Yes, we love our dogs...

and we have the bills to prove it! If I went back through all of our receipts for the three furry creatures, we call "kids", people would surely tell us we are crazy. But, as a girlfriend just told me today, "they are worth it!" Of course, she said Jack was worth the recent hemmorage of money because he is so "handsome". She is right, he is handsome. But he needs to get a job or at least a social security number! God, help a girl out! What brings all of this up today is potential for a "RIF" at work (Reduction In Force) a lay off. How arrogant would you have to be to think there was no way you would be on the list. So, given that, I start thinking of all of the things we would have to cut back on. Jack's physical therapy and his meds. would be amongst the first to go. I stopped at the vet school on my way home to pick up Jack's monthly supply of drugs at over $100 and thought, "what the hell will we do if I get layed off?" Not just from the dog's perspective but from every way you look. However, Jack would be the biggest loser if anything happened. We think we are making progress on his leg/back and to have to stop now would be devastating. A bit of Jack history, he is a rescue kid. Found stuck in a drain pipe under a driveway. We got him when he was between 4-6 months old from Second Chance Pet Adoptions (the best rescue group around, by the way, not that you're asking but I always tell, when given the chance). He was diagnosed a little later with bilateral hip displaysia and had surgery on both hips before he was a year old. All is fine and well until he was about 6 1/2 years old and just comes up lame for no conceivable reason. Very intermittently but got progressively worse. Orthopedic surgeon, here we come! X-rays after x-rays after x-rays and medication and months go by with no answers or even a clue. In October the Orthopedic surgeon firmly believes it's the femoral head on his left leg so we do an FHO on that leg. Things are great for 6 weeks then nothing...back to lameness for no reason. On our way to the vet school. Physical therapy, lots of drugs and nothing. In February it's determined another surgery is needed. Dr. Lascelles, the best pain management guy around and also an amazing Orthopedic surgeon. Dr. Lascelles did this surgery and cleaned up some scar tissue in the leg and put in anti rotational sutures to move the femur a 1/2 cm forward to give the sciatic nerve more room. This really has helped but we still have good days and bad. PT is helping as we can see muscle structure coming back in that leg, however, it's a REALLY slow and VERY expensive gig. We just press on and pray to the powers that be to help this kid get better. Our journey is mid way through, I hope, for all of our sakes. Leash walks in the back yard, no overdoing it and medication. Drugs, drugs and more drugs. He is on more medications than an 80 year old man! Meanwhile, we move forward with deterimination and love for our kid! Everything will work out as it should.