California – According to San Francisco Chronicle, snoutless dog, Kabang, the celebrated dog that lost her face in trying to save two girls by jumping off a motorcycle, was diagnosed of having a cancer and a heart worm.
If left untreated, Kabang may die from vaginal cancer. Doctors of UC Davis agreed that the Kabang’s cancer is very aggressive and may definitely take the dog’s life.
“Fortunately for Kabang, her disease is not very advanced,” said UC Davis infectious disease specialist Dr. Jane Sykes. ‘She has a good prognosis,” she added, explaining that Kabang cannot have the reconstructive surgery without treating heart worm and cancer.
To be recalled, Kabang became popular in the Philippines after she jumped off a speeding motorcycle, which was about to hit two girls in a southern city, Zamboanga City.
Kabang’s treatment, fare, and other needs were shouldered by a campaign across 20 countries. A website, careforkabang.com, together with Kabang’s Facebook and Twitter accounts, was started to raise funds for Kabang’s surgery.
The campaign for Kabang’s face rehabilitation was supported by several people in San Francisco and in the Bay area.
“Worms were actually seen in her pulmonary arteries,” Dr. Sykes said. Heart worm is a parasitic roundworm carried by mosquitoes causing congestive heart failure. “It could take up to six months to go through this treatment.”
According to Skyes, the vaginal cancer is a canine sexually transmitted disease, which is aggressive and may kill sufferers. Most cases that are treated of chemotherapy are successful.
“She is a very, very sweet, affectionate dog,” Skyes describes Kabang. “[Kabang] loves to associate with people, and she is a pleasure to work with.”
“It is wonderful that people have seen how wonderful dogs can be to human lives. ... I think we owe her a service in return.”
