Author: Natalie Thompson
Imagine facing life altering surgery for your pet. 
Meet Lou! We met Lou earlier this year in January when she came in for a second opinion on a mass that she had in her mouth. Despite eating and drinking normally, the mass seemed painful to the touch and had been diagnosed as a Papillary Squamous Cell Carcinoma, a type of oral cancer that can be fatal if not treated.
The good news? This cancer can be cured if removed. Since the mass was in her lower jaw, or mandible, this meant a full Mandibulectomy – or removing her lower jaw. After speaking with Lou’s parents, they made the tough decision to move forward with removing her jaw. On February 3rd, Lou came in for surgery, and with the exception of her last two teeth, she lost her entire lower jaw. The removed jaw was sent to a laboratory for testing and a few days later we got the good news that we had clean margins, and Lou was now cancer free.
Lou made leaps and bounds in recovery despite a small setback a few weeks later that was easily treated with antibiotics. Her family has worked relentlessly with her to make sure her mouth stayed clean, even changing diets until they found one she could easily eat.
Lou and her family visited us yesterday and she has 100% recovered, even getting the clearance to play ball again. While still learning how to pick up rogue treats off of the ground, she has made such a remarkable recovery and can expect to live a long, healthy life.
Choosing such a significant surgery for a young dog is a heart-wrenching decision. We are deeply grateful for Lou’s incredible family, whose unwavering love and dedication made her recovery possible. Lou’s story is a testament to their love and her strength