I'm so sorry for this diagnosis. If you are considering removing the spleen, you could ask Hotel4Dogs what to expect. Her 12 year old, Toby, had his spleen removed if I remember correctly. He's still doing great.

Discuss options for palliative care, if you decide not to do the surgery. There is a pain patch available and other medications that can make her life more comfortable until the end is near.

So, so sorry that you're going through this. Praying for all of you!

Lucys Mom

Rest assured we are praying for Lucy and you.
You can call the vet and ask questions about what you can and should do-that might be helpful.

I know that at least one persons Golden on here had their spleen removed and I think that it is Copper, CoppersMom is his Mom.
She might be able to give you some input on this.

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SNOBEAR at the Bridge
Dec. 23, 1999-March 27, 2010

SMOOCH at the Bridge.
Feb. 14, 1999-Dec. 7, 2010


TONKA & TUCKER

I am so sorry...
I started a GRF Prayer List recently and will put Lucy on it if you'd like.

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Miss You Sam...
Aug 1, '94 ~ Jan 8, '07
http://www.scrapblog.com/viewer/vw_f...px?sbid=483622

Lucy's Mom - sorry, I have no experience with what you're describing...but wanted you to know that I am sending good thoughts her way. I hope they can figure out what is causing all the issues and decide on the appropriate course of action. That may involve you leaving her there for a couple of hours. I know it is not pleasant, and she gets stressed - but it might be the only way to diagnose her condition.
I hope it all works out and that you have many more years with your best friend.

All the best to you and dear Lucy - Kim

I'm so sorry you are dealing with this. I may be wrong but is angiosarcoma the same as hemangiosarcoma, just showing in the heart first?

I think the best way to determine heart tumors is an echocardiogram/sonogram to check things out. If it's in the lungs an x-ray may be better to detect tumors there.

My almost 13 yo golden was diagnosed with hemangiosarcoma, had a splenectomy and lived for 3 months post diagnosis (intravenous chemotherapy). He had many good days. He recovered faster from his splenectomy than we imagined.

You are in my thoughts and prayers.

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I don't know if it is a difficult operation to perform... our vet made it sound like it was routine for them, but the problem is the recovery rate afterwards - especially if they find cancerous cells. If they find cancer in the spleen, it has likely already spread to the rest of the dog's body.

And like any surgery, there is a danger of blood clots. Our guy died from a blood clot after the surgery - but he was a little older than your girl.

I do suggest getting her to an emergancy vet and getting a second opinion, ultrasound, and get her on pain meds. And discussing your options with that vet.

With our guy he was in so much pain that last evening. But he was able to get up and walk around. He even wagged his tail and greeted the vets and techs he knew all his life.

The problem is if you wait any longer, then you risk the spleen rupturing. And that is a horrific ordeal to go through. That is how we lost another golden.

Just thought of something...

We had an 8 year old St. Bernard (their life expectancy is 6-8 years) come into our hospital. We performed an ultrasound and found a mass on the spleen. The veterinary specialist thought more likely than not, it was cancerous. The owners opted for surgery and removal of the spleen. There was NO cancer. The spleen was necrotic and disgusting and we removed it. So in this case, they were wrong! The dog is still going strong 4 months post-op.

Lucy's Mom

Bumping this topic up. I would get Lucy to the emergency hospital.
When they thought our Snobear had hemiangiosarcoma from the Xrays they saw something near his liver the only way to tell for sure was to do exploratory surgery. When they said there was a tumor on or near his liver and 90% sure it was cancer, we decided to let him to in peace.

__________________


SNOBEAR at the Bridge
Dec. 23, 1999-March 27, 2010

SMOOCH at the Bridge.
Feb. 14, 1999-Dec. 7, 2010


TONKA & TUCKER

I pm'd you but will add pertinent info here.

Copper had his spleen removed in February 2009. Two tumors were revealed in it during an ultrasound for an inaccurate liver blood test. A repeat ultrasound 2 months later reavealed they were growing, but they were not bleeding.
During the surgery they also found a tumor that had perforated his stomach wall. They also removed a very large lipoma from alongside his penis since the incision (VERY large incision) was in that area.

Before he had the splenectomy, he had an ultrasound of his heart and lungs to see if there were tumors there since with him being a Golden hemangiosarcoma was suspected and if it had spread he would not have had the surgery. He was in good health and showed no signs of a problem.

His tumors were all benign as amazing as that is. His quality of life is still quite good. We went on a 3 mile rail ride 3 weeks after surgery. He now has mobility problems now due to age, but no major problems related to the spleen removal.

He felt good enough to break out of the kennel and take a little walk around the clinic the day after surgery. He honestly walked gingerly for a few days, but in less than a week he acted like nothing had happened.

He is a rescue so his age is unknown, but he is probably about 12 so was probably about 10 when he had the surgery.

Hotel4dogs Toby had his spleen removed over 3 years ago I believe and Maggie1951's Megs had her spleen removed and her death 3 years later was not related to that. The quality of life is still quite nice without a spleen. Copper gets skin infections frequently and Hotel4dogs's Toby has demodetic mange that is probably related to the lack of a spleen.

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Copper's Mom (always )

Hi there,

First thank you all for being so kind. I am crying as I type this. I am taking lucy to the emergency vet tomorrow morning. Reading all your posts you have given me hope. Tonight when she had the seizure I thought it was all over.

I will keep you all posted as how Lucy gets on.

Copper , Toby......... and all other sick babies..... be well.

Lucys Mum