Hi, My name is Craig and this is my 8 year old black and tan Cocker Spaniel diagnosed with Chondrosarcoma.

Sadly 2023 has not been her year. Earlier this year having to resort to surgery to remove lower lip skin tissue to get rid of a prolonged infection which left her with 10 stitches in her jaw, but as ever her lust for life knows no bounds and she bounced back.

In May I discovered a lump on her lower ribs and later had x-rays taken to reveal the lump was not just on the outside ribs but also on the inside of the rib cage. A sample was obtained for a biopsy and the horrifying news followed that she has a malignant tumor know as Chondrosarcoma.

We are being referred to Edinburgh Small Dog Hospital at The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies on the 15th of August. Removal of the tumor will mean taking away 3 of Lilly's ribs. In dogs with chondrosarcoma of the ribs, the mean survival time (the average time that patients diagnosed with this disease will live) is typically 5 or more years. Lilly is currently 8 1/2 years old so there is hope for her living out the rest of her doggie years. Although there will be radiation, or chemotherapy surgeries to follow.

Lilly has no ill effects at this time as she is enjoying her life to the full, the tail never stops wagging. I have paid for the treatments so far this year which means going into this I will have £3.5K dog insurance but been advised treatment could be £7-10K.

I am putting together what I can but falling short, struggling to get any more credit/borrowing at this time. Lilly and myself would be grateful for any donation to put towards the fees for her cancer treatment.

I will update this page as we go. Next stop Edinburgh Small Dog Hospital on Tuesday August 15th.