Help Shannon’s best friend fight cancer

My name is Shannon and I’d like to introduce my furry (best) friend, Presley.

Yesterday, Presley scooted up close to me snuggling in bed after a slow weekend. I noticed yesterday that he wasn’t as excited about his morning walk the way that he usually is. (He’s usually busting down the door and practically grabbing his leash himself). Upon further observation throughout the day, Presley was noticeably more and more lethargic. As a 9 year old dog who still has the heart of an actual puppy and a face to match, I knew that this was getting more and more unlike him.

After deciding not to wait until the next day to have him looked at, I got him a spot at a local emergency veterinary hospital, assuming that this would be a painless visit and Presley would be back to chasing squirrels in no time.

The veterinarian performed x-rays, noticing some built up gas in Presley’s belly and upon checking the x-rays, found metastatic nodules in Presley’s lungs when she performed the chest x-ray. Unfortunately, she is unable to determine where the cancer is spreading from until he receives and ultrasound (today at 11am).

I am absolutely gutted and heartbroken writing this, as it feels surreal. He was a happy, normal, albeit goofy black lab until he suddenly wasn’t.

Here is the limited information I have right now:

Presley’s blood work came back normal, outside of showing signs of fighting something off.

When the ultrasound is completed, we’ll have a better idea of where the cancer has spread from, but it’s far enough along that it has gotten to the point where it has spread to his lungs, so treatment options are limited. He will not be able to have surgery due to the primary tumor not originating in his lungs. Chemotherapy *may* be an option, but it would depend on where the cancer is originating from.

The vet has encouraged me to start thinking about palliative care via medication and management so that, if all else fails, Presley can have the most enjoyable and painless rest of the time he has left.

I have tears streaming down my face thinking about my best friend. I wish I could say that I had unlimited financial resources, but a single income only goes so far and the vet bills will pile up. I just want to try and give Presley everything I can, because truly, in the 9 years that I’ve had him, he’s given me so much more.

thanks so much for reading. ♥️