When To Remove The Spleen?

[macoduck]

Has your dog needed to have it's spleen removed?

Were there some chronic signs leading up to it? Or was it an emergency with no prior warning?

How long was the recovery period at the hospital and then at home?

 

Tessa is an 11 year old italian greyhound. Ultrasound showed hyperechoic areas. Could be benign, could be hemangiomas. Vet was not pushing for immediate surgery.

 

She's had 3 episodes in 4 months of severe shaking and disorientation. Otherwise normal, pee, poop, eating.

Vet thinks it's a pain manifestation - not seizure or vestibular. Within in an hour of a bupe injection the episode stops.

[Guest IrskasMom]

Ducky , sending Prayers and xtra gentle Hugs for Tessa .I really have no Advice . I hope somebody can help you with more Info.

[Wonder]

I had about an hour to decide with Lucky because he was bleeding into his belly. I was warned that the mass on his spleen was probably HSA so I need to decided if I want to spend the $3500 for surgery.

Best decision ever and it wasn't HSA

He had some issues after surgery so spent the weekend at the e-vet. The total for everything was $6k- best money I've ever spent.

[Batmom]

That's a really tough question. If there's something obviously wrong with it, you want it out sooner rather than later. If it's not so clear .... Maybe tbhounds/JJng can shed some light on what all feeds into the decision at their clinics.

 

So that was no advice at all, but want to wish you the best for your little girl.

[a_daerr]

Have you seen an internist or consulted with OSU? I am by no means a vet, but severe shaking and disorientation sounds like a seizure which is a cause for concern. Even though she is 11, I think I'd want to get a second opinion versus a 'wait and see' approach. Good thoughts for your little girl

[kudzu]

My dog's spleen was removed during an unrelated emergency, GDV surgery. There was a mass on it that was sent out for biopsy. The mass was an incidental finding. It was benign.

 

I've got hemangiomas in my spleen. No removal unless I start to become symptomatic. From a personal perspective, three episodes of pain in four months probably wouldn't cause me to have surgery but I guess it would depend on how long the episodes lasted & whether it was disruptive to my life.

 

ETA: The masses in my spleen are described as hemangioma/hamartoma.

Edited February 11, 2013 by kudzu

[macoduck]

Each of these 3 spells since September has been in the middle of the night. Tessa sleeps right next to be and boom- I know immediately when the shaking starts. In the day leading up to each episode her behavior has been normal, no change in routine.

 

At least the E-vet is 2 minutes from my house. I got lucky and the vet on call lives a few blocks over. She has witnessed each episode and doesn't think it is a seizure. Lab work was done with the 1st episode and by the vet who did the ultrasound when she wasn't having an episode (he's an hour away). Nothing bizarre in those reports.

 

I hope there is no next time but I will try to film it happening.

I know a dog/human comparison may not be the same, but Kudzu, what symptomatic presentations have you had?

[greytpups]

no advice, just for Tessa

[a_daerr]

Well, if the vet witnessed it and didn't think it was a seizure, and if the labs were okay, then hopefully she'll be okay with regular pain management. I hear you, though. It's a tough decision to make because you don't want it to be "too late" if a splenectomy needs to happen. No advice, just hugs.

[LBass]

MoMo's spleen was removed after being damaged during a laparoscopic spay surgery. The loss of spleen wasn't planned, obviously, but I don't think having to remove it complicated her recover from the regular spay & spleen removal.

 

She has had no ill-effects from the spleen removal.

[Newgreymom]

No advise Ducky, but she's precious!! Hugs to both of you

[galgrey]

No advice, but please know that I'm sending good thoughts for little Tessa.

[macoduck]

Had to run some errands this morning and Tessa gave me a tail wag when I got back.

I'd say she is about 75% back to normal.

[Houndtime]

Good thoughts for little Tessa.

[macoduck]

We can get in to the vet as a walk-in this afternoon.

[carronstar]

Aquitaine's was emergency surgery. Mass in her spleen the size of a softball. I took her in to the ER in the wee hours of a Monday and they kept her overnight as the getting in/out of cabs and on/off of her bed was deemed to be dangerous. She had high BP and some heart pitter patters so I didn't get her back until Thursday night.

 

Once she got home, she did quite well. The only follow-up issue we had was staple removal. In truth, stitches would have been much the better choice. The staple removal was a process she did not enjoy at all!

[kudzu]

I know a dog/human comparison may not be the same, but Kudzu, what symptomatic presentations have you had?

Known so far that we are sure of. Maybe a little pain but ... well, it's been off & on for my whole life, so infrequent & so temporary that I never thought much about it. They do believe these are congenital. I have congenital cutaneous & subcutaneous hemangiomas to the multiple viscerals ones just seem like a "collect the whole set" thing.

 

The "splenic masses" were an incidental finding on an MRI of my spine. Spine folks were worried & suggested abdominal MRI. Internal med folks weren't worried about spleen since it's not enlarged, blood work is fine & I'm not having other problems. However, they strongly recommended I get my spine checked.

 

ETA: I don't mean to make light of this. It doesn't bother me that I've got an odd spleen. If it were one of my loved ones, especially one could really speak for himself, I'd be very worried.

Edited February 11, 2013 by kudzu

[macoduck]

Thank you for sharing that, Kudzu.

We still don't know what's wrong with Tessa. She got another shot of buprenorhine (sp?) at the regular vet's this afternoon, along with subQ fluids. Vet's sending the xrays to a radiologist because she has a concern but isn't sure it's related to her symptoms.

 

She didn't want her regular food but took a few treats and bits of bread.

She really is resisting falling asleep. I think the bupe has her a bit stoned. I want my silly girl back.

[Wonder]

Hope she feels better soon and will eat for you.