This is Duke, he’s 12 years old and I’ve been fortunate enough to have him in my life since he was a puppy. He’s always been such a sweet, loving dog to everyone he meets. He’s handled his age so well that you’d never guess anything serious was going on until now.

Recently, two separate ultrasound evaluations have confirmed a large mass in his abdomen. Both findings identified the same concern, but due to the position and orientation of the mass, it’s not possible to clearly determine exactly what it is attached to.

Based on his age, breed, and what was seen on the initial imaging, the veterinary team has explained that there is a very high concern for a serious and malignant condition called hemangiosarcoma, which is an aggressive form of cancer that develops from blood vessels.

They have made it clear that, regardless of the exact diagnosis, masses like this are extremely dangerous due to the high probability of sudden rupture and internal hemorrhaging. There is no low risk scenario at this stage, and the situation is considered urgent either way.

At this time, the vet is unable to identify what the mass is or whether nearby organs have been affected. Because of this uncertainty, they are recommending an urgent CT scan as the first step to determine:

My hope is that the mass is isolated to the spleen, which would qualify Duke to be a candidate for surgical intervention. If CT scan findings show signs of metastasis, he would not be eligible for this procedure. Therefore, the remaining funds would instead go toward chemotherapy or palliative care to keep him as comfortable as possible.

The cost of the CT scan is approximately $2,800, and the potential surgical procedure is estimated at around $4,500.

Although there is the option to skip the CT scan and proceed directly to exploratory surgery, the veterinarian has explained that if they begin surgery and find more extensive involvement than expected, they may have to make the difficult decision to euthanize Duke while he is still under anesthesia. As much as I want to do everything possible for him, it is incredibly important to me that I am there with Duke to comfort him and say goodbye when the time comes. Because of this, completing a CT scan first is an important step so I can better understand what we’re facing and make sure I don’t risk losing that chance.

Unfortunately, the medical expenses are more than I am able to manage on my own, but I want to do everything possible to give Duke a chance at diagnosis and possible treatment while there are still options available.

Any donation, no matter how small, will go directly toward his medical care. If you are unable to donate, sharing this page would mean just as much.

Thank you for taking the time to read about my Dukey boy. ❤️