Special Needs Basset, Honey - Adopted
Honey has come long way since entering foster care last August. It took her about a month to realize her foster family was not going toss her in doggie jail and she slowly began to trust people again. Honey no longer tries to escape her yard in search of her foster family and she has not had an accident while left alone in about a month. We learned her accidents were stress induced and not an house breaking issue as she doesn't have accidents if someone is home with her. She asks to go out or in by sitting politely at the door an waiting for you open it. Honey loves to play with other dogs and TOYS!!! She loves attention and will readily sit in your lap to be petted. She also prefers to sleep with her people. Her favorite spot is under the covers at the bottom of the bed. Honey enjoys looking out the window. When her foster family pulls up into the driveway Honey is there sitting in the window waiting for them to return. She was very underweight back in August, however she has had a slow and steady weight gain, but is still slightly underweight at 39 pounds. Honey's foster family found a growth on on her legs. On 10/25 that growth on Honey's left front leg was removed, sent out for testing, her teeth were cleaned and she was spayed. A few days later, the test on the growth came back with results that saddened us- it was a tumor. Honey has a very rare form of cancer called Malignant Pilomatricoma. It's a tumor of the hair follicle. This type of tumor counts for just 1% to 3% of all skin tumors in canines. It appears that the vet was able to remove all of the tumor. Although we are hoping that this tumor was only locally invasive, this cancer is capable of metastasis. Because this particular form of cancer is so rare, it has been very difficult for us to find out much information about it, and get a definitive prognosis. It's almost impossible to tell if the cancer has spread at this point. Honey has developed another lump on her left hip which will be removed and tested as well. Currently, her prognosis is guarded. We won't know much more until after the second lump has been removed and biopsied. If her prognosis remains guarded, and tests indicate the cancer has spread, she will remain a permanent ABC foster.

Before she came to ABC, Honey lived a difficult life. She was discarded by several owners, and left to wander-on her own against the world. Now, when given her second chance, she still has a tough road ahead of her. If you would like to contribute to help offset Honey's medical expenses, please consider sponsoring her through the Tailwagger program.

Honey Update March 2003  
In January of 2003, Honey had another lump removed. Thank doG, it was just a cyst!! So far no more lumps have surfaced and Honey appears to be in good health. She has put on the much needed weight and now tips the scale at a healthy 40 pounds! Honey's vet, Dr. White cautioned that Honey is NOT cancer free. Malignant Pilomatricoma is an aggressive cancer which doesn't respond to any known treatments. The best that can be done is to inhibit the growth of the cancer by removing lumps as they appear. Dr. White was not able to give us a definitive prognosis for Honey since the cancer is rare and very few cases have been documented .

Recently, Honey's foster family found out that she knows some tricks! She can give "paw", "speak" and "roll over" all for a yummy treat. Surely at some point this beautiful little gray faced hound was someone's beloved pet.

Honey Update April 2003

The cancer has returned :-( Dr. White removed it again. However, this time while trying to use a large margin he accidentally nicked the main vein in Honey's leg and had to cap it off. She will have a permanent swollen spot on her leg, which might cause her some discomfort from time to time. Honey's recovery this time around took a bit longer. However, she still thought she was Super Hound and hopped over the baby gate while playing a game of chase with Jasmine C@t. Her leg than began to swell up so much the bandages were way too tight. Her foot almost double in size. In panic I called Dr. White. He had us remove the bandages, cover her stitches with a sock and put one of those e-collars on Honey until her stitches were removed about week later and no more jumping baby gates! Unfortunately, if the cancer come back Honey will have to go to a specialist for treatment. On a up note Honey has gain some more weight and is now almost 50 pounds!!! She has adjusted very well and is not worried about her family abandoning her anymore. Honey pick a different person to sleep with each night. Our three kids argue over whose turn it is to sleep with Honey!

Honey Update December 4, 2003

The cancer has returned again. This time it's has moved up Honey's leg. Dr. White said he would remove it one more time. However, he prefers Honey see a specialist. So.... off to Dr. Matus (Oncology) and Dr. Glennon (Surgery) at Veterinary Specialties. After examining Honey, Dr. Matus feels the cancer has not spread from Honey's leg and she is good candidate for radical surgery. He is hopeful that all the cancer can be removed. Dr Glennon will be performing the surgery. He will use a football shape incision starting from the top of Honey's left front leg going down to the top of her foot. Luckily, being a Basset Hound she has lot's of extra skin and no skin graph will be needed. However, the surgery will cost much more than the previous ones at about $1200.00. The surgery is scheduled for December 19th.

Also Honey has been having some trouble with wetting in her sleep. Thank doG, it's just from her getting a wee bit older. Dr. White put Honey on Cystolamine once a day. The occasional accidents while she is left alone or at night time have all stopped. I'm sure she's much more comfortable sleeping now.

Honey Update December 18, 2003

Honey Bunny, as we call her, is very special Basset girl and has worked her little way deep into our hearts. She has been through so much over this past year but, always comes through with a soft Arroooo and full body wags. When we have to leave her, she lays in the front window awaiting our return. As soon as you get out of the car you can hear the thump of her waging tail as she jumps down off the back of the sofa to greet us at the door. It has been our pleasure to have Fostered her over this past year. We pray Honey Bunny will be with us for many more years. I know in the hustle and bustle of the Holiday season it's easy to over look these sweet loveable hounds but, I urge you to become a Tail Wagger Sponsor today!!! Not just for Honey Bunny but, for all the wonderful hounds need. 

Honey Update December 19, 2003

Today at 9:30 am Dr. Glennon began surgery on Honey's left front leg to remove the cancer that has returned for the second time. By 11:30 am Honey was resting comfortable in recovery. The Staff at Veterinary Specialties (Pattersonville, NY) said Honey was excellent patient. They made sure she was in the middle of everything so she was never left alone. Honey has severe separation anxiety. She was very happy to see her Daddy this evening when he picked her up. She was a bit whinny on the way home but, is now sound asleep on big soft comfy blanky in front of the TV. Honey will need to leash walked for the next 10 days to do her business and she is not allowed to play with her brothers until after her follow up appointment.

Honey Update December 31, 2003

At this time I would like to Thank two special Tail Wagger Sponsors. Tom Petrick and Evie Einfeld (and of course their Houndie Lucy). They are not only Honey Bunny's first Tailwagger Sponsors but, over the past year they have been sending Honey Bunny packages of toys and treats. They even send her foster brothers treats, too! Last year Tom and Evie sent us a wonderful hand blown glass Basset Hound for Christmas. This year, as I type, Honey Bunny sniffing her package from her special friends Tom, Evie and Lucy. However, we told her has to wait until Christmas to open her gift :-) Thank you so much Tom, Evie and Lucy!!! God Bless!!