We got the results from pathology regarding the growth that was biopsied in Louise’s mouth. It is a fast-growing tumor that destroys the jaw called Canine Acanthamotous Ameloblastoma (CAA).
WARNING: Stop reading now if you will get uncomfortable with the details.
Basically, she has a mass in the lower part of her front jaw that is visible and is around her front teeth. The good news is that CAA has never been reported to spread to other parts of the body (metastasize), so it is often called ‘benign.’ However, it is locally aggressive and her tumor is doubling in size every 10 days or so. Underneath what we see it is destroying the jaw bone. It is life-threatening.
The first option for treatment, due to a large amount of underlying bone involved, is to surgically remove a portion of the jaw, called a mandibulectomy (graphic link), and to take large margins around the tumor to ensure it is all removed. For patients, like Louise, where surgery is not an option because of multiple reasons, the second option would be radiation.
Louise turned 12 last October. The normal life expectance of a dog her size is 10 to 12 years. She has pancreatitis and irritable bowel disease. Figuring out what health intervention is in her best interest is one of the hardest decisions we ever had to make. We do not want to put her through either of these options. The surgery would take her lower jaw, which I think at her age would be a difficult recovery to regain function, and the side-effects of radiation are horrible (if her IBD would even tolerate it.)
I have started a Facebook group dedicated to this journey. It is called Canine Acanthamotous Ameloblastoma – Dog Oral Tumors Please feel free to join if you want to follow what is going on. I am not going to fill DogDaz with her medical stuff because it is graphic and sad, so I will put it there.
Keep us in your prayers as we go through this thing. We are heartbroken.
Please, don’t post any negative comments on the choices we have made for Louise’s care – they will be deleted.
NOT Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤ 
Tags: canine acanthomatous ameloblatoma, dog, dog health, Dog People, dog rescue, DogBlog, DogDaz, Dogs, lorian lipton, oral tumor
Charlie, you have come a long way from this adoption picture online (who named you ‘Chi-chi Forest?’).
You are our Mr. Charles, the Mugwump, Handsome.
Happy 5 years of Gotcha days, Charles.
You are a superstar here at DogDaz Zoo.
We are so glad you rescued us.
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤
Tags: adoptdontshop, Dog People, dog rescue, DogBlog, DogDaz, gotcha, lorian lipton, Pet adoption, pet blog, pomchi
Louise here. Sofie decided that she was too tired to continue on our walk. She laid down in a neighbor’s yard and just would not move. So Mommy left her there and continued on with me. Sofie wasn’t sure if she liked that idea, but I did. I am tired of those other 2 goofballs tagging along on my walks.
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤
Tags: dog, Dog People, dog rescue, dog walking, DogBlog, DogDaz, Dogs, lorian lipton, Pet, pets
From our Zoo to yours, may your lights burn brightly,
your latkes be crisp, and
your dreidle always land on ‘take it all.’
HAPPY HANUKKAH!
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤
Tags: Blog, blog hop, Cat, cat rescue, dog, Dog People, dog rescue, DogBlog, DogDaz, Dogs, Hanukkah, lorian lipton, Pet, pets
Sofie Bear turns 11 years young tomorrow. How did that happen so fast?
I love this goofball! She teaches me so much every day.
Happy Birthday!
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤
Tags: Blog, dog, dog birthday, Dog People, dog rescue, DogBlog, DogDaz, Dogs, lorian lipton, Pet, pets
When I whine too much, which is like every night Mom says, she takes the brush out and starts to brush me. I hate to be brushed, so I move just out of reach. Sometimes Mom will brush Louise, but her coat is so short, that even though she sheds 24/7/365 days a year, the brush doesn’t do much. Me, on the other paw, has so much fur that you could make another dog. The other day when Mom was brushing me I ran away to Lulu. We held paws in solidarity so that Mom would stop this brush abuse. We girls have to stick together.
PS. That little dodo Charles loves to be brushed. He is just so weird. I would never hold hands with him!
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤
Tags: Blog, bonded pair, dog, dog brush, dog grooming, Dog People, dog rescue, DogBlog, DogDaz, Dogs, lorian lipton, Pet, pets
It takes a lot of us to help Mom get ready for bed. You would think that all she needs to do is pull down her covers and jump in, but noooooo! Louise needs 3 little cookies on her bed (or she paces); Charlie needs one and he wants Mini Cooper to go away while he eats it; Sofie wants to know if there are any extra cookies in the nightstand. Noel wants nothing to do with all these dogs and has left to go see if there are any cat treats in the kitchen and Nine is downstairs sleeping in his bed in the laundry room (until about 3 am when he and Mini pick on Noel and wake everyone up). How would Mom ever get to bed without us?
(Yes, Mom collects M&M machines (if you noticed them in the bookcase). Kind of like she collects silly dogs and cats 🙂
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤
Tags: Blog, cats, dog, Dog People, dog rescue, DogBlog, DogDaz, Dogs, lorian lipton, Pet, pets
I think it is funny that Louise crosses her paws when she is laying down. There is actually a scientific term for that behavior called “polite paws.” Some behaviorists say that it is a way that animals (yes cats do it too) are trying to communicate with us. I think it is really just for comfort, like humans crossing their legs. Lulu definitely looks relaxed when she does it. She is a very polite dog, that is fur sure.
Do you have polite paws?
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤
Tags: Blog, crossed legs, dog, Dog People, dog rescue, DogBlog, DogDaz, Dogs, lorian lipton, Pet, pets, plott hound mix, polite paws
Puppy Lulu 2010
Lulu in the leaves
Lulu loves Mojo
Big Girl Louise
Gimme that! It’s mine!
2015
Louise, aka Lulu Bell, aka BooBoo head, is one of the sweetest dogs once she knows you. From the day this shy, fearful, mange-covered, pup with a collar embedded in her neck, came to the Zoo, she has taught us much about patience and quiet strength.
Happy 12th birthday my sweet girl!!!!
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤
Tags: animals, Dog People, DogBlog, DogDaz, lorian lipton, lovemydog, pet blog, plott hound mix
I tried to get a picture of all 3 dogs in the fall montage at the entrance to my neighborhood, but Charles did not like it at all and wanted to go home. He is not one to sit quietly and look pretty and I made the mistake of trying to force him to sit, which ended with him trying to eat my hand (no damage done).
The next day, I got Louise and Sofie to sit in the grass but because Sofie needs to lay down (she can’t sit very long anymore because of her arthritis), she is kind of hidden behind a bush. At least Louise will listen and look at me (sometimes). 🙂
Another DogDaz Photo Fail. Happy Fall!
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤
Tags: Blog, dog, Dog People, dog rescue, DogBlog, DogDaz, Dogs, Fall, lorian lipton, Pet, pet photography, pets
DogDaz Zoo 