This is Baileys’ story, and continuing journey.
Two years ago, in January 2022, I rescued Bailey. He was my first rescue after leaving Settusfree. He was supposed to go for adoption, but it soon became apparent that he was meant to stay with me. He was found wandering the streets of a village in Calabria which is situated in southern Italy, he was just skin and bones. Fortunately, I was living in the region at the time and people knowing what I did alerted me and I took him into my home.
He was not only very thin, but he was also obviously suffering from leishmaniasis (Health Advice – SOS Italian Setters). The blood tests revealed he had it all, leishmaniasis, various tick diseases, he was anaemic, and he had mange.
His leishmaniasis was pretty bad, so he had to have injections and started to take allopurinol. From that moment he started to improve steadily. I was so pleased with his recovery. Six months later, in June 2022, he became negative to leishmaniasis. I was overjoyed and I thought it was time to look for a home for him.
But then, suddenly, during the summer, one eye appeared to be red. I took him to the vets. There was a strange inflammation process happening in that eye. We tested for leishmaniasis again in September and he was positive again… so maybe the eye was being affected by leishmaniasis. It is not uncommon for that to happen. We tried to control the inflammation, but nothing worked, and the eye consultant informed me that he had become blind in the eye. Fast forward to November and the eye was removed and sent off to be analysed. Meanwhile I had already decided that he wasn’t going to go anywhere, and I adopted him. The histology came back in mid-December with a no cancer diagnosis.
There was no cancer but sadly we now we know that there was cancer. What an awful, tragic mistake made by one of the best labs in Milan! We are still trying to come to terms with this fact.
In August 2023 we were advised that there was a carcinoma in the eye socket which by that time was impossible to remove. The mass growing had affected his bones. We were recommended radiotherapy and chemotherapy as palliative care to buy some time.
I do not regret for a moment having gone through that route. Bailey has been well throughout the treatment and since December he has been taking Palladia, which are tablets he needs to take three times a week to try and stop this mass grow again. So far so very good but we take each day one at a time and enjoy our little routines. He is a wonderful boy, 6 years old only. I love him very dearly.
We have rescued and helped more than 50 dogs since Bailey came into rescue and all thanks to your help! Please continue to support us as there are still too many dogs waiting for a home. There are too many Baileys suffering right now and like him barely surviving on the streets, or in pounds, or with hunters in Italy.
Thank you!
Chiara
Founder SOS Italian Setters
