A New Leash on Life: Leo’s Journey to Better Health

When Leo Motyka first arrived at the Ontario Veterinary College (OVC) in November 2023, his family feared they were saying goodbye. Just one week earlier, the golden retriever had been diagnosed with multi-centric B-cell lymphoma, a type of cancer that attacks the immune system and causes enlarged lymph nodes throughout the body.

Leo was booked for oncology appointments close to home in three weeks’ time, but his condition deteriorated rapidly, and he took a turn for the worse. His guardians, Christina and Maciej, felt helpless. In an act of desperation, Christina reached out to OVC. She was encouraged to make the drive and bring Leo in right away.

Leo received emergency treatment, and his body responded within hours. “He came running out as if he was never sick,” Christina recalls.

Leo began chemotherapy two days later and went into remission very quickly. More than two years later, Leo remains cancer-free—an outcome Christina once thought impossible.

During his cancer treatment, Leo took medications that increased his appetite. He also experienced periods of reduced activity. As a result, his weight gradually climbed to nearly 100 pounds. Christina knew the extra weight could worsen his arthritis, chronic kidney disease and a liver condition for which Leo had also received treatment at OVC, so she sought support to help him regain strength, comfort and a healthier quality of life.

That help came through the Hill’s Pet Nutrition Weight Care Program, a referral service launched in January 2025 at OVC thanks to generous support from Hill’s Pet Nutrition. A referral from Leo’s oncology team opened the door to a fully integrated plan that includes body composition assessments and nutrition counselling with the OVC Pet Nutrition Team, as well as physical rehabilitation and acupuncture in collaboration with the OVC Fitness and Rehabilitation Service.

A path to better health, one paw at a time

In September 2025, Leo began rehabilitation sessions, which he continues to attend twice weekly. Under the guidance of OVC experts certified in veterinary rehabilitation, acupuncture and pain management, including Dr. Tiffany Durzi, Chief of Service for the OVC Fitness and Rehabilitation Service, and Registered Veterinary Technician, Jacy Erling, Leo participates in physical therapies tailored specifically to his unique needs, including walking on an underwater treadmill and swimming in the hydrotherapy pool.

“Swimming has become his favourite activity,” says Christina. “As soon as we arrive, he pulls us straight to the pool, and he never wants to leave!”

Acupuncture sessions after his swims help to manage arthritis discomfort and support his overall well-being.

"The true goal of rehabilitation for a pet with cancer isn't just about adding days to their life, but adding life to their days,” says Durzi.

“By combatting the muscle loss and weight gain that often accompany illness, we empower these animals to keep moving. After all, a pet’s joy is found in their ability to interact with their world, and that requires the strength to stand and the freedom to move."

While fitness and rehabilitation have helped Leo rebuild strength and mobility, an individualized nutrition plan has been equally important in supporting his weight goals. Working with Dr. Laura Teeger, a veterinary nutrition resident (ECVCN) and Doctor of Veterinary Science student at OVC, Christina transitioned Leo to a customized, complete and balanced home-prepared diet designed to promote safe weight loss while remaining gentle on his kidneys, liver and joints.

“The nutrition team took the time to understand Leo’s complex needs, integrate my preferences as Leo’s caregiver, and create a plan that I can meal prep at home,” Christina says. “And Leo loves it! He still looks forward to mealtime every day.”

Working together to improve life for Leo

Since enrolling in the weight care program, Leo has lost nearly 12 pounds, grown stronger and regained an energy level Christina hasn’t seen in years.

“He gets up more easily, stands longer during grooming appointments and approaches life with much more enthusiasm. He has his puppy energy back. And I don’t think this could have happened without so many care teams working together so seamlessly.”

Leo continues to visit the Mona Campbell Centre for Animal Cancer for monthly re-check appointments. These checkups are often coordinated with rehabilitation and weight care visits, making long travel days easier.

“Everyone communicates, and everyone is on the same page,” Christina says. “It takes a village, and this feels like a village that cares not only about Leo, but also about us, his family.”

“Leo’s story is a powerful reminder that caring for pets with complex medical needs often requires a collaborative approach for the whole patient and their family," says Shoshana Verton-Shaw, a Registered Veterinary Technician in Clinical Nutrition and coordinator of the Hill’s Pet Nutrition Weight Care Program.

"By integrating his family’s needs into a full spectrum of care, we can optimize not just his clinical outcome, but his enjoyment of life. When we treat obesity, our primary goal is not a number on the scale; it is to improve our patients’ quality of life. For Leo, that support will help him do more than survive—it will help him thrive.”