Dis Vets/Dis Dog Parents

[paintnolish]

The other day, my mom thought her 11 year old mutt (55 lbs., GS/Husky mix) was acting weird-whining, pacing around, started having trouble walking. She took him to the vet, and he decided the dog had hurt his back. This seemed plausible since my mom had had a repairman over earlier in the day, which worked up the dog. The vet gave the dog muscle relaxers. HE seemed fine for a day or so. Last night, he started doing the same things, only worse. Mom rushed him to the vet. After a series of tests and x-rays, they found a baseball sized lump on his spleen. They said it could be cancer, but they also think if it was, it'd be in other organs, like his lungs. They are hoping it is a hematoma cause by the back injury. They are removing his spleen this morning. I am so sad for my mom. This is her baby. Anyone have any advice, encouragement, or similar stories?

 

[EllenFrasier]

I have a friend who has a dog that had his spleen removed recently and he is doing great! I'm not sure what his symptoms were, but they said he could die if they did not remove the spleen, so they went for the surgery even though he is not a young dog - I think he's 8.

Good luck!

 

[paintnolish]

Thanks.I just spoke with my mom. The vet is operating right now. He said there's a 50/50 chance that it is cancerous. If it is, he will just put hte dog to sleep right there. I am awaiting the call. I bought my mom this dog for Mother's Day 11 years ago, a few months after her other dog had died from cancer.

 

[CookieGVB]

I hope all goes well for him - poor baby.

 

[Jockaroo]

We faced this with our Scottie Tipper. One night she became seriously ill quickly. We spent the night at the vet ER and she had an emergency spleen removal. We were told this is frequently cancerous, but her tests came back negative for cancer.

Spleen removal is a very serious surgery. Removing the spleen can cause an imbalance in the enzymes in the heart. My dog "threw cardiac enzymes" after her surgery (sorry I don't know what exactly that means, but it was the words they used). She ended up in the ICU pet hospital for several days and it was touch-and-go. She had multiple tests to check her heart, lungs, liver etc. to test for tumors. Several heart tests were done as well and she had heart medication for a few weeks.

The surgery was hard for her to recover from as well. She was 10 years old at the time. The spleen works as a part of the immune/lymph system and without the spleen Tipper got bizarre, random infections during her last year--multiple UTIs, hepatitis. She passed a year after surgery from kidney failure. It wasn't related directly to the spleen, but was caused by a medication. However, the compromised liver caused the medication to build to toxic levels.

Wishing your mom's dog luck. This is a hard surgery. In the immediate post-op ask about heart issues. For the long term watch for infection.

Added: Tipper's diagnosis was Splenic hematoma. She had two large blood clots in the spleen. This material was sent to a lab for biopsy; we didn't have immediate results.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Sending good thoughts today.

 

[paintnolish]

Well, they removed the spleen and mass. They are biopsying (sp) it, so it could be cancerous, but it doesn't seem like it had spread. He also had a lot of blood in his stomach. He seems to be doing okay right now. My mom has to transfer him to the 24 hr ER vet for overnight monitoring since he is on IVs and stuff now. So, I guess it could be worse.
Thanks for the positive thoughts. Jockaroo, glad your pup made it through. I am going to share your story with my mom.

 

[look1angel]

Sending angels your way

 

[Ilivetogo]

Sending HUGE puppy LOVE your way ...

.

 

[Jockaroo]

Well, they removed the spleen and mass. They are biopsying (sp) it, so it could be cancerous, but it doesn't seem like it had spread. He also had a lot of blood in his stomach. He seems to be doing okay right now. My mom has to transfer him to the 24 hr ER vet for overnight monitoring since he is on IVs and stuff now. So, I guess it could be worse.
Thanks for the positive thoughts. Jockaroo, glad your pup made it through. I am going to share your story with my mom.

I am so happy he made it through the surgery! It can take a few days to get biopsy results back (and it feels like an eternity). Do not be surprised if they took a liver sample to biopsy as well. They did with Tipper. I know your mom would love to take him home tonight, but it is a really good idea for him to be at the ICU for monitoring due to the potential for heart issues, bleeding, etc. He will be very drugged out from this. Give your mom a heads up about watching for infections. It took Tipper about 2 months to really get her strength back, but her situation may have been different since the organ was engorged to the point of rupture. Fingers crossed for continued encouraging news!

 

[mamamary]

Thinking good thoughts for the dog. I hope your family gets good news

 

[Tracy Savage]

I had a 12 year old Golden with a baseball sized tumor on his speen too. His was cancer. They removed his speen. It was all contained and he recovered nicely. Good luck and dog hugs to you!

 

[paintnolish]

Sad update...
Even the vet thought everything looked good, but they got the results back today. It is cancerous and very agressive. He has about 2 months to live. My mom is taking him to the veterinary college tomorrow to see if they can give him anything to prolong his life/ He isn't in pain now and is healing nicely from his surgery, but it is only a matter of time. They said the cancer won't be painful, it will just make him slow down. Eventually, he won't be able to get up and will need to be put to sleep. Needless to say, my mom is absolutely devastated.

 

[Feralpeg]

So sorry to hear this. My heart goes out to your mom.

 

[Luvchefmic]

I'm so sorry to hear this too...I don't know what else to say

 

[Evi]

I am so sorry to hear this news. I know how difficult it is to loose a beloved pet to cancer. Know that your mother and her baby are in my thoughts. I hope he can be made comfortable and live out his remaining days amongst those he loves and without pain.

 

[Tracy Savage]

I'm sorry.

 

[paintnolish]

Thanks, pals. It is just such a shock, too. After taking him to the ER vet and thinking he was going to die that night, then things seemed to look better- even the vet thought it wasn't most likely cancer, since it wasn't anywhere else in his body.

 

[EllenFrasier]

So sorry to hear the prognosis is not good for the pup. At least the surgery has given your Mom a little more time with him, though it is never enough. Too bad dogs can't live as long as we need them to!

 

[BamaTigger]

im so sorry.