Hemangiosarcoma liver & spleen (Canine cancer)

[mskatt]

Hi everyone. I just found this site while looking for information about spleen and liver cancer. My 5 year old Border Collie, Beau, died last night of this and my we are devastated. He had recently been acting sick and had lost weight and muscle tone in all areas but his abdomen which was huge. This had progressively gotten worse over the past month and we had blood drawn, etc. and was told he had a GI infection and was given antibiotics. Last month he acted like he had a hurt back and the vet gave him Rimadyl which seemed to help. We were getting xrays done this week since the antibiotics weren't making a difference but he passed last night. We had no idea how severely sick he was. He started having accidents in my toddler's room and we thought he was being lazy. We have a 4 year old German Shepherd who is looking for her buddy Beau, and my kids (3.5 and 19 months) keep asking where he is. They lost their best friend. I had never heard of this before until the vet did the autopsy today and told us he bled to death internally last night due to the spleen rupturing. He said Beau probably didn't suffer much and explained he probably just stopped breathing due to not being able to get enough air. I don't really get how that is painless or how that is related to his cancer, but right now I am just trying to pull myself together.The vet said there was nothing we could have done but I keep thinking maybe, if only....... I am so sorry for all of your losses and I hope our dogs are playing together now... When does the pain stop??? Linda

[Estie]

Hi, Linda & Family -

My heart aches for you and I know there is a huge hole in your world tonight! I went through the what if's, why's, and the guilt - could I have done more? And ask yourself - if you had known sooner would it have been better?? - your dog would have been on heavy medicine and probably not felt well for the last few months of his life - that wouldn't have been much fun. You would have been crying all the time infront of him (he would know something was up - you can't fool these dogs!!) and that would have upset him!! I came to the conclusion after Yogurt's death (story is on the previous page, I think) that swifter is better. I'm glad we didn't know. Your vet is right - I don't think dogs feel pain like we think they feel pain! When I lived on the farm (ages ago!!), our dogs would run off and die if they were old, or ill. Nature just would take its course. I think that if your dog had been in excruciating pain, he would have just laid down and died sooner then he did. You did everything right. You gave him a good life with lots of love and attention. Just focus on that. Don't beat yourself up. I have no advice for the tears!! I'm a basket case myself and it will be 11 weeks this coming Friday that we lost our Springer Spaniel. She was 13 years old, but losing a younger dog as in your case is more difficult, but remember all the good times and the love you gave him. Will keep you in my thoughts and prayers.
Estie Walker - Denver, Colorado
PS: tomorrow, the English Springer Rescue lady is coming to our home for a home visit, and is bringing a 1 1/2 year old springer with her to see if we want to adopt. I'm kinda excited, but I hope I don't cry too much!!
Keep us posted on this thread - and if you need to talk, just feel free to do so! We're here if you need us!

[mskatt]

Thank you for your kind reply, Estie. I am still crying and know it is a long road ahead. My children wanted Beau first thing this morning and the oldest even went and laid where Beau died, looking for him. They are very young and don't understand. My German Shepherd is moping around. We also have 4 cats but they don't seem to wonder, maybe they just know. We are torn about getting Maia another friend. We probably will but not now, we need to grieve. I did some reading on this disease last night and read that German Shepherds are prone to this and now worry that Maia will get it. We have a family wedding to go to in New Mexico this weekend (my son is in it) and I dread kenneling Maia alone. She and Beau always stayed together in a double run.
I am so sorry for your loss of your baby Yogurt.
I hope your meeting with the rescue dog people goes well...keep us posted.

Linda-Tampa Florida

[CTDog]

First I want to say how very, very sorry I am for the people that have lost their beloved dogs to hemangiosarcoma. We are seeing it more and more at my job and it is very scarey.

I just wanted to add a little side note here. When my now 13 year old dobe was 11 1/2 she was diagnosed by ultrasound (after the vet found an abnormality on physical exam) as having a large bleeding splenic mass. I was told their was really no way to tell it was cancer without going in to get it. I was faced with the dilemma of having to put my old girl through major surgery only to find out she had terminal cancer. If I didn't do the surgery she was at risk of suddenly bleeding out and dying. I decided to go for the surgery. Obviously the test results came out benign as she is still here with me I just wanted to add this lest everyone get the feeling that these tumors are always cancerous. Take care.

[Estie]

Yes, that so true. When we met with the vet on that Friday morning, he said that if the mass was all enclosed (probably not the right term), and not metastised (sp?!) very simply they could take it out and the dog would be good as new (well sorta!). Then he gave us the other side of the coin - surgery was necessary to see what all was in there, and the picture was grim as it turned out. It's good to know that it isn't always a death sentence!

Linda - I wished I lived near you because I would keep your dog for you while you were gone! The meeting with the Rescue went okay. I felt like it was social services visiting!! This dog was the cutest, and went for our son immediately to play!! The lady wanted to make sure hubby was all in-tuned for this adoption, so he will meet her on Friday. There is another family interested, also, but I just have to stick to my belief that whatever works out - it was meant to be! I wish I could quit crying everytime I talk about Yogurt, but I just am not able to yet.

[Mellie]

Hemangiosarcomas ARE cancerous. That's the definition of them. Hemangiomas are the benign form. But even malignant hemangiosarcomas can be removed and a splenectomy can be curative if the cancer has not metastasized. The key is to catch the tumor early, which is not always possible.
I feel for everyone involved in this thread. It really is a devastating illness to have happen to a beloved pet.
Thank you all for sharing your stories. I know first-hand how very heartbreaking it is to do so. I bet my Waldo is making friends with everyone.
Take care.

[CTDog]

Originally Posted by Mellie

Hemangiosarcomas ARE cancerous. That's the definition of them. Hemangiomas are the benign form. But even malignant hemangiosarcomas can be removed and a splenectomy can be curative if the cancer has not metastasized. The key is to catch the tumor early, which is not always possible.
I feel for everyone involved in this thread. It really is a devastating illness to have happen to a beloved pet.
Thank you all for sharing your stories. I know first-hand how very heartbreaking it is to do so. I bet my Waldo is making friends with everyone.
Take care.

Right...I just wanted people to know that just because they hear "tumor on the spleen" doesn't mean that it is always cancerous. Some people might opt to euthanize before surgery because they assume their dog has cancer.

[smcroni]

ICE update...Just wanted to let you all know I came home a few minutes ago to let our (my wifes) baby ICE out and he was laying peacefully on the floor. He has gone to the Rainbow Bridge to be with our other dog Benny who has been waiting for his buddy Ice patiently at the bridge for two years. We sought of knew last night that it would only be a matter of a day or two. I left for work at 7:40 AM and told him to be a good boy and I loved him as I told him every morning. I returned home at 11:45 AM to let him out and he was gone. I shed a tear then closed those steel blue husky eyes and stroked his fur one last time and shared a few words with him. It is just amazing that he was diagnosed with Hemangiosarcoma of the spleen 2 weeks ago today. In all probability looking back he suffered the spleenatic rupture 3 weeks ago. The last 2 weeks he was spoiled more than usual if you can believe that and received more hugs and affection than one can imagine. He was only with us 9 years but he will live in our hearts forever. Thanks fr all the kind words over the last week or two. We know that each night the stars are out and we see a twinkle, it will be those blue eyes of ICE watching us.

[CTDog]

I'm so very sorry for your loss smcroni

Rest in peace Ice.

[Estie]

I am so very sorry! I'm sitting here at the computer with tears streaming down! I hurt all over again for you, but keep remembering the good times.
Estie

[mskatt]

I am so, so sorry for your loss. Ice sounds like a wonderful dog. It is good that you spoiled him so much the last weeks. I would have done that to my Beau if only I had known...

[mskatt]

Has anyone had dreams about their departed friends? I had a very vivid dream last night that I saw Beau sitting in a beautiful nature setting with another dog that looked like my childhood dog. Beau saw me and came running and I hugged and petted him. Then he went back to play. That was the first time I had felt a calmness about his passing. Today it is back to the grief and tears.

[smcroni]

Thank you all for your comforting words. We are at peace with the passing of our beloved ICE. Not to sound crass but it was almost easy this time. Benny our 3yo Golden passed 2 years ago and the devestating feelings lasted forever. We received the news he had Cancer of the brain at 5PM and at 7PM we put him down. Ice we had 2 weeks of knowing the end was near and enjoyed every minute. Sure we shed a tear or two ok a lot more than that over the last two weeks and we were about to put him down several times over the 2 weeks but we are truly at peace knowing he is with Benny and in a better place. Every time he seemed as if death was close at hand over the last 2 weeks and we made up our mind the next day would be the day he would be sent to the bridge, he would get a bit of spunk and we couldn't do it. My wife and I had the feeling Tuesday night would be our last night as he was refusing his treats and breathing harder than he had been as of late. Yesterday morning after he went out my wife went to put her shoes on for work. ICE got up and came and layed across her feet. She pet him for a minute and went to move her feet to put her shoes on and he leaned back onto her legs as if he didn't want her to move. He normally does not show this type of craving for affection. She put her shoes on and got down and pet him and told her she loved him kissed his nose and said to be a good boy until mommy gets home and she went to work. This was his way of saying it was time and letting her know he loved her and such. I know that I missed his last few minutes by no more than a half hour due to the fact he was warm and there was still saliva on his tongue when I found him. I was a medic and am a hunter so I tend to notice these things. I am just glad I found our boy instead of my wife becaus ICE was loved by all but truly adored by her. Last night we all told of funny memories of our buddy including our 21yo who never shows a great deal of anything towards the dogs other than an occasional ear scratch or quick game of tug the sock. He laughed and said man was ICE fast when he escaped that boy could run. We all know last night he was running in the lovely meadows near the bridge.

We still have our 2yo bucket of love purebred Golden " Bonnie". We wonder how she will adapt without her big brother here to keep her in line with that little yap or yowl when he disapproved of what she was doing. I am sure we will either keep a pup from her litter next summer. Last night my wife said "So when is the puppy coming". As soon as Bonnie gets her title was my response. Sorry this was so long winded. Even though the emotions have been shed, the need to vent still arises.

[Mellie]

I am happy ICE has passed peacefully, and no longer dealing with the cancer. I'm sure Benny was there to welcome him. Take care during your time of mourning. My heart goes out to you.

mskatt:
Yes! I frequently have dreams of both Jake and Waldo (I lost Jake about a year ago; and I lost Waldo almost 5 months ago).
For a while after I lost Jake, I'd have nightmares of us in dangerous situations. It was up to me to save Jake from whatever nightmare was presented to me at the time. That dream always ended with me getting close enough to reach out to Jake, but then I'd wake up. I never knew if I saved him or not.
But after a while, long before Waldo passed, I started having dreams of Jake visiting me. These were everyday situations.... In one dream, I was just lying in bed when Jake came up to me and put his head against my hand. I sat up to hug and pet him. It was so real I cried when I woke up.
Then Waldo passed. The same recurring theme of a dream occurred after Waldo passed. I was always trying to save him from something.
Before Waldo's last breath, I told him how much I loved him. I also told him to find Jake and take care of eachother.
Soon after the nightmares passed, I began having dreams of Jake AND Waldo, together, visiting me. I've only had a few of these so far, since it took a while for the nightmares to pass.
But, again, these were amazingly vivid and awe inspiring. I feel more like I travelled to another place for some time, rather than that I was just sleeping and dreaming.
In one dream, I was walking Bubba and Peanut in our fields out back when Jake and Waldo came out to greet us. They have never met Bubba, so I was able to introduce them all. Peanut was so excited and ran right over to say hello to her two old companions. After introductions and greetings, Peanut and BUbba just played around us. Me, Jake, and Waldo sat together and watched. I picked up Waldo into my lap like I always did when he was with me. (Jake was still too heavy for me to lift.) I could feel his fuzzy little body against mine.
Sigh. They are always so real. Just those dreams, when they visit me. All my other dreams are normal dreams.
Well.... that was a ramble.
Goodness, I miss my babies.

[AUSSKY]

smcroni,

my heart goes out to you and yours for your loss. I lost Cadence on the 15th August and although I get a huge amount of joy looking at the 350 photos that I have put together, and can talk about him without crying, I find that sharing everyone's sadnesses here is cathartic as it helps me cry for him and I still miss him so much.

Unlike a number of you, I don't think Cadence's soul has actually left - he's the only 'significant other' I have lost (person or dog) who hasn't come back within 24 hours to say goodbye.....I think he's still here.....I haven't dreamt of him either.

Stay safe and remember ICE with lots of love.....