About the Samdog

Samdog is a 10 yr old Golden and retired Search And Rescue (SAR) dog.

When he was a pup, we quickly realized he was smart.  As he grew, we learned he was strong.   His big brown eyes have always given me exactly the information that I need, when I need it and with this cancer business, it has been no different.

After 8 years of being  SAR partners I know and trust my dog.  I noticed the limp.  It was slight, someone else may not have even seen it.  But we did.  We put his old bones on some rimadyl…  10 days of rimadyl, there wasn’t any improvment – in fact, it was worse…  not bad, not yet…  but we noticed.   We had been scheduled to go on vacation the following week and neither my nor my hunny were comfortable with that limp.  So he went to the vet.

8/17/12 – the x-ray showed a bone mass in his right arm. (vacation = cancelled)
8/20/12 – it isn’t valley fever
8/21/12 – Dr S (love her) looked at his lungs (No Mets!!!) and tried a needle biopsy.
8/22/12 – the biopsy confirms, sarcoma.  But his bloodwork was perfect, thyroid good, and the decision was made to amputate his arm

8/23/12 – Day one as a tripaw.

9/6/12 -First chemo session.

He is still smart, he is still strong, and he gave us just enough information to figure it out.  We pray he gave us the hint soon enough, that we caught it all – but only time will tell us that.

He is always up for an adventure.  We will see where this one takes us.  At least we know we are going together as a family.