Jazz, our Standard Poodle, is full of personality, joy, and a playful spirit that brightens every day. Her happy energy and loving nature make her the heart of our family.

In October 2024, everything changed.

After noticing that Jazz wasn’t feeling well, we brought her to an out-of-town emergency clinic for evaluation. At 10 years of age, she was diagnosed with a liver mass suspected to be hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Our lives were turned upside down that day. At the emergency clinic, we were told she likely had only days to a few weeks to live, and palliative care was recommended. Premature euthanasia was also suggested.

We were devastated, but we wanted to understand all of our options before making any decisions, despite the pressure and urgency of the situation.

When we looked into Jazz’s eyes, we knew she was not ready to give up. Her spirit was still strong, and we knew she was ready to keep fighting. In that moment, we decided to search for the best path forward for her.

Jazz was referred to an oncologist in Toronto, where she underwent a CT scan. The scan confirmed the presence of the mass, and it was significantly larger than what had originally been seen on ultrasound. The only treatment option presented was major surgery, which came with significant risks and a long recovery period. Even if the surgery was successful, we were told her life expectancy afterward would likely be two to three years, and she would be on medication for the rest of her life. We were also informed that removing a mass of such a size could cause her body to go into shock.

Because our priority was Jazz’s quality of life, putting her through such an invasive surgery, with a difficult recovery and no guarantees, did not feel like the right path for her. We wanted to do what we believed was best for Jazz.

For the first several years of her life, Jazz had been under the care of a holistic veterinarian until that vet retired. Because we had seen the benefits of that approach, we felt it was important to explore holistic care again.

In November 2024, a month after the original diagnosis, we were introduced to Dr. Sasan Haghighat, a holistic veterinarian in Newmarket.

From the moment we walked through the door, we knew this was a different kind of veterinary clinic. Dr. Haghighat and his entire team made us feel like family. The atmosphere was calm, welcoming, and genuinely caring — very different from the clinical environments we had experienced elsewhere.

One of the things that meant the most to us was that we were able to stay with Jazz throughout her visits while she received her treatments. At no point was she taken away from us. Being able to remain by her side made a tremendous difference, and we could see that Jazz herself was far more relaxed and comfortable because of it.

Jazz began holistic treatment under Dr. Haghighat’s care, and the changes we saw were truly remarkable. It felt as though someone had turned the clock back to when she was a puppy. Her energy returned, her personality shone through again, and she was happy, playful, and enjoying life.

Fast forward to March 2026, Jazz has continued to receive ongoing care from Dr. Haghighat and his wonderful team. Throughout this journey, they have supported her — and us — with compassion, patience, and dedication.

Today, many months beyond the original prognosis of only days or weeks, Jazz continues to do incredibly well. As she approaches her 12th birthday this April, she is happy, playful, and full of life. Watching her run, play, and enjoy her days reminds us how grateful we are for the care she has received.

What began as a diagnosis measured in days or weeks has turned into many months of precious time we never thought we would have.

Dr. Haghighat and his team gave us something we never expected when we first received Jazz’s diagnosis — more time with her, and more importantly, time filled with quality, joy, and love.

For that, we will always be deeply grateful.
— Angela and Julie, proud parents of Jazz