Thank you so much, Mellie, for responding. I hurt so much every day and I find it necessary to really get as much information as possible, as this seems to help me deal with the loss better. Based upon what you have said, it sounds like my vet doesn't know that much about Hemangiosarcoma...this concerns me. My dog had several episodes of weakness and disorientation prior to succumbing to this cancer. Each time I just waited them out and he always got better...thankfully! Of course, this last time he did not
Prior to beginning treatment with an alternative vet, I had a regular vet who diagnosed the problem and removed the spleen (along with a 5 pound tumor). This regular vet told me a story about his dog having Hemangiosarcoma and how he gave his dog chemotherapy. He went on to say that he loved his dog so much that he wanted to do whatever he could to prolong his dog's life. He said he wished he had never done the chemo because the last few months of his dog's life were not pleasant due to the chemo's side effects. He had no other options for me so I turned to an alternative practioner. Since you have studied this disease extensively, do you know if Hemangiosarcoma is something a dog inherits from its parents? If not, was there something I could have done to have prevented this? I gave my dog a very good commercial food (Innova) with no meat by-products. I gave him only filtered water. He was an indoor dog but got plenty of exercise (we live on half an acre). I miss him so much that life almost seems unbearable now. I work out of my home and all day long my dog, Lucky, and I were together to keep each other company...now I am alone. I am so sorry, too, for your loss. You really didn't have much time with Waldo and that makes me feel sad. Thank you for all the information you have provided here on this thread!