Possible Mass on Spleen

[HeelerHeaven]

Took dakota, my 9 year old Blue heeler to the vet this AM for a checkup..

they are x-raying right now to get a better gauge, but vet is thinking he has a mass on his spleen.. if thats the case, he'll get a referral to another vet in town who specializes in ultrasounds of dogs..from there, next step is surgery, exploratory, to see how easy it would be to remove it.

Has anyone ever had something like this happen to their dogs?

Sarah

[Cearbhaill]

There are benign tumors on spleens (hyperplasias) and cancerous tumors on spleens (hemangiosarcomas).
Just keep positive thoughts until you know exactly what you are dealing with.
Fortunately, if it is benign, dogs can live without spleens just like people can.
Wait until after a biopsy to panic.

Great info here:
http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Con...P=A&A=1394&S=1

Good luck to you...

[HeelerHeaven]

thank you..vet x-rayed and simply said, you have to see this mass to appreciate the size of it. I am going to the vet's after work at 5PM

He said exploratory surgery was the next step, but he said he was afraid if he opened him up and found out the mass was unable to be removed, he felt the mass was so big, it would be near impossible to sew him back up.

His quality of life is still really good, he bosses the other dogs around, loves to go for rides and walks and play with his tennis balls...

Im really torn..I would like to know what it is, but on the other hand, Im being selfish, and want him around for as long as he's able. I love this dog with my entire heart.

My vet said, he'd let him be and let him tell us when he's ready to go.

Sarah

[rubyred]

I am sorry to hear this. Keeping you and Dakota in my thoughts and prayers.

[weezyNollie]

Can you have a surgeon specialist peform the exploratory? Will your vet refer you? The surgeon will be better apt to perform the surgery and have a better team to run the anesthesia, assist, etc. Plus, post-op you want to hospitalize these patients to monitor their hearts due to arrythmias.

Living with a mass on the spleen can be touch and go. It means you never know when it may rupture and cause abdominal bleeding, which leads to death. So it's a ticking time bomb to leave it in there.

Best of luck.

[HeelerHeaven]

Originally Posted by weezyNollie

Can you have a surgeon specialist peform the exploratory? Will your vet refer you? The surgeon will be better apt to perform the surgery and have a better team to run the anesthesia, assist, etc. Plus, post-op you want to hospitalize these patients to monitor their hearts due to arrythmias.

Living with a mass on the spleen can be touch and go. It means you never know when it may rupture and cause abdominal bleeding, which leads to death. So it's a ticking time bomb to leave it in there.

Best of luck.

That is what Im afraid of..I imagine the rupture would be extremly painful..

My vet said there are surgeons in dallas that he can reccomend. I will talk with him more on this wen I pick him up...Im just not sure on cost to take him down there.

[HeelerHeaven]

Originally Posted by rubyred

I am sorry to hear this. Keeping you and Dakota in my thoughts and prayers.

Thank you for the kind words.

[alimel]

I hope everything works out, I know it is very scary.

[puppylover13578]

i am sorry to hear your dog is having health problems but i am pretty sure the vets will do their best to help you and you dog.

[HeelerHeaven]

thank you both.

I know no matter what I decide, I will forever be wondering, what if? and I hate that.

Does anyone know if there is a way to take a good ultrasound to be able to gauge what the mass as attached itself too? my neighbor, whose dog also had tumors, suggested this. they operated on her and she only lasted about 2 months after. my neighbor swore she went so fast downhill..she quit eating, drinking and would just lay around. they ended up putting her down.

She said if faced with a similar situation, she would let the dog be, tumors and all..as she couldnt bear to watch another dog waste away in front of her.

Granted, each case is an individual, so what happened to her dog might no happen to Dakota should we operate..