2022 Success Stories Lesa

This is Lesa, an 11-year-old Pit Bull/Lab mix. Lesa is also unaltered (not spayed or desexed). 

Lesa's mom noticed she had a fatty build up on her chest and took her to the veterinarian–there, she learned that Lesa has breast cancer (or a mammary tumor). The vet mentioned that they could do x-rays to see if the cancer had spread–if the cancer hadn’t spread, they could remove the mass and hope this would provide Lesa with a few good years. If you catch breast cancer early in dogs, you can successfully treat it. Unfortunately, Lesa's mom didn’t have the money needed to get the x-rays.

According to the American College of Veterinary Surgeons, the risk of your female dog getting mammary cancer is: 

• 0.5% risk when spayed before their first heat cycle
• 8% risk when spayed after their first heat
• 26% risk when spayed after their second heat

Another staggering statistic: the risk of a female intact dog developing a malignant mammary tumor is 23-34%!

Lesa's mom is a single mom with one income. She told us that as soon as she gets caught up on bills, she feels like life throws her another financial curve ball–like Lesa's diagnosis for example. She applied to Fur Kids Foundation for help. 

FKF was able to help pay for the x-rays to see if Lesa was a candidate for surgery. Sadly, the x-rays showed that the cancer had already spread to Lesa's lungs. Lesa's mom promises to give her fur kid a wonderful life and will spoil her rotten as long as she's feeling well enough, and will look out for Lesa and do what's best for her. 

VCA Pet Hospitals reports that common signs that your dog may have breast cancer include:

• one or more firm lumps underneath the skin around the nipple 
• nipples may have abnormal discharge
• skin over the mass may open and bleed
• affected area may feel warm to the touch 
• enlarged lymph nodes in the armpits and/or groin region

If the tumor has spread to other areas of the body (metastasized), your dog may eat less, seem more tired, and lose weight. If the cancer has spread to the lungs, your dog may have problems with breathing or develop a cough.

No matter what is happening with your fur kid, at any stage of life, Fur Kids Foundation encourages you to call your veterinarian sooner rather than later.

Fur Kids Foundation also wants you to know that the best way to prevent breast cancer in female dogs is to spay them. By doing this, dog owners can practically eliminate the chances of their dog developing mammary cancer—just another benefit of spaying your pooch! 

Fur Kids Foundation is 100% run by dedicated volunteers who give their time to help the Foundation raise money with events, take applications, and spread the word about the good work the Foundation does in Campbell County, Wyoming. If you would like to help Fur Kids Foundation continue to help local families with animals afford emergency veterinary care, please consider making a tax-deductible donation via PayPal or signing up to become a volunteer. Read more Success Stories.

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