What happened to Kirk Herbstreit's dog Ben? Prayers pour in as ESPN sports commentator gives concerning update on his pet
American sports commentator Kirk Herbstreit took to X and shared updates regarding his dog, Ben's health update, who is battling leukemia. In the tweet shared on November 5, Herbstreit revealed that his dog's condition had been worsening since he received its second chemo injection on October 23. Kirk added that his dog's back legs almost become paralyzed as well.
The tweet further read:
"He has lost use of his back legs-almost like they’re paralyzed. He can barely walk. He hasn’t eaten in 3 days. I’m currently in Pennsylvania with a holistic Dr who is administering a 3 day Vitamin C IV hoping it will flush the toxics from his body and give him a chance."
Herbstreit revealed that he is going through one of the toughest phases of his life, since his golden retriever is his "best friend and companion." The sports commentator also clarified that the next 24-48 hours would be criticial for the dog. He added that the dog was in ER hospital at the time the tweet was shared.
The tweet came as a sad news for netizens. Many responded to Kirk Herbstreit's concerning tweet and sent wishes and prayers to his dog for its better health. A user tweeted:
"Big love to Big Ben. Sending our prayers, Kirk. 🙏."
"Kirk, I’m so sorry. Thank you for giving him such a great life & helping him fight. Hope he feels better🙏," wrote another user.
"Thinking of your sweet boy Ben and extending prayers for him, Kirk. It brings tears to my eyes. And praying for your grace through such a difficult time. He is God’s beautiful Angel ❤️," added a tweet.
The ESPN analyst's pet dog Ben was diagnosed with leukemia in March 2024
ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit’s dog had been first diagnosed with leukemia back in March and had undergone surgeries in July. According to Mayo Clinic,
"Leukemia is cancer of the body's blood-forming tissues, including the bone marrow and the lymphatic system."
For all the college football fans, Ben had become a significant part of the games. Before the major surgeries in July, the golden retriever would sometimes appear during the games. However, after July, the dog was again seen with Kirk at several matches.
Not just the fans, the CFB teams have cherished Ben over the years. In a tweet shared on November 1, by Kirk, he thanked the staff from Penn State for sending goodies for his dog. Kirk expressed gratitude for the "kind gesture" they showed towards his dog.
In another tweet dated October 17, the sports commentator thanked the NFL teams' PR for sending official credentials for Ben. While in one of them, the dog was described as the "chief happiness officer of football," the other one gave him the title of "wide retriever."
Over time, Kirk has shared several clips capturing moments of his pet dog on the field. It could be said that the golden retriever has become a beloved member of the football community.