The Day He Went Down
Part 1 of 5: Max's Cancer Journey
It was a Saturday. April 18, around 2:30 in the afternoon.
Max's lifelong dog friend Primo was visiting for the weekend. Max was in the backyard, tail going, thrilled to see his buddy. He headed toward the two steps that lead up to the patio. He tried to climb them.
He couldn't.
He just dropped. Back end gave out. He sat at the bottom of those steps, confused, not understanding why his body would not do what he asked it to do.
I stood there for a second before I knew what to do.
Max is 12 years old. He's a Spinone Italiano. We got him as a puppy at eight weeks old. Before the cancer took hold, he was running around at 90 pounds. He's a happy go lucky dog. Always has been.
The Emergency Visit
We took him straight to VCA Shoreline that day. Emergency exam, bloodwork, Gabapentin, Rimadyl. The bill was $824.
They stabilized him. But we did not have answers yet.
The Second Collapse
He had another collapse on May 26. The evening before my 52nd birthday.
My friend, the Sunflower Umbrella Lady, was visiting. She lives on the island of Saba in the Dutch Caribbean now. We've worked together in pet care for over 15 years, alongside my 22 years with 203 Pet Service and our salaried W-2 team. We co-taught pet CPR and first aid classes together. She knows dogs. She knows me. She writes about her life on Saba at sunflowerumbrellalady.com.
And she was there when it happened again.
I had a thought that stopped me cold that night. Am I going to have to put my dog down on my birthday?
He's 12. His older brother Leo is 13. In my head they are both still my puppies. That night was full of dread. I did not sleep much.
Finding the Laser
After several follow-up visits to Greenfield Animal Hospital in Fairfield, we found something that actually helped: laser therapy. Their team was working on his lumbar spine and hips. The changes were slow. But he was getting up with less struggle.
At some point I had to be honest about the reality of keeping that up. It was not just the cost. Each trip to Greenfield was a minimum of two hours out of my day. Half an hour each way, plus the visit itself. I run a dog walking and pet care business. Two hours I am on the road with Max is two hours I am not providing service visits. That is how I make a living.
And I could only bring him in a few times a week.
So I bought a Domer 3B cold laser for home use. If you are considering one, you can use my referral link for a discount: healthcaremarts.com/?ref=203pet. Full disclosure, I do receive a small commission, and at this point every dollar goes toward Max's care.
There is an important difference between the home laser and the one at the vet's office. Laser therapy works by delivering a specific dose of energy into the tissue, measured in joules per square centimeter. Think of it like filling a bucket. The water in the bucket is the energy your dog's body needs. A Class 4 laser is a fire hose. High power, fills the bucket fast. A Class 3B like the Domer is a garden hose. It gets the bucket just as full, it just takes longer to do it. So Greenfield's Class 4 shortens each individual session, sometimes significantly. But the total energy going into the tissue is the same. The treatment is not more effective because it is faster. The dose is the dose.
What the Domer gives me is daily access. I can treat Max every single day, in his own home, without the drive, without the schedule, and without stepping away from clients.
If you want the full breakdown of the device and why I chose it, I wrote about it here: Complete Guide to Domer 3B Cold Laser Therapy for Dogs. This series picks up from there.
The Home Protocol
Once I had the Domer, I built a 23-minute daily routine.
Five minutes along the spine, from the base of the ribs down to the tailbone. Then two and a half minutes each on the hips, the knees, and the hocks. Then a minute and a half on the sole of each back paw for nerve support. All of it on Level 3, pulsed mode.
He was calm every session. He'd lie down and let me work through everything.
One important note about where I treat. Before the ultrasound, the team at Greenfield did full body X-rays. There was good news in there. No evidence of cancer in his lungs. Chest X-rays are one of the best tools for catching lung metastasis, and his came back clear. The X-rays also confirmed what we already suspected: arthritis in his hips, knees, and hocks, and we learned he also had it in his shoulders and elbows. That explains a lot about how he moves and why the laser has helped him as much as it has.
What the X-rays could not show was the mass in his pelvic region. That area does not image well on X-ray. For that, Greenfield brought in Dr. Megan J. Morgan, an internal medicine specialist, to do an abdominal ultrasound. She was able to locate the mass and show us exactly where it was. After that appointment I adjusted my protocol. I no longer treat the area near the lower pelvis and tail. Laser therapy promotes circulation and cell activity. It does not discriminate. If there is a mass in that area, I am not taking any chances on giving it anything that might help it grow. We stay focused on the spine, hips, knees, and hocks.
Over about six weeks, something shifted.
By mid to late July, Max was greeting company at the front door. We don't have a runner there. It's hardwood. And there he was, walking across it without hesitation, without help, with actual confidence. We stood there watching him and barely believed what we were seeing.
And Then
We thought we had turned a corner.
About a week after that, I noticed Max was straining when he tried to pee. Small amounts. A lot of effort. I figured UTI. We brought a urine sample in. Culture came back negative.
We went home. Two days later he had not pooped. He stopped eating. Every few hours he was heading outside, pushing hard, getting almost nothing out.
This was not a UTI.
I had been watching him get better for weeks. I was not ready for what came next.
We went back to the vet. And that appointment changed everything.
Part 2 is about what our vet found on the ultrasound that day, and the phone call on July 20th when the results confirmed what we were afraid of.
New episodes post every Saturday on the 203 Pet Service blog. Come back next Saturday for Part 2.
If you are going through something similar with your dog, I hope this series helps.
Part 2: The Word Nobody Wants to Hear | Part 3: I Never Thought I'd Say Yes to Chemo | Part 4: July 23rd. His First Treatment. | Part 5: What I Do Every Day for Max
About Jason Hofmann
Jason Hofmann is the owner and Animal Behavior College (ABC) certified dog trainer at 203 Pet Service, with 29 years of professional pet care experience.
He founded 203 Pet Service in 2004 and has led the company for 22 years, building a team of salaried W-2 employees dedicated to exceptional pet care.
Prior to founding his company, Jason worked for 2 years as a pet store manager and then 5 years as a veterinary technician at Greenfield Animal Hospital in Fairfield. As an ABC certified trainer and passionate animal advocate with 29 years of hands-on experience, Jason brings unmatched expertise and genuine care to every pet interaction.
Jason is also a proud co-founder of The Honey On Duty Project, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that brings healing and comfort to communities in need.
Learn More About Our TeamFeatured in the Media:
Why 29 Years of Professional Experience Matters
Growing up with pets or currently owning a dog doesn't make someone a pet care professional. Just like using a toilet every day doesn't make you a qualified plumber.
Jason's 29 years of professional pet care experience means:
- • 5 years working daily as a veterinary technician at a professional animal hospital
- • 2 years managing a pet store and advising pet owners
- • 22 years owning and operating a professional pet care business
- • Formal Animal Behavior College (ABC) certification in dog training
- • Certified Pet First Aid and CPR Instructor
- • Thousands of hours of hands-on experience with diverse animal behaviors, medical situations, and emergency scenarios
This isn't hobby experience. It's a career built on professional training, veterinary medical knowledge, and decades of real-world problem-solving with animals.
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We proudly serve families in Fairfield, Stratford, Westport, Easton, Southport, Black Rock, Bridgeport, Shelton, Devon, Trumbull, Weston, and Wilton.
What Fairfield County Families Say About 203 Pet Service
Don't just take our word for it. Here's what real families in your community have shared about their experience with us:
"Jason and his team have been caring for our senior golden retriever for 5 years. When we lost him last month, they were incredibly supportive. These aren't just dog walkers - they become part of your family."
— Sarah M., Westport CT (Google Review)
"The consistency of having the same walker every day made such a difference for our anxious rescue. When she passed, they sent the kindest card. 22 years in business for a reason."
— Michael K., Fairfield CT (Google Review)
"W-2 employees, background checked, insured - they do things the right way. Our cats have been with them for 3 years and we wouldn't trust anyone else."
— Jennifer L., Stratford CT (Facebook Review)
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