Earlier this year, pet owners Glen and Renee shared with us the story of their dog Trooper, who was diagnosed with cancer. In their words, here is his inspiring tale…
Inuit sled dogs have changed little since people migrated with them to the North American Arctic across the Bering Strait from Siberia, according to researchers who have examined DNA from the dogs from that time span.
In 2016, 4-year-old English bulldog Henry Hudson was diagnosed with a mast cell tumor (MCT) on his leg. The MCT was surgically removed with complete margins, but his veterinarian suggested that he be taken to the UC Davis veterinary hospital for chemotherapy.
The UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine is one of three national participants in the Vaccination Against Canine Cancer Study. Cancer is the leading cause of death in dogs (accounting for approximately 30 percent of all deaths), and this will be the largest clinical trial conducted to date for canine cancer.
Riley, a 14-year-old Irish terrier, was referred to the UC Davis veterinary hospital for a dental examination in December 2015. Upon examination by the Dentistry and Oral Surgery Service, a pea-sized black mass was discovered on the roof of his mouth. Veterinarians suspected the mass to be an oral melanoma tumor—a cancer that could be fatal within 3-6 months if not treated aggressively—and submitted a tissue sample for biopsy.
Barclay, a 5-year-old lab Labrador retriever, has loads of personality and is happiest when he is retrieving something for you, whether it’s a ball, a toy, or a random stick that he finds. He is particularly known for his dog hugs in which he puts his paws on your shoulders and lays his head gently down on your chest – unexpected gentleness from such a big dog. And, like most Labs, he can sometimes be naughty and get into food if you turn your back for a second. On occasion he has eaten strange things like a cantaloupe, skin and all, and even a bag of dried lentil beans.
On the website for their four Grove restaurants in San Francisco, owners Anna and Ken Zankel have lists of things that are important to them. Anna’s “Things I love” list includes “Baron’s waggy tail and Bubba’s meow.” Ken’s “Things that rock” list includes “people that make other people’s and animals’ lives better.” It’s pretty clear the Zankels love animals.
Penny, a 7-year-old female poodle mix, first came to the UC Davis veterinary hospital in 2016. Through more than 100 visits to the hospital over the past three years, her pet parents have helped Penny battle immune mediated thrombocytopenia – a condition that caused Penny’s immune system to attack and destroy her own blood platelets. Without platelets, Penny’s blood would be unable to clot properly, putting her at risk of bleeding to death with even minor injuries.
Dakota, a 9-year-old male German shepherd, was diagnosed with a mass on his kidney and was taken to see the oncology specialists at the UC Davis veterinary hospital.
Cancer can be a devastating diagnosis for any pet owner. But now, thanks to new advanced imaging equipment known as the Mini Explorer II, UC Davis veterinarians can diagnose and treat disease earlier, with greater precision.
