Willow's Mast Cell Tumor Removal
Donation protected
Who is Willow?
Willow is a Red and White Boston Terrier - my little peanut (in fact she answers to it). I adopted Willow from MidAmerica Boston Terrier Rescue (a great organization that I also foster for) three years ago in June. Willow was a breeder surrender at the tender age (guestamite) of two. When she first arrived home she was so skinny she could fit through my picket fence so I had to line the whole thing with chicken wire - that is no longer the case ;o) Willow adores her Boston Terrier brother, Kirby. Willow also loves people and believes it is her duty to smother all other dogs with kisses. Willow received her name because her eyes water excessively due to the change in air allergens in MN vs MO (her foster home) and that is actually how she got her name - I would say to her "you're just like a weeping Willow" - and it stuck. I have created videos of Willow if you would like to view, they are on YouTube - The Kirby and Willow Channel There you will also find videos I created to showcase a foster dog for potential adopters.
Why am I asking for Money?
Last year Willow began developing a growth under her right eye. It could have been a sty, an ingrown hair, or an array of other growths dogs develop. It doesn't bother her and it never seemed to change until this summer when it started to really grow. I took her to my vet to talk about getting it removed, because she will scratch it while playing with her brother Kirby. My vet did a biopsy and the results were a Mast Cell Tumor. Today Willow and I went to see a specialist at BluePearl Veterinary Partners to talk about surgery options. Just to have the appointment was $150. There are pre-surgery tests that they would like to do to check to see if the cancer has spread, and if it has, eliminate the need for surgery altogether. From ultrasounds, blood tests, radiographs, cytology, and sedation is $1504.75. The actual surgery, should I opt for eye removal (surgery explained below) is estimated $2,351.53 - $2,428.53. To keep the eye will be an estimated $400 - $600 additional. I cannot schedule the pre-surgery tests before I have the $1500 and I can't schedule the surgery before I have the remaining amount.
Surgery Explained:
Being the location of the mast is near her eye, the easiest way would be to remove the eye (even though it is healthy) and ensure a greater margin of tissue is removed. To save the eye require some reconstruction surgery. Part of her lip would be used to create the eye lids and a portion of her jowls would be used to reconstruct the removal of the tumor and area around it. She would then have white fur around her right eye. There is no guarantee that she wouldn't look like a gimpoid though. Having her eye removed is what is the most upsetting to me. I don't think she would care if she looked like a gimpoid as long as she could see out of both eyes.
I go back and forth in what I fear is reconstruction that hasn't been done before and the possible reoccurrence of the tumor if enough tissue isn't removed. Willow loves to hunt bugs and I worry that without both eyes she will become a whole different and unhappy dog - I worry because my parents had a Boston that had an eye removed and he was never the same after.
Without the funds, there is no way I could afford to give her the surgery, to save her life and in that case I will just love her for however long I am blessed to have her.
Who am I?
My name is Kari and I live in the Twin Cities area of MN. I am single and work for a nonprofit organization. I love the work I do and I have two Boston Terriers, and an occasional foster. I don't live above my means and have cut every possible corner to own my home.
I lost my last little sweetheart, Olivia (adopted from American Boston Terrier Rescue in TX), three years ago in April to Congestive Heart Failure and it ripped my heart out. I always tell Willow that I think Olivia picked her to join our family, to be loved by me and Kirby.
Any extra funds given will be donated to MidAmerica Boston Terrier Rescue .
Willow is a Red and White Boston Terrier - my little peanut (in fact she answers to it). I adopted Willow from MidAmerica Boston Terrier Rescue (a great organization that I also foster for) three years ago in June. Willow was a breeder surrender at the tender age (guestamite) of two. When she first arrived home she was so skinny she could fit through my picket fence so I had to line the whole thing with chicken wire - that is no longer the case ;o) Willow adores her Boston Terrier brother, Kirby. Willow also loves people and believes it is her duty to smother all other dogs with kisses. Willow received her name because her eyes water excessively due to the change in air allergens in MN vs MO (her foster home) and that is actually how she got her name - I would say to her "you're just like a weeping Willow" - and it stuck. I have created videos of Willow if you would like to view, they are on YouTube - The Kirby and Willow Channel There you will also find videos I created to showcase a foster dog for potential adopters.
Why am I asking for Money?
Last year Willow began developing a growth under her right eye. It could have been a sty, an ingrown hair, or an array of other growths dogs develop. It doesn't bother her and it never seemed to change until this summer when it started to really grow. I took her to my vet to talk about getting it removed, because she will scratch it while playing with her brother Kirby. My vet did a biopsy and the results were a Mast Cell Tumor. Today Willow and I went to see a specialist at BluePearl Veterinary Partners to talk about surgery options. Just to have the appointment was $150. There are pre-surgery tests that they would like to do to check to see if the cancer has spread, and if it has, eliminate the need for surgery altogether. From ultrasounds, blood tests, radiographs, cytology, and sedation is $1504.75. The actual surgery, should I opt for eye removal (surgery explained below) is estimated $2,351.53 - $2,428.53. To keep the eye will be an estimated $400 - $600 additional. I cannot schedule the pre-surgery tests before I have the $1500 and I can't schedule the surgery before I have the remaining amount.
Surgery Explained:
Being the location of the mast is near her eye, the easiest way would be to remove the eye (even though it is healthy) and ensure a greater margin of tissue is removed. To save the eye require some reconstruction surgery. Part of her lip would be used to create the eye lids and a portion of her jowls would be used to reconstruct the removal of the tumor and area around it. She would then have white fur around her right eye. There is no guarantee that she wouldn't look like a gimpoid though. Having her eye removed is what is the most upsetting to me. I don't think she would care if she looked like a gimpoid as long as she could see out of both eyes.
I go back and forth in what I fear is reconstruction that hasn't been done before and the possible reoccurrence of the tumor if enough tissue isn't removed. Willow loves to hunt bugs and I worry that without both eyes she will become a whole different and unhappy dog - I worry because my parents had a Boston that had an eye removed and he was never the same after.
Without the funds, there is no way I could afford to give her the surgery, to save her life and in that case I will just love her for however long I am blessed to have her.
Who am I?
My name is Kari and I live in the Twin Cities area of MN. I am single and work for a nonprofit organization. I love the work I do and I have two Boston Terriers, and an occasional foster. I don't live above my means and have cut every possible corner to own my home.
I lost my last little sweetheart, Olivia (adopted from American Boston Terrier Rescue in TX), three years ago in April to Congestive Heart Failure and it ripped my heart out. I always tell Willow that I think Olivia picked her to join our family, to be loved by me and Kirby.
Any extra funds given will be donated to MidAmerica Boston Terrier Rescue .
Organizer
Olivia Puckett
Organizer
Shakopee, MN