Sullivan, our indefatigable partner even before Nina and I were married, developed a limp in late winter. Back in Lincoln, at his old vet's after three years away, in Washington and Lithuania, they recommended pain medication. Yesterday, the meds having proved ineffective after 10 days or so, we took him in again. Initial x-rays revealed a pathological fracture, that is, a small break in a left front leg bone caused by a cancerous tumor. When they attempted to reposition him for a second set of x-rays, the fracture separated, making the leg even more painful, and essentially useless. Our choice was to amputate or euthanize. We chose the latter.
Nina's metaphor for Sullivan's (and all dogs') greatness: an arrow, flying, untroubled by any concern for either bow or target.
