vtamb81

I don't post much here but my pup went through a similar ordeal...although maybe not as intensive as a full hip replacement. She was about 3 and she tore the ACL's in both her legs. She is a lab/rottie mix and the we didn't know what was wrong for almost a year. She would go very lame after a serious fetch session, and the vet misdiagnosed it for almost a year!!! When we finally changed vets, they accurately diagnosed is and the vet was amazed that she was even able to walk. Dogs are resilient animals. Well a month later, after spending $5000 for a TPLO procedure on both legs, she was in tons of pain and it was very hard to watch. It really ripped my damn heart out....she was so helpless. TPLO is very intensive but it is a permanent fix. 6 months later she had very little soreness, and only limp occasionally. Its now 2 years later and she hasn't limp in almost a year and hasn't been on ant-inflammatories in a very long time. Its great to see her able to run again and enjoy life. Sorry for the long post but i completely identify with your situation. Like Spence said, just make sure that whatever procedure they choose has a good chance of her leading a "pain-free" life. I would've spent double what it cost me so that she could be happy for the last 2/3's of her life. Good luck!

...and i owe beer for my FIRST cutaway. It was a big (and expensive) jump !

as the jumper on the receiving end of that pack job..... All I gotta say is thanks Justin!!!!!! The reserve opened fast and on heading. Exactly what you want when you cutaway at 1300 ft. Your bottle of capt Morgan has already been bought my friend.

Any update on when the stickers will be available?

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www.wesupportvt.com In the last week, i've read many viewpoints regarding the tragedy at Virginia Tech on dz.com as well as other forums and blogs. This website has been set up as a petition for those of us that support the decision making of President Steger and Police Chief Wendell Flinchum, who in many peoples opinions have borne the brunt of unwarranted criticism by members of the media. The most severe of which are calling for resignations from each. This petition will ultimately be passed on to the VT Board of Visitors (VT governing body) as well as the Governor's Office. If you share this sentiment, please take a moment to fill out the short form and show your support for our school that is hurting so profoundly. Thank you. WE will prevail.....WE are Virginia Tech!

I'd be interested in buying atleast 10.

I agree that its almost impossible to tell that the surgery occurred by rubbing my dogs legs, its amazing!! (aside from the shaved leg and ass ) Like tdog said, many times you can expect to have to do the other leg sometime down the road after the first surgery. I would recommend shopping around. Now I'm by no means saying to take the cheapest price, as that could have obvious consequences, but the prices can vary considerably. The first leg we had down was at the Veterinary Research and Teaching Hospital at Virginia Tech and was around $1800. Around September we moved to the DC suburbs and had the other leg done up here. It cost almost $3000 for the same exact procedure. Both places were absolutely wonderful and i have no regrets, but i was amazed at the difference in price just due to location.

I don't post much, but felt the need to post here because I've gone through the same thing with my dog Bailey. She's a 100lb lab/rottie mix. This May she partially tore her right ACL while playing in a field. We did the TPLO surgery a few weeks later. Its a very invasive surgery (as you described in the OP) but it is incredibly effective. We were lucky enough to live in the same town as one of the top 5 vet schools in the country and she was on a 2 month rehab plan comprised of progressively increasing walks, range of motion, etc. By the end of 2 months you couldn't even tell there was anything different between her 2 legs. The benefit of TPLO (when compared with other common ACL repairs) is that as long as the dog doesn't bend any of the screws or does something crazy during rehab, it will never be a problem again. Then in October our worst fears were released and Bailey tore her left ACL after jumping out of our xterra. For dogs that undergo ACL surgery, its very common for the second ACL to go. This time her ACL completely tore as did her meniscus. We did the TPLO surgery again and she is finally starting to walk with no apparent limp or discomfort (rehab typically takes longer the second time around). so 6 months from the original incident and $4000 poorer, Bailey is finally back to her old self with little chance of ever having these issues again. Bailey is only 5 years old, and i would do it all over again if it meant she could run and play without pain for the rest of her life. I can't recommend the TPLO surgery enough!! Its hard to see your dog in a good deal of pain after the surgery but the result is SO worth it. If you have any questions feel free to PM me, i'd be more than willing help.

Awesome. Thanks Justin!

I'm going to be in Orlando for a conference next week and am definitely going to take the opportunity to jump in the warm weather . Anybody going to be jumping on Monday?? I've only been to zhills during the New Years boogie....so i'm not sure how busy it is on the weekdays.

My worst pet peeve is what i like to call "The Baiter" when somebody obviously wants to tell you something but they do something like this: "wow that was crazy" (them) awkward silence while they stare at me and wait for a repsonse... "wow {insert name here}, what was crazy??" (me) If you want to tell me then just fricken tell me, otherwise shut the hell up!

It always amazes me how many close-minded people are still out there. They're definitely not worth wasting energy on.....although i agree that a well-timed witty comeback is sometimes just what the doctor ordered!

I agree that many people sometimes just don't understand a particular tattoo, and i'm sure most people (including myself) with tattoos appreciate it when people ask questions to try and understand it rather than immediately passing judgement on someone or their tattoo. I also personally love the artistic style tattoos, though they are sometimes difficult to do on human skin. you are wise beyond your years Walt (and looking at that avatar i'm guessing thats a pretty long time)

Maybe i phrased my last post wrong. The choices that my wife and i made had nothing to do with the current trends, though i agree that tribal and kanji are currently very popular. Just because it is a current "trend", however, doesn't mean that we got it for the wrong reasons, like just to be cool and to fit in. Nor do i recommend getting a tattoo just to fit in, or be cool, etc.......especially since more and more i feel that people without tattoos are becoming the minority and there may be pressures to get one. To me this design, although it employs a tribal design along with closing pins, is extremely beautiful, meaningful, and unique (seeing as i've never seen it on anywhere else). My wife chose a blue kanji character for Devotion as her "something blue" for our wedding. She checked in multiple locations to be sure the character she chose actually means Devotion, and not something like Pedophile. She also wanted something that was private (therefore on her lower hip and in a foreign text), so that it would be fairly private. Her second tattoo is an MC Escher inspired piece (her favorite artist) on her lower back that came out stunning. Though these tattoos types might be considered trendy styles or locations, "trendiness" often has little or nothing to do peoples choices. I think its good that many people choose not to get them, rather than regret it later on in life. Making that decision for yourself is extremely important. I think it is shortsighted, however, to look at others around you who may regret it and think just because they now hate it you would too (not saying this is your thought process, just a what"if"). Tattoos are an extremely personal decision. I feel that they should remain very important to an individual, even if they never show it to anyone. Getting a tattoo because its trendy or for the sole fact of showing it off to your friends will likely lead to regret (in my opinion). I agree that there are several styles right now which could be considered "trendy", but making gross generalizations with a term that has a negative connotation in this regard, especially when many people put months or years of thought into a piece, can be very offensive..... Maybe i'm being too sensitive Just my $0.02