Celebrating Life - Gracie

Gracie's Story

Veterinary Specialty Medicine At It's Best

Many people are still unaware of how far veterinary medicine has evolved in the last few decades. Treatments once thought to be unfeasible in animals, such as chemotherapy and spinal surgery, are now offering hope and a better quality of life. As animals become more interwoven in our lives the demand and need for quality healthcare increases. Veterinary specialty medicine is a rather recent development in animal healthcare, and Gracie's story exemplifies the teamwork, expertise, and dedication that go in to saving the lives of our dearest companions. Your support of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine Foundation will help ensure that other loved ones such as Gracie continue to live longer and healthier lives.

A little over two years ago I moved back to Pasadena. I had been living in Toluca Lake with my dog, Gracie, whom I rescued when she was about 1 _ years old. I had previously asked for her vet to x-ray her chest as I thought there was a growth or bone sticking out. They x-rayed and found nothing (they said it was her rib cage).

After I moved back to Pasadena I was walked Gracie around the neighborhood and asked different people who their vet was and if they would recommend anyone. Many suggested TLC and said it had a 24 hour hospital. And when you are as crazy about your dog as I am, you want a vet that is open 24 hours.

The summer of 2006 was very hot but one day in June I felt that Gracie was panting differently and I was very concerned so I rushed her to TLC in the middle of the night. She was seen by Dr. Melody Wallace and the x-rays showed a mass in her lungs.

Dr. Wallace referred me to Pasadena Veterinary Specialists where I met Dr. Jocelyn Mott. That day Gracie under went a set of several tests including abdominal and thoracic ultrasound, further radiographs and blood work and aspirates (needle biopsies) of her liver and lung mass. The following day Dr. Mott called me with the results of Gracie's aspirates. Gracie was diagnosed with a malignant cancer in her lungs known as a carcinoma (cancer that arises from epithelial cells). To determine the extent of the cancer and if it had spread, Dr. Mott referred me to Dr. Michael Broome at Advanced Veterinary Medical Imaging for a spiral CT scan of Gracie's thorax.

The CT scan showed a single large pulmonary mass involving a part of Gracie's right lung and multiple bullae (an unrelated pulmonary disease). Surgery was needed and chemotherapyÉand I don't know what else. Dr. Mott and Dr. Davidson (the surgeon) explained everything to me which went right over my head as I was so overly emotional and upset at the time. They were very patient and understanding. I even asked a friend to come with me and have Dr. Mott explain it to him. She was great. Of course I decided that even if Gracie had only 6 months I wanted to give her a chance.

The surgery was a brilliant success and the chemotherapy was started soon after and lasted a little over 6 months. Gracie is now on oral chemotherapy and is rechecked every two months by Dr. Mott.

It has been a little over two years and Gracie is happy and healthy and I am extremely grateful to Dr. Mott and her staff for saving Gracie's life and for continuing to give her great care and a wonderful quality of life.

Everyone at Pasadena Veterinary SpecialistsÉwell, they are the most caring, professional, friendly doctors, techs and staff. I think the world of them all. I was a lucky one to find Dr. Mott.

My best,

Madeleine Smith

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