Candi's Page

Weight: 67
Breed: Golden Retriever
Age when diagnosed: 13

Tumors:

While living in Iowa, I worked with Ralph & Jean Madsen from Waverly teaching obedience classes and showing their dogs. "Teagen" was one of their females that I showed and asked to buy, but, they just couldn't let her go, but did agree to do a repeat breeding and than allowed me to have "pick of the litter". On November 5, 1992 arrived a very special golden ball of fur, Glorybee's Apple of My Eye, aka, Candi "Monster".

Candi started a show career but had to end that, due to flair ups of pyometra (infection of the uterus due to hormone imbalances) and the need to be spayed. When she was spayed we also removed 2 mammary tumors which were shown to be benign. A few years later, we found a couple more mammary nodules and had those removed, also found to be benign. Around January of 2006, I found another mammary nodule and decided to take a wait and watch approach. At this time Candi was 13+ years old.

On April 6, 2006 while being out of town we received a phone call from our pet sitter, who was a 4th yr vet student at K-State Vet School saying that Candi was limping on her left rear leg. We got home on Friday and of course she was happy to see Mom & Dad and had a slight limp so I thought she had just strained a muscle from jumping or going in and out of the doggie door. On April 10th we had her checked out at K-State where we took xrays, bloodwork and had a physical exam. On April 13th we did a neurological and ortho exam. By this time 6 or 7 different Drs had seen us and no one could figure out what was wrong. I did discuss with them the mammary nodule and her history and we decided we should do an aspirate. The aspirate came back showing some abnormal cells and it was recommended we have it removed...so back into surgery on May 4th. Pathology came back negative. At this time she was limping off and on and it was recommended we keep her on Deramaxx and see how she does. When I first got the phone call that Candi was limping, my initial thought was..."bone cancer". Why did I think this? Mammary tumors/cancer are precursors to bone cancer. I had even told the vets of my thoughts, yet all xrays and tests showed that it wasn't, until... June 19, 2006. Candi had gotten an ear infection and during the exam the vet found a lump on her left rear leg that wasn't there before. We did xrays, leg & lungs, and it was confirmed that she had a "lytic bone lesion" and lung xrays were clear. This is where it got really hard. Candi was 13 yrs 7 months old...how could I do a leg amputation?... how could I put her thru chemo?...could she survive surgery at her age?...could we afford it?...I decided I was going to take some time to think about our options only to have her fall 4 days later and fracture her leg. We were gone for a couple hours and came home to one of the worst situations I have walked in on. I can't even begin to tell you the anguish and guilt I felt, coming home and finding her laying there and not being able to get up. I kept her comfortable thru the weekend, back to the vets on Monday, June 26th, my birthday where we again discussed the options and what I wanted to do. Over the weekend, I found the BCD group and found a world of knowledge and hearts as big and caring as the ocean. They made me realize the amount of pain Candi was in and the amp would relieve that pain and that if I chose chemo, it does not affect a dog like it does a person. So with that, we had the amp done on June 30, 2006 and it was confirmed thru pathology it was OS.
She came home raring to go. Slept alot the first week and a half, but never stopped eating and still wanted to go on her daily walks. Now if her health would not have been as good as it was and her hip xrays "looking like that of a 5 yr old dog" (according to the radiologist) I probably would have chosen a different route, but I owed it to her to give her every fighting chance. On July 13th, my mom & dad's anniversary, we had our 1st round of chemo, Doxorubicin. We did 5 rounds every other week with our last round being on Sept 7, 2006. The only side effect she had from chemo was that for 1-2 days afterward, she was tired, but again, never stopped eating. With the last chemo, I told the vets I was not going to just throw this to the wind and wait and see what happens, I wanted to do what I could for her to fight this. We than started Doxycycline and Piroxicam, two components of the Metronomic Protocol. We continued to do bloodwork and chest xrays once per month..

November came things were still going well, on November 5th, Candi turned 14. We had a big party with steaks, DQ ice cream and presents. On November 14th her front right leg swelled up. Took her to K-State where again, they could find nothing, probably a muscle strain and sent us home on Clavamox. On Saturday, November 25th we were on our way home from an out of town Thanksgiving and got a call from our pet sitter that Candi was laying down, couldn't get up and had wet herself. When we got home she instantly perked up, still not herself but much better. Called K-State on Monday, told them that perhaps her time had come. When we got there most all the vets & vet students we had worked with, including the 2 that were our pet sitters, met us. It was determined that Candi probably had some metastisis to the brain and she had probably had a seizure. They told us we could make a decision than, or take her home, love her up and take it one day at a time, which is what we did. Again, the guilt I felt for not having been there tore me apart. I have always promised that I would not let my dogs suffer and that I would let them go with dignity. As I said, we had to take it one day at a time…everyday, I was amazed at how well she was doing. Our vet, Dr. Akers called everyday to see how she and we were doing. She was surprised but not amazed by the amount of fight Candi had in her! In my mind I kept thinking, it will probably be tomorrow and tomorrow would come and go and we would be looking at the next day. The next day was Friday, December 1st, that was the day that Candi had a seizure and I knew it was time if not past time. It was at 8:15 pm that we told her what a true hero she was and how stoic she had been, thru this all. I also told her how much she had taught me and that if ever faced with such adversity, I hope I can face it with the grace and dignity that she did. As she gently closed her eyes, I told her I would see her again someday and until than know that she will forever be in my heart and I loved her!

It was in seeing the strength of other BCD members that allowed me to have an autopsy done. It wasn't until I got those results that I really realized how strong she was and the true hero she was. Candi had fought and won against OS, it was another very aggressive cancer, hemangiosarcoma that had taken her. Pathology showed that she had metastasis to the liver, lungs, skin, intestines, lymph nodes, kidney and brain. With all that going on, she never quit fighting and that is why today I refer to her as "Golden Extraordinaire" Angel Candi. I honor her by sharing her story and memories with you.

I do want to say, just because your dog is older, doesn't mean they cannot have an amp or they shouldn't have chemo. If they are healthy, hips are good and in good weight, go for it. Candi was old in age but young in heart and her fight! What doubts I had in the beginning, were quickly put to rest when I saw the strength, will and determination she had! She is truly an inspiration. My heart goes out to anyone having to face this, I don't promise you it will be easy, but, every situation is different and whatever decision you make, there is no wrong decision, you do what is best for you, your situation and your dog. Just know that there are a lot of options out there. Don’t give up hope and “You Just Gotta Believe”.

Paws & Hugs
Debbie & “Golden Extraordinaire” Angel Candi

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