"My boy has cancer"- Lindsey Vonn shares heartbreaking news about her pet dog Leo's diagnosis

In a heartbreaking development, Lindsey Vonn has shared that her pet dog Leo has been diagnosed with cancer. Leo is the first of the skier's three dogs, and fans were left devastated hearing the news. They quickly joined the conversation to send their love and support to the American and her pet.

Vonn has been very outspoken about her love for her pets. When she was still competing, the skier often traveled with her Cavalier King Charles Spaniel named Lucy, sharing that the dog helped her feel less lonely while on the road. She had even shared that her dogs were one of the biggest supports in her life when she battled depression brought on by injuries.

Now, in a lengthy Instagram post that left many of her followers gutted for the 39-year-old, she shared that her oldest pet Leo had been diagnosed with lymphoma. Lindsey Vonn explained she found some lumps around Leo's lymph nodes when she got back from the Paris Olympics, and was quick to take him to the vet.

“My boy has cancer... I got home from Paris and noticed some lumps that had formed around his lymph nodes and I took him to the vet right away. Unfortunately we got a diagnosis of lymphoma. Leo is already on Chemo and is responding well. He's a bit tired and he doesn't know what's happening but he's still a happy boy.”

Lindsey Vonn shared that she had struggled to process her emotions regarding the news, writing,

‘It's been a tough few weeks and I've been trying not to not let my emotions show but I need to say it out loud to process it.... Leo is my first dog, he's been with me for the past 11 years and I can't even begin to think about life without him. Going to spend as much time with him as I can and support him in all of his treatments over the coming months. BUT he's a strong boy and we will do everything we can to beat this. If I'm a little off, you know why.”

Lindsey Vonn opens up about having Leo support her through surgeries

For Lindsey Vonn, her dog Leo has been an integral part of her support system over the years as she battled through various injuries and surgeries. In a post after her knee replacement surgery in April earlier this year, the skier revealed that she'd adopted Leo before her second ACL surgery over a decade ago, writing,

“Dogs are the best medicine in times like these... I adopted Leo right before my 2nd ACL surgery and he's been with me through all my surgeries since. Leo was hit by a car before I adopted him and he's got almost as many screws in his leg as I do. He never likes it when I cry but he always knows when I'm hurt and he doesn't leave my side. I think he knows what it feels like. Just thankful I have my pups.”

Lindsey Vonn often shares insights into her life with her pets and has been especially outspoken about her love for dogs. In 2020, the American was the host of the canine reality competition series The Pack, and fans will no doubt be sending their best wishes to Vonn and Leo in this difficult time.