Discovering your senior dog has cancer is always heartbreaking — even more so when you realize it’s an aggressive type like a hemangiosarcoma in dogs. Who better to lean into when wrestling with this diagnosis than a veterinarian who has walked in your shoes. Dr. Julie Buzby, integrative veterinarian and founder of Dr. Buzby’s ToeGrips®, welcomes friend and fellow veterinarian, Dr. Erica Irish, to share her story of loving her senior dog through a canine hemangiosarcoma diagnosis.
Lulu was a special little lady, a 10-year-old black Labrador Retriever. She was what I would call my “heart dog” — a dog with whom your connection is so special and strong that it forever leaves an imprint on your heart.
I adopted Lulu when she was only a year old. I had never owned a Labrador Retriever before, and I was so nervous. “They’re way too active,” I thought to myself. “I don’t think I can keep up with one!”
After adopting Lulu, I realized I was completely wrong. I am 100% a Lab person. In fact, I don’t think I could go through life without one.
Lulu was always game for any activity whether a walk to the dog park, a game of fetch, or a trip to the kitchen for a snack. She slept at the foot of my bed every night, was always in a good mood, and was by far the most well-behaved of all my dogs.
Although Lulu was a healthy and lively girl, I knew from vet school that hemangiosacromas were common in Labrador Retrievers. In fact, there were days when I would come across information about hemangiosarcomas in dogs and immediately think of Lulu.
Wishfully, I’d look right into her eyes and say, “Don’t you dare even think about getting one of those!”
Lulu’s hemangiosarcoma diagnosis
On the evening of September 4, 2019, Lulu was eating her dinner just like she did every night. Suddenly she stopped half-way through her meal. Any Labrador Retriever owner will tell you this is highly unusual behavior!
She seemed to be okay as I patted her head and checked her for any obvious problems—she even gladly accepted one of her favorite treats. Unsure what was going on, I made a mental note to watch her closely for the next several days. Clarity would come way sooner than I expected.
The next morning, she didn’t want to eat anything. She was lethargic, sluggish, and tired. I had a sinking feeling that something serious was going on.
Since hemangiosarcoma in dogs causes blood loss and therefore, pale gums, I moved toward Lulu to check her gums. My heart dropped. Her gums were pale. I loaded Lulu into the car and took her to work with me that day, readying myself for whatever news the day would hold.
Little did I know, surgery to remove a bleeding hemangiosarcoma in her spleen was in the very near future.
What are hemangiosarcomas in dogs?
Hemangiosarcomas are malignant tumors originating in the blood vessels of a dog’s liver, heart, and spleen. While scientists don’t know what causes these tumors to form, they do know dog breeds like German Shepherds, Golden Retrievers, and Labrador Retrievers have a genetic predisposition to them.
Sadly, hemangiosarcomas are highly invasive and can quickly spread to other parts of the body. Hemangiosarcomas on the skin are also possible, but they have a significantly lower chance of moving elsewhere in the body (metastasizing) and rupturing.
What are the symptoms of a hemangiosarcoma in dogs?
A dog’s symptoms will depend on the affected organ and if the disease has expanded to other parts of the body. Hemangiosarcomas of the heart cause symptoms commonly associated with heart disease like coughing, weakness, lethargy, exercise intolerance, and difficulty breathing. These tumors can also cause your dog to collapse and, if the tumor ruptures inside the chest cavity, lead to sudden death.
Symptoms of a hemangiosarcoma in the liver or spleen tend to follow a similar path. They also have the potential to spontaneously rupture and bleed. If a rupture occurs, your dog may excessively pant, appear weak, refuse to eat, and possibly collapse. If not treated immediately, prolonged bleeding in the abdominal cavity will almost certainly lead to death.
How do you diagnosis and treat hemangiosarcoma in dogs?
Diagnosing hemangiosarcoma in dogs begins with a thorough physical exam by your veterinarian. If a tumor of the liver or spleen is large enough, your veterinarian may be able to feel it while palpating your dog’s abdomen. Your vet may suspect a cardiac tumor by listening to the heartbeat through the chest cavity.
An ultrasound is one of the best ways to confirm these kinds of tumors, but because hemangiosarcomas appear quickly, routine screenings for early detection are often cost-prohibitive. Other diagnostic tests may hint at the condition, but by themselves are inconclusive.
For example, blood work may indicate mild to severe anemia (low red blood cell count), and X-rays might show an abnormal heart, enlarged liver, or enlarged spleen, but that doesn’t automatically equal a cancer diagnosis. Additionally, some tumors are too small to recognize and go undetected until a dog presents with life-threatening symptoms.
Treatment for hemangiosarcoma in dogs
Dogs diagnosed with a tumor that is suspected to be a hemangiosarcoma have several treatment options. Your vet will be able to explain each option and provide realistic expectations to help you decide what is best for your dog.
1. Surgery
After a tumor is found, your vet may suggest surgery to remove the tumor, preferably before it ruptures. If the tumor is in the spleen, your vet will remove the entire spleen and submit it to a laboratory to reach a final diagnosis.
It is important to send the tumor to the laboratory because not all tumors are cancerous. Hemangiosarcoma in dog is a malignant (cancerous) tumor, but there’s always the chance the splenic enlargement is due to a benign tumor or process—which are “good” diagnoses.
It’s important to note that tumors on the liver and the heart are more difficult to remove surgically, as are hemangiosarcoma tumors that have spread to other body parts like the lungs, kidneys, brain, and spinal cord.
2. Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is recommended in cases where surgery is not an option. Dogs with severe anemia will need blood transfusion(s), and all hemangiosarcoma patients need to avoid blood-thinning medications. Twice daily use of a unique herbal supplement known as Yunnan Baiyao may help prevent further bleeding.
Understanding “median survival time”
When determining the outcome for cancer in dogs, veterinarians look at the median survival time (MST). According to the National Cancer Institute, MST is the “length of time from either the date of diagnosis or the start of treatment for a disease, such as cancer, that half of the patients in a group of patients diagnosed with the disease are still alive.” In other words, MST represents how long patients (or our beloved dogs) survive with a disease after a certain treatment.
I’m sad to share that dogs with hemangiosarcoma who undergo both surgery and chemotherapy have a MST of six to nine months while those who undergo surgery alone have a MST of two months. Overall, only 29% of dogs diagnosed with hemangiosarcoma survive one year. How long a particular dog survives also depends in part on if their tumor had already metastasized (spread) at the time of diagnosis.
Lulu’s outcome
After running a few tests on Lulu that September day, I discovered she was actively bleeding in her abdominal cavity, increasing the odds of a hemangiosarcoma. Because she was severely anemic, surgery was extremely risky. Humane canine euthanasia would have been a loving and logical choice, but I chose surgery to give Lulu one last fighting chance.
A wonderful colleague started a blood transfusion for Lulu and performed her surgery. She found a large tumor on the spleen, the source of Lulu’s bleeding. At the time, we didn’t know if it was a hemangiosarcoma tumor, but because there were abnormal lesions on the liver also, the likelihood was the tumor was malignant — and the cancer had already spread. We submitted her spleen to the pathology lab for testing. A week later, the lab results confirmed her hemangiosarcoma.
Post-surgery, I chose to forego chemotherapy and focus on Lulu’s quality of life. Just like before, I gave her plenty of tasty treats, loads of attention, and gentle games of fetch with her almost every night.
Three weeks after surgery, over the course of several days, Lulu grew increasingly tired, lethargic, and uninterested in her food. My family and I knew it was time. We decided to say goodbye to our beloved dog.
Hemangiosarcoma in dogs
Hemangiosarcoma tumors are among the worst kinds of cancer in dogs. They are difficult to detect on wellness exams and may only become obvious when your dog is in an emergency situation. Hemangiosarcomas usually have a guarded to poor prognosis because they spread quickly or abruptly rupture without any trauma.
By sharing Lulu’s story, I hope you are now better equipped to recognize the signs and seek immediate medical treatment if you find yourself in a similar situation with your beloved canine companion.
While I do miss her dearly, I was happy Lulu could pass peacefully while my family said their goodbyes. She’s left nothing behind but treasured memories and tremendous love for all things Labrador.
Additional resources
If you’re making the difficult decision to say goodbye to your beloved dog, you may find comfort and answers in these resources:
Dr. Buzby’s complimentary ebook: Saying Goodbye to Your Dog: Counsel, Care & Comfort for the Journey
Preparing for your Dog’s euthanasia: 10 Thoughts for Peace
Grieving the Loss of a Dog After Euthanasia
Has a diagnosis of canine hemangiosarcoma touched your life?
Share your experience below. Our community is here to offer you comfort and support during this difficult time.
I know we have talked privately but I am still in shock over this type of canine cancer. I am floored and gutted by the sudden and tragic loss. I consider myself an uber diligent pet parent, and this was by far the worst canine experience of my life. I cherish the life I had with him but so very much will never understand how or why this happened. So scary. Thanks for all you do, Julie.
My heart dog died unexpectedly from this illness on May 16, he was not quite 9 years. He was my true soul dog, a complete comedian and character. He was a rescue and his mix was Great Pyrenees, German Shepherd, Chow, and Sharpei and unknown, 75 1bs and a lap dog. I noticed he was slowing down in March, I thought it was because his leg ached. Then I put it down to the Texas heat as it was unusually hot the last month of his life. The final week I thought he had eaten something bad, or caught giardia but he was still smiling. The last walk he did a short sprint and nearly collapsed- I thought it was dehydration but it was his tumor on his heart bursting. During the night he breathing was bad and I rushed him to the clinic first thing. I told the vet his breathing was bad multiple times but he ignored that. His blood work was normal but it took them a few attempts and two legs to actually take blood. He had an anti nausea shot and fluids. We were sent home. By the evening he was exhausted and had bloody diarrhea, I rushed him back in. They performed xrays. As the blood moon reached its total eclipse I received the news that he had a large tumor on his heart and fluid around it and in his abdomen, prognosis was dire. This was 11 pm. My husband joined me at the clinic and we rushed him to the best animal hospital in Houston. They drew blood from his cavity and told us they could run tests the next day but his prognosis was terrible, he had an aggressive advanced stage cancer. At 4.30 am he was euthanized with his loved ones by his side. I am still in shock, he was my baby, my love, my cuddles, my shadow. I have had many pets but my Monty was the most devastating loss ever, more so than close relatives. It was too sudden and unexpected, cruel and I cannot stop crying. Reading your story lets me know I am not alone…
Dear Anne-Marie,
I am so sorry for your tragic loss of Monty. He sounds like a once in a lifetime dog. You made the most loving decision to allow your own heart to break so he could have peace and rest. I have no doubt he knew how much he was loved. I hope with time your heart will heal and that his memory will be a blessing to you and your husband.
Sadly my Doberman mix Chet was just diagnosed Saturday. He had symptoms of a light “cough” intermittently. One day he would be completely normal, once in a while appeared sad. Had a vet appointment in a week for this but sadly I came home from work and he was not active. Went outside to do his business with his siblings but quickly ran back in the house. No squirrel chasing or barking at birds. I looked at his gums (I’m a nurse) and they looked pale
They were also sticky. Went to ER vet. Ultrasound showed a large mass on spleen. Spleen removed and the bad news received on Saturday. I have the option of chemotherapy and the chemotherapy known as the “red devil”. I don’t want him to spend two months stressed in and out of the vets to prolong the inevitable for me. I don’t want him to suffer at all. He’s a great dog and deserves happiness.
He has been eating like a champ, burgers, steaks and chicken. Whatever he wants. Appetite is ravenous. I’m not ready to lose him. Thanks for sharing your story. I was beating myself up for deciding not to give chemotherapy.
Hi Jodi,
I am sorry Chet has received such a difficult diagnosis. I don’t think you are doing anything wrong by declining the chemotherapy. Feed that boy all the wonderful stuff he wants and cherish every day. I pray these last months are filled happiness and joy. Give Chet a great big hug for me. Bless you both. ♥
Hi! Thank you for sharing. My lovely dog Suzan just got diagnosed. She is my first (& only) dog and I am freaking out about it. She is on the older side and I haven’t noticed anything out of the ordinary with her. I know she can’t live forever but just knowing that she has it doesn’t make it any easier. I’m so glad I found your article to help me understand and help decide what I should do.
Hi Amanda,
I am sorry Suzan is facing such a difficult diagnosis. I am glad you found the article to be helpful and hope it will provide you with some comfort and understanding as you navigate this difficult road ahead. Praying your sweet girl can enjoy the time she has left and you can make some lasting memories. Best wishes to you both.
It brought me so much peace just now having to euthanize my dog. My 11 year old service dog german shepherd, Rosie put to sleep today. This horrific dease snuck up on me in just 3 weeks. Rosie showed 0 signs of being off until she stopped eating. I put her on boiled chicken. A week prior to today she started having abdominal swelling. She fought like a champion to stay by my side. After 1 xray and tapping her abdomen and coming up with blood. Your article made me realize at this point I did the right thing by her today.
Thanku Karin
Dear Karin,
I am sorry you had to say goodbye to Rosie under such tragic circumstances. You absolutely did the right thing by offering her relief from her suffering and giving her peace and rest. I know you will miss her terribly but hope your heart will be comforted by the wonderful memories you shared. Bless you. ♥
Hi Dr. Buzby,
Our 14 .8 year old LABRADORABLE yellow labbie ,Ben, was diagnosed with hemangiosarcoma a few days ago. He is living out his best life and he is such a trooper! We are keeping him comfortable and things are good for now. Ben is our Baby and I would just like to say to the others that have reached out and shared their stories, that I appreciate that and what ya’ll went through and are going through! Thank you for sharing Lulu’s story as well.!!! Ben went to his toy box tonight and got his favorite baby- his “Cup o’ Noodles” that he got about 5 years ago so it was a good night! FYI we call him Noodle and Goosey as well. Anyway, Ben is my heart and I just want to do best by him. He is the biggest part of our family and I will make sure that he goes out in style and surrounded by the people that love him and that he loves too!
Dear Margaret,
I am glad Ben is happy and living his best life despite his diagnosis. I pray his last days are filled with love and joy. Savor every moment and go make those wonderful lifetime memories that will comfort your soul on the difficult days. Best wishes to you both. ♥
My 13 year old Border Collie is severely aneamic and the other day collapsed a few times. Shallow breathing and disorientated. Yesterday the vet suspected a tumour but said scans and x-rays were needed to know for sure and then surgery& biopsy. My lovely Patty has a painful spot in her tummy but not the spleen the vet said. I am in the UK – I am on a limited income as a pensioner so cannot afford the 2 – 3 k sterling this would cost unless I borrow. The vet said even if this course was taken her life span would probably be only a few weeks or months. So, euthanasia tomorrow although today she’s been eating ok, alert, present. I’m thinking love means be kind and gentle and prevent what the vet described as a time bomb. Without the tests though I’ll never know for sure what the issues are. I have got a lot from your website that’s helping. The uncertainty is distressing me but I keep coming back to love. Do what is loving but my heart is breaking. She was there for me during my cancer journey.
Dear Liz,
My heart aches for you and this difficult situation with your sweet girl. I do think you are making the right decision to say goodbye before something tragic happens. It is always better to let go one day too early rather than one day too late. I have no doubt that Patty knows how much she is loved. I pray your heart finds comfort as you allow her to find peace and rest. May her memory be a blessing.
Thank you for sharing your story. I have a 7 year old golden retriever. She is 100% my heart dog. She also has Addison’s disease and chronic dry eye. I also call her my dog with 9 lives. She recently has lost 2 siblings to hemangio and her mom died at 7 y.o. from hemangio. We recently did blood work as she was having a vomiting spell. We did this initially to check her electrolytes due to the Addison’s . Luckily all those were normal but in the panel she ran she found her to be slightly anemic. The vet thought this could be from chronic use of a DES capsule to control spay -induced leakage. We stopped it and re-ran her blood 6 weeks later and it showed normal hemoglobin and RBC. So no anemia at the time. In the back of my mind I’m still scared we may have hemangio glooming. The vet did say to consider getting an ultrasound done. This has to done at a specialty clinic with an internal medicine vet.
My question to you since you have professional and personal experience — would doing an ultrasound now be worth it as she seems normal? Or is this a waste of money and potential heartache before needed?
Hi Jane,
I completely understand your concern about hemangiosarcoma, especially with the family history your pup has. Your girl is lucky to have you advocating for her and being so attentive! There is definitely a chance that you could spend a large amount of money on testing that all reveals normal results. But I’m not sure you can put a price on peace of mind. If not knowing is going to eat at you, it might be a good idea to go ahead with the ultrasound as long as it can be managed with your budget. If the ultrasound is normal, then you will have a baseline to compare to in the future should any new worrisome symptoms arise. I hope you can find the answers you are looking for to make the decision that is best for you and your sweet girl. Best wishes.
This condition is so heart breaking to dog owners. We put our 12 year old shepherd/husky mix, Wilbur, down last year due to this horrible cancer. His entire abdomen was filled with blood. He was not eating or drinking and had no mobility at all. That was January 2021. Fast forward to June 2021, our schnauzer Powder, had a distended abdomen, could not jump up on the couch anymore, and would not lie down for more than 20 seconds before getting up and moving. He had diarrhea and was vomiting. Same diagnosis. We were devastated. As much as it pains me to type this, his brother Pepper was just diagnosed with this earlier today. We are trying surgery for him as he is not as far along as the other two were pain wise. 3 dogs out of 4 with this condition in 12 months. Please keep Pepper in your prayers this Thursday so he can stay with us a little longer!
Hi Heather,
My heart breaks for you and all you have gone through in the past year. I am glad that Pepper seems to be a good surgical candidate and that you were able to get something scheduled quickly. I pray the surgery goes well on Thursday and that he will have a speedy and uneventful recovery. My thoughts are with you both and hoping you have many more years together to make wonderful memories. Keep us updated!
I am sitting here crying my eyes out. My sweet, gentle GSD named Mia is so weak and not eating due to hemangiosarcoma. We have elected to say goodbye to her tonight and take her to the vet first thing tomorrow morning for euthanizing. Eight days ago we took Mia to the vet with what I thought was a flare up of her arthritis. During her exam the vet noticed her pale gums. Due to this she performed an ultrasound and x-rays before giving us the devastating news. Mia’s spleen was bleeding so we opted for surgery, however another vet spotted spots in her chest and sent the x-rays out to a radiologist. Within an hour the radiologist called and said the cancer had metastasized. We then decided to forego surgery and took Mia home with us. The vet gave us yunaam baiyao for blood clotting for her spleen. I gave this to Mia for the next 7 days. The day after we returned home she was her old self again. Playing, eating and drinking. Today, however that is not the case even after giving her the meds. I will forever be grateful to my vet for the yunaam baiyao. Along with many prayers, the yunaam baiyao gave us another week with our beloved Mia. February 23, 2022 would be her 12th birthday.
Dear Deb,
I am so glad you were able to love on Mia for an additional week. I know your heart is aching without her, but I have no doubt she knew how much she was loved. You did everything you could and made the difficult decision to say goodbye and let her have peace and comfort. I hope her transition was smooth and calm. Thank you for sharing your experience with us. I hope Mia’s memory will be a blessing to you and your family.
It’s both a heartbreak and a comfort to know others have gone through this and struggled just as hubs and I did.
We lost our 10yr old shep mix, Skye, to this three days ago. She was rushed to the vet a month ago, pale and weak. Ultrasound showed likely spleen mass and the vets gave us the odds. Only 30% likely to not be cancerous, but to save her life meant expensive surgery right now. We decided to give her that chance. They found small (pencil eraser sized) tumors throughout her liver during surgery and biopsied those as well. Confirmed hemangiosarcoma.
She recovered from the surgery like a champ and we got 4 more happy weeks with our wonderful girl. She was her old self. The eternal puppy. At 10 she still hadn’t slowed down.
But we had to rush her to the vet, yet again, with signs of bleeding. One of the liver tumors had likely ruptured and the vet recommended euthanasia. Nothing could be done this time.
I will forever be grateful to our vets for the extra time we and our other pup were given with her. She was happy and herself right up to the second rupture.
My heart breaks watching our other pup search for her. They spent the last 10+ years together and now Amyris is alone again. We’re trying to change up our routine in small ways. Take her out in car rides. Small walks. Anything to get all our minds off our loss.
My condolences to everyone here that has gone through the same thing. The picking apart every moment, trying to find something you could have done differently. Railing against an unfair world for taking parts of our hearts in this way. The second guessing whether you made the right decision. The best decision. Wondering if you could have gotten more time.
You did the best you could. They loved you. And you loved them and gave them the best life you could. It just sucks that part of that best life means hard decisions about the end of it.
Dear Joy,
I am glad you were able to have 4 extra weeks to love on Skye after her surgery. Saying goodbye is so incredibly hard, but I think your words ring true. You will always consider all the “what ifs” and double guess yourself, but ultimately you made the best decision in a difficult situation. I pray you and Amyris will find comfort in each other and that your heart will heal with time. I hope Skye’s memory will be a blessing as you continue on the journey of life.
Hello Doc:
I read your story and it has helped me deal with this struggle. Our dog, Sammi, is an 8 year old English Pointer. She has been having episodes of pericardial effusions and had a laparoscopic pericardiectomy today. Ultrasound and CT scans show that she has hemangiosarcoma that has metastasized although most of the tumors are small including the one originating one on her right atrium. We moved to Kyiv, Ukraine with her about a year ago and couldn’t bring ourselves to euthanize her just yet as she is still lively. We have ordered the turkey tail supplements available here as well as Yunnan Baiyao. We rescued her from a shelter in Florida about 8 years ago and she is the first dog my wife and I have ever had in our lives. How long do we have with her? Only God knows. Since the tumors are small so far, we are hoping the alternative medicine gives her a little more time. Chemo didn’t seem worth it for quality of life and because the tumors already spread. Anyway, every day left with her is a gift and we pray she stays through Christmas.
Hi John,
Thank you for sharing Sammi’s story with us. She is quite the world traveler! I am glad to hear that she is recovering well from her surgery today. I hope you have many more days ahead to make memories together. Bless you both and Merry Christmas!
Hi
Im in tears reading your story, i lost my beloved Monti November 12th 2021 he was a rescued dog.
Your story is exactly the same as my dog, seeing the picture with the cone
Reminded me that you went through the same situation, because we loved him so much and gave him alot of treats and take usual walks, and play with him.
My condolences for dear Lulu, and Just wanted to say to all dog owners you are not alone, there are more like you, Just like i read from a post let the time pass and youll learn to live again, maybe something is missing but if you have memories with you, it will be alive forever within you.
Dear Andres,
Thank you for the kind words. I am sorry your heart is aching for your sweet boy Monti. You are right to say that a piece is missing from our lives after we say goodbye to a beloved dog. I hope that with time your heart will heal and find peace. May Monti’s memory continue to be a blessing.
Dr. Buzby, if I may, I have a very important question that is leaving a heavy weight on my mind as to could I/ should I have helped my baby when I thought he had an injury and didn’t start doubling his Yunnan Bayeo. I lost my heart dog Moki, a Doberman/Belgian Melanois pup on 3 Sep @ 17:57. @ 17:55 I had no idea this was going to happen. He was a Hemophiliac type A and only 3 yrs and 10 months old. Early last year, when we almost lost him, Texas A&M surely saved his life and at the same time we were told he had either a splenic tumor or a dried up Hematoma at the spleen. Throughout the year we had X-rays done and sonograms to stay informed if it was growing. He also had several transfusions at different time when he was bleeding but it was always controlled and brought his clotting time at a normal level. In August, when fostering a puppy, he came running up to me happy as always but ran into the lead I was holding the puppy on. It caught him square in the chest. I did watch for several days but saw no increased swelling to indicate he was bleeding internally. I should mention that he had been on a daily regime of Yunnan, blood support, joint support, pred, and supplements and was well cared for as the ER vets told us constantly when he came for a blood transfusion due to swelling mostly in his legs. Several times they suggested that as he was incurably ill we should humanly euthanize him. We refused as he enjoyed his life to the fullest. Loved being in the pool with his pappa and just being loved on, although he was never allowed to play with the rest of the pack and lived his own life with us.
On 2 Sept he wasn’t eating and lethargic, I thought nothing of it because there were days like this and he would be ok the next day, no swollen belly, nothing. On the evening of the 3rd right after his pappa gave him his meds, he lost his footing in his hind legs and went down. We picked him up laid him on his bed and I straightened him out. I looked at his face and it was distorted in agony, I had never seen him like this and he was cramping up his front paws as if he was in a horrible pain. Then I screamed for my husband that he was dying, I just knew it, and he was gone. Then I noticed on his chest a bruise, Dark purple and blue, I immediately remembered he had run into the lead 10 days ago but never saw any indication.. Later I read I could have increased his Yunnan by more than doubling it had I suspected he was bleeding but I didn’t..
My question, did this indicate a tumor that bled out quickly, or did the run in with the lead cause a bled but only slowly due to the Yunnan he was taking and I should have increased it? I have a heavy weight resting on me, I miss him unbelievable and my grieving is indescribable.
Thank you for your thoughts,
Dear Wilhelmina,
I’m so sorry to hear of your loss. It is never easy losing a dog, especially a heart dog. Moki was lucky to have been so loved. As for your question, without a LOT more information it would be impossible to say. If you had given him double, the outcome might still have been exactly the same. We really don’t know what happened and I know Moki would not want you living with that guilt. I sincerely don’t think it is yours to carry. I would like to include a link to our free ebook on saying goodbye: https://shop.toegrips.com/products/saying-goodbye-to-your-dog
I hope you are able to find peace and let this heavy weight go. Let Moki’s memories be a blessing.
Dear Dr;
So sorry for your loss. I am beating myself up at the loss of my Cassie, a great pyrenees lab mix. I lost my husband and she has been my rock. She began pacing and staring at walls one night after a visit to vet for anal sac extraction. We all thought she was sore from that and vet put her on an anti-inflammatory, she got better but I thought her belly looked full a couple weeks later and that is when the spleen tumor and hemo belly were found on xray. She had her spleen removed but multiple tumors were on her liver with one that had a clot. She did great after surgery but pathology came back as cancer. I was told at best 1 to 3 months and no chemo would help. My anguish is this, A week later I got a weird vibe from her, nothing specific but I gave her a yunnan baiyou capsule because I was uncomfortable. The next day I had promised her a walk but when she got up she wouldnt eat. She seemd ok otherwise and we went for our walk on a beautiful sunny day and took many pictures. She slept the rest of the afternoon and very late that night when I took her out she didnt make it to the grass to pee and went in the driveway. I knew we had problems as she was the best girl. She wouldnt go up the steps to get back in our house and layed in the sunroom. Her belly was pulling in and out like cramps at some points but then would stop for a long time. I gave her a yunnan baiyou capsule again and called the emergency vet as it was midnight on a sunday. I wanted to know if I should give her the emergency red pill since I just gave her the capsule and what they would do If i brought her in. I knew I would not put her through surgery given she just had a major one and her life expectancy didnt warrant her going through that hell. They said the doc wasnt available and couldnt answer my questions. I in fact i called them again with no help. Ididnt want to do more harm than good and was not sure in fact it was a bleed so I was afraid to give the red pill. SInce I couldnt go in with her at this hospital due to covid and how cold they were I decided to try to make it till morning to go to our regula r vet. They had told me the surgery team wasnt in that night and I just had visions of her laying in that place being poked and proded and stuck in a kennel alone. She made it but in the morning her gums were white and she tried standing andher back legs went out from under her.But all through this she visibly looked great. She is a 100 pd girl so we put her on a bedspread and went to vet who said our only choice was the emergency hospital for blood and they would have to do exploratory surgery to stop the bleed or let her go. My vet felt letting her go was the answer and I didnt want to put her through hell.. Im devastated and can hardly go on. She was my everything and I feel as though I let her down but not giving her that red pill that I since found out I could have. Her surgeon feels it would not have saved her anyway but i am being tormented by this. I wanted to do the best I could for her as she has done for me. Any thoughts? Im in anguish.
Dear Lynette,
Thank you for sharing your story of Cassie with us. My heart breaks for you. It sounds like she was a very special girl. I know it can be so easy to get caught up in the “what ifs” but I think you made the right decisions for her, and you knew when it was the right time to say goodbye. She was very lucky to have had you as her family. I’m so glad that you got to have that special walk on a beautiful day and take pictures. That is a memory you can treasure, along with the many other wonderful memories you made before. I understand how difficult it would be to not know if you should have given her the red pill, but I agree with your surgeon. I don’t think it would have made much of a difference in the outcome. Unfortunately, with several masses on her liver, it was probably just a matter of time before one of them ruptured and bled significantly. But still, the splenectomy surgery gave her another great week with you and the chance to have that last memorable walk. So in my opinion, you did do the best you could for her at each step. I hope that in time the guilt and grief will ease a little and you can find a measure of comfort.
I would like to include a link to my ebook, Saying Goodbye (). I have made it free for everyone to read and I hope that it helps you as your grieve this loss. Click the link, place it in your cart and check out.
My dogs was just Diagnosed with this same cancer. She is 14 and not a big dog. They don’t want to do a biopsy because she’s too old? So it is not not sure. So after several days of not eating or drinking she is starting to come around and looks much better. I have been taking her to the lake and spending time with her while my other 3 stay home. I feel like I cannot have her put down if they can’t say for sure she has it?
Hi Paula,
So sorry to hear that your pup may have hemangiosarcoma. I understand how hard it is to not know for sure what is going on. If knowing with certainty that she has hemangiosarcoma would help you feel more peace with enjoying her last few days or weeks and then making the decision to say goodbye, there is nothing wrong with seeking a second option with another vet and/or asking for a referral to a veterinary oncologist. I am glad that you are able to have some special one-on-one time with her at the lake regardless of what the outcome ends up being and I hope that you are able to find the answers you are seeking. Sending hugs as you navigate this difficult path. ❤
Our sweet lab mix Molly (age 6-7ish) was just diagnosed with a very large abdominal tumor two days ago after taking her in for some urinary incontinence and a brief period of lethargy, anorexia and presumed belly pain a week prior that had self-resolved. They are most concerned about it being a splenic tumor, and likely a hemangiosarcoma, but she currently does not have signs of acute bleeding and was not anemic on her labs. They do think that the episode last week of not eating might have been associated with a small rupture and bleed that eventually got walled off and contained on its own. We’re taking her today for more comprehensive imaging before deciding on surgery vs. keeping her comfortable until the time comes when it’s too much. These are never easy decisions–we just want to do what’s best for Molly.
Hi Danielle,
So sorry to hear about your sweet Molly’s potential splenic tumor. It is always devastating to get this kind of news. I am glad to hear that you are doing some comprehensive imaging today that will hopefully give you more information about the tumor. If this does end up being a splenic tumor, you may find this article helpful: Splenic Masses in Dogs: Types, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prognosis. It has some good statistics and information that could be beneficial as you navigate this difficult time. Fingers crossed that it is a benign mass such as a hemangioma! ❤
Imaging last week showed that it indeed was coming from her spleen and no obvious signs of metastasis in her belly. She had a chest x-ray that was negative for lung metastasis. They also looked at her heart with ultrasound and it all looked normal. We decided to go ahead with surgery this past Friday–she’s post-op day 6 now and has been home for 5 days. She had a 7 lb 5 ounce tumor coming off her spleen (our vet sent us pictures at our request and its crazy how big it was!!!). The entire tumor was removed as well as her spleen and she is doing quite well post-op–eating great, better energy, being her sassy self again. We’re awaiting pathology results still, but keeping our fingers crossed it will be benign!
Hi Danielle!
Thanks so much for the update on your sweet girl!!! I’m so glad that she is doing so well post-op. It sounds like you made a good decision to go ahead with surgery. That is a huge tumor! As strange as it sounds, that may be a good thing because anecdotally (and in some studies) it seems like the ones that have time to get that big without a life-threatening bleed or obvious spread to other sites are more likely to be benign. If you think about it, please update us when you get the pathology report. Fingers crossed for good news!
Hi there ! Took a while for me to get back in touch, but Molly is doing GREAT! I’ve been crazy busy in the last two months–I’m a pediatric resident applying/interviewing for pulmonology fellowship programs right now. Anyway, we got the tumor pathology report back a while ago and all cuts were consistent with a benign myelolipoma! Your thoughts on the growth of the tumor were right, and that’s what our veterinarian had thought going into surgery too. She’s been doing so amazing since surgery though… we even got her out hiking a little. Her belly is all healed up and she’s a happy (and sassy) girl!
Hi Danielle,
Yay! I am so excited to hear the good news from Molly’s pathology report! Thank you for the update. I am glad she is able to get out hiking again and doing things that make her happy. Enjoy making memories together and good luck on obtaining your fellowship!
This is almost the same thing that happened to my sweet Coby last week. He had internal bleeding and was a step away from dying so we went ahead with emergency surgery after he got a blood transfusion. They removed the spleen with the huge tumor but also found 3 tumors in his liver and only 1 could be removed. The other 2 had signs of bleeding as welll and they did what they could to stabilize them. We took him home with us after he spent 1 day at the hospital recovering, the vet told us it was best to spend as much time with him because he didn’t have much left and we just stayed by his side for the next 36 hours. We had to make the difficult decision to let him go, even though we didn’t have the biopsy results the vet told us it was extremely likely it was hemangiosarcoma (now we have the results and it was that). I feel so guilty for having put him in the stress of surgery but we were told there was no way of knowing what he had without it (and I guess hindsight is always 20/20). And then having to say good bye only after a couple of days after surgery made me feel guilty as well. However, we knew that the other tumors would rupture any second and there was nothing else they could do for him when that happened. We decided we couldn’t let him go through everything again and we had to let him go. It has been the hardest thing…. Now that I have been sharing my story to family and friends, a lot of them have heard or gone through similar things. It seems this type of cancer is almost an epidemic, is there an agency or organization looking into this? What can we do to raise awareness and promote research? Thanks for this post, it makes me a little bit more comfortable with the choice that we made.
Hi Ariane,
What a difficult few days. I’m so sorry for the loss of your sweet Coby. I understand how easy it is to second guess the decisions we make, but please don’t feel guilty for choosing to pursue surgery for him. Like you said, you didn’t know for sure that it would be hemangiosarcoma or that there would already be tumors on his liver that could not be removed. I hope that in time you will be able to find comfort in knowing you made the decision in the heat of the moment that you thought was going to be best for him.
There are several organizations (AKC Canine Health Foundation, Morris Animal Foundation and others) as well as many veterinary colleges (University of Minnesota, Cornell University, Tufts, and others) that have conducted or are conducted research on canine hemangiosarcoma. If one of those organization’s studies or mission statements really resonates with you, you could always consider making a donation to that vet school or organization in Coby’s name to help fund continued research. Additionally, telling Coby’s story, just like you have been, is another great way to raise awareness. It is such a devastating disease and like you, I hope that as researchers continue to learn more about it, they will continue to make advances in diagnosis and treatment as well.
So sorry again for the loss of your sweet boy. I’m sure his passing left a huge hole in your heart and your life. ❤
Two days ago, my lab Boomer Was diagnosed with this cancer-it was in his heart (right chamber I believe). Euthanizing was the only option since his chest was full of blood and breathing was a chore. It was a very difficult decision because the day before he was running around with the family. This cancer is so unfair because we weren’t given the option to try to save him and we were given no notice. It saddens me to think about how his last hours were spent in the car as we rushed him to different facilities for second and third opinions. We just couldn’t accept the truth. I hope that more research is conducted so that in the future, more dogs have a fighting chance.
Hi Lori,
So sorry for the loss of Boomer. It is so difficult when a dog is healthy and happy one moment and so very sick the next moment. Like you said, hemangiosarcoma is terrible in that most of the time there are no warning signs before the tumor begins to bleed profusely. I am confident that Boomer knew how much you loved him and had a wonderful life with you. Please don’t feel guilty about how the last few hours were spent. You were trying to pursue all options for him and doing what you thought was best. Sending hugs as you mourn this loss. ❤
What a beautiful but sad story. Lulu was certainly a lovely dog and was given a wonderfully caring family. My thoughts are with the family on the loss of their beautiful pet.
Rosemary, thanks for your kind words and condolences. ❤
So sorry for your loss!
We lost our Chica (Dane/Lab mix) to this suddenly as her tumor had burst and she was failing quickly. She was going for wellness checkups twice yearly including full lab work and had been a very healthy 11 year-old prior to this. I had never heard of Hemangiosarcoma tumors before her health crisis and have always wondered what we could have done to prevent what happened to her. Thank you for your article which helps explain the cancer and how suddenly things can change.
Hi Marcy,
I’m so sorry for the loss of your sweet girl Chica. It is always hard to lose a beloved pet, especially when it is sudden and unexpected. It sounds like you did everything right for her. Please rest assured that there is absolutely nothing you could have done to prevent her from developing a hemangiosarcoma or to keep the tumor from rupturing. I’m glad the article was able to give you some closure and I hope you find comfort in the wonderful memories you made with Chica. ❤
Thk you for sharing Lulu life story. I was glad she spent her living years with a loving family. Yes, I still miss her. Like I miss my Smoochie, and Kayla, and Jackie.
Hi Mirta,
My sympathies on the loss of your beloved Smoochie, Kayla, and Jackie. Our pets leave their pawprints in our hearts and lives forever and their absence can be so difficult. ❤