My dog Geordie has cancer. Please pray for him – Helen Martin

Having written earlier about government support of the Scottish SPCA, a part of my love of animals, I’ve just been told by my vet that my dog has cancer.

Helen Martin's greyhound Geordie is to have two toes surgically removed after contracting cancer

He will have to have two toes removed (where the cancer exists), more lab tests to specify the type, and more checks to establish whether it is confined or has spread elsewhere in his body.

Dick Vet School’s oncologists will be the ones who decide on the following treatment.

I’m trying to be positive. I’ve had breast cancer twice and survived (which I hope continues). I hope he will, but I feel worse for my dog, a greyhound.

How can he understand what’s happening, his toes being cut off, and possibly going through chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy, although such animal treatments don’t impose the same severe effects as humans undergo.

Of course, will his treatment work after he’s had toes amputated, will he recover, will we know the malignant evil was limited to that location and if it hasn’t, how long can he stay with us until euthanasia has to happen?

Dog owners, or anyone with pets, can understand how hellish and tearful this is and how Christmas had disappeared from my priorities.

But we must not let him pick up that panic from our minds. We have to behave as normal, no tears and no sad hugs.

And if you say prayers, please mention nine-year-old Geordie, a top racer who retired four and a half years ago and came to live with us.

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