Butters is a vibrant, kind, friendly 7 year old golden retriever. Which is why it was surprising and heartbreaking to discover he has a cancerous thyroid tumor pressing on his esophagus. He is taking in air when he eats or drinks making him bloat for hours and each bloating episode makes a serious and life threatening bloat episode more likely. Surgery gives him the chance for many more happy functional years. Without surgery, I may need to euthanize a young, otherwise healthy dog to save him a painful and terrifying death. Thyroid surgery is specialized and therefore very expensive and he likely will need radiation and/or chemotherapy following surgery. Total estimate is over $15,000.