Shiba Inu Dog Battling Cancer

While you might not know the name Kabosu very well, there is a high chance that you have seen her face somewhere. Kabosu is a 17-year-old Shiba Inu who is the star of a long-running meme in which she seems to give a concerned side-eye at a camera. This meme went on to be the inspiration behind and the image in front of the popular Dogecoin cryptocurrency which became wildly popular in 2021, even being endorsed by the likes of Elon Musk. 

Unfortunately, it is been confirmed by her owner Atsuko Sato that she is battling cancer. 

The Shiba Inu Dog in Poor Health 

In an Instagram post, Sato confirmed that Kabuso had been diagnosed with chronic lymphoma leukaemia and acute cholangiohepatitis. A previous blog post also revealed that the dog has been functioning a bit slower and after some tests were run, it was determined that she was sick. 

But by Christmas eve, Sato said that Kabuso was unable to eat or drink water, though she has since gotten well enough to do so as of a December 28, 2022, Instagram post.

“Kabosu’s disease names are acute cholangiohepatitis and chronic lymphoma leukemia. Right now, the liver level is very bad and jaundice appears. But antibiotics will definitely improve. Kabosu has an appetite. She can also drink water. To all of you who are worried. Thank you very much,” the post said. 

It is expected that we will get some update on Kabuso’s condition as time goes on. The emergence of the internet and social media has meant that many animals have become famous online. And while we have many furry friends who have amassed a following for being cute, funny, or creative, few have had as much influence as Kabuso.

When a picture of the dog which was taken in 2010 made the rounds online, she quickly became an internet meme and response image to odd or funny situations and is considered one of the more iconic meme figures. This was taken even further when her image became the inspiration for the popular Dogecoin cryptocurrency which spiked in popularity in 2021. 

Due to a combination of support from figures like Elon Musk and overall market hype, the token became globally known and very valuable. In fact, a horde of imitators soon followed its success, making Kabuso even more popular. As such, fans from around the world responded to Sato’s Instagram and blog post, wishing her a speedy recovery.

Kabuso’s Influence on Crypto

It is no secret that the crypto world is powered by popular and meme culture. A quick glance at a list of the cryptos that exist will show many named after memes, running internet jokes, and everything in between. But Kabuso is perhaps the embodiment of that meme culture in that she became an internet icon and then the literal face of a globally-used cryptocurrency. 

Regardless of how her health progresses, her legacy within both internet and cryptocurrency culture has been cemented.