Canine Nasal Tumor Warriors

“Sasha Marie” Marsteiner - nasal cancer

Amy and Ron Marsteiner rescued 8-year-old “Sasha Marie” in the spring of 2017 from Massachusetts. A beautiful, good-natured Bloodhound, Sasha quickly became the apple of her parents’ eyes and was showered with much love and affection.

When Sasha Marie was first adopted, she had several maladies that Amy and Ron were treating - elbow dysplasia, torn cruciate ligaments in both knees, a bladder infection, internal parasites, and ear infections.

Unfortunately, shortly after adopting Sasha Marie, Amy and Ron noticed that she was having a more difficult time breathing. A visit to the local emergency and referral hospital revealed aspiration pneumonia and a possible nasal tumor. A CT scan later confirmed a sizable tumor was growing within her soft and hard palates of the upper portion of her mouth, and the tumor was sitting next to her pituitary gland.

Due to the aggressive nature of this tumor and its location, surgery was not recommended, as it would not cure her of the tumor.

Amy and Ron sought out a hospice and palliative care veterinarian to assist them in giving Sasha Marie the best care possible for as long as she remained happy, energetic, and pain-free. It was through her parents and Dr. Annette Otis and Compassionate Crossings of CNY (now known as Stillwaters Veterinary Care) that Sasha Marie maintained six additional months of pain-free and good-quality living until she was no longer comfortable anymore. Sasha Marie was able to celebrate her 9th birthday with Amy and Ron in June of 2018 - complete with her own ice cream cone, spa day, photo session, birthday tutu, and party (2 parties, in fact)!

Amy and Ron said goodbye to their sweet girl on July 1st, 2018. Even though they had only spent a little over 1 year with her, they gave her the most loving home any dog could have ever had.