Hope for Bubbles

Bubbles is recovering well after having a 9-pound tumor removed from her face. 

A lovable 5-year-old Neapolitan mastiff mix’s health burden is lighter and her future brighter thanks to the UF veterinarians who removed a life-threatening, 9-pound tumor from her skull Nov. 25. “She needed a chance, and we were able to give her one with help from the UF veterinary oncology team,” said Jennifer Smith, director of Noah’s Arks Rescue, which is based in Okatie, S.C. The group had taken in the dog, named Bubbles, earlier that month after she was found as a stray in Baltimore, and remained dedicated to caring for her and getting her the medical help she needed.

Smith personally drove Bubbles to Gainesville for the procedure, which was led by Nick Bacon, Vet.M.B. Although Bubbles still must undergo additional treatment, including chemotherapy and possibly radiation therapy, Bacon said he was “very encouraged” by how well the surgery went. “We are all amazed at the progress Bubbles has made to this point,” he added. “We are aiming to save at least some of the vision in her left eye that had been compressed by the tumor for so long, and also keep infection at bay while Bubbles continues to recuperate.”