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