My yellow lab Boomer and I found each other at the dog pound in March of 2002.  He had been turned in by someone who was moving.  That person didn’t even leave his dog’s name.  The only link to his early life was the choke chain collar that he wore.  But we had some kind of immediate bond, like we were meant to be together, so much so that I didn’t even notice until I had him home that there was something wrong with him.  When I took him to the vet, she confirmed that Boomie had significant bi-lateral hip dysplasia.  “You could take him back to the pound,” she suggested.  No, I couldn’t.  He was already part of the family.  In just a few days we already felt as if he had always been with us.

Over the years, we managed his condition with Adequan, Metacam, and other supplements.  Boomie’s mobility would decline ever so slowly over time, but he never lost his joy for life.  He always had a smile, a hearty appetite, and he carried his tail high.  He was happy just being with his family.

In 2008, he suddenly didn’t want to bear weight on his right rear leg.   It turned out to be osteosarcoma.  Boomer’s leg was amputated on May 15, 2008.   His post-op and recovery was longer and more difficult than I had been led to believe.  I don’t think the vet prepared me adequately for how wacked-out the fentanyl patch would leave him.   I was also assured that he would be “back to his old self” by the time the staples came out, after 2 weeks.  In reality I think it was closer to 6 weeks, probably due to his age and pre-existing conditions.  But after that, he settled firmly into what I still call his “days of grace.” 

We were told that, without chemo, Boomie’s life expectancy would be about 6 months, and if he had the chemo, there was a 50% chance that his life would extend another 6 months beyond that.  We weighed the odds of the hassle and expense (about 10,000 dollars!) of transporting him across the county for the multiple chemo appointments that would be required, with the prospect of just letting nature take its course, factoring in our conviction that Boomer doesn’t have any concept of his own mortality, and if he lives for a month or a year, all he cares about is how he feels today.  We decided not to give Boomer the chemo, and just enjoy however many happy todays he has left. 

The 6 month doomsday mark came and went, and follow up X rays showed his lungs were still clear.  Then he made it through a whole year, and Boomer’s biggest problem was that his poor hind leg, already weakened by arthritis and hip dysplasia, was starting to give out.  Everyone had expected he would not live long enough for this to even be a problem.   At 18 months post amp, another X ray revealed a few shadowy spots on his lungs.  Another 6 month doomsday prediction was given, only to be blown away by his continued survival!  I will say that one thing we are doing is feeding him medicinal mushroom supplements.  I read about how they suppress the cancer growth and boost the immune system.  I can’t even say for sure that the mushrooms have been directly responsible for Boomie’s extended grace period, but I can’t rule them out either, so he will continue to take them daily.

Recently, Boomie celebrated 2 years on 3 legs.  We are fitting him with a mobility harness, mostly just to help support him when he squats, although I am expecting he will need it more as time goes by.  For now though, even as the strength of his back leg continues to decline, he still moves faster than I do most of the time!   He is still happy, and his aches and pains are being kept under control.   The vet has started up the doomsday clock yet again, after finding suspicious little lumps on his anal gland.  Lucky for us, Boomie doesn’t know how to tell time.

I know many people have blogs for their dogs here at Tripawds.  I have chosen not to at this time, because I do enough blogging elsewhere, including a Dogster page for Boomer, where I have been keeping a diary for him.  Please feel free to read it if you like.  

For the past couple of years, I have treasured my Boomie as "the best 3 legged dog I ever had" (no matter that he is the only!)  Now through this forum, I see that he is one of many treasured "bests".    I am proud and humbled to be among you.

Cindy