Well, I certainly didn’t plan on four months flying by after my last post. Nearly every week, I tell myself to make a post and not overthink it, but invariably, I find an excuse not to.
The pups had a busy few months with a trip to Key West, Chip’s first time at dog day at the beach, and a few minor health issues – fear not, everyone is well (and I plan to write about both at some point).
With the start of Ziggy’s cancer journey, coupled with the peak pandemic, since Thanksgiving 2020, the holiday has been one mostly spent with my husband and the pups. I’m grateful for the shrinking of the holiday as it reduces stress and allows for a long weekend to gear up for the end of the year. I’m not fond of the origin of Thanksgiving, but I like to take the opportunity to be more mindful of what I have to be grateful for each. Plus, it’s the “official” start to the Christmas season, which is always cozy.
This year, I’m particularly grateful for health—for the pups and for ours. Inevitably, we all experience varying degrees of illness or health challenges. While the last few years have been marked by canine cancer, I’m grateful that everyone is healthy overall.
It can be hard to express gratitude for what we have each day, but I am always grateful for Cookie and Chip, who always bring joy, comfort, and love, no matter what is happening around us. (And my husband, too, who can always be counted on to make me laugh – intentionally or otherwise! 😜)
February is spay and neuter awareness month. You may think you know everything there is to know about getting your pups fixed, but if you’re like me, I’m betting you don’t. There are some commonalities with cats, but never having had cats, I will speak only to dogs. Remember that this post is based on my experience and learning. Be sure to consult your veterinarian or other professionals before making a decision for your pup.
I Didn’t Know Diddly
Until the past two to three years I knew that getting dogs fixed was important in preventing unwanted litters of puppies. With thousands of dogs being euthanized annually due to limited homes and limited space in shelters, spaying and neutering dogs is key to reducing the number of healthy dogs euthanized. I knew that getting a dog from a shelter or other rescue meant that they would be fixed before coming home. While I didn’t know the details of the timing, I did know that dogs from breeders would get fixed months to a year after being brought home.
I never thought much of this, as spaying and neutering is a familiar and routine procedure. I assumed that it only carried the risk that comes with any kind of surgery.
My education
When Ziggy was diagnosed with cancer in late 2020, I began doing a lot of research – attending online conferences and reading articles. I started seeing a lot of references to a link between early spay/neuter and cancer. Many advocated delaying the surgeries until the dogs are around one year old to ensure they get the health benefits of their sex hormones.
While this advice struck me as common sense in retrospect, I was confused. If there was a link between early surgeries and cancer, why did rescue groups opt for early surgeries? In a nutshell: humans are irresponsible and suck.
In March 2022, I attended the Holistic Pet Care Summit. The module with veterinarian Dr. Tara Timpson, who worked at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, addressed my questions and confusion.
Once upon a time, dogs and puppies would be adopted out without being fixed. The organizations would encourage adopters to return for FREE surgery once the dogs mature to the appropriate age. But the lazy humans DIDN’T follow through on their commitment. While there’s nothing wrong with responsibly breeding dogs, people would be irresponsible with their intact dogs, resulting in unwanted litters of puppies – not enough homes and not enough space in shelter groups.
So the rescue groups were confronted with a choice: do we risk high kill rates of otherwise healthy dogs due to lack of space? Or do we operate on them young, risking illness later in life?
Beyond Cancer
Early spay and neutering is linked to more than cancer.
After Ziggy died in March 2022, Cookie started experiencing incontinence in her sleep. My worrisome brain went straight to cancer. After a couple of tests to rule out more serious illness, our vet advised that the incontinence was likely caused by early spay. While there is medication available to help with incontinence, it comes with its own risks (like all medications). We opted to keep Cookie off of the medication and manage the incontinence with diapers, supplements, and more frequent walks and potty breaks (even in the middle of the night).
There are multiple surgical solutions for preventing an unwanted litter – two for males and four for females. If you bring an unfixed dog into your home, consult with your veterinarian to consider which option is best for your pup based on age and lifestyle. Each has its own risk factors, so evaluating the options with your veterinarian is important.
If you rescue, you may feel as if you have no options. You could try contacting potential rescue groups to learn what procedure is done on their pups prior to adoption and whether they may be open to letting you choose the procedure. I haven’t tried this, nor have I heard anecdotes from anyone who may have tried it.
You can also work to make changes to veterinary education. Dr. Karen Becker has a petition to include all procedures as part of the veterinary curriculum. On the petition page, you can learn more about the limited curriculum veterinarians receive on spay and neuter surgeries
The Bottom Line
You may not always have a choice in when or what kind of spay/neuter surgery your pup gets, but if you do, evaluate all the options with your veterinarian and decide what is best for your dog. And if you can’t, you CAN advocate for changes in veterinary education, and when
There are many organizations researching aspects of dog health. There are differing ways to participate if you are interested in helping advance canine health and longevity.
Organizations
This is by no means a comprehensive list, but the ones that I have come across in my pawrenting journey.
The Dog Aging Project is a longitudinal study evaluating how your dog’s age. I registered Cookie about a year ago. At the time, I only had the option of enrolling one dog. I don’t recall whether they provided guidelines on which pup to pick or if that was left up to me.
The time commitment is pretty minimal. Upon joining, I filled out a number of surveys about Cookie’s health and lifestyle. Every so often, I receive an email about an activity to do with Cookie and to register the results on their website. You always have the option to skip the exercise, but I always do it because otherwise, it defeats the purpose of enrolling, and it ends up being a bonding activity with Cookie that she enjoys.
The Dog Aging Project aims to extrapolate their findings to humans. Despite aging quicker, dogs experience similar aging issues as humans. Their studies include a medication trial (if you’re local to their facility) and cognitive assessments that you conduct periodically in your home (this is what we do).
Darwin’s Ark brings scientific minds together with pet parents to help study the effects of the environment on our furry companions. They have several projects, but the one that appealed to me was their cancer project.
You can register more than one dog, participate by filling out surveys, and even submit your dog’s DNA. You can purchase a kit or be added to the waitlist once you complete a minimum number of surveys to obtain one for free! (I have yet to reach that minimum.)
Take C.H.A.R.G.E. is a canine health registry and exchange. That simply means that veterinary clinics and dog pawrents can upload the medical records of dogs with cancer. The records are anonymized, and the data surrounding dogs with cancer is available in a dashboard.
When I signed up, I was able to upload the medical information for both Ziggy and Cookie. It was simple to do, and there hasn’t been any additional action needed or requested from me.
The American Kennel Club is involved in all things dog and has its own foundation. The AKC Canine Health Foundation funds scientific research centering on canine illness. You can contribute to the organization, read about the outcomes of studies, or even participate in research.
I don’t have any experience with participating in research studies. Whether or not it makes sense for you requires careful consideration of several factors such as the criteria of participation, your financial situation, whether covering the cost of care is included, comfort with the risk of getting a new treatment, comfort with the risk of getting a placebo treatment, etc.
Considerations
Participation with these organizations or others boils down to your comfort level, the time commitment, and the risk-benefit analysis for your particular situation. Everything other than the research studies seems to have no risk and low time commitment, but it’s ultimately up to you to decide.
It’s the season of gratitude, and while we’re in a stable spot on our canine cancer journey, I’m reflecting on what I’m thankful for in how we experienced canine cancer.
The Pandemic
The pandemic was a source of fear, stress, and anxiety for all of us. But without it, I wouldn’t have been working from home and able to catch Ziggy’s limp. It’s impossible to know whether we would have caught the cancer as early as we did without the pandemic, but catching Ziggy’s cancer early was certainly a critical factor in his survival time.
The first dog
Ziggy, the happy patient, after his last traditional chemo treatment in April 2021.
I absolutely HATE that Ziggy was diagnosed with cancer and amputated a leg before his second birthday. It kills me that he died shortly after his third birthday. But I am grateful that he was the one to lead us on the cancer journey.
Ziggy was the best patient. He always smiled when going to the vet (which was a near-constant occurrence once he was diagnosed). He easily adapted to the tripawd life and showed us what resilience is. Ziggy’s pawsitive attitude and resilience made it easier for us to make treatment decisions and to figure out ways to maximize his quality of life.
Seeing how well he responded (physically and emotionally) to these challenges gives us the strength to make the best decisions for every other dog.
The unexpected prognosis
When we at long last learned that Ziggy’s cancer was hemangiosarcoma, we were devastated and afraid because of how short that prognosis tends to be. He was already three months post-diagnosis when we confirmed the type of cancer. We were incredibly fortunate to have 17 months with him post-diagnosis.
It would never be enough time, even if he’d lived to age 10. This success with cancer treatment not only softened the devastation of losing a pup so young but also gave us an optimistic lens when confronting the cancer journeys of subsequent pups.
Cookie’s Simpler Journey
Cookie recovering from surgery in April 2023.
When I first found Cookie’s lump on her leg in July 2021, my heart sank. How could we handle a second dog with cancer? Why is this happening so close to Ziggy? Given their age difference, it should have been unlikely.
While the prospect of two dogs with cancer simultaneously sucked, I’m grateful that Cookie’s cancer (soft tissue sarcoma) was less serious and more easily treated. She’s a terrible patient and tries to find a new family after each surgery, which are two reasons why I’m relieved that she hasn’t needed traditional chemo or radiation.
We’re fortunate to have an amazing holistic veterinarian, his patient and compassionate staff, a terrific veterinary oncologist, and the oncology care team to help keep our pups healthy.
Lessons Learned
I would never wish this on anyone, but this journey has taught me a lot. Sometimes, it seems like common sense (e.g., fresh food is better than processed kibble); everything I’ve learned helps to improve the care for Cookie, Chip, and any other dog that comes along. There’s plenty more that I could (or want to) be doing, but I do the best that I can right now. And I look for opportunities to make improvements wherever and whenever I can.
All the sources that have taught me about healthcare have exposed me to other resources, such as trainers. Exposure to more perspectives in all areas helps me be a better dog pawrent. It’s helpful when encountering new challenges, such as an anxious and sometimes reactive Chip.
Every day Gratitude
Most importantly, these cancer journeys are reminders to say yes to the pups as much as possible. To take them out for activities that bring them joy (like Cookie’s recent beach day and slide escapades). To let Chip lay on me a little longer in the mornings before getting ready for work. And appreciate all the time we are given because you never know when it will end.
Cookie’s cancer journey is less dramatic than Ziggy’s, but it’s scary in its own right.
How it began
In July 2021, nine months after Ziggy’s diagnosis, I spotted a decent-sized lump on Cookie’s front left leg, right by her elbow. It shocked me because of its size – that of a very large grape. I was surprised that I hadn’t noticed it sooner. We monitored it for a few weeks before scheduling an appointment with our vet in early August.
Though the vet felt confident that it was benign, I know from Dr. Sue Cancer Vet, that no one could tell whether a lump is benign or cancerous. So we aspirated. It was inconclusive.
Unsure about aspirating again to get another inconclusive result, we scheduled a consult with Ziggy’s oncologist. He was concerned that it may be a soft tissue sarcoma. He recommended surgery to remove and biopsy the lump.
Our primary vet did the surgery and opted for conservative margins. Given the location, he was worried about healing if the margins were too aggressive and it turned out to be benign.
Cookie’s suture site after the initial surgery.
Sure enough, the biopsy confirmed a low-grade soft tissue sarcoma. It required a revision surgery to get full margins.
Cookie’s surgeries were outpatient surgeries with an easy recovery. But each time I picked her up, she tried to leave with another family! And she gave me the cold shoulder for 24 hours. She’s a pretty different patient compared to Ziggy.
Cookie was ready to leave before her revision surgery.
Cookie didn’t require further treatment, but we did chest X-rays every few months as a precaution. She was probably already on the same diet as Ziggy, but we added some supplements to improve her care.
Oops, it happened Again
In March 2023, a year after Ziggy passed, I saw the same lump in what seemed to be the exact same spot. We again did an aspirate, which indicated the lump was likely cancerous.
This time, our vet recommended a consult with a board-certified veterinary surgeon. He was concerned about the difficulty of the surgery, given it would be round three in nearly the same spot.
The surgeon wanted us to consult with the oncologist before proceeding with the surgery. In her written report, she was concerned about the ability to get full margins and indicated that amputation may be the best approach for a curative result.
The possibility of a front leg amputation on our first furbaby, an agility athlete, gutted us. My husband was immediately against the possibility. I also wanted to be, but I wanted to hear what the oncologist had to say – what the different prognoses may be with different treatment options.
Fortunately, the word amputation never came up with the oncologist. He said the lump was technically not in the same spot, so it wasn’t a recurrence, and removal would be curative.
Cookie post-op after the second lump was removed. You can see the size of the suture site compared to the first.Cookie wore a surgery suit and a leg sleeve since she had bumps removed on both sides. I highly recommend these suits – far more comfortable than a cone!Chip playing nurse for big sister Cookie.
We did the surgery, got clear margins, and also removed a giant lipoma from her other side. Cookie did well, but this was a slightly harder recovery for her as she’s a little older, had surgery on both sides of her body, and had a younger brother to contend with during her recovery.
One product I highly recommend is a surgical suit or recovery sleeve (I’m an Amazon affiliate and can earn on qualifying purchases). Since Cookie had the lump and lipoma removed on either side of her body, she wore both to protect the suture sites and remained cone-free until the sutures were removed. It’s wise to get more than one to swap them out while washing one.
Ongoing treatment
Cookie, fully recovered, is judgmental about the fake corn maze in Florida.
Our oncologist gave us the option of putting Cookie on chlorambucil, a low-dose at-home chemo treatment, to reduce the likelihood of recurrence for ongoing treatment. Typically, pawrents opt for six months of treatment as it is the standard of care and for financial reasons. We’re fortunate to be able to afford to continue her on the chlorambucil. It’s a chemo that is safe for her to take longer, especially since she’s tolerated it well. We check in with the oncologist every two months and will do chest X-rays every six months or so.
Everything that we experienced with Ziggy led me to do a number of things differently or started doing for both Cookie and Chip.
Health Journal
After getting the hemangiosarcoma diagnosis in December 2020, I started a health journal for Ziggy and Cookie. It’s a notebook where I keep track of the supplements they’re on, changes in diet, notes of any symptoms I observe, questions for the vets, feedback from the vets, etc.
I’m very diligent about documenting whenever a particular symptom arises (i.e. vomiting, diarrhea, limping, etc.). It may not seem to be a big deal if it happens once, but it certainly helps with identifying patterns, connections to changes in diet, or determining if it’s something that happened previously.
About one year before noticing the limping that led to Ziggy’s diagnosis, he ran around in the yard and briefly limped. A year later though when it started again, I had no recollection of what leg it was on. While it turned out to be irrelevant, it may have been helpful to reference when going through his diagnosis.
It can be a challenge to be consistent with it when the pups are healthy. I have a reminder set on my phone to take notes every couple of days. Sometimes I skip it (especially if I’ve been making several other notes), and other times I consider the framework I learned in a seminar from PetSummits.com: BEAM – behavior, energy, appetite, and mood. There may not always be much to write, but noting what is normal or what changes you’re observing can help identify patterns or other changes to discuss with your care team.
Nutrition
In January 2020, I started home cooking for Ziggy. At some point, I also started cooking for Cookie. They both started on the dog cancer diet from The Dog Cancer Survival Guide*. When Chip joined our pack, I planned to keep him on kibble until he graduated to adulthood. However, he was a very itchy pup. Among several recommendations from our vet, I started cooking for him too. I chose a recipe based on my veterinarian’s guidelines from Yin & Yang Nutrition for Dogs* by Dr. Judy Morgan.
While fresh whole-food diets are the highest quality for dogs (not unlike humans), it’s not always the most convenient (again, not unlike humans). Our veterinarian once advised us to balance a whole fresh food diet with the constraint of being a busy human.
Based on the volume that I’m able to batch cook and how much they eat for their weight, I feed them kibble for breakfast (they’re fed twice daily) and home-cooked food for dinner.
When choosing kibble (or other pre-made food), I refer to TruthAboutPetFood.com. They publish a list every year of the highest quality pre-made food (be it kibble, fresh, or raw). They contact pet food manufacturers inquiring about how they source ingredients and their cooking methods. Many brands are not on the list, but that could be due to unresponsiveness from the manufacturer or lack of awareness of the brand by the website. Nonetheless, it’s my go-to for selecting kibble.
Alternatively, you could refer to chapter nine of The Forever Dog* by Rodney Habib and Dr. Karen Shaw Becker. They share tips for how to objectively analyze your dog’s food based on similar standards to TruthAboutPetFood.com.
You may be short on time or not yet ready to make a change. A simple way to improve the quality of your dog’s meals is to incorporate what The Forever Dog* calls “Core Longevity Toppers (or CLTs).” These are fresh superfoods that you can offer your dog as treats or add as a topper to their meals.
Vaccines & Preventatives
This may be a bit controversial, but it’s something I’ve discussed with my veterinarian and have found supported through multiple trustworthy sources. Studies show that dogs have immunity for much longer than expected (or advertised) with vaccines (a great resource to learn more is The Forever Dog* or Dr. Judy Morgan’s website).
After the initial rounds of core vaccines, I conduct titers. A titer is a blood test to check your pup’s immunity levels. If the test comes back recommending a vaccine, our vet’s office won’t charge for the vaccine since we did the blood test. Other vaccines, such as Bordetella, flu, etc., I evaluated with our veterinarian based on our dogs’ lifestyles and risk of illness. Another factor that may come into decision-making is vaccine requirements by the groomer or training facilities.
Similarly, based on our geographic location and lessons learned from Dr. Judy Morgan, among others, I have switched brands of heartworm preventative and modified dosage to be every six weeks year-round instead of every four weeks. I have discontinued flea and tick preventatives with the support of our veterinarian.
Please do your own research and consult with your care team before making any changes to your dog’s care.
Quality Time & training
Cookie & Me, Dog Day in the Garden, May 2022
Cookie and Ziggy almost always did everything together from the start. With Chip, I’m intentional about giving them separate time with me. Some of it is practical – it’s hard to train a puppy properly on a walk when both hands are occupied with a leash. Some of it is mental and emotional, allowing each to have a break from the other (admittedly, Cookie wants more breaks from Chip given their eight-year age difference) and to form a strong bond with each of us.
So, I also try to take each pup out (aside from a walk) independently once a week. Sometimes it’s a drive through a car wash or a visit to the vet to pick up supplement refills. Other times it’s a shopping excursion to a pet-friendly store or a local farmer’s market. I try to keep it simple and build it into my routine.
Final Thoughts
There may be more things that I do differently, but these are the main changes. You can refer to the Health & Nutrition Pawrenting Resources page for more tools.
Be sure to consult with your care team (veterinarians, specialists, trainers, etc.) before making any changes to your pup’s care.
Note
*I’m an Amazon affiliate and can earn commission on eligible purchases.
Some days, when I stop and think about the accounts I follow and the resources I lean on, I wonder how I got here. But there are a few essential resources that led me to where I am (before the algorithms took over).
Where it all Began
I don’t remember how I found Tripawds. I suspect in reading material Ziggy’s diagnosing veterinarian shared when amputation was initially mentioned.
Once we decided on having the surgery, I read all I could about amputation and how to support Ziggy. Tripawds’ e-books and web community were invaluable.
Most tripawds are three-legged due to cancer. Naturally, my next stop was the book Dog Cancer Survival Guide, a book recommended within the community.
Dog Cancer Deep Dive
The Dog Cancer Survival Guide is authored by a veterinarian, Dr. Demien Dressler, and veterinary oncologist, Dr. Susan Ettinger. I began with the first chapter, and despite repeated recommendations to read the book in sequence, I jumped around based on what was most pressing, given where we were in Ziggy’s journey. I don’t remember exactly the sequence, but I recall focusing on the suspected cancers to learn about treatments, what to expect, etc., then focusing on nutrition and nutraceuticals while ending on other alternative therapies.
Cookie posing with my copy of Dog Cancer Survival Guide
My copy is well-highlighted and flagged. While it started with Ziggy, when Cookie had her own encounters with cancer (more on that in a future post!), it was helpful to reference and learn what to expect with her cancer.
Note
I’m an Amazon affiliate and can earn commission on eligible purchases.
In addition to resources on the site, they have an excellent podcast, newsletter, and Facebook support group. In the beginning, I listened to EVERY podcast episode – even ones that didn’t seem particularly relevant to Ziggy. With time, I learned to be more selective of which episodes I listen to for the sake of my emotional health.
Similarly, the Facebook group can be heartbreaking, seeing how many lives are touched by canine cancer. But, it can be incredibly helpful to lean on a community that can relate to the rollercoaster of emotions you experience. Sharing the wins along the way can also bring so much joy, or even asking for ideas and suggestions when you encounter challenges (just be sure to consult your care team before making any changes).
And more!
Thanks to DogCancer.com‘s podcasts, I was introduced to many great resources that led me to even more. I often start following many accounts, and with time, I may choose to unfollow some that may not align as well with my values or are otherwise not a fit. Visit the Pawrenting Resources page for more recommendations.
Tips
Don’t take my word for it. Your experience or views of a particular resource may differ from mine based on your journey and values.
As you start following different professionals, assess if they’re one-sided, if they address counterarguments, and how they align with your views.
The more you follow, the more viewpoints open your mind, and the more likely you will find some that rub you the wrong way. Don’t write them off because there’s one bit of content you disagree with. It’s hard. Who you follow should bring you joy or expand your knowledge. If they do neither, unfollow them.
Always consult your real-life pack (vets, specialists, trainers, groomers, and beyond), and remember – you can unfollow people in real life, too. (More to come when I tackle being your pup’s advocate!)
Today, I want to introduce you to Ziggy, the inspiration for this blog. Mostly, I want to share with you the journey we went on with him. Future posts will go into more detail about various aspects of his journey, including his Gotcha Day, the treatments we did, and the day we said goodbye.
The first second dog
Ziggy a few days after coming home, March 2019.
Ziggy was our first second dog. We brought him into our family in March of 2019. Cookie was a few months shy of her fifth birthday. She was unsure about the idea of a sibling but quickly warmed up to Ziggy, and they became inseparable.
Like most puppies, Ziggy was a bundle of energy. I mistook that energy for not being a “chill” dog, but he was actually very easygoing and the friendliest pup around.
Around the time we brought him home, things were starting to click for Cookie in the agility world, so Ziggy came with us to several agility competitions. While he didn’t do much of anything besides looking adorable, it was amazing to see how easily this puppy adapted to chaotic environments. If you’ve never been to an agility competition, it can be overwhelming – noisy from the barking and the buzzers, crowded with all kinds of dogs and people.
Cookie and Ziggy sharing a crate at the May 2019 Tailwaggers agility trial in Punta Gorda, FL.
Ziggy didn’t get much obedience training. Where we trained Cookie wasn’t offering classes, one place we dropped out of due to a lousy instructor, and many other places were either inconvenient or overpriced. Plus, we kept hoping and expecting that Cookie’s “school” would schedule classes. Thankfully, a friend (and agility instructor of Cookie’s) helped us with some training.
Ziggy and Cookie did everything together – walks, backyard shenanigans, agility trials or practices, spa appointments, and barn hunt trials. Ziggy’s sole teacher did encourage us to walk him separately and dedicate some one-on-one time with each dog. But we didn’t listen. This, however, is one of many lessons Ziggy would teach, but definitely, the key takeaway from him being the first-second dog.
The diagnosis
When Ziggy’s first Gotcha Day anniversary arrived, COVID-19 hit and I was working from home. The first few months were an incredible rollercoaster. Professionally, I went from starting remote work, being furloughed and ultimately laid off, and starting a new job remotely in just four months. Personally, I worried, like the rest of the world, about how everything would play out and what would happen if we caught COVID.
Meanwhile, Cookie and Ziggy were thrilled. The lack of a commute meant longer morning walks. Ziggy no longer had to spend whole days in his crate on the days my husband and I worked. I took my lunch breaks on our back patio so they could sunbathe, patrol the yard, and play together.
About six months into the pandemic, I noticed that Ziggy wouldn’t put weight on his hind right leg. It was so subtle I wasn’t sure if I was imagining it. The only reason I noticed anything was because I was working from home. One night, after a particularly rambunctious play session, Ziggy was obviously limping. It was time to see the vet.
September 2020 showing what I observed with Ziggy not putting weight on his right hind leg. It’s incredibly subtle. By this point, he had already done his round of anti-inflammatories, and was at least scheduled for the sedated exam and X-ray.
Based on the description of symptoms, the initial suspect was a cruciate ligament injury. Though the vet observed that his gait was off, the physical exam didn’t indicate any injury. There were two recommendations: take an anti-inflammatory and rest for two weeks, or do a sedated exam and X-ray. (Apparently, big dogs can tense up and mask these injuries, which is why a sedated exam was suggested, along with an X-ray to rule out other possibilities.)
We started with rest and anti-inflammatories. We also got a second opinion, who confirmed that there was no way Ziggy had a torn cruciate ligament. While on the anti-inflammatory, Ziggy’s limping went away, and he regularly put weight on his leg.
The limping was back one or two days after he was done with the anti-inflammatory. We opted to do the sedated exam and X-ray.
October 2, 2020 was the day we heard it was cancer. The bone in his hind leg was severely wasted away. Looking at the image, it doesn’t take a professional to see something wrong.
As the vet explained, lysis meant the bone was eaten away.
We were devastated. Ziggy wasn’t quite two years old. We were also in denial. While waiting for the oncologist’s consult, we again got a second opinion. We hoped that we’d find that it was a fungal infection, but that was an incredibly uncommon diagnosis given where we live.
The oncologist confirmed the diagnosis and recommended amputation. It wasn’t an easy decision, but knowing that it wouldn’t take much for Ziggy to have a catastrophic break, requiring an emergency amputation, helped make the decision.
Ziggy’s hind leg was amputated on October 27, 2020 – about two months before his second birthday.
Despite having tissue biopsied as part of the amputation, it wouldn’t be until December that we learned what kind of cancer Ziggy had: hemangiosarcoma.
Pixar Ziggy! While recovering from the amputation, Ziggy reminded us of the Pixar lamp.
Treatment
Hemangiosarcoma is a horrible cancer. One that often leads to sudden, even traumatic, death. The fact that it presented in Ziggy’s bone, incredibly uncommon, is something I clung to as I hoped that he would defy the odds.
Armed with a diagnosis, Ziggy began chemotherapy in January of 2021. I started cooking for him during his chemo treatments to reduce his kibble intake. Any supplement that might help was added to his regimen. We found a holistic veterinarian. I dove into learning anything and everything I could that would possibly extend his life.
And we focused on giving him a high quality of life. He got lots of treats and toys; we started frequenting the local botanical garden and a doggy ice cream shop, bought a massive stroller for him to enjoy long walks in, and took him to Key West.
Ziggy loved going for strolls. This one was in Key West, May 2021.
After he finished chemo, we started Ziggy on a low-dose chemo pill at home. He was on that until the very end. Every couple of months he would get chest X-rays and an abdominal ultrasound. We breathed a deep sigh of relief each time they came back clear.
Celebrating his last chemo treatment, April 2021!
Final Months
In January of 2022, we were devastated once again. A couple of days before a barn hunt trial, Ziggy went in for his scans. Our vet called. They found a small mass on his spleen that looked to be bleeding slightly. Splenic hemangiosarcoma, the most common form of hemangiosarcoma.
We canceled the barn hunt trial and miraculously scheduled a splenectomy within about a week of the scans. Surgery was successful, and sutures were removed.
We had a couple of good weeks following the surgery before Ziggy’s health took a turn. He underwent a blood transfusion after he started bleeding internally. Ziggy recovered, but he wasn’t the same. We got enough time to prepare and create a few final memories.
Ziggy crossed the rainbow bridge on March 12, 2022. Not a day goes by that I don’t think about or talk to him.
The Blessings
Ziggy’s story can seem sad or even tragic, given he died a few months after his third birthday. His story is filled with blessings, and that’s what I focus on most.
First, Ziggy was the happiest dog, and the best patient a dog could be. He was all smiles after being hospitalized to have a blood transfusion. His attitude is a big reason choosing the treatments we did wasn’t as difficult as they could have been.
Ziggy, happy to be headed home after his splenectomy, January 2022.
Second, the COVID-19 pandemic allowed me to be with him 24/7 to notice that he wasn’t putting weight on his hind leg. Would we have noticed otherwise? Maybe. But it probably would have taken longer, and who knows how much the cancer would have spread by then. Or maybe we wouldn’t have discovered it until he had a traumatic fracture on the weakened bone.
Third, the ongoing pandemic, plus joining a startup that was remote first, allowed me continued flexibility to work from home full-time. Being home made it easier to get to vet appointments and monitor Ziggy’s recovery from his scans and surgeries.
Get well card from work ahead of Ziggy’s amputation, October 2020.
Lastly, we were able to prepare. The loss of a beloved furbaby is never easy. But Ziggy living with cancer for 17 months post-diagnosis allowed us to prepare. It ensured that we focused on quality of life and prioritized making memories. Even when the mass was found on his spleen, we had almost three months with him.
Ziggy’s Legacy
There is so much that Ziggy taught me and that I have learned. I’m doing things differently for both Cookie and Chip. And that is my mission with this blog. I want to capture and share what I’ve learned.
I’m not a veterinarian, dog trainer, or other canine professional. I am a devoted dog mom who wants to encourage everyone to learn more so we can do better by the pups that leave pawprints on our hearts.
pawrentingtails.com 