Guest greymom1997 Posted September 26, 2007 Share Posted September 26, 2007 Hi, My Phillie who is six years old started drinking more water and peeing more often. More like draining the bowl dry and then peeing for 2-3 minutes at a time. Then his appetite began to slow down. This was about 2 weeks ago. Then about 1 week ago I noticed that his belly was getting big. He eats every morning and every night but only about half and over the next few days he began to act differently... not his usual self. Then yesterday morning he didn't want to go for his morning walk. That was when I knew that something had to be very wrong. The vet aspirated blood from both sides of his abdomen. He then told me that it was most likely from the liver or spleen. If its the liver then it doesn't look good for Phillie. If it's the spleen we're talking about a $1200 surgery. The outcome being he may not live through it and the cancer may just return immediately anyway. It may have already spread now! He also siad he could bleed out any time... I'm scared to death! Has anyone else experienced this? Could it be anything else? What would be the best course of action to take to rule in or out liver/spleen cancer? X-ray? Cytology? Donna Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest ss556 Posted September 26, 2007 Share Posted September 26, 2007 I have no advice, but am sending a ton of prayers and hopefully someone here soon can help you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iluvgreys Posted September 26, 2007 Share Posted September 26, 2007 I'm very sorry. Probably an ultrasound. What is your vet recommending? Sending lots of prayers and light to your boy. Jeanne with Remington & Scooter the cat....and Beloved Bridge Angels Sandee, Shari, Wells, Derby, Phoenix, Jerry Lee and Finnian.....If tears could build a stairway, and memories a lane, I'd walk right up to heavenand bring you home again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest LittleGreys Posted September 26, 2007 Share Posted September 26, 2007 I'm so sorry your boy is sick. I would think xrays would certainly be warranted, and/or abdominal ultrasound. Was bloodwork done? How was his PCV? I don't have much to offer other than hugs and lots of prayers, and I WILL certainly be praying for both of you!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest greymom1997 Posted September 26, 2007 Share Posted September 26, 2007 (edited) I'm very sorry. Probably an ultrasound. What is your vet recommending? Sending lots of prayers and light to your boy. So far the vet recommended either X-ray or cytology. We didn't do either yesterday because the vet was so sure of his diagnosis and I was shell-shocked. He is fairly familiar with greyhounds. He has quite a few in the practice, but I simply walked out and collapsed in the car. I really want to know what would be the best test to do for the most definitive answer. I hate to put him through going there again. He hates it so much. He didn't sleep at all last night. He is so uncomfortable from the big belly. It impedes his ability to get up and down. Edited September 26, 2007 by greymom1997 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Batmom Posted September 26, 2007 Share Posted September 26, 2007 Ultrasound WITH cytology. You want the ultrasound so you can see what's in there. While the vet is ultrasounding, he/she can get a needle aspirate and send it off to cytology (analysis) if warranted. You usually don't know what it is without the analysis (altho there are exceptions to this). At your pup's young age, could as easily be a diseased spleen that is NOT cancerous and could be removed. There is no way to tell from looking at the dog from the outside. Can you get him in to ultrasound today? If his belly is full of blood he needs to be in surgery ASAP. Sending prayers. Star aka Starz Ovation (Ronco x Oneco Maggie*, litter #48538), Coco aka Low Key (Kiowa Mon Manny x Party Hardy, litter # 59881), and mom in IllinoisWe miss Reko Batman (Trouper Zeke x Marque Louisiana), 11/15/95-6/29/06, Rocco the thistledown whippet, 04/29/93-10/14/08, Reko Zema (Mo Kick x Reko Princess), 8/16/98-4/18/10, the most beautiful girl in the whole USA, my good egg Joseph aka Won by a Nose (Oneco Cufflink x Buy Back), 09/22/2003-03/01/2013, and our gentle sweet Gidget (Digitizer, Dodgem by Design x Sobe Mulberry), 1/29/2006-11/22/2014, gone much too soon. Never forgetting CJC's Buckshot, 1/2/07-10/25/10. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bevd Posted September 26, 2007 Share Posted September 26, 2007 Sending good thoughts Deerhounds Darcy, Duffy, Grace & Wellington, Mutts Sprout & Buddy, Lurchers Ned & Jake plus Ella the Westie + cats. Remembering Del, Jessie, Maddison, Flo, Sally, Stanley, Wallace, Radar, Mokka, Oki cat, Tetley, Poppy & Striker. Please visit our web store at http://www.dogsndubs.com for our own range of Greyhound related clothing for humans! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nyGreys Posted September 26, 2007 Share Posted September 26, 2007 Ultrasound WITH cytology. You want the ultrasound so you can see what's in there. While the vet is ultrasounding, he/she can get a needle aspirate and send it off to cytology (analysis) if warranted. You usually don't know what it is without the analysis (altho there are exceptions to this). At your pup's young age, could as easily be a diseased spleen that is NOT cancerous and could be removed. There is no way to tell from looking at the dog from the outside. Can you get him in to ultrasound today? If his belly is full of blood he needs to be in surgery ASAP. Sending prayers. Ditto... ASAP! I am so sorry. Sendings prayers for your boy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest greymom1997 Posted September 26, 2007 Share Posted September 26, 2007 Thank you everyone for your replies and prayers! I am awaiting a call from the vet to discuss options. I'll keep you posted! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest vahoundlover Posted September 26, 2007 Share Posted September 26, 2007 Sending prayers! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greyhoundlov Posted September 26, 2007 Share Posted September 26, 2007 Hi, My Phillie who is six years old started drinking more water and peeing more often. More like draining the bowl dry and then peeing for 2-3 minutes at a time. Then his appetite began to slow down. This was about 2 weeks ago. Then about 1 week ago I noticed that his belly was getting big. He eats every morning and every night but only about half and over the next few days he began to act differently... not his usual self. Then yesterday morning he didn't want to go for his morning walk. That was when I knew that something had to be very wrong. The vet aspirated blood from both sides of his abdomen. He then told me that it was most likely from the liver or spleen. If its the liver then it doesn't look good for Phillie. If it's the spleen we're talking about a $1200 surgery. The outcome being he may not live through it and the cancer may just return immediately anyway. It may have already spread now! He also siad he could bleed out any time... I'm scared to death! Has anyone else experienced this? Could it be anything else? What would be the best course of action to take to rule in or out liver/spleen cancer? X-ray? Cytology? Donna I just posted about my Freddie. His started the same way, lack of appetite and weight loss. X-rays showed a mass so we were referred to a surgeon. The ultrasound this morning shows his spleen is completely gone and most of his liver is as well. Yesterday the vet said if the liver wasn't too bad he could remove part of it and then consider radiology or chemo. Freddie's lungs were clear which was a good sign. Unfortunately, the other stuff wasn't good. I would suggest a second opinion. Freddie is nearly 15. Your baby is 6. I'm not saying your vet is not right, I'm just saying it sounds too gloom and doomy to me without at least an x-ray/ultrasound. Mary in Houston Everyone has a photographic memory, but not everyone has film. LAND OF THE FREE BECAUSE OF THE BRAVE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greyhoundlov Posted September 26, 2007 Share Posted September 26, 2007 (edited) Hi, My Phillie who is six years old started drinking more water and peeing more often. More like draining the bowl dry and then peeing for 2-3 minutes at a time. Then his appetite began to slow down. This was about 2 weeks ago. Then about 1 week ago I noticed that his belly was getting big. He eats every morning and every night but only about half and over the next few days he began to act differently... not his usual self. Then yesterday morning he didn't want to go for his morning walk. That was when I knew that something had to be very wrong. The vet aspirated blood from both sides of his abdomen. He then told me that it was most likely from the liver or spleen. If its the liver then it doesn't look good for Phillie. If it's the spleen we're talking about a $1200 surgery. The outcome being he may not live through it and the cancer may just return immediately anyway. It may have already spread now! He also siad he could bleed out any time... I'm scared to death! Has anyone else experienced this? Could it be anything else? What would be the best course of action to take to rule in or out liver/spleen cancer? X-ray? Cytology? Donna BTW, $1200 isn't too bad. Our estimate was $1800-2500. Edited September 26, 2007 by greyhoundlov Mary in Houston Everyone has a photographic memory, but not everyone has film. LAND OF THE FREE BECAUSE OF THE BRAVE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest greybookends Posted September 26, 2007 Share Posted September 26, 2007 :hope :hope :hope Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest argolola Posted September 26, 2007 Share Posted September 26, 2007 I will pray too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Winterwish Posted September 26, 2007 Share Posted September 26, 2007 Sending good thoughts and hopes for hopeful options for you and Phillie! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZoomDoggy Posted September 26, 2007 Share Posted September 26, 2007 Ultrasound with biopsies, ASAP. : ~Aimee, with Flower, Alan, Queenie, & Spodee Odee! And forever in my heart: Tipper, Sissy, Chancy, Marla, Dazzle, Alimony, and Boo. This list is too damned long. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest PhillyPups Posted September 26, 2007 Share Posted September 26, 2007 Prayers from Philly for Phillie. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SAVED2 Posted September 26, 2007 Share Posted September 26, 2007 This happened to my boy The Rev , we left the vets because I was not believing it was happening, he had a bad night and we went back to the vets early the next morning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burpdog Posted September 26, 2007 Share Posted September 26, 2007 Because of his age, I'd do the ultrasound and biopsy. Also draw blood for a complete TBD panel. He can live without a spleen Sending prayers! Diane & The Senior Gang Burpdog Biscuits Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheFullHouse Posted September 26, 2007 Share Posted September 26, 2007 We lost a pup the same way. Had no idea he was sick until he started bleeding in his belly. We chose to send him to the bridge. The vet told us that even with surgery he might only live 2 more months and we weren't going to put him through all that pain for two extra months. It was the hardest decision we've ever had to make but if another one of mine comes down with the same thing we'll probably make the same decision. Judy, mom to Darth Vader, Bandita, And Angel Forever in our hearts, DeeYoGee, Dani, Emmy, Andy, Heart, Saint, Valentino, Arrow, Gee, Bebe, Jilly Bean, Bullitt, Pistol, Junior, Sammie, Joey, Gizmo, Do Bee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest trevdog Posted September 26, 2007 Share Posted September 26, 2007 Get the ultrasound and cytology....I'd take the chance..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AngelWhispers Posted September 26, 2007 Share Posted September 26, 2007 I went thru this last year with my Bridge Angel, Wanda. She was 11 1/2. I highly recommend an ultra-sound before anything else, and the aspirated fluid should have been sent out to a lab to determine what's in the fluid. When Wanda started bleeding there were nucleated cells in the aspirated fluid, and that pretty much told the dr. that the tumor had ruptured. When Wanda had her first aspirant there were no nucleated cells, and an ultra-sound of her liver showed 2 nodules and a healthy spleen...I wasn't given the option of surgery or I would have gone for it. Nobody told me I could have saved her life by having the surgery done. Anyway, she survived for 10 more months until the cancer spread to her spleen and the tumor ruptured. If you can afford it, I would get an ultra-sound and then surgery. Your guy is young and has a good chance of survival. Sending prayers Denise & Strider, Blake, Fields, Frank, FlippyDoo, and Momma Gail. The Bridge Angels Zack(Ags Marble Chip) 4/25/93-2/16/06, Wanda(Rainier Rowanda) 12/14/94-06/09/06, Brooke/Boogers(Rainier Restive) 01/01/99-10/20/08, Warlock(Rainier Rammer) 4/29/99-10/01/09), Patsie(Frisky Patsy) 5/17/96-2/05/10, Hatter(Cals Madhatter) 6/3/00-3/11/10, Dodger(Rainier Ransack) 4/29/99-4/16/10, and Sparkle(Okie Sparkle) 11/8/2000-1/28/11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SIGreyLady Posted September 26, 2007 Share Posted September 26, 2007 Keeping you in our prayers. Mimi, Sterling and Kelsey Mimi- mom to Burdette (KB's Burdette), Sophie (LL's Stupid Is) and bridge babies Kelsey (Kelso's Logo), Sterling (Cold B Tiger), Fritz, Tasha, Chloe and Molly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest greyhound1 Posted September 26, 2007 Share Posted September 26, 2007 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest greytmonty Posted September 26, 2007 Share Posted September 26, 2007 Prayers from Philly for Phillie. Ditto, what she said. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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