Safira's cancer removal surgery
Donation protected
Hi there! Ingo here.
Something sad - but finally happy - happened recently.
Safira had a lump on her belly, like many others she's had before, but it grew a little too fast. We took her to the vet and even though it could just be another fatty tissue deposit, we chose to have it removed.
Turns out that on the day of the surgery the vet found 4 other growths on her mamary glands - Safi had mamary cancer! With this sad news, we went ahead with the surgery - a very invasive one, and it took way longer than we all expected.
When it was time to pick her up, there was another complication: the suture wasn't coagulating, her blood simply wouldn't clot. We had to take her to an emergency veterinary hospital in a neighbouring town, where she'd be monitored ovenight.
Blod tests showed that her platelet count was appalingly low - apparently her body had been fighting the cancer and depleted them. Also, she showed signs of a rare auto-immune condition that helped lower this count. Dogs are expected to have a count of 200.000 platelets on these tests, 100.000 would be iffy, and 50.000 would be for a really sick animal. Safi had under 20.000...
With more tests and stronger medication, she came around, even though we are still having to visit the vet weekly and the stitches are still there (some 20 of them), but not before having us thinking that our 11 year old friend would be leaving us shortly. That night sucked.
Safi's health since has been much better. A second round of tests shows a slow but steady regaining of the platelets in her blood. Her appetite has been better than ever. She's going on walks and all.
But as life for me and Alayna goes back to normal, we are faced with the financial strain that these procedures usually entail. Our bill is so far north of USD$3.000, and we will still have to visit the vet regularly for a while. Besides, we will have to do more exams in the near future to make sure the cancer didn't spread anywhere else. We do know that her lungs are good though :)
This is the first time I'm using this kind of platform, and what made me think of it was remembering how many people back in Brazil - but also all over the world - know and love Safi. It made me think that some of you folks could pitch in, hopefully. I know she's had several honorary fathers and mother over the course of her life, and we could use your help in this time of need.
I hope this looooong message didn't bore you too much, and it finds you in good spirits and good health.
My love to you all,
from Ingo, Alayna and our little trooper SAFIRA!
Something sad - but finally happy - happened recently.
Safira had a lump on her belly, like many others she's had before, but it grew a little too fast. We took her to the vet and even though it could just be another fatty tissue deposit, we chose to have it removed.
Turns out that on the day of the surgery the vet found 4 other growths on her mamary glands - Safi had mamary cancer! With this sad news, we went ahead with the surgery - a very invasive one, and it took way longer than we all expected.
When it was time to pick her up, there was another complication: the suture wasn't coagulating, her blood simply wouldn't clot. We had to take her to an emergency veterinary hospital in a neighbouring town, where she'd be monitored ovenight.
Blod tests showed that her platelet count was appalingly low - apparently her body had been fighting the cancer and depleted them. Also, she showed signs of a rare auto-immune condition that helped lower this count. Dogs are expected to have a count of 200.000 platelets on these tests, 100.000 would be iffy, and 50.000 would be for a really sick animal. Safi had under 20.000...
With more tests and stronger medication, she came around, even though we are still having to visit the vet weekly and the stitches are still there (some 20 of them), but not before having us thinking that our 11 year old friend would be leaving us shortly. That night sucked.
Safi's health since has been much better. A second round of tests shows a slow but steady regaining of the platelets in her blood. Her appetite has been better than ever. She's going on walks and all.
But as life for me and Alayna goes back to normal, we are faced with the financial strain that these procedures usually entail. Our bill is so far north of USD$3.000, and we will still have to visit the vet regularly for a while. Besides, we will have to do more exams in the near future to make sure the cancer didn't spread anywhere else. We do know that her lungs are good though :)
This is the first time I'm using this kind of platform, and what made me think of it was remembering how many people back in Brazil - but also all over the world - know and love Safi. It made me think that some of you folks could pitch in, hopefully. I know she's had several honorary fathers and mother over the course of her life, and we could use your help in this time of need.
I hope this looooong message didn't bore you too much, and it finds you in good spirits and good health.
My love to you all,
from Ingo, Alayna and our little trooper SAFIRA!
Organizer
Ingo Duarte
Organizer
Vallejo, CA