My dog was recently diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of cancer — angiosarcoma.
My veterinarian and I have searched extensively, but there’s very little case history available on this specific type. We’re not sure if she qualifies for a clinical trial, case study, or if a veterinary student might be interested in researching her treatment. I hope that by documenting her journey, we can help other dog owners recognize the early signs of this cancer and possibly save lives through earlier detection.
I've reached out to several veterinary universities in hopes of having her case recorded. Her primary care is through Metropolitan
Veterinary Hospital: https://metro-vet.com/pay-online/
Her surgeon is Dr. John LK. If you’d like to help, donations can be made directly to the clinic in her name.
Lilo’s Story (To Date):
Lilo is a 3-year-old German Shepherd/Husky mix.
On the evening of May 19, 2025, I picked her up from daycare. They mentioned she had a small hotspot that they had to clean several times that day. When we got home, the area didn’t look right to me, so I took her to the vet the next morning (May 20).
The vet shaved the area for a better look but couldn’t determine the cause, so we were referred to the ER.
Over the next two weeks, the area began to weep fluid and blood. On May 30, she underwent surgery to clean out the wound, and cultures and biopsies were taken. That May 19 hotspot was the first sign that anything was wrong.
Lilo is high-maintenance in the best way — every morning, she insists on having her legs and stomach massaged before she gets out of bed.
On June 11, the lab results came back: cancer. By June 12, her front leg had to be amputated. Unfortunately, the pathology report later showed that the surgical margins still contained cancer cells.
In what felt like a blessing in disguise, we brought her in again on June 27 to clean up her stitches. They removed more tissue and placed a drain to help with healing.
Her first oncology appointment is scheduled for July 7.
Where We Stand Now:
Despite everything, Lilo is still happy, eating well, and wanting to play. Some people have told me I’m crazy for spending so much to try and save her. But I know I could never forgive myself if I didn’t at least try — especially when she’s still pain-free and full of life.
As of yesterday, her medical balance is $17,000, and that’s before chemotherapy.
I do have pet insurance on all four of my dogs, but in January, I lowered Lilo’s annual coverage limit to $5,000 since she’d never needed more than routine care. That $17,000 is what remains after insurance covered its maximum.
I’m sharing her story in hopes of helping other dogs and pet owners in the future. If a veterinary program, research student, or trial is looking for a case like Lilo’s, please reach out.
Thank you for your support, emotionally or otherwise.
