UGA VIII has lymphoma, is responding well to treatment

Canine lymphoma is defined as the occurrence of malignant tumors in a dog's organs, usually in the lymph nodes, liver, or spleen.

Uga VIII took over as Georgia's mascot at the Oct. 16 homecoming game.

The dog missed the Liberty Bowl on Dec. 30 because of a gastrointestinal condition that prevented him from traveling with the football team. Further diagnostic tests revealed the more serious medical condition, the university said.

Uga VIII is being treated by university specialists at UGA's College of Veterinary Medicine, according to the university.

The dog's primary veterinarian is Dr. Bruce Hollett, who has provided medical care for the dogs in the Uga line for years, according to Uga's owner, Sonny Seiler.

The AJC has attempted to contact Seiler and the College of Veterinary Medicine. A spokesman for the university said the school will not give specifics about Uga's condition, citing HIPAA laws. HIPAA is the the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, which guards privacy of medical records.

If Uga VIII is unable to appear at athletic events, Russ, the half-brother of Uga VII, will fill in for him, the university said.

Russ filled in at the final two games of the 2009 season following the death of Uga VII as well as the first six games of 2010. He also was present at the Liberty Bowl game last month because of Uga VIII's illness.

Uga VIII's registered name is Big Bad Bruce. He is the great-great-great-great-great-grandson of the original Uga, who reigned from 1956-66, and is the grandson of Uga VI. He was born Sept. 12, 2009, and weighs 55 pounds.

Russ was 4-4 after taking over from his half-brother Uga VII, who died of heart-related causes Nov. 19, in just his second year.

Uga VII was 16-7 after taking over for Uga VI, Georgia's winningest mascot at 87-27 from 1999-2008.

Frank W. "Sonny" Seiler, the longtime owner of this line of English bulldogs, had this to say about Uga VIII last November:

"He is every bit as good as his predecessors and probably exceeds them. He is a good-looking dog and in excellent health. He has two more months to grow and fill out. He won't get any taller," Seiler told the AJC.

"He has a great head. He resembles his grandfather, Uga VI. It's easy to get their pictures mixed up, which is what we want. We had a choice of three puppies directly descended from Uga VI, and he's certainly lived up to the expectations so far," Seiler told the AJC.

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