How did I know?

I've always been interested in dogs, from my earliest memories I wanted a dog more than anything. I was fortunate enough to have parents that finally caved into that desire and we had a Golden Retriever through most of my High School and College years. Sunny was an awesome dog, but I can't say that she was really MY dog, she was our family's dog and I was not ever fully responsible for her.

When I graduated from college I began to research the various breeds and had my heart set on a Bullmastiff. I had always wanted a BIG dog and everything I had read and learned about Bullmastiffs screamed that they were the RIGHT DOG for me. Plus, I can remember my parents telling me, "When you have your own place and are a grownup, you can have whatever kind of dog you want!"

While I was researching and learning about the Breed, I joined a List Serve that was solely for Bullmastiff Fanciers. There was a lot of information on the breed, about showing, living with Bullmastiffs and there would always be posts about people's dogs who were sick or had died. A common thread ran through those, that even before the dogs were showing symptoms of cancer, somehow the owner knew there was something "Off". Well, honestly, I never truly believed that was possible, I mean if your dog is sick, how could you possibly know unless there were obvious symptoms.

Ten or so more years later, I faced similar situations with first Bella and then six months later, Foley, who was my first heart and soul dog. I simply knew something was wrong and unfortunately, there was, both were diagnosed with a particularly aggressive cancer called Malignant Histiocytotic Sarcoma. Both were dead before we could fully diagnose and treat.

So when Phoebe, put her head in my lap on April 24th and I felt hugely swollen lymph nodes and a squishy mass in her throat, I KNEW something was wrong. Symptomatically, aside from the swelling, Phoebe was eating, playing, sleeping and being her typical delightful self. In my heart, though, I knew she had cancer and I made the first available appointment to see our Vet, Dr. Ron.