Pokey has Tonsil Cancer

by Mary Doherty
(Venice, FL)

Today I received the most devastating news a doggie parent could ever receive. My baby has tonsil cancer.

Pokey, the love of our lives, is a 7 year old mutt who we adopted when he was 6 weeks old. He was such a blessing for my husband and I who instantly fell in love when we first looked at him. He was a birthday present for me (and he will never say it out loud but for him too!)

His health was always top notch! Until now...

It began a month ago when he seemed to be more tired than usual. Our vet discovered a swollen lymph node. She ran some blood tests and they all looked great! So with that diagnosis, he received some antibiotics to fight the infection.

A couple of weeks later he was having trouble eating. I thought he had something stuck in his throat and rushed him to an ER hosptial to get checked out. It was then the ER vet found the left tonsil to be inflammed. He was again prescribed an antibiotic, anti-inflammatory and pain medicine.

Another week passed and no improvement so I brought him back to his regular Vet and we decided to have the tonsil removed and biopsied.

The actual diagnosis is Malignant Neoplasia. The lab could not really determine if it was Lymphoma or Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

We do not know how long our precious bundle will be with us but we pray that we can keep him as comfortable and as happy as we can for the time we have.

You always know when you adopt a dog that it is inevitable that their time is short but you never, ever are prepared for it.

Thanks for reading and I wish for all of the doggie parents on this forum that your little one is comforted with you and happy. If there was ever a time to spoil them to the extreme - it's now.