u/TaraJaneDisco

Asking rent: 2800/month + split utilities (electricity/internet).

Deposit: $2500

Just signed a lease on a 2bed with a large private terrace in a full amenity building (gym, roof decks, penthouse lounge, co-working spaces, etc). Common areas will be furnished already. Renting out the primary bedroom with ensuite bath with walk-in shower.

I'll be moving in on the 29th. So can't give any in person tours until then, but video of the unit attached!

About me: 45F, creative professional. I own a cabin upstate and spend most of my time up there but come down during the work week to be in the office in the city a couple days a week. I bring my 2 dogs down with me when I come. I usually arrive to the apartment Monday night and head back upstate Thursday after work. So whoever takes the place will be able to enjoy it to themselves most weekends. (I do stay in the city on the occasional weekend to see friends).

I elected to have my almost 5 year old, 100lb American undergo a TPLO surgery late June for a rear leg CCL injury a few months back (that in retrospect he probably didn't need, which is what makes all of this so, so difficult). He developed two serious complications. One requiring a second surgery to remove a grapefruit sized blood clot. They did a culture at the time. The implant at the time of that surgery was stable. Fast forward or 9 days and now there's a resistant bacteria, the wound has reopened and the plate is exposed, almost guaranteeing it's failure. So while I'm waiting to go to the doc tomorrow morning to get a real what's what, from everything I understand the discussion will likely be euthanasia or amputation.

Given his incredible large breed size...they had already predicted he would develop arthritis and his second knee would eventually go from him shifting all the weight to that knee, even IF the implant was a success. Plus, I'm not sure how I could manage the care of a disabled pup with my other very health, active pup. I don't know how I would be able to split the care. Now that the implant is likely failed, I'm GENUINELY torn between just letting him go peacefully without subjecting him to any additional trauma. I'm worried he'd develop another complication from the amputation even, especially knowing I'm dealing with a rare, super resistant bacteria and he already had issues with severe clotting. I'm honestly not sure I could manage the care of a very heavy dog who needs a great deal of assistance, especially if his other leg might just go, and then I'd have to definitely euthanize. I'm just trying to spare his pain/trauma and give him the best quality of life for whatever he has left. I'm sure my conversation with the surgeon tomorrow will yield clearer answers - but I wanted to ask the community who have LARGE BREED dogs specifically their experience with moving forward with amputation.

Thank you in advance.

(pics of my very best boy attached)

Well...this has been a lot. I really could use everyone's prayers. Apologies for lenght.

On June 24th Misha underwent a TPLO. The vet DID NOT prepare me AT ALL for how intense the recovery would be. And due to circumstances beyond my control at that point, there were several things that made it difficult (not knowing until the day of surgery he would require strict crate rest, no stairs, a sling, no wood floors, or any of the potential complications - literally. none of this was discussed with me until the day of the surgery so I did not have time to prepare my living space or get what i needed. example: rugs for my wood floors, a crate large enough to accommodate him AND a giant cone would take a least a week and a half to be delivered and no stores within a 100 mile radius carried on large enough.)

6 days post surgery I noticed severe swelling. I took him to the ER vet (where I sat on the floor with him for 8 hours before he could be seen) they did xrays and a bacteria culture and he stayed overnight being monitored. They sent him home the next day and told me to stop the current antibotics and gave me new antibiotics to start. Within minutes of being home his leg started bleeding profusely. I rushed him back to the ER (I live really rurally so that was about an hour away) where he stayed overnight again. They did another set of xrays (implant still looking good at this point) but next morning they said he needed to go back in and see what the issue was. They found a bleeder, were able to close it, but he had developed a blood clot the size of grapefruit (no really, I have pictures, it was MASSIVE.).

So now two surgeries down in less than a week, they hospitalized him for an additional 7 days as they inserted a drain and continued to monitor the wound. During that time I received regular updates, apparently they kept having issues with the drain losing suction, etc. It was a lot of ups and downs but on the 7th day they removed the drain and sent me home. They said that there was "some gaping" in the wound but that they didn't want to close it because there was still a lot draining and they wanted it to continue draining. They gave me ANOTHER antibiotic.

That was Wednesday. Today I notice that the would was gaping now quite a bit, and the flesh around it looked a bit angry. I called the ER back to ask about the new gaping and was informed they also JUST received the culture results back and LUCKY us, it was an extremely resistant bacteria, and apparently only one possible antibiotic course. They instructed me to go BACK to the ER (where I've just spent the last 7 hours). They removed some of his staples, flushed out the wound a bit and bandaged it. They said they could SEE the plate (which apparently was very alarming to them) and started suggesting another potential surgery and or amputation.

The hope now I guess is that these new antibiotics are able to knock out the infection. I have to return to the ER (remember this is an hour away) on Monday morning, where the surgoen who did the second surgery will assess and make a recommendation.

I'm an absolute wreck. Two surgeries, 8 days of hospitalization, hundreds of miles driven, constant stress and over 25k in vet bills so far...and still worried he might lose his leg.

I keep kicking myself because this was an ELECTIVE surgery. I thought I was doing the right thing but getting it. I was not prepared in any way for the complications or the intense and long recovery process.

I would be grateful for your prayers and healing vibes. He is the absolute center of my world. I asked the mods if it was okay to post a support link (as the bills are more than I can manage and it looks as if I might need even more surgery) but they said they would prefer I didn't post a link. But if anyone would like to contribute....I can share it privately. But mostly, I'd just love an extra prayer for Misha.

First time growing garlic. Can’t wait to harvest these.

So this dummy went off the deck weird, and when I woke up the next day his back leg was just like…not working. He was just holding it up, letting it dangle, not putting any weight on it. Went to emergency vet and diagnosed with cruciate injury. Pain and anti inflammatories. Trying to keep him off it (not easy to do) and ordered a double brace…but vet said it might heal up and he might not need surgery, but then also might. So I’m in wait and see mode. I already see him trying to walk on it like normal and worried he’ll make the injury worse. :(

Any experiences thoughts or tips to help us get through this? He’s really young still (4 years) and he’s my absolute world.

Hi! So the store near me stopped carrying Hot Chicgo style Giardinera. I can't stand the stuff with cauliflower and am ADDICTED to this stuff. It's expensive to buy, even in bulk, and get it shipped. So, I looked up some recipes to duplicate at home. All the versions of the recipe I've found online for authentic style chicago Giardinera is basically the same recipe. I'm no expert, but it doesn't seem like a safe one to me. Here's the recipe: https://drloihjournal.blogspot.com/2022/04/chicago-style-spicy-giardiniera-recipe.html

It's got quite a bit of oil, garlic and carrots and recommends water bath canning, not pressure canning. All red flags to me. Despite the level of vinegar and brine..etc.

So, question...can I proceed with the recipe as stated only just keep it in the refrigerator?

Is it possibly "safe" and I'm just being reactionary? Or, should I do as ChatGPT suggests and can the pickled veggies in the vinegar brine without the oil and garlic, and then just add the oil and garlic later when I want to use it?

Thoughts, all?