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we lost our gayle yesterday. although she was able to battle back against her soft tissue sarcoma, she was taken from us by a different cancer, oral melanoma. these terrible tumors are often seen in black dogs, or dogs with black tongues, but it can strike any pup at any age.
to honor gayle and her brave fight against this vicious and aggressive disease, we ask you to take five minutes. take five minutes, and check your pups mouth: look at the tongue - go as far back as you can, check the gums, check the inside of their cheeks, check the roof of their mouth. melanoma might look like a little button, like a sprouting mushroom, like an abnormal taste bud. it might be dark, almost black, but it can have very little pigment at all. if you find ANYTHING that seems abnormal, have your vet check it out. if they scoff at your concern, find another vet. do this exam every couple of months, be pro-active. there are ways to address oral melanoma, but the best possible scenario is finding it very early.
so, take five minutes, do it for gayle. please post back here to tell us that you did it and you are committed to keeping your pups safe from this terrible disease. do it for gayle.
charon & spirit gayle
Life is good, so very, very good!!! Gayle enjoyed each and every moment of each and every wonderful day (naps included). She left this world December 12, 2011 – off on a new adventure.
Love Never Ends
Charon, I was very saddened to hear about Gayle. I am so sorry - especially to losing her during the holiday season.
I spoke with Ge'Lena last night & she told me that Gayle had oral melanoma. Being a melanoma warrior myself, I have educated myself about this horrible cancer - and had learned recently that pups can get it too.
Although my pups aren't even 6 months old yet, I go "over them" constantly- looking for any bumps etc. I will do the oral check tonight...to honor your sweet angel.
Sending you many golden hugs,
Cathy
Gayle's banner is on top while I write!
Daddy is checking Rocket...
Looks like all is clear. We will keep an eye out.
Thank you Charon and Spirit Gayle.
Comet - 1999 to 2011
She departed us unexpectedly January 23, 2011 at the age of 12 1/2.
She was born with a deformed front leg and a tripawd all of her life.
Charon, I am so sorry to hear about your loss of Gayle. Although there is no good time to lose our best friends, I know it is particularly hard that it happened right before Christmas. I wanted to let you know that we are actually taking Cadence to the vet on Thursday for something on the side of her mouth, along the outside, towards the back corner of her lips. I freaked out (of course), and started doing research online about oral melanoma and looked at all the pictures. I have scared myself silly. Most likely it is dermatitis because it is crusty and on the outside of lips towards the corner of the mouth, but when she was scratching at it, her lip did bleed and there is a small bump. She has a history of allergies and was also pawing at the mouth too which is an indication of dermatitis but we would rather put our minds at ease and have her checked out. Last night I sat her down next to me and looked at all her gums, her teeth and all around in her mouth. When we take her on Thursday I will have her vet do a more thorough oral examination because her breath has been kind of funky. I will let you know the outcome, but Gayle will definitely be in my thoughts as she has this check up.
Cadence Faye: Born 10/30/04, stepped into our hearts 12/23/2004. Rear leg tumor found 7/24/11 by mom and dad, Xray on 7/25/11, Osteosarcoma suspected 7/26/11, amputation 7/29/11, Carboplatin started 8/23. Met free so far!
I'm so sorry to hear of Gayle's passing and wish you all comfort and peace this season. I believe our dogs are our angels whether in this life or in spirit. I'm definitely more acutely aware of checking for these things now and going to check Happy regularly.
My Tri-pug Maggie miraculously beat mast cell cancer, she lived almost 4 years after her amputation. She passed from oral melanoma just 3 months after it was diagnosed.
Would she have lived longer if I found it sooner? There is of course no way to know for sure, but by the time the tumor was found by my vet it was not treatable without extreme surgery, and with Mag's other health issues she could not handle surgery.
I still have two black pugs, and I check their mouths monthly.
Tonight we will do an extra check in honor of our sister gayle.
Karen and the pugapalooza
Thank you Charon, we didn't know that about dogs with black tongues.
For Gayle, every month, scout's honor.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Honored to do this for Gayle. I'll give all the pups and kits a checkup tonight (they're also due for their flea and HW meds).
I'm Crystal, but you can call me Katymom. :) I'm Triproud of my Tripawd!
Katy Sue Sarcopski – born approx 2/03, found "the lump" 9/7/11, suspected soft tissue sarcoma (most likely liposarcoma) 10/11, became a Tripawd 11/1/11, official diagnosis of infiltrating lipoma 11/23/11
Follow her "tail" at katydidit.tripawds.com!
I really can't even believe that I have read this correctly. Or at all. I am so very sorry to hear this. In honor of Gayle, we will check Linda & Bernie at least monthly. There's not much that can be said to make you feel better right now, but please know that our thoughts are with you.
I'm so sorry about Gayle. This is a beautiful way to honor her and we will check our black dog tonight.
I just checked out D and E. Evelyn is easy; her mouth opens like a suitcase and she's mostly pink. Dakota, on the other hand...he'll get over it.
Shari
From abandoned puppy to Tripawd Warrior Dude, Dakota became one of the 2011 February Furballs due to STS. Our incredibly sweet friend lived with grace and dignity till he impulsively raced over the Bridge on 12-15-12.
Dakota's thoughtful and erudite blog is at http://shari.tr.....pawds.com/
Just checked out our girl - done in Gayle's honor.
Even in your grief you are still helping all of us and our pups. You are such a treasure to this community!
Sending hugs and Abby kisses,
Jackie
Abby: Aug 1, 2009 – Jan 10, 2012. Our beautiful rescue pup lived LARGE with osteosarcoma for 15 months – half her way-too-short life. I think our "halflistic" approach (mixing traditional meds + supplements) helped her thrive. (PM me for details. I'm happy to help.) She had lung mets for over a year. They took her from us in the end, but they cannot take her spirit! She will live forever in our hearts. She loved the beach and giving kisses and going to In-N-Out for a Flying Dutchman. Tripawds blog, and a more detailed blog here. Please also check out my novel, What the Dog Ate. Now also in paperback! Purchase it at Amazon via Tripawds and help support Tripawds!
My heart is breaking!!! We'll be thinking about Gayle and checking Charlie tonight! Their time with us is so short and it seems unfair for her to have gone through what she did and then be taken. You will be in our thoughts and we'll pass this information on to all of our doggie pawrents! Thank you!
Sam and Lady get weekly teeth cleanings and I promise I will be extra vigilant.
Spirit Samson was Spirit Tripawd Daisys four legged "brother" and ruled as the self proclaimed head of the Monkeybutt Federations East Coast Division. Lady Chunky Monkey stayed from Oct 2011 and left for the bridge in Apr 2012. Miss Perdy is left and has some big pawprints to fill.
Do you have what it takes to be a Monkeybutt? Find out more at the Monkeybutt Federation
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