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Cancer seems to run in our dog family: an ode to Bonnie and Chloe
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Member Since:
30 July 2010
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6 August 2010 - 1:34 am
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Hello everyone, after reading countless forum posts about people encountering cancer in dogs for the first time, I thought I would share my experience of having two completely different dogs diagnosed with cancer. Granted they had very different circumstances: one eventually gained her wings and the other is on the road to recovery.

I will start with Bonnie's story. When we picked out Bonnie (about a year or two old) from the SPCA almost 2 decades ago we were naive about the fact that dogs too can get cancer. She grew attached to my mom (I was only maybe 4 at the time we got her), but she was the first dog I grew up with. Bonnie was a 40lb Australian Cattle dog mix and had a permanent kink in her curled, fluffy tail presumably from the previous owners slamming a door on it (intentional or accidental we have no idea). So the years passed and it wasn't until she was about 9 years old that my mom noticed she had strange, pea sized lumps in her throat. Apart from that she had no other symptoms. After taking her to the vet, she was diagnosed with lymphoma and we were informed that without treatment she would only have a few months left to live. Like I said earlier, we had no idea dogs could get cancer. My mom decided to go through with chemo since it was the best option and she drove about a half an hour each way, once a week to start the treatments. I was still young and don't remember everything that happened, but I do remember going with my mom once in a while to Bonnie's chemo sessions. She was a very good girl, always allowed the technician to prick her for blood samples and do whatever else they did for chemo. It seemed that Bonnie was responding to chemo well and so chemo sessions grew few an far between. Then she was deemed "in remission" after whatever tests they ran showed no sign of spread and continual improvement. She did lose some of her hair, but she was always such a fluffy dog, that it just looked like someone de-furred her a bit too much.  It was these months in remission that Bonnie was losing her appetite and became "tired". My mom went back to the vet and they did a chest x ray and found it had spread to her lungs. At this point there was not much more to do... I remember the last few days with her trying to get her to eat, just eat anything, even junk food (I was probably 12, so what did I know) and just petting her face trying to engrain her image in my mind. My mom took her a few days later and came back only with her collar. I remember crying a little, suddenly more aware of the finality of life since I had never had a family member die. But Bonnie was part of the family, not a human herself, but still part of it regardless. May she continue to rest in peace. Wow am I getting choked up writing this...

 

So this brings me to my next story about my dog Chloe. I grew up with a cat and cats are great, but you develop a different type of bond with a dog. A dog gets excited when you come home and they stay excited for quite some time. Cats seem to like a minute or two of affection and then go off and do their thing. Thats just how they are. I am not saying one is better than the other, but that they offer different types of affection and interaction or at least that has been my experience growing up with both. Anyway back to Chloe. We rescued her from a Petco adoption where people bring animals they are fostering temporarily for others to adopt.  She seemed to be playful, human friendly and more importantly got along with our other new dog Rocket. So we took her home and I noticed that she had worms. We had to quarantine her to prevent the other animals from getting sick. Mind you when we first got her, it was not my intention that she became my dog. She chose me.  During her few days of quarantine (before getting meds and after she stopped defecating wormlets) it became clear that she wanted me to stay there with her. Whenever she was left alone she would whine. Whenever my dad or brother or even mother would stay there with her, she would continue to whine to no end and try to get out. If I stayed in there with her, she stopped her whining and would lay down to rest. So I decided, being the 14yr old I was that I would stay with our 8 month old puppy in the kitchen area she was blocked in and sleep on a cot. And I did. I decided to tell this story because I have come full circle to her new circumstances. So the years passed, I went to high school, graduated, went on to college, graduated and was looking forward to spending the summer with my dog (since I was unable to take her to college) before heading off to grad school. And that's when I noticed her back legs did not match.

I have a more detailed story in my blog, but basically after many tests, she was diagnosed with spindle cell sarcoma (soft tissue cancer). Seriously another dog with cancer at the age of 9? However, her tumor was on her back, left "calf" and the type of cancer she had was known to grow slowly. I knew that she had to lose the leg.  More importantly if the cancer hadn't spread, it would be the only option to fully "cure" her of it. I didn't want to prolong her condition (luckily she had no symptoms other than aesthetically) just to preserve her leg.  I feel that would have been selfish on my part. Especially since her blood work and physical revealed she is perfectly health, apart from the cancer of course (what a paradox!). Anyway, its been a week since her amputation and I have basically spent every day in the living room and every night in my room with her during her recovery (sound familiar?). The vet told me some wonderful news a couple days ago. Since the aspirate of the lymphnode in the knee was inconclusive about whether the cancer had spread beyond the site of the tumor (pre amp test), he sent in one of her amped knee lymphnodes for a biopsy. They came back negative for cancer! You have no idea how happy I am that I made the right call. Not only did I notice it in time, but now she is her healthy self again.  We have had 4 dogs in my 22 years of life, 2 with cancer (Bonnie and Chloe), 1 had a good fight but didn't make it, and the other hopefully has another 5-6 years left in her. Luckily this story has a happier ending than Bonnie's and I hope it continues to be as such.

Thanks for reading!

PS I stayed up way to late writing this. I just couldn't stop.

Chloe became a rear amp tripawd on 7-29-10. Another tumor was removed on front leg 2-20-14. Found 3rd tumor on neck 2-2015, but she's still kicking cancer's butt at age 14. Chloe's blog

Scottsburg, IN
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6 August 2010 - 5:58 am
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Great stories.  Obviously the first isn't a happy story, but a story of love none-the-less and that makes it a great story.  Your pups are lucky ones to have such dedication to them.  And such fantastic news about the lymph nodes!  I'm so happy for you!

 

Here's to continued success on the road to recovery!

 

Leslie

Wesley Chapel, FL
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6 August 2010 - 6:14 am
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Thank you for sharing your stories about Bonnie and Chloe...

I know how hard it is to loose a dog, especially when you're a young teen. I remember when I lost my first german shepherd to a car accident (not cancer). He was my best friend...crying We had put him outside in the backyard after lunch so he could do his peeps and poops... It was the middle of winter and we had a chain link fence... because of the metal contracting in the cold, I guess the gate didn't close properly. I remember about half an hour later... a neighbor knocked on our door and said he thought our dog was hit by a car just down the street from us. We said no way, since he was in the backyard... I remember I ran out to the back and saw that the gate was a little open... I panicked and then ran to the front of our house and looked down the street. Everything was white from all the snow... but I saw something big and dark in the middle of the road, just a couple of houses down... I ran and as I got closer... my heart just sank. It was my sweet baby lying there... There was blood that had sprayed out from his mouth, all over the snowy street... He was still breathing... but I remember they were shallow breaths. I laid on the ground and was hugging him and crying. As small crowd of people had gathered around us, just standing there and staring... and I remember looking up and screaming at them all to stop staring and please help me. God, I'm crying as I'm writing this... it feels like just yesterday! My dad came running down the street to me... and at the same time, a cop car pulled up to us. I remember screaming to the cop to put him in his back seat and help me bring him to a vet, that he's still breathing... he's still alive, we can save him! I saw the cop talking to my dad... and then my dad picked me up and held me as he started to bring me home... I didn't want to go, I didn't want to leave my baby lying there in the cold street... My dad told me not to turn around, he was holding me tight. Then I heard a gun shot... OMG!! I let out such a freaken scream!!! The cop shot my dog!!! I was hysterical... I can't remember much about what happend afterwards, except that I became very depressed. I think I was 16 or 17... This all happened about 30 years ago... but I can remember it like it was yesterday...  His name was Barek (named after a famous Polish dog) and I will never forget him. I've lost 3 dogs over the years since then, including my sweet Jake just 10 months ago... It's never easy... it's never fair. I will never forget any of them... They all brought so much joy into my life.

Sorry for going off the cancer topic... Now that we're all older, I think we understand more about the value of life and how to appreciate each and every precious moment we have with our furbabies...  

I hope and pray that Chloe lives many more happy years with you... Just love and spoil her and make lots of wonderful memories.

Sending you and Chloe a big fat loving hug!!!

Angel Jake and Wolfie's Mom

Jake, 10yr old golden retriever (fractured his front right leg on 9/1, bone biopsy revealed osteosarcoma on 9/10, amputation on 9/17) and his family Marguerite, Jacques and Wolfie, 5yr old german shepherd and the newest addition to the family, Nala, a 7mth old Bengal mix kittie. Jake lost his battle on 11/9/2009, almost 8 weeks after his surgery. We will never forget our sweet golden angel… http://jakesjou.....ipawds.com ….. CANCER SUCKS!

Winnipeg
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6 August 2010 - 8:27 am
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Those posts, from Chloe and Jake, deserve very different responses.

Bonnie and Chloe (ha, I love that association): Chloe, you are a cutie. I am glad you are recovering well. Keep it up. I too remember dogs that died when I was a child, one after a small car bump at 3 yrs old and the 2nd from cancer at 8 or 9 yrs. Each time (and probably when it happens still), I vowed never to get another dog because their lives are so short. It is so hard for us humans. (nope - you can guess I did not keep that vow. I melted when my father and sister brought home dog #2 when I was about 9 yrs old. She became mostly my dog, although I suppose my mother would view that differently.

 

As for Marguerite. Oh my god. How truly truly horrible. I had no idea. That is so upsetting just to read, let alone to have lived through it.

It makes me extremely mad that no-one did take Barek to the vet, or bring the vet to Barek. Maybe, probably from what you said, nothing could be done. It doesn't really matter but where did you live at the time (Poland or Montreal?)?

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6 August 2010 - 10:04 am
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I have to say that Barek's story was heart breaking to read. It's one thing to die of cancer or a birth defect waiting to rear its ugly head to paralyze your dog at any moment. We had a daschund named Poggie who only lived to 5 years of age due to a slipped spinal disc (birth defect waiting to paralyze her) and died about a year before Bonnie. Another tragedy, however it is another thing altogether for circumstances to occur outside your pet's body.  My mom's favorite dog Beschiden was hit by a car and was taken to the vet, but nothing could be done so they had to put her down. I don't know if Barek would have met the same fate regardless, but I think it was a terrible thing you had to witness or "listen to". I would probably go through the same thing you did if someone were to shoot Chloe even if they thought they were being "humane".

As for more dogs in my future, the answer will be a yes. 

Chloe became a rear amp tripawd on 7-29-10. Another tumor was removed on front leg 2-20-14. Found 3rd tumor on neck 2-2015, but she's still kicking cancer's butt at age 14. Chloe's blog

Los Angeles
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6 August 2010 - 1:16 pm
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Thanks for sharing your story...you obviously love your pets the way we all do around here. laugh So glad that Chloe is on the road to recovery and the biopsy came back negative. That is a big cause for celebration! 

 I lost a very special dog to lymphoma about 8 years ago and my heart still breaks for her.  Never thought in my wildest dreams though that I'd have to face a 2nd dog with cancer.  When Mackenzie was diagnosed with osteosarcoma back in Sept '09  I was in shock.  How could this happen to 2 of my dogs now??? To make it even worse- they recommended amputation.  Now that put me over the edge.  I thought,  isn't it bad enough that I had to go through chemo treatments and lymphoma with my other dog but now I have to go through an amputation on top of all the treatments?  The good news is that Mackenzie celebrated her 9 month ampuversary and she continues to do great.  As much trauma as we went through during this whole process, I have no regrets and feel very blessed that Mackenzie is still with me.  So you definitely have the right attitude about this and Chloe is very lucky to have you. 

Marguerite, when I read your story about Barek - I just couldn't imagine what you must have gone through - so so heartbreaking and I'm sure that's a memory that you'll never be able to let go of.   So sorry that you had to go through something as traumatizing as that.

Here's to more good reports on Chloe...keeping our paws crossed for her!

Kami (Mackenzie's Mom)

My sweet golden Mackenzie.  She became my angel on Dec 29, 2010 at the age of 8 1/2  although she was always my angel from the time we brought her home.  She was diagnosed with osteosarcoma in Sept 2009 and officially became a tripawd (front leg) on Nov 5, 2009.  She will be forever in my heart and now she's running free with all of our other tripawd heroes.  I love you Mackenzie!

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6 August 2010 - 2:24 pm
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Hi Kami,

Yes, I had similar thoughts about Chloe being the second dog with cancer and not wanting to go through chemo like my mom did with our dog Bonnie. Plus, for Chloe chemo/radiation would have only minimized the size of the tumor, slowed the growth, or not do much at all causing it to spread and require an amputation anyway.  When the initial tests came back indicating cancer, I seriously had an instant moment of clarity and knew the leg had to go. I didn't give it a second thought. Even after the biopsy confirmed the diagnosis, I was still dead set on the amputation because that was the only way in her circumstances to free her from this cancer. Seriously my family and friends were surprised at my cut and dry decision about her needing to lose the leg.  After talking to my dad a week after her amp, he told me that he was going back and forth about what would be best for her after learning of her diagnosis: putting her down, letting her live with the cancer if nothing could be done (just let her enjoy whatever time she had left), if an amputation would actually be harder on her, or whether to go through chemo. What he told me next was that he was glad I made the decision when I did because she is cancer free and has bounced back so quickly. He also made a very good point when he said," Even though she can't do everything she used to, the quality of her life will be extended." And I completely agree.

Chloe became a rear amp tripawd on 7-29-10. Another tumor was removed on front leg 2-20-14. Found 3rd tumor on neck 2-2015, but she's still kicking cancer's butt at age 14. Chloe's blog

Los Angeles
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2 November 2009
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6 August 2010 - 5:20 pm
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I truly admire your decisiveness and clarity on the amputation.  I wish I had that same clarity when were going through this.  My husband and I went through the same thoughts and process as your dad and it took us 2 months before we made our final decision - after we opted to do other things like radiation treatment, bone strengthening agents, etc., etc., - all at a high financial cost with unsuccessful results.  So then that left us with no other option but amputation and I am so glad that we were basically forced into this. It was either that or lose Mackenzie. And that certainly wasn't an option.    Your dad is so right about the quality of life...Mackenzie wouldn't be here with us now had it not been for the amputation.  I'm sure you'll find with Chloe that she'll be able to do almost everything she used to do and then some! Our tripawds are so amazing! laugh

My sweet golden Mackenzie.  She became my angel on Dec 29, 2010 at the age of 8 1/2  although she was always my angel from the time we brought her home.  She was diagnosed with osteosarcoma in Sept 2009 and officially became a tripawd (front leg) on Nov 5, 2009.  She will be forever in my heart and now she's running free with all of our other tripawd heroes.  I love you Mackenzie!

Wesley Chapel, FL
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6 August 2010 - 6:00 pm
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I totally agree with Kami's dad... Its the quality of life that's important... Jake had less than 8 weeks after his amputation, but it was a good quality of life... I just wish it had been longer... But then again, it's never enough time...

To Tazzie's Mom: this happened in Montreal in the late 70's... When I look back now, I'm sure that Barek had internal bleeding and was definitely in shock based on how he was breathing. There may not have been much to do to save him, but still... shooting him?!! That cop must have thought he was being humane... but all I could think of was that he didn't want to get blood all over his back seat. ARRRHHH!! I haven't thought about that for years...

Here's to Chloe's recovery and many, many, many happy ampuversaries!!!

Angel Jake and Wolfie's Mom

Jake, 10yr old golden retriever (fractured his front right leg on 9/1, bone biopsy revealed osteosarcoma on 9/10, amputation on 9/17) and his family Marguerite, Jacques and Wolfie, 5yr old german shepherd and the newest addition to the family, Nala, a 7mth old Bengal mix kittie. Jake lost his battle on 11/9/2009, almost 8 weeks after his surgery. We will never forget our sweet golden angel… http://jakesjou.....ipawds.com ….. CANCER SUCKS!

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