dog can survive depends on its weight (and other unknown circumstances). Under 200 mg theobromine per kg body weight no deaths have been observed.
• Theobromine will stay in the bloodstream between 14 and 20 hours. It goes back into the bloodstream through the stomach lining and takes a long time for the liver to filter out.
• If your dog has eaten a considerable amount of chocolate, or displays any of the above symptoms, take it to the vet without delay.

Other:

• Walnuts are poisonous to dogs and should be avoided. Many nuts are not good for dogs in general, their high phosphorous content is said to possibly lead to bladder stones.
• Onions, especially raw onions, have been shown to trigger hemolytic anemia in dogs. (Stephen J Ettinger, D.V.M and Edward C. Fieldman, D.V.M. 's book: Textbook of Veterinary Internal Medicine vol. 2 pg 1884.)
• Potato poisonings among people and dogs have occurred. Solanum alkaloids can be found in in green sprouts and green potato skins, which occurs when the tubers are exposed to sunlight during growth or after harvest. The relatively rare occurrence of actual poisoning is due to several factors: solanine is poorly absorbed; it is mostly hydrolyzed into less toxic solanidinel; and the metabolites are quickly eliminated. Note that cooked, mashed potatoes are fine for dogs, actually quite nutritious and digestible.
• Turkey skin is currently thought to cause acute pancreatis in dogs.

Poisonous Household Items
Based upon material developed by Sandra Fikes-Kalahari Ridgebacks. http://www.geocities.com/~kalahari  (Most of the information above has been gleaned from data and information developed at, and published by, the New York State Department of Health Hematology Laboratory.)

Poisonous Plants
Based upon material developed by Sandra Fikes-Kalahari Ridgebacks. http://www.geocities.com/~kalahari  (Most of the information above has been gleaned from data and information developed at, and published by, the New York State Department of Health Hematology Laboratory.)

In assessing the risk to your dog from these plants, you need to consider both the age of your dog and it's propensity to chew on plants. Many of the below toxic plants rarely cause problems because most dogs don't chew them - -- the exceptions being, of course, young puppies who are inclined to explore the world with their mouths, teething dogs who may chew on everything, and older dogs that are simply fond of chewing.

Poisonous Indoor Plants
Dumb cane is probably the one plant that should always be kept out of reach, since it takes only one nibble to have a potentially fatal situation. (from Carlson & Giffin.)

Rash after contact with the skin or mouth:

Irritating (toxic oxalates), especially the mouth gets swollen; tongue pain; sore lips; some swell so quickly a tracheotomy is needed before asphyxiation:

Toxic plants may contain wide variety of poisons. Most cause vomiting, abdominal pain, cramps. Some cause tremors, heart and respiratory and/or kidney problems, which are difficult for owner to interpret:

Poisonous outdoor plants 
(from Carlson & Giffin.)
Produce vomiting and in some cases, diarrhea:

May produce vomiting, abdominal pain, and in some cases diarrhea:

* Varied toxic effect

Poisoning - Use of Ipecac
If you live a long way from your veterinarian, oral administration of syrup of ipecac at the rate of 0.5-1.0 milliliter per pound to induce vomiting would probably be your best bet. If no vomiting occurs, repeat in fifteen minutes. This is NOT a substitute for a trip to the vet! By inducing vomiting, you are simply reducing, not eliminating, the level of toxin available to be absorbed. The longer the poison stays in the dog, the poorer his chances of survival. If the dog has already started exhibiting signs of respiratory distress, i.e. hyperventilating, do not induce vomiting, as he might aspirate the vomitus.
National Animal Poison Control Center at 1-800-548-2423

In an emergency try using a large zipper jacket and a pair of broom handles. Zip the jacket all the way and turn it zipper side down. Thread the broom handles through the inside and up the sleeves.

The normal temperature for a greyhound is between 101 to 102 degrees. If your hound's temperature reaches above 103 degrees, call your veterinarian at once. Persistent high temperature can be as dangerous for a dog as it is a child. Since dogs sweat through their tongue and the bottom of their feet, some suggest submerging the dog's feet in alcohol to bring down the fever. This is equivalent to using an alcohol rub to bring down a child's fever. Some suggest rubbing ice cubes on the feet and ears to bring down the temperature, but always consult with your veterinarian.

A greyhound's temperature is usually taken rectally. Try a digital read-out rectal thermometer, available at any drug store. Put a little Vaseline or KY Jelly on the tip, insert gently into the rectum (not too far), and hold for a minute or so. The digital model has a beeper that goes off when "done." The thermometer is easy to clean with soap & water or wipe with alcohol.

Hypothyroidism is the condition resulting from an inadequate (low) production of usable hormones by the thyroid gland.  Mild hypothyroidism is a common cause of skin and hair abnormalities.

The following is a list of symptoms that may be present.  Some dogs will show only one symptom, some will show numerous symptoms, and others will show no symptoms at all.

• Hair condition changes- hair can get dry and brittle, falls out to the touch.
• Hair loss - usually starting at the back of the ears, can also appear under the throat and down the thighs.
• Mottled coat - hair thin over ribs, normal down backbone and shoulders, thin under the neck and belly.
• Dry flaky cool skin - no matter how often you bathe or comb your dog it has scaly skin with large flakes all the time. The belly skin feels slippery and cool to the touch.
• Skin infection - secondary staphylococcus infection, skin infection characterized by small pustules most often on head and torso. Sometimes called "puppy acne."
• Gains weight - in comparison with littermates puppy is eating much less than the others - yet maintains good weight. Dog is eating much less than would be considered "normal" for his age and either maintains weight or becomes overweight.
• Lethargy - you will either notice that your dog is sleeping more and more or that a dog is sleeping much more than would be expected for a dog his age.
• Fatigues easily - will run and play hard for a short period of time and then is either asleep or resting when his littermates or other dogs are still playing.
• Inconsistent Bowel Movements - dog can exhibit prolonged diarrhoea, or prolonged constipation, or irradically bouncing between constipated or diarrhetic; never achieving "normal."
• Climatic sensitivity - dog exhibits discomfort from temperature extremes. Suffering on hot days, snuggling the heater on cold days.
• Excessive skin pigmentation - spots on the groin or belly, spots can be light or dark.

http://www.vetcentric.comhttp://216.247.27.191/health/thyroid_disease.html
http://www.cvm.uiuc.edu/petcolumns/showarticle.cfm?id=195
http://www.petshealthrx.com

(summarized from Carlson & Giffin)

Repeated vomiting:
Its last meal is first vomited, then a clear, frothy liquid. This suggests a stomach irritant. Grass, spoiled food, other indigestibles, and certain infectious illnesses (such as gastroenteritis) all cause irritation of the stomach lining.

Sporadic vomiting:
The dog vomits off and on, but not continuously. No relationship to meals, poor appetite. Haggard appearance and listlessness may indicate an internal organ disorder, a chronic illness, a heavy worm infestation, or diabetes. A thorough check-up is called for.

Vomiting blood:
Fresh blood indicates a break in the mucus lining somewhere between the mouth and the upper small bowel. Common causes are foreign bodies, tumours and ulcers. Material which looks like coffee grounds is old, partly digested blood -- the problem is somewhere in the stomach or duodenum. Vomiting blood is always serious and requires a trip to the vet.

Fecal vomiting:
If the vomit is foul and smells like faeces, there is an obstruction somewhere in the intestinal tract. Blunt or penetrating abdominal trauma is another cause. The dog will become rapidly dehydrated with this type of vomiting and requires vet attention.

Motion sickness:
Vomits in the car. Most dogs will outgrow this problem. Check with your vet if it does not

Projectile vomiting:
The vomit is forcefully expelled, sometimes for a distance of several feet. It is indicative of complete blockage in the upper gastrointestinal tract. Foreign bodies, hairballs, duodenal ulcers, tumours and strictures are possible causes. Intracranial pressure can also cause projectile vomiting, causes can be brain tumour, encephalitis, and blood clots. Take the dog to the vet.

Vomiting foreign objects:
Includes bone splinters, rubber balls, (pieces of) toys, sticks and stones and sometimes worms. You may want to have the vet check your pet for any other foreign objects, although not all of these will show up readily on x-ray scans.

Emotional or Stress vomiting:
Sometimes excited or upset dogs vomit. Remove the dog from the source of distress. If it is something it will encounter often, you will have to train the dog to remain calm around the source.

Although uncommon, these can occur in greyhounds. A lump or growth on a pad could be two things: A scar from an injury or a papilloma, a fancy word for warts. Warts are caused by a virus that usually enters the skin from a minor cut or abrasion. Most warts grow on the surface of the skin. However when they grow on the pads, the normal pressure of walking pushes the growth deeper into the pad forming a white, flat circular painful area. Sometimes they are very hard to see.
Symptoms:

• Limping with no apparent reason.
• Difficulty walking or running on hard surfaces but has no problems on soft surfaces.
• Thickening area of a white, circular, painful area on the pad.
• Area pads are sensitive to finger pressure.