| We have two Italian Greyhounds
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| | The choices were simple, they could try a
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| (affectionately referred to as IG's).
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| | cast, but it would probably not set right
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| Dixie was two when we brought Yankee
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| | because of the very tiny, toothpick-thin
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| home. I read that IG's are happier with
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| | fibula. The vet recommended a titanium
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| another animal and thought that another
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| | plate and screws.
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| IG would be half as much trouble and
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| | The surgery alone would run $1,000. The
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| twice as much fun. After a few days of
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| | total bill would actually end up over
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| establishing a pack order the two became
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| | $1,800. I could have bought 3 Dixies and
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| great friends.
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| | a lifetime supply of dog food for that
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| For those not familiar with IG's, they
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| | much. My wife got mad because she didn't
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| are about ¼ scale of the famous
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| | like my sense of humor, but I wasn't
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| racetrack breed. In their finest form
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| | joking. I know the power of the purse,
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| they look half-starved, even though it
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| | and I have no intention of getting hit by
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| may look cruel to most pet owners, that's
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| | hers again so I relented.
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| when they are the most active and truly
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| | The next morning they put in the custom
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| happiest. A pound or two slows them down
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| | made plate and screws. It was really
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| tremendously and even becomes dangerous.
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| | tricky because the screws had to be big
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| They are fearless leapers. No matter how
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| | enough to hold things together, but small
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| many times I try to explain to them
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| | enough not to interrupt blood flow.
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| Newton's Laws of Gravity, it does no
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| | More painful (if you can believe that)
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| good. Heart-stopping stories abound over
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| | than the vet bill, was the care and
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| the internet chat rooms about their
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| | attention Dixie would require for the
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| Superman like tendencies. The extra
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| | next 3 to 4 months. For the next three
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| weight increases the risk of broken
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| | months she would have to be kept in a
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| bones.
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| | crate at all times.
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| They are also tremendous jumpers. In her
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| | For the first three weeks when we took
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| hey-day Dixie could jump straight up over
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| | her out to go potty we would have to hold
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| 6 feet high to grab a snack. At will she
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| | on to her. No walking was allowed. It
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| could jump flat-footed on to the dining
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| | is absolutely crucial for dogs to find
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| room table, landing as soft as a
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| | the perfect spot to relieve themselves,
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| butterfly with sore feet.
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| | not any spot will do. Humans cannot
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| But more than anything, those long thin
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| | fully appreciate this until they miss an
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| legs were meant for speed.
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| | entire showing of Monday Night Football.
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| Unfortunately, they can run faster than
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| | A few weeks after the surgery we got a
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| they can think. IG's become single
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| | bit of good news, the leg was healing
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| focused when running. Twice I have
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| | fine. She would still have to be crated,
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| nearly had a heart attack as they ran
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| | but we could put her on a real tight lead
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| full speed into each other from opposite
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| | and let her stand on her three good legs
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| directions, tumbling like out of control
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| | to go potty. In about two to three week
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| race cars. Chasing after one another,
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| | intervals after that she was allowed a
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| they'd scrape the trees so close that
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| | little more freedom.
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| bark literally flew off and misjudging
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| | Slowly things got back to normal. The
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| turns, wiping-out in to brick walls and
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| | first month after she got full clearance
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| other immoveable objects was a common
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| | to run was rather tiring. Each jump,
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| occurrence.
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| | every full trot run brought held breaths
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| Well, one day the inevitable finally
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| | in anticipation of another vet trip.
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| happened, Dixie went into a door facing
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| | It has taken two full years to get to
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| and snapped her left leg. The break was
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| | where she no longer yelps or pulls up
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| clean through. Her little paw dangling
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| | after a full run or sharp turn. She has
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| 90 degrees from just below her knee told
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| | lost a noticeable amount of her initial
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| me everything I didn't want to know.
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| | burst. She can longer track down Yankee
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| I did the best I could to immobilize it
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| | from behind, but they still love to chase
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| as my wife called the vet. As soon as we
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| | each other in the backyard and that gives
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| got there they took her back for x-rays.
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| | us great pleasure. If you've never seen
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| She was obviously in a lot of pain but
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| | these gracious runners play at full speed
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| had quit yelping after I first picked her
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| | then you cannot fully appreciate why we
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| up. In fact, she was the calmest of any
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| | went to all the trouble and expense.
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| of us.
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| | My wife loves to show Dixie's scar to
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| My wife was crying because of the dog. I
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| | anyone who comes by. She talks about the
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| was crying because of the bill. If I
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| | whole adventure like it was The Good Old
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| would've known how much it was going to
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| | Days. Out of fear that my wife will read
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| cost in the lobby I would have cried a
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| | this article I will state that if I had
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| lot harder. This was going to be a big
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| | to do it again I would. But I won't like
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| payday for the vet.
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| | it.
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