A COURAGEOUS dog battling with cancer has been presented with a bravery award from Okeford Veterinary Centre in Okehampton.

The winner of the Braveheart Award for February was Col, a 13-year-old, very intelligent Border Collie.

In March last year, Col was admitted to the veterinary centre with urinary problems. After an endoscopy, a mass was discovered along the length of her urethra. Biopsies showed the mass to be transitional cell carcinoma — a malignant tumour of the bladder wall.

Three months later an ultrasound scan showed the tumour was blocking the urethra and preventing urine from leaving the bladder. She started on chemotherapy treatment every three weeks.

Last month, Col had another endoscopy which revealed that the tumour had been well controlled.

After liaisons with a specialist at the Cancer and Critical Care Unit in Essex, the on-going plan for Col is to continue with the chemotherapy course and re-endoscope in four months' time.

RIGHT:?Col in good hands for treatment.