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