On May 19, 2006, Muffin was diagnosed with Visceral Hemangiosarcoma effecting the right atrium of his heart.
"Hemangiosarcoma is a very aggressive, high-grade soft tissue sarcoma with the most common areas affected being the spleen and heart. A highly malignant cancer which preys on blood vessels, it can spread rapidly, causing tumors almost anywhere in the body. Hemangiosarcoma is insidious, as it attempts to build it's own blood vessel network, making blood blister like formations which disrupts normal organ function. It is commonly in the advanced stage before detection, making it virtually a silent killer.
A common form of cancer, hemangiosarcoma affects mostly older, large breed dogs though all dogs, including young, can be affected. Males tend to have a higher rate of diagnosis than females, with German Shepherds and Golden Retrievers more affected than other breeds." *
Although his prognosis isn't good, he continues to do as well as can be expected greeting each day with hope and promise.
