N.S. couple seeks to save dog from cancer using stem cell treatment only available in U.S.

When Stéphanie Gauvin and Tim MacIsaac found out that their beloved five-year-old golden doodle, Lucy, had been diagnosed with T-cell lymphoma, they were devastated. The standard treatments like chemotherapy offered a life expectancy of only six months to a year for their furry family member. Determined to save Lucy, the couple started exploring other options and stumbled upon a rare procedure offered at a veterinary clinic in Bellingham, Wash.

This procedure involved a stem cell transplant and immunotherapy for dogs, which had shown promising results. However, it came at a hefty price tag of around $100,000 Cdn. Despite the cost, Gauvin and MacIsaac were willing to do whatever it took to save Lucy. With their pet insurance covering a portion of the expenses, they were on a mission to find a stem cell match for Lucy, a crucial step in the procedure.

The couple reached out on social media, contacted the breeder, and traced Lucy’s family line in hopes of finding a suitable match. Meanwhile, a Halifax-area veterinarian, Dr. Melissa Burgoyne, was closely following Lucy’s case and looking into forming a partnership with the clinic in Washington to offer the procedure to pet owners in the Maritimes.

Dr. Burgoyne, who was conducting Lucy’s chemotherapy at Cobequid Animal Hospital in Lower Sackville, expressed her interest in the advanced treatment options available in the States. She believed that as more veterinary specialists come to the Atlantic provinces, innovative treatments like stem cell transplants for dogs would become more common.

Although the Washington veterinarian declined an interview request, the Bellingham Veterinary website highlighted the high success rate of bone marrow or stem cell transplantation in achieving complete remission in dogs with lymphoma. Dr. Burgoyne was preparing Lucy for the treatment, overseeing her aftercare, and monitoring her response to the immunotherapy post-transplant.

Gauvin and MacIsaac were actively seeking a stem cell match for Lucy by reaching out to potential donor dogs with links to Willow Lane Farms in Ontario and Idaho Jewels Poodles in the U.S. They had sent test kits to veterinarians to run blood tests on potential donors, starting with full siblings and extending to more distant relatives. The couple shared Lucy’s journey on social media and organized fundraisers to cover the remaining costs not covered by insurance.

Lorna Welde, whose dog Galaxie had undergone the same stem cell transplant procedure in 2018, shared her positive experience and advocated for other families facing similar situations. She emphasized the availability, safety, and effectiveness of the procedure, encouraging pet owners to explore all options to save their furry companions from lymphoma.

As the community rallied behind Lucy’s cause, Gauvin and MacIsaac were overwhelmed by the outpouring of support from people across provinces and the U.S. They believed that dogs were family, and the willingness to help reflected the deep bond between humans and their pets. With the hope of finding a stem cell match for Lucy and giving her a chance at a healthy, lymphoma-free life, the couple continued their efforts to spread the word and raise awareness about this innovative treatment option for dogs.