How’s Buffrey? That is the question my friends often ask—or are afraid to ask.

    Buffrey is my 13 year old German Wirehaired Pointer, who was diagnosed last summer with lymphosarcoma, the most common and most treatable type of cancer in dogs. Last July he began 12-weeks of chemotherapy— and so far has lived to bark about it.

    You may recall that Joy B. Burch and I wrote a three-part series of articles about canine cancer, which began in October. It was touch and go, and our emotions swung up and down like a roller coaster ride.
Joy’s German Shepherd, Engel, succumbed to her type of cancer on November 30. In contrast, Buffrey’s cancer went into remission.

    In October I drove with him to Florida to spend some time with my parents and walking the beaches on Sanibel Island. It was time to recharge my batteries before facing knee surgery in December.
Buffrey’s care for the cancer is in Springfield, Virginia, at SouthPaws Veterinary Referral Clinic. There the staff of veterinarians treat everything from holistic medicine, behavior modification to cardiac care, orthopedic surgery, as well as oncology. Among their clients have been animals from the White House, with their own Secret Service agents at the end of the leashes.

    Few human medical clinics can meet the efficiency of the staff and the high degree of knowledge they are willing to share. Cats and dogs with serious or emergency medical problems are referred to SouthPaws by their local veterinarians. 

    Many times, as I have waited for Buffrey to have his chemo, or blood work, I have chatted with folks who had learned only hours before that their pet had a serious illness. I have met other cancer survivors—one dog ‘s cancer had been in remission for four years.

    Dr. Sarah Sheafor, Buffrey’s oncologist, told me that most dogs who begin the chemo protocol will survive an average of one year. And that is if they are in good health.

    Last July Buffrey was not in good health. His normal 65 pounds was down to 45. One day they removed two liters of fluid from his lungs. Dr. Sheafor told me to expect Buffrey to live until the spring time.

    I hoped he’d make it to his 13th birthday, which was May 19.

    Every four or five weeks we go back to Springfield for his monthly check up. I am grateful for each day I have had with my beloved dog, and each day is a gift.

    I know that one day things will go awry and it will be time for him to cross the Rainbow Bridge. But, as Dr. Sheafor says, “Some dogs just don’t read the book.”

    So, feel free to ask about Buffrey. His cancer is in remission at this time. I can assure you that I will tell you when the day comes and that’s no longer true. Until then, I am grateful for his clownish antics and for his loyalty.

© 2001 Janet Abbott Fast All Rights Reserved