Griffey , who is, in the words of the applicant, "a 3 year old, purebred, AKC registered, neutered, exuberant, bouncy, energetic lab with a sweet, goofy personality". Griffey is a black male who presented about 6 months ago to his veterinarian for a lump on his jaw. Biopsy results came back as an "acanthomatous epulis". This is a growth arising from the gingiva (gum) tissue and while it is not cancerous per se it is very locally invasive and destructive typically invading the mandible (lower jawbone) and distorting its shape to the point that chewing is inhibited. Surgical removal of the growth is curative -- it does NOT spread to anywhere else in the body. His owners either could not or would not afford to have the surgery done to remove the growth .
Several months past with the growth becoming larger and larger and his ability to eat less and less. Finally the owner brought him in for euthanasia but elected instead to surrender him to the veterinary clinic. Arrangements were made for a board certified surgeon to perform the surgery at cost and he underwent a mandibulectomy (removal of part of the mandible). He has recovered very well from the surgery and he already eating normally. Prognosis for quality of life is incredibly high especially given the fact he is already eating and recovering so beautifully from the surgery. Griffey will remain in the hospital until his sutures are removed. He will then be turned over to Lab Rescue and will remain in foster care until he is completely recovered. According to the contact person at Lab Rescue, several potential forever homes are already available.
This was indeed a joint effort between the veterinary hospital, LABMED, and Labrador Life Line to provide Griffey with the life saving surgery he needed. Griffey received a very generous surgical discount and financial assistance from Lab Med and Labrador Life Line.
Labrador Life Line would like to acknowledge our supporters who continue to provide the valuable funds necessary to save dogs like Griffey. Thank you so very much!
Update received on 12 December:
"Griffey is
healing quite nicely. Yesterday he pushed the door open to our grooming facility and stole a rawhide
bone from a little poodle (naughty, naughty boy). He refused to give it up, and it turned into a
dodge and chase game. Five minutes later we finally got it away from him (food usually works), his
mouth was bleeding a bit, but he didn't even seem to notice nor did he seem to be in any discomfort.
His sutures remained intact and he just irritated the area a bit. He is such a goofy, playful,
boisterous boy that he will be missed by the hospital staff when he goes to Lab Rescue. Lab Rescue
is tentatively planning on picking him up either this weekend or Monday, pending his tomorrow recheck,
suture removal and okay from the doctor to leave the hospital. I feel like there have been a lot of
people rooting for Griffey, and it's a good feeling to know that so many people cared enough to help
him and save his life".