Today, I’m scheduled for surgery to remove the mass on my tongue.
Many Golden Thanks for all of your Kind Thoughts …
Lots of Golden L♥VE n Woofs
SUGAR
Updated Post: Should A Diagnosis Be Based on a Dog’s Age and Breed?
Prognosis, A Dog Parent Does Not Want To Hear
From Sugar’s mom, Rosalyn
I was planning to do a Sugar’s year-end post. However, a health issue occurred on Christmas night. If you follow our blog via FB, we shared Sugar’s unexpected visit to the Blue Pearl ER Vet.
Sugar was having a great time celebrating Christmas and unaware her mouth was bleeding. We were very concerned on the cause for the bleeding. At Blue Pearl Vet, Sugar was taken into the exam room and came out with a wagging tail. The prognosis from the ER Vet was, “Sugar has a mass on the right side of her tongue. At her age and breed, it is a cancerous tumor (most likely, cancerous).“
10 weeks ago, Sugar had her annual exam/tests and everything was good.
It was recommended for Sugar to gain more weight, which she has.
Sugar also did not exhibit any discomfort.
Sugar’s regular Vet/Surgeon confirmed the prognosis. We were immediately educated and were given options for treatments. We are faced to make a very hard decision.
Sugar’s Vet provided us very comforting words.
We decide to hold off on making a decision until after the new year.
We are sad but staying strong and positive. We are keeping Sugar’s days as normal as possible. Sugar is on a soft food diet (which she enjoys very much) to avoid any trauma to the mass. Sugar has maintained her Playful Happy Golden Self.
Thank you for the Good Thoughts and Prayers.
Golden LOVE♥
Sammy, My Golden Friend Fighting Canine Cancer
November is Canine Cancer Awareness Month.
Our friends from PetCareRx has been spreading the word this Pet Cancer Awareness Month about how many pets are diagnosed with cancer and how concerned pet parents can help.
Did you know that approximately 60% of Golden Retrievers will die from cancer? That’s almost double the rate of cancer in all dogs. We think that is just too many. From UC Davis Veterinary Medicine, here’s Three Facts About Cancer in Golden Retrievers:
57% of males will die from cancer
66% of females will die from cancer
The most common cancers are hemangiosarcoma and lymphoma
At 2 years old, My Golden Friend Sammy was rescued from GR rescue of Mid Florida. Last June at 8yrs old, Sammy suddenly collapsed from a walk and was diagnosed with Hemangiosarcoma. Sammy did not exhibit any cancer symptoms prior to his collapse as there usually is not with this type of cancer. A large mass and spleen was removed from Sammy. Hemangiosarcorma is a type of cancer that’s terminal. Sammy’s family have elected not to do Chemotherapy, as it would not benefit him that much.
Sammy’s family decided a holistic approach with a special diet full of high protein, green vegetables, healthy fruits low in sugar & herbal supplements. In addition, Sammy gets massages for his back legs to give him some comfort as well.
Most importantly, Sammy’s family focus is giving him a positive spirit everyday so he can keep fighting & remain strong. He gets regular exercise which is important for his overall well-being physically & mentally. They are also involved in a lot of local community groups/foundation creating awareness for Canine Cancer.
Morris Animal Foundation is a nonprofit organization that helps animals enjoy longer and healthier lives. They currently invited Golden Retrievers to partake in their Golden Retriever Lifetime Study. It will be the largest and longest dog study ever undertaken. 3,000 Golden Retrievers will be studied for at least 10 years, to gather data on genetics, environment, and diet factors that may lead to cancer. The goal is to learn how to better prevent and treat canine cancer, and make for healthier generations of Golden Retrievers.
If you have a Golden Retriever, check and enroll your dog in the study, or help spread the word to other dog parents and veterinarians.
Read more about Sammy on his FB Page Sammy Rescued Forever.
Golden LOVE Sammy’s photos, he often wears a bandana, hat and shades.
Loving LIFE while Fighting Canine Cancer
Lots of Golden Thanks to PetCareRx for the additional Golden Retriever Cancer data/information. We are inviting everyone to help PetCareRx raise $5,000 for the National Canine Cancer Foundation – head over to PetCareRx Facebook Page – for every “like,” they’ll donate 50 cents, “Put A Paws on Cancer.”
Lots of Golden L♥VE n Woofs
SUGAR
