Great Dane Lilly, aged four, was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma this month despite having no symptoms.
A Scots couple are heartbroken after their beloved dog was diagnosed with an aggressive cancer following an injury that left her with a “baseball-sized” swelling on her leg. Kelsey Kiernan and Lewis Sullivan’s world turned upside down when Great Dane Lilly, aged four, was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma this month despite having no symptoms.
The couple, who live in Chryston, North Lanarkshire, initially took Lilly to the vets after she injured her leg. After banging her leg off an object while playing at home, she sustained a “baseball-sized” swelling and was taken to the vets.
The family thought she had fractured her leg, but nothing could prepare them for what came next. Following an X-ray, she was referred to an oncologist who met her on September 8, carried out biopsies and CT scans, and amputated her full front leg and scapula (shoulder blade) on the same day.
Kelsey, 29, told Glasgow Live: “The results crushed us because we were expecting, worst case scenario, a fracture and we came out with a cancer that is going to kill our dog. It broke our hearts.
“She is so young and incredibly fit and muscular. We do a variety of high intensity, explosive dog sports together. She was ready to compete for her BH title (companion dog test) in IGP (a competitive international dog sport that evaluates a dog’s tracking, obedience, and protection skills).
“To be diagnosed with something so debilitating has broken me.” Lilly, who weighs 50 kilos, couldn’t walk on the first day she had her limbs amputated.
She would fall onto her face which was devastating for Kelsey and Lewis, 30, to see. However, since the surgery she is improving and started chemotherapy on Thursday, September 24.
Kelsey added: “She is genuinely defying all the odds and doing so well given her size and weight. Her balance isn’t perfect and she still has to think about everything she does, but she is already upbeat enough that she wants to run, jump, and play with us or my other dogs already.
“The life expectancy for dogs with osteosarcoma without pursuing treatment is very poor, she wouldn’t last more than a month or two. However dogs treated with chemotherapy have a median life expectancy of 12-14 months.
“The best possible outcome is 18 months- two years. Although there are miracle cases where dogs have lived longer. Lilly isn’t just your average pet dog though, so we have hope she can beat the odds.”
The couple have so far spent over £10k on Lilly’s treatment and her insurance has “maxed out”, meaning they need vital funds to continue her cancer treatment. Kelsey said: “The costs of all the treatment is eye-watering.
“My jaw hit the floor when they told me. This is so surreal, we didn’t see it coming. Lilly means the same as what someone’s child would mean to them.
“I have a lot of dogs and she is my soul dog. She is the most significant dog I have ever had in my life.
“I have grown so much with this dog. She has shaped my career as well, in terms of how much I help other dogs. The amount I’ve learnt from her, in the four years I’ve had her, has helped me go on to help so many other dogs.
“She meant the world to me and I can’t imagine what it would be like if she wasn’t here. Without the chemotherapy, this cancer would take her very quickly from me. There is no permanent cure and it’s a matter of giving us more time with our dog.
“This cancer is very aggressive. The support is so enlightening and I am lost for words for how kind everyone has been.”
In total, the cost of treatment is expected to reach £23,000. Support the fundraising appeal for Lilly’s treatment here.
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