Each year, more than 6 million dogs in the US will be diagnosed with cancer. In fact, about half of all dogs over the age of 10 will eventually develop some form of cancer. This is always a stressful situation for the animals’ owners who must make complex and difficult decisions about how to treat their pet.
River, a 7-year-old border collie, collapsed and was paralyzed in his hind legs without warning. After being diagnosed by veterinary neurologists at UC Davis with a ruptured lumbar disc and hemorrhagic compression of his spinal cord, River underwent a neurosurgery to attempt to repair the injury.
Charlotte, a 7-year-old Cavalier King Charles spaniel, was always a happy and healthy dog. Last summer, her owners Lannis and Jamie Pope noticed a small (but growing), discolored dot on her nostril that seemed to cause her nose to run excessively. After taking her to their primary veterinarian, where it was determined to be cancerous after a basic lab result, the Popes sought an advanced diagnosis from the oncology specialists at the UC Davis veterinary hospital.
Sadie Mae, a Catahoula/Rottweiler mix, narrates a tale of her journey through cancer treatments. Along the way, she tells you of her relationship with her owner and the care she got at the UC Davis veterinary hospital.
When George William, a now 6-month-old wirehaired pointing Griffon, was brought to his first veterinary appointment as a new puppy, a heart murmur was discovered. His general practitioner told owners Teresa and Paul Struffert that it was very serious, and they needed to take George William to the Cardiology Service at the UC Davis veterinary hospital.
Bubbles, a 10-year-old male boxer, was brought to the UC Davis veterinary hospital’s Emergency Room following an inability to maintain his coordination accompanied with weakness in his hind limbs. Critical care specialists in the ER referred him to the Neurology/Neurosurgery Service for further evaluation. Following examination and an MRI, a tumor on Bubbles’ spinal cord was discovered.
When Teddy, a 12-year-old border terrier, was diagnosed with diabetes, his care team at the UC Davis veterinary hospital predicted he would eventually go blind. Within five months of the diagnosis, that prediction came true. Cataracts caused by the diabetes had formed in both of Teddy’s eyes completely clouding his vision. But UC Davis veterinary ophthalmologists offered hope, having performed many vision-restoring cataract surgeries over the years.
Sky, a 2-year-old female Siberian husky mix, was rescued nearly a year ago. Her owners Renee Gee and Brian Estill of San Francisco noticed some stiffness in her back right leg when walking. While doing a good job of masking any pain, Sky did yelp when her primary veterinarian palpated and extended the leg. X-rays confirmed a luxated right hip, and her veterinarians suggested a hip replacement might be necessary. A second opinion resulted in the same diagnosis and surgery suggestion. Being a thorough and detail-oriented dog owner, Gee decided a third opinion at the UC Davis veterinary hospital was the right thing to do.
Clutch, an 8-year-old pit bull terrier, was rescued five years ago from a shelter just before being euthanized. His new owner, Al Thielemann, noticed his ability to stay active so he started training Clutch in a variety of jobs – dock diving, nose work detection, and other types of working activities. But Clutch preferred to be off leash and be more active.
Floyd was a ball fanatic with the heart of a retriever. The muscular black and white Boston terrier would play fetch for hours with Ananda and Chuck Nettnins before collapsing in his water trough to cool off.
A few months after his death in April 2016 from hemangiosarcoma, a cancer of the vascular endothelium or the blood vessel walls, the Nettnins discovered a secret stash of more than 20 balls hidden under their couch.
