Spleen Growth 10 year old pooch

[TRB]

Been at Brands Hatch for the weekend, packing away and the wife rings me with "the dog's not right". Hour or so later, he's off to the vets (I'm pootling round the M25 in a limited truck!). Pale gums, proper unhappy, blood tests, x-ray and it's a growth the size of a grapefruit on his spleen. Would have been growing for weeks/months according to vet. Must have bled today causing him to get poorly. Vet is keeping him in overnight.

For 10 years, he's been my shadow we go everywhere together. Only 6 months ago I took a job that means working away. Leaving the dog was one of the hardest parts of taking the job but he's that bit older now and has slowed down a fair bit. Well looked after, fit as a fiddle and we're out in the sticks so he lets himself out, potters down the lane, pops in to see all his friends (dogs & humans), then comes home.

Worst thing, I haven't seen him tonight. I KNOW no matter how poorly he is, he'd be a bit more chipper if he could see me or hear my voice. Gutted.

Blood tests in the morning to see how he looks. If he's ok and bleed stopped, I'll bring him home for a lazy day with me before operation later in the week. If bleed has continued, it'll be straight into surgery

Always had rescue dogs before, first dog I've owned since a pup, to say we're a partnership is an understatement, might even jack the job in as today has been horrible.

He's a Hungarian Vizsla, 11 in September this year.

Thinking of you my daft ginger buddy.

[bexVN]

That's tough.

I really hope it's a benign growth as this will mean a good longer term prognosis.

My only concern is the thought of delaying surgery if he seems stable. I don't want to seem OTT but if he has had a significant enough bleed to show signs of a problem, the next bleed could be worse and could be triggered by exertion.

Obviously your vets will know the ins and outs of his case to advise appropriately though. I do think if it were my dog I'd prefer surgery to go ahead asap.

I'm sorry you have ended up having to deal with this when you're not there. Wishing him all the best. Great photo

[TRB]

You're right of course and the decision already taken out of my hands. He's deteriorated and been rushed in. All I can do is wait.....

[bexVN]

TRB said:

You're right of course and the decision already taken out of my hands. He's deteriorated and been rushed in. All I can do is wait.....

. Wish I wasn't. Keeping my fingers crossed for him and my thoughts are with you.

[TRB]

What a long 3 & a half hours. Vet phoned, she said went as well as could be hoped. Spleen removed, lost a lot of blood, plus more in the abdomen. Came round from anaesthetic, but next day or so still critical.

The wife lost her grandad first thing Sunday, so not been a good day, but fingers crossed for my four legged friend.

'His' light left on, bed made and fresh 'juice' (it's just water but don't tell him) as normal. Tough day but more positive than a few hours ago.

[bexVN]

That's a good start. Even better that she obviously didn't see signs of spread if the growth. (if not benign the tumour is often smaller and there will be signs of it 'seeding' in the liver. They will prob send a sample off to check for certain that it is a benign growth (that's what you want it to be)

Did she tell you how big the tumour was?

I'm so glad the surgery went well. Still have fingers crossed for him fir the next couple days.

[TRB]

Growth was smaller (plumb) than originally thought (grapefruit) as there was a clot and an excess of blood in the abdomen. No sign of spread onto other organs, spleen removed now. Desperate to go and see him, but obviously don't want him to get excited as he's still a poorly boy. Lost a lot of blood, count back to 45 (from low 20s).

He's been sitting up and looking around this morning and vet is pleased with progress, will be kept in another night I think. Everything I do when home revolves in some way around the pooch, he's only allowed upstairs at kid's bedtime (kids think he sits there timing how long they brush their teeth for), you only realise how engrained they are in your life, when they're missing. Hopefully this time just for another night.

[TRB]

He's home! Still very slow and feeling sorry for himself, but he's home, the family is re-united, the kids are happy. I'm sleeping downstairs until he's a bit more like his old self.

I have concerns for his lifestyle out in the sticks as he's such a free spirit. Guessing a farm yard now brings added risks with an increased risk of infections. Catching rice/mats and eating feeds intended for cattle (& an addiction to calf poop) might now need some attention!