Question For Senior Owners...update Post #1 Home Resting Comfortably

[Guest tricolorhounds]

Night before last, I had just arrived at work when the phone rang and it was my DD. She said "Mom, there is something wrong with Cecily."

 

What she described sounded like mini seizures to me. I rushed home so that we could take her to the E-Vet. (Another question, why do they always get sick or injured on a weekend night?) Once home, I found her on the floor in my bedroom, the second she saw me, she lifted her head and her tail started wagging so I assumed that it hadn't been a stroke as she was not confused.

 

Once at the E-Vet we described what had been happening. The Vet did not know what was going on but said they were not seizures as she was not losing consciousness. In the hour before we arrived, she had had about 10 episodes lasting 5 seconds where her eyes became fixed and either her head or her body would shake. They asked us to leave her so they could run some tests and observe her. They took blood and only found that she was slightly anemic and had slightly elevated liver enzymes (which she has had for the last 3 years. ) The next step was chest X-Rays to rule out Mets in her lungs from a possible brain tumor. Once they had her on the table, they were able to physically examine her abdomen and found an orange size mass in her spleen area. The chest X-Rays were clear but the Abdominal ones showed them the mass. The Vet called us for authorization to perform an ultrasound to look for free fluid in her abdomen. They found no fluid so she called and said that we could come back and get her to take her to our regular Vet in the AM. They never did observe any of the "seizure like" episodes although once my DD's got her home, she continued to have them.

 

I called my regular Vet this morning, she reviewed their findings and then called me back. She is extremely concerned about performing major abdominal surgery on a 13 year old (Cess is a LabMix.) She told me that even though there is a 50/50 chance that it is not cancer, even the benign masses are loaded with blood which makes it extremely difficult to stop the bleeding. In addition, putting her through major surgery only to find out that there are more cancers filling up her abdomen is not a good thing.

 

What we decided on was to have an ultrasound done by a specialist and try to ascertain what we are dealing with. We still don't even know if this is related to what was causing the "episodes."

 

 

Has anyone dealt with this type of hemangiosarcoma? What can I expect? At what age would you not consider having surgery?

 

Up until yesterday, the only problem she'd ever had was the UTI that we are currently treating. I'm beside myself.. 13 years is not nearly long enough.

 

If you've made it this far, thanks

 

*** Post-Surgery Update ***

 

Dr's are very pleased... It was a softball sized hematoma. Her PCV's are staying stable meaning she is not bleeding. They are going to try to get her to eat later this evening and then if everything looks good, she'll be able to come home tomorrow night.

 

Thanks for all your good thoughts. I know it helped

 

Just got the call to tell us to come and get her. She's eating, drinking, pottying and according to the Tech, telling them pretty loudly that she WANTS TO GO HOME, NOW!!!

 

Thanks again for all your good thoughts... My Cessy Girl surely appreciates them.

 

Lynnet

 

Dr just called with the Pathology report... Great News... NOT CANCER! OMG I can't believe it... She sure has lots of Angels looking out for her.

 

 

Edited July 7, 2007 by tricolorhounds

[Batmom]

Don't know about the shaking episodes -- sounds to me like they could be mini seizures but I'm pretty ignorant in that area.

 

The mass. Well, without getting a biopsy, there is no way to tell what it is. Could be lots of things besides hemangiosarcoma, and some of them are benign.

 

GT member Stacia's 13 year old greyhound recently had a 7-pound mass removed from her spleen area and recovered well. (This is a little girl greyhound, where on earth she kept 7 pounds of tumor one does not know!) Stacia isn't on here a lot and may not have enough posts to PM, but if you PM Cully she can probably tell you more about it.

 

Hugs and best wishes.

[Guest tricolorhounds]

Don't know about the shaking episodes -- sounds to me like they could be mini seizures but I'm pretty ignorant in that area.

 

The mass. Well, without getting a biopsy, there is no way to tell what it is. Could be lots of things besides hemangiosarcoma, and some of them are benign.

 

GT member Stacia's 13 year old greyhound recently had a 7-pound mass removed from her spleen area and recovered well. (This is a little girl greyhound, where on earth she kept 7 pounds of tumor one does not know!) Stacia isn't on here a lot and may not have enough posts to PM, but if you PM Cully she can probably tell you more about it.

 

Hugs and best wishes.

 

WoW... Thanks.. that gives me a glimmer of hope to go on while waiting for the ultrasound results.

[Rickiesmom]

My heart goes out to you and your daughter

 

One question I would ask the vet, and this may be addressed by the ultrasound, is how much risk there is the tumour will start to bleed. We had a lab mix about a year older than Cecily. We noticed he was very slow and weak one morning, took him to the vet, and long story short, that is what was happening. He had been slowing down prior to, but it was gradual and subtle and we attributed it to old age. We opted not to do the surgery. They gave him IV fluids which perked him up a lot, and we took him home, knowing the vet would be coming the next morning to help him to the Bridge. It was a hard decision, especially when he improved so much on fluids, but we felt we didn't want to put him through major surgery to buy him, without chemo, another 6 months (think that's what it was - this was over 10 years ago - also, treatment options may be better now).

 

Every situation is different, not saying this is the right decision for you, just sharing our experience.

[Burpdog]

Tough call

 

Young side of 13 with good health prior, maybe. Until they get in there, I doubt they really know what is going on. There are many 13 yr olds that survive surgery.

 

Sending prayers.

 

 

[Guest tricolorhounds]

My heart goes out to you and your daughter

 

One question I would ask the vet, and this may be addressed by the ultrasound, is how much risk there is the tumour will start to bleed. We had a lab mix about a year older than Cecily. We noticed he was very slow and weak one morning, took him to the vet, and long story short, that is what was happening. He had been slowing down prior to, but it was gradual and subtle and we attributed it to old age. We opted not to do the surgery. They gave him IV fluids which perked him up a lot, and we took him home, knowing the vet would be coming the next morning to help him to the Bridge. It was a hard decision, especially when he improved so much on fluids, but we felt we didn't want to put him through major surgery to buy him, without chemo, another 6 months (think that's what it was - this was over 10 years ago - also, treatment options may be better now).

 

Every situation is different, not saying this is the right decision for you, just sharing our experience.

 

Oh no.. thank you for sharing.

[Guest MorganKonaAlex]

A few years ago, I noticed blood in Kona's urine. We treated for a UTI and it seemed to get better. Well it kept coming back. After months of this dance and inconclusive other tests including an ultrasound, we went to the Vet Hospital, Tufts. Their ultrasound found a mass in her kidney. All 4 vets consulting thought it was cancer; most likely hemangiosarcoma. They did a needle aspiration, but only got blood. We couldn't do a core biopsy because it was too close to the renal artery. We made the decision to have the kidney removed hoping we were buying her a few years. It turned out not to be cancer at all. It was an infarction. While I'm glad it wasn't cancer, I was damned mad we put her through abdominal surgery and removed her kidney for no reason. Kona was approx. 8 at the time.

 

I know it's not exactly your situation, but wanted to throw the possibility it's not a hemangiosarcoma out there.

[ZoomDoggy]

If you're going forward with the ultrasound, see if they can get a need aspirate of the tumor. They *may* be able to get enough cells to determine if it's malignant, without doing an exploratory surgery. That worked for Sissy. Sadly it turned out that Sissy's tumors had metastasized to her liver and spleen and probably her intestines and elsewhere before we even knew she had cancer.

 

But my point is, maybe they can get an answer without surgery...

[patricia]

My inlaws went ahead with surgery on their 14 year old babe who had a huge mass in his spleen. He did well...the liver however was also involved. It was cancer but they had 11 more months together and it was good quality time. It is however a very hard decision. Sending my many prayers and white light.

[Guest meandmygreys]

I really have no thoughts.... I just want to send my thoughts and prayers to you and your girl..Bonnie had some soft lumps...cysts on her body in various places...up to a dime size. Due to her age at the time (15), we oppted not to do surgery.

 

Hugs to you..

[Guest tricolorhounds]

My DD just called from the Vets office. The Vet examined Cessy, gave my DD some info and then took her for the ultrasound.

 

He said the larger the mass, the less likely it is to be cancerous.

That her age wouldn't deter him from performing the surgery.

and that the "episodes" could have been mini strokes from blood clots sent from the mass.

 

Still waiting on the ultrasound results

[grey14me]

:hope

[Guest tricolorhounds]

Ultrasound completed.

 

Update from the Dr:

 

Happy, Healthy Dog... No sign of Mets. Not concerned about her age. If she were his, he wouldn't hesitate to take out the spleen. Will set up with surgeon appointment for Thursday.

 

Whew... Now I can start breathing again.

[Rickiesmom]

Praying the ultrasound brings good news.

[Guest trevdog]

hoping for a successful surgery then!

[patricia]

Ultrasound completed.

 

Update from the Dr:

 

Happy, Healthy Dog... No sign of Mets. Not concerned about her age. If she were his, he wouldn't hesitate to take out the spleen. Will set up with surgeon appointment for Thursday.

 

Whew... Now I can start breathing again.

Good! Let's go get that spleen! Sending my many prayers that this is a benign thing...but either way...it will be good to get that outta there!

[Rickiesmom]

Wonderful news - so glad this is operable - will be watching on Thursday!

[MarcR]

Great news... I hope she comes through her surgery with flying colors.

[Guest Aggie94]

Sending many prayers!

[Guest WarmheartedPups]

probably a very silly thought...but do they know why she is having the "episodes"

 

 

could it be a reaction to the medicine she is on for the UTI?

[Guest tricolorhounds]

probably a very silly thought...but do they know why she is having the "episodes"

 

 

could it be a reaction to the medicine she is on for the UTI?

 

This Doc thought that the mass was sending off small blood clots to her brain and causing mini strokes. He thinks that the surgery will take care of that issue.

 

 

Thanks everyone for your good thoughts. I'll let you know how everything goes on Thursday.

[Guest WarmheartedPups]

I am so sorry....Sending prayers and hugs

[Guest cendrine]

Keeping you all in my thoughts and prayers through Thursday.

[Houndess]

FYI - there are many types of seizures including those that make an animal appear as though they are "zoning out". Length of seizure can be seconds...

 

Your dog could absolutely have had a seizure.

[Wendie]

Sending lots of good thoughts