Hemangiosarcoma - Page 1

Hi - joined this site because I am bereft

Lost my 8 years old lab to hemangiosarcoma yesterday. He collapsed 6 weeks ago and underwent splenectomy. We thought at first he had ruptured his spleen by jumping a gate but histology showed hemangiosarcoma. Howver tests gave him the all clear for secondaries and throughout his post op checks he couldn't be better apart from a small area along his suture line which was prominent and causing his issues.

Then suddenly 5 days ago he was acting pretty strange and did let out a couple of whines but he has an injured shoulder so we put it down to that. When he got up the next morning (he sleeps in our room) he keeled over and I immediately recognised this as the same thing that happened before. We went straight to the vet who did bloods, x-rays and scans - his liver was a mass of small hemangiosarcomas which were bleeding. We were sent home to carry out palliative care wit tramadol. He was OK for two days although clearly having trouble moving around but he was eating, drinking and going into the garden. Yesterday he was noticably worse but still rallied around luch time. Then at 7pm he had a crisis and became disorientated, has a slight pee accident and becan to show signs of hypovolemia. I gave him tramadol 100mgs orally but he didn't want to swallow so I had to push right down - hopefully this gave him some releif, although he did not exhibit overt signs of pain? If someone can reassure me this would be great?

He settled but was fading - every so ofetn he would rally and give us kisses and look around at noises and being generally nosey. At 11pm I tried to give hime some water via a syringe through his mouth but this made him gag and about 15 minutes later he was sick - I feel so bad - was this my fault? But then I could see that none of the food he had had that day had been digested and I knew this was shut down of his systems. He continues to be quiet but shallowly breathing until 2am - but every now and then he would get up and move a couple of feet - look around at us and even kiss. It seemed as though he didn't want to just sleep? I guess that his heart trying to pump so hard would have caused him not to be able to sleep - again could someone reassure me? At 2.30am we rang the vet and made our way there. We carried him to the car and into the surgery in a blanket - he was not even trying to move. In the car on the way there he did sit up and had a kind of episode - then I cradled him in my arms for the 30 minute journey. When we carried him into the surgery his head was over the blanket but there was no more looking around and he remained eyes half closed throughout the release.

I need to know that he was not suffering - if I thought he was in pain these last few days I couldn't bear it. He was my baby boy although he was 8, and he was my shadow throughout the day and night. The loss is total - why so quick - how can the secondaries grow and rupture so fast?

I have lost dogs before but this is something else which is why I was glad to find this forum. I have another lab the same age and he has spinal arthritis - it looks like we will lose him soon - no more dogs for us - we lose them so young.

Sandie

So sorry to hear about your loss. That sounds like a freaking heartbreaking disease. Poor dog, and poor you. :( 

Hello Sandie,

First, I am very sorry to hear about your loss and what you and your pup had gone through.

My second police service dog had the same thing 5 years ago and your descriptions are virtually identical to what my GSD had gone through. Try to be at peace with yourself, because you did everything that you possibly could for him and stayed with him until the end. Becasue of the role that the spleen plays in the blood system, there is very little that you can do after hemangiosarcoma is diagnosed.  I was informed at the time that if they were to remove the spleen and do a complete blood transfusion that he might gain another 4 to 5 months, but that there was no cure. A retired PD K-9 handler that I know had the same thing with his GSD and did have the surgery and blood transfusion performed. Unfortunately, as the vets had advised me, in 4 months his GSD was fading fast and had to be PTS.

As for my GSD (Zor), When he was diagnosed I was told that he might live a week to ten days at most and that I should prepare myself for that. Well, after about a week, Zor perked back up and wanted to play ball and was acting himself again.  Zor had a litle reprieve from his illness (for about a week and a half) and I had always looked at that as a little time to re-embrace his life, for I knew it would be rather short. It sounds like you too had a short reprieve to enjoy a little more time with your Lab. Treasure your memories of him because he would have wanted nothing more in the world than for you to be with him and helping him and even being with him at the end. I doubt that he was in much is any pain. At least I could not tell if my Zor was in any pain, and if he was, he hid it well just to be with me.

Last week, I had to put another of my GSDs to sleep because of masses on his liver and in his lung and pneumonia. He was 8 years old and had idiopathic epilepsy since he was 2 and a number of other medical issues, so I can understand what you are feeling right now.  Hopefully after a while, you will consider another dog. I have always believed that we only "think" we are picking out the dog or puppy that we want, but in reality, "we" are being selected to be their companion and take care of them, and it is obvious that you had done all that you could for your boy.

Jim 

Hello Sandie I am so very sorry for the loss of your best friend nothing that anyone can say will ease your pain we have all been their at some point but think of all the good times you and your boy had  he knew how much you loved him  and he loved you he will always be by your side you will know this as you will feel him their  this will bring you comfort god bless take care
Rosey

I am so sorry Sandie, hemangio is a very suckie thing to deal with. It happens so fast and puts you in shock because you pet will be normal one minute and very ill the next. I know this is really hard time for you, we have all been there at one time or another.  I lost my Astra about a year ago, she was only 8 too.  The first week was the hardest, I put one step in front of the other. I still have her favorite ball on the headboard of my bed, I was able to bring her home and she has a beautiful garden growing over her. Talk to him, they maybe gone in body but they cared so much about us that they will never leave until they feel you are ok.
Always,
Cee

Thank you all so much for your kind and helpful words. 24 hours on and I am still raw at the loss of my lovely boy. It is so hard for non-doggy people to understand why you are so upset but dogs are more than just comanions. We spent all our time with them and they are such giving and loving creatures with no other desire than to please and love back.

I remeber the last time I went through this but although my last dog died of heart problems his end was swift and there was no time to consider whether he was in pain or had I done the right thing; there was certainly no lingering 'suffering'. This is a terrible disease and seesm to be on the increase in dogs - it does make me wonder what is going on?

I have a Bartie box where I have put his leads, collar, favourite toys - and I have some wonderful photos - most of all I have my memories of him and what a joy it was to have had the priviledge to be with him. I know that we will meet agoin some day but for now he has taken a piece of my heart with him.

Sandie

Sandie,
I'm so sorry for your loss. AS MAlshep said, hemangio is a really sucky thing. I lost my 8 year boy last year to it. I only had 24 hours with him before I gave him his wings (he was bleeding from his spleen and had a large mass in his liver). As people have said, it does get better bit by bit over time. I'm lucky enough to have 3 other GSD and my husband's truck dog (plus the cats and the horses) to help take my mind off him.  What I did for Erich was have a framed tribute to him made up. It's kind of like a shadow box - my framer and I selected pictures of him from when he was a little pup up to the last pictures I had taken a few weeks before, and arranged them around the outside, with a big one in the middle. I had her take his collar-tags and all-and make it the center piece of the whole thing. I loved it the minute I saw it finished. And a year later, I smile mostly, although there are still days when there are tears... And what you said is so right- we are blessed to have these animals share our lives...

Fly

Sandie, your poor Bartie was lucky to have you.

I have a little chrome cannister I got in a thrift store, and it holds all Nina's favorite things, leash, etc. Like a little shrine. I don't know why but it helps to know her things are still there. It'll be a year next month but I still cry. Oh well, at least we know it's the real thing if it hurts that much, right?

       Sandie, I am very sorry to hear about your loss. I lost my boy at only one year old from a heart condition. You are correct about it being easier when they pass quickly I have always been very thankful for that. IMO by your description of his passing your boy did not suffer distress . As a nurse it has been my experience that the passing away process is most often times very quiet and peaceful. The human and the animal body have a very methodical way of shutting down. The condition that took him sounds very devastating. IMO it sounds like you did everything that was possible for his comfort and care and it is a blessing that you could be there to provide that for him......You are right about them taking a piece of our heart...they sure do....Ruger1

Sandie,

I am so sorry for the loss of your beloved dog. I've never had a dog that had hemangiosarcoma, but I have lost a beloved dog, more than one, and I know the awful pain and heartache of losing a beloved canine best friend. You did everything you could to save your boy and he was lucky to have you. He is pain free now and at peace on the Rainbow Bridge.

I promise you will get through this and only time will help.  Your very special boy will live in your heart forever and ever.

With hugs and sympathy,
Char