Lola is a seven-year-old black Labrador retriever who is a very happy, fun-loving, and sweet soul. Whether her owners have been gone for five hours or just five minutes, Lola is always waiting at the front door to greet them, proudly holding a slipper, a shoe, or a sock in her mouth.
But beyond her joyful greetings, Lola has an incredible gift for empathy.
"I've had dogs all my life, but there is something very special about Lola," Jane said. "She knows how each of us are feeling, whether it be happy or sad, good or bad, she knows. She will give you a hug by leaning in to you, or literally putting her paws around your neck when you are feeling sad or upset, or roll over for a belly rub and give you a smile when we are happy! She is so in tune to everyone and how they are feeling!"
So, when late December arrived and Lola suddenly lost her bubbly energy, her family knew something was terribly wrong.
A devastating shadow over the holidays.
A few days before Christmas, Lola was not feeling well. She became extremely lethargic, started vomiting, and had blood in her stool. Her family immediately took her to her primary veterinarian, who examined Lola and recommended tests and x-rays because her belly was swollen.
The veterinarian was highly concerned by the blood tests and x-ray results, explaining that Lola needed to be evaluated at a larger facility with ultrasound capabilities. They were referred to an emergency hospital, and they rushed over.
At the ER, a doctor examined Lola and reviewed the primary veterinarian's reports. She explained that they would need to perform an ultrasound and obtain samples from the masses on Lola's liver.
After waiting anxiously for hours, the family returned to pick Lola up and received devastating news. The preliminary assessment suggested Lola might have cancer, and they were advised to consult with an oncologist.
"When we heard that, we were devastated," Jane recalled. "We left with the idea that we weren’t going to have Lola much longer. I was so overcome with emotion I literally got sick in the parking lot!"
The stress continued into the next day. Initial sample testing was inconclusive, showing inflammation but leaving the family without clear answers. Determined to find a definitive path forward for Lola, who was still feeling very ill, the family decided to seek another expert opinion. Their primary veterinarian strongly recommended BluePearl Pet Hospital in Framingham.
Finding experience and hope at BluePearl.
The family brought Lola to BluePearl Framingham for the consultation.
From their very first interaction with Dr. Spielman, the tone of Lola's journey shifted. Dr. Spielman looked over the previous reports and immediately offered a reassuring perspective.
"She started out by saying, I'm not an oncologist, I'm an internal medicine specialist," Jane said. "And when she looked over the report, there was no testing to show that Lola had cancer."
Lola was incredibly sweet, but she was also very sick. Her eyes were yellow from jaundice, and her abdomen was severely swollen. Dr. Spielman took Lola to the back of the hospital to examine her and consult with the radiologist and the medical team.
Dr. Spielman recommended moving forward with an ultrasound-guided liver biopsy. She explained exactly how they would perform the biopsy with a specialized bore needle to ensure they gathered high-quality tissue samples to test for cancer and other potential liver diseases.
"From the minute we met Dr. Spielman, we knew she was very experienced, and she just gave us a little bit more hope for Lola," Jane said.
The family scheduled the biopsy for the following week, leaving Lola's care in hands they finally trusted.
The worry was worth the wait.
While waiting for the biopsy date and the subsequent pathology results, Dr. Spielman focused on getting Lola's immediate symptoms under control.
Based on initial blood work showing active liver disease, Dr. Spielman started Lola on a tailored medication regimen, including liver supportive care and transitioning Lola to a specialized hepatic diet. Dr. Spielman kept in close touch, calling to discuss updates the moment any new information was available.
When the final biopsy results arrived, the family received the ultimate relief: There were no signs of cancer.
Instead, Lola was diagnosed with granulomatous hepatitis, an immune-mediated liver disease that is treatable and manageable with the proper long-term veterinary care.
In her medical review of the case, Dr. Spielman noted: "Immune-mediated liver diseases are very serious conditions, but they can be managed successfully in many dogs. We anxiously awaited these results, and the worry was worth the wait."
The road to recovery and joy.
The first few weeks of recovery were tough on Lola and her family as they managed her complex new medication regimen and special diet. But Lola was a trooper and started to rally.
Slowly but surely, Lola returned to her normal, happy self. Under Dr. Spielman's close monitoring and regular blood work checkups, Lola's health steadily improved, and her blood values eventually returned entirely to normal. The family was extremely grateful to the BluePearl team for giving them their dog back.
Today, Lola is back to doing what she loves most: bringing shoes to the door and wrapping her paws around her family's necks to show her love.
"We feel if it wasn't for Dr. Spielman and BluePearl, we don't think we would have Lola with us today," Jane said. "I tell a lot of people about what happened with Lola, and I credit Dr. Spielman and BluePearl always, and I tell people I can't say enough great things about her and BluePearl. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for helping Lola and our family. Much appreciated."
Lola is happily living her best life in Massachusetts with her family and her favorite pile of socks.
