Support Anakin's Fight Against Cancer

Help Us Give Anakin the Best Care in His Fight Against Cancer

In 2019, we adopted Anakin from the Wisconsin Humane Society when he was just 3 months old. Since then, he’s become an inseparable part of our family, joining our two other dogs, Obi and Izzy, and our cat, Boba. Over the past five years, Anakin has brought endless joy and love into our lives. For anyone who’s met Anakin, you know how incredibly sweet he is. He’s a true snuggler, always with a wagging tail and a wiggle butt that never quits, even throughout this challenging journey.

About three weeks ago, we noticed some changes in Anakin’s behavior—he was drinking more water than usual and had a few accidents in the house. We quickly took him to the vet, thinking it might be a bladder infection. After some blood work, the results showed that his calcium levels were quite high, and further testing was needed. We were hopeful that it could be a treatable condition like hyperparathyroidism, but as we waited over a week for results, Anakin’s health declined significantly. He stopped eating, became extremely lethargic, and we grew increasingly worried.

We rushed him to the emergency vet, where he was hospitalized for two days to bring his calcium levels back down. After an ultrasound and more testing, we received the heartbreaking news: Anakin was diagnosed with mediastinal lymphoma on August 27th.

Mediastinal lymphoma is a rare type of cancer in dogs that affects the lymph tissue in the chest cavity, known as the mediastinum. This type of cancer can cause a large mass to form in the chest or fluid to build up. Anakin is now on prednisone, a steroid that will help reduce inflammation and shrink the mass in his chest. While this drug will not cure his cancer, it can help manage the symptoms and improve his quality of life.

The average lifespan for a dog with this type of cancer on prednisone is 4-6 weeks. However, we have heard stories of other pups with similar diagnoses and treatments living longer, and we are holding onto hope. We are determined to make Anakin’s remaining time with us as comfortable and joyful as possible.

Unfortunately, these unexpected medical costs have added up quickly. We’ve endured numerous vet visits, blood tests, emergency care, and medications. We would be deeply grateful for any support you can offer to help us cover these expenses and provide Anakin with the best care possible during this difficult time.

Anakin has always been a light in our lives, and we want to ensure he feels all the love and comfort he has given us. If you can donate, any amount will make a difference. If you’re unable to contribute financially, we would be so thankful if you could share this page and keep Anakin in your thoughts.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for being part of Anakin’s journey.

With gratitude,

Crystal, Brock, Anakin, Obi, Izzy and Boba