Deciding when to euthanize a dog with hemangiosarcoma can be incredibly difficult. Dr. Erica Irish—a veterinarian who lost not one but two of her beloved dogs to hemangiosarcoma—understands. On the invitation of integrative veterinarian Dr. Julie Buzby, Dr. Irish wrote this blog to share her experiences and expertise with other dog parents who are facing the same heartbreaking decision.
You’ve just been told your best furry friend has cancer—news no one wants to hear. Perhaps you are learning this information from your vet after the biopsy confirmed your dog’s mass was a hemangiosarcoma (i.e. blood vessel cancer). Or maybe you’re trying to make sense of cancer as a potential explanation for why your dog has a lot of blood in his or her abdomen. In any case, your heart is probably breaking.
Hemangiosarcoma is one of the worst types of canine cancer. It has a nasty habit of showing up unexpectedly, and once it makes itself known, it tends to abruptly cut short the time you have with your beloved canine companion.
Maybe you are wondering, “Why does hemangiosarcoma result in such tragic outcomes? How long can a dog live with one, and how do you know when to euthanize a dog with hemangiosarcoma?” I’ve been in your shoes, so I hope to use the combination of my experience as a veterinarian, and as the mom of two dogs with hemangiosarcoma, to help answer those questions for you.
What is hemangiosarcoma in dogs?
Hemangiosarcomas are tumors that originate from cells that make up blood vessels. Like most cancers, these tumors represent uncontrolled cell growth.
Hemangiosarcomas can grow on the skin (i.e. cutaneous hemangiosarcomas) or originate from the internal organs (i.e. visceral hemangiosarcomas). Cutaneous hemangiosarcomas usually occur as a single, solitary mass. They are typically benign tumors in that they do not spread (i.e. metastasize) to other parts of the body.
Visceral hemangiosarcomas most commonly affect the spleen, liver, and heart. These three organs are comprised of many blood vessels, particularly the spleen and heart. Splenic hemangiosarcomas, which are the most common cancerous splenic masses in dogs, can suddenly rupture and lead to intense blood loss within the abdominal cavity. This is a medical emergency known as a hemoabdomen. Heart-based hemangiosarcomas can cause similar bleeding, but within the chest cavity (i.e. hemothorax).
Visceral hemangiosarcomas can remain quiet for long periods of time. But eventually they may start bleeding in very small amounts, or rupture so severely that a dog becomes pale and collapses from profound blood loss. Being able to recognize the symptoms of a bleed and intervene quickly can mean the difference between life and death.
What are the treatment options for dogs with hemangiosarcoma?
If a dog has a bleeding splenic tumor, surgery to remove the spleen (i.e. a splenectomy) is the main treatment. A dog can live without a spleen, but the surgery is still risky. Plus, sometimes the tumor may have already spread to the liver or other locations, which make the prognosis even worse. With surgery alone, average survival times are short (three to six weeks) for hemangiosarcoma patients. Without surgery, pet parents often end up euthanizing their dog with a bleeding hemangiosarcoma at the time of diagnosis.
If you decide to go forward with surgery, you can talk to a veterinary oncologist about your dog’s options for post-surgery chemotherapy. Today’s current chemo options may extend average post-surgical life expectancy to about six to nine months in some cases.
There are also veterinary companies that specialize in the creation of immunotherapy for dogs. Once a tumor has been removed and tested, the specialists can make a vaccination out of it. The vaccination boosts the immune system in a dog’s body, making it easier to detect and kill cancer cells. While this might not be a complete cancer cure, it could extend a dog’s life expectancy by a few more months.
If your dog’s hemangiosarcoma is not actively bleeding, you can also ask your veterinarian about Chinese herbs such as Yunnan Baiyao for dogs. This supplement can help decrease the risk of bleeding from small blood vessels. Even though it is not 100% effective against all bleeding, it may make the difference between a small amount of blood loss and a life-threatening hemorrhage. Using Yunnan Baiyao for dogs with hemangiosarcoma can buy you time while trying to figure out the next step for your dog.
For more detailed information on hemangiosarcomas, I urge you to read my other article, Hemangiosarcoma in Dogs: Symptoms, Treatment, and Life Expectancy.
How can a hemangiosarcoma impact a dog’s quality of life?
As you may be able to guess based on the description of cutaneous vs. visceral hemangiosarcoma, a dog’s quality of life will depend on the type of hemangiosarcoma present. Cutaneous hemangiosarcomas typically will not spread to other body parts. This means these tumors are unlikely to cause a significant decline in quality of life. Overall, they carry a good prognosis.
On the other hand, visceral hemangiosarcomas can metastasize to other organs within the abdomen or even up to the lungs. The presence of tumors on the lungs can cause difficulty breathing. Plus, if the initial tumor or any of the metastatic tumors rupture, the resulting free blood in the abdomen or chest can make it difficult for a dog to catch his or her breath.
Due to blood loss, there are less red blood cells available to transport oxygen to other internal organs. This means dogs with internal bleeding may appear to be more of a lethargic dog than normal or pant a lot more. They may be reluctant to go for a long walk or chase a tennis ball in this state. Internal bleeding can also be a painful experience, and your pup may not like it when you touch his or her belly for pats.
How do you know when it is time to euthanize a dog with hemangiosarcoma?
If internal bleeding gets to a certain point, it can be life-threatening. This risk of bleeding is one of the factors that determines how long a dog lives with hemangiosarcoma. In an emergency situation, when your dog is suffering from severe internal bleeding, you might need to make an immediate decision—do you proceed with surgery or say goodbye to your dog?
Some signs your dog is dying from hemangiosarcoma include:
- Pale gums
- Rapid heartrate
- Panting, difficulty breathing, or a dog who is breathing fast
- Weakness and collapse
- Distended abdomen (pot-bellied dog appearance)
If you see these signs at home, immediately head to an emergency clinic or your vet for an emergency vet visit.
In other situations you may have a bit more time to think about when to euthanize your dog with hemangiosarcoma. This may be the case when the bleeding is currently slow or non-existent or when your dog has already had surgery to remove the splenic mass and is now starting to decline.
After a hemangiosarcoma diagnosis, your veterinarian will perform a physical examination and qualitative assessment of your pup. Based on that evaluation, your vet can make his or her recommendations. Sometimes that involves telling you that it’s time to consider humane euthanasia.
But in other cases, your vet might ask about what you are seeing at home with respect to quality of life. So, how do you know what to look for?
Ways to evaluate quality of life
Thankfully, there are several resources available to help you consider when it is time to say goodbye to your dog with hemangiosarcoma. One of my favorites is from The Ohio State University Veterinary Medical Center. On their website, they have a quality of life evaluation form that you can use to help gain some clarity.
It also helps to keep a log or list of your dog’s good days and bad days. To know which days are bad ones, ask yourself the following questions:
- Is my dog painful or having any issues with getting around the house?
- Is my dog having problems urinating or defecating? Is he or she having accidents in the house?
- Has my dog’s behavior changed? Is he or she fearful, aggressive, or confused at times?
- Is my dog having seizures or more intense seizure activity?
- Does my dog show any interest in eating or drinking?
- Does my dog enjoy the same things that he or she used to (e.g., walks, toys, treats)?
- Is my dog responding to current medical therapies or palliative care?
When bad days begin to outnumber the good, this may help you know it is time to euthanize your dog.
Considering the financial cost
Like it or not, another factor to consider is the cost of treatment. It is common for veterinarians and veterinary oncologists to discuss treatment options such as surgery and chemotherapy for these patients. However, these options can cost several thousand dollars. When it came time to make the decision for my pups with hemangiosarcoma, I was fortunate that I had the finances to cover the costs for the surgeries. I know that isn’t the case for everyone, though.
If you cannot afford treatment but think it is the right choice for your dog, there are a few avenues you could pursue. You might want to look into some sort of payment option like CareCredit or ScratchPay. Or perhaps you could start a crowdfunding account or apply for funds through a non-profit organization. If you already have pet insurance, that can help offset some of the costs for emergency surgery.
Regardless of if surgery is financially feasible or not, never feel guilty about electing to put your dog to sleep to end his or her suffering if you think that is right. Just because you can afford surgery and chemotherapy doesn’t mean you have to pursue it. And just because you can’t afford it, this doesn’t mean you love your dog any less. Humane euthanasia is always a kind option for pets with discomfort and pain.
Lean on the experience of others to help make the decision
One of the factors that makes decision making challenging is that hemangiosarcoma can be very difficult to predict. For many pet owners, you won’t know your pup has a hemangiosarcoma until the moment it ruptures internally, causing life-threatening blood loss and a heart-pounding journey to the emergency room.
Even when you’re armed with the information provided in this and other articles on hemangiosarcoma in dogs, it can be impossible to think in the heat of the moment. But sometimes it helps to read through some real-world examples.
I have experienced splenic hemangiosarcoma in two of my own dogs, and I would like to share their stories with you. One was a black Labrador Retriever named Lulu, and the other was a Kelpie-mix dog named Swiper.
Loving and losing Lulu
I acquired my Lulu in 2010, at the end of my first year in veterinary school. I had always avoided retrievers because I knew how intense and excitable they could be. But once Lulu entered my life, I knew that I was stuck on Labs forever! Our personalities were so similar—we loved people, and we loved food. And even though I have lots of different family members, Lulu was attached to me.
In the fall of 2019, Lulu began acting strangely. One morning, she was weak, and she didn’t want to eat her breakfast. When I noticed her rapidly panting, I checked her gum color. They were pale white. I already knew that Labradors had an increased risk of visceral hemangiosarcoma, so my thoughts immediately went to getting her to the vet clinic for an X-ray of her belly. Sure enough, there was evidence of a mass near her spleen, and it looked like there was internal bleeding too.
Making the decision between surgery and euthanasia
At this point, I had two options. I could approve an exploratory surgery to determine if the bleeding was coming from the spleen or somewhere else. Or I could decide on humane euthanasia. The first option meant the surgeon might be able to remove the source of the bleeding if it was a splenic tumor. And then I could potentially take Lulu home with me while waiting to find out if the mass was malignant or benign.
However, I also knew the first option could cost a few thousand dollars, or even more if there was the need for intensive hospital care and/or multiple blood transfusions. At the time, I had the money to cover the cost of Lulu’s surgery. If I couldn’t have afforded the surgery, it would have been time to put Lulu down because it would have been unfair to let her continue to suffer the way that she was.
Lulu’s surgery revealed a large splenic mass and several lesions on her liver. Malignant cancers can metastasize, so I had a bad feeling that the testing would reveal a splenic hemangiosarcoma. Sadly, the biopsy confirmed this diagnosis. Lulu was able to come home, and we had a good three weeks of eating all the snacks a Labrador could wish for!
Knowing it was time to say goodbye
One afternoon, Lulu became weak and collapsed again. My family called me at work when this occurred, and I told them to check her gums. Once again, her gums were pale white. Knowing that liver lesions were present, I had a feeling she was bleeding internally again. Even in her weak state, she was so thrilled to see me at work!
Unfortunately, I confirmed my fear that she had another hemoabdomen. This meant she was reaching the end stages of hemangiosarcoma in dogs. Even with some of the newer therapies to improve quality of life for dogs diagnosed with hemangiosarcoma, I knew that the life expectancy for them post-surgery was about three to six weeks. As we say in veterinary medicine, Lulu “read the textbook” for what to expect.
I knew that it was time to say goodbye to her. It was a peaceful experience for my “Great Irish Hooley” (her nickname, referencing a lively Gaelic party), but it was one of the most difficult farewells for me. Lulu’s Labrador successor, Rosie, was adopted a few years later, and she has helped my little retriever-loving heart heal!
Supporting and saying goodbye to Swiper
Swiper’s previous owner was looking to re-home him in the summer of 2018. (They were moving and didn’t want to take him or their three other pets with them). Being a family of intense animal lovers, we took in all four animals at the same time—Swiper, his Labrador brother named Dozer, and a bonded pair of cats named Roxie and Darby.
Swiper was an interesting fellow. He could be calm, friendly, and very cuddly. Swiper loved snacks and his nightly dental chews (every night at nine is “chew o’clock” in my household). But he was also an avid hunter of small prey, and he could streak across the yard with the best of them to chase squirrels and baby bunnies.
In the late spring of 2021, Swiper started getting picky about his food. He would eat a few kibbles, then just stand there over his bowl while everyone else ate around him. One weekend, he vomited a total of three times in the span of an hour. He then fell over and would not stand up again. Swiper also had a wide-eyed kind of appearance, which I interpreted as a sign of pain in dogs.
We quickly drove him to my veterinary hospital and admitted him for some fluid therapy plus X-rays. Like Lulu, he also had a mass present in the vicinity of his spleen. This was confirmed to be a splenic mass on ultrasound the following day.
Making decisions for Swiper
Once again, I had two options before me. I could bring him to surgery and, worst case scenario, hope for a few more weeks with him if this was a hemangiosarcoma. Or I could elect humane euthanasia to end Swiper’s suffering.
Our family chose the surgery, but unfortunately Swiper had a very rough recovery. It turns out he already had metastatic lesions in his chest, and he had to be on oxygen therapy for a couple of days before we could bring him home.
While his breathing improved slightly, Swiper had very little energy. He would only get up to walk outside for “bathroom” breaks or to go drink water. He had little interest in food, even the choice cuts of chicken and meats I purchased for him.
Swiper was home with us for about one week before he started having acute collapse episodes. When he would take a few steps, he would slip to the floor and start panting heavily. I interpreted this to mean that Swiper was throwing blood clots (i.e. thromboembolisms). Studies show that there is an increased risk of forming blood clots in the two weeks post-spleen removal surgery.
Due to these episodes and his intermittent breathing difficulties, our family decided that it was time to put Swiper to sleep. We were all very sad that we didn’t have as much time with him as we did with Lulu. But we felt good knowing that we had tried our best.
Preparing to euthanize your dog with hemangiosarcoma
If you know the time is approaching when you might need to say goodbye to your sweet pup, I would like to offer two parting pieces of advice.
1. Make a deliberate effort to treasure the time you have
The one thing that everyone can do is to make the best out of the time that you have left with your dog. If he or she enjoys drives or trips to the dog park, make a point of doing these things as often as you can. Take advantage of the “pup cups” offered at your favorite coffee drive-thru window. Toss a stick or tennis ball in your backyard. Buy a kiddie pool so that your doggie can splash around in it.
It’s still risky to give your dog fatty meats like ham and bacon because they can cause pancreatitis in dogs. But the occasional cooked chicken that falls from your plate will go to good use if you have lightning-quick scavenger Labs like me!
2. Plan your goodbye ahead of time
Another helpful tip is to have a plan in place when it becomes time to say goodbye. You do not have to wait to prepare for your dog’s euthanasia until your pup takes a turn for the worse. It helps knowing what to expect and how you want to care for your furry friend’s remains.
Some dog owners choose to go to their regular vet’s office while others prefer using an in-home dog euthanasia provider like Lap of Love. In both places, you will be asked if you’d like an at-home burial (which you would perform yourself) or if you’d prefer cremation services. Having some ideas in advance will be a great help for when the time arrives.
Parting thoughts
Hemangiosarcomas are malignant tumors that occur commonly in dogs who are middle-aged or senior. My Lulu and Swiper pups were 10 and 11, respectively, when they developed their splenic tumors. These tumors can rupture, resulting in life-threatening blood loss. Hemangiosarcomas can also rapidly metastasize to other body parts. This is why a dog’s life expectancy is usually quite short once the mass has started to bleed.
Sometimes, surgery can get you some more time with your canine companion. But remember that humane euthanasia is a fair and kind option at any time. It is the last loving thing that you can do for your furry best friend when he or she has provided you with so much joy and companionship. In time, the pain and sorrow will lessen. And you will be left with lovely memories of your pup, as I have of my dear Lulu and Swiper!
Have you been faced with making the heartbreaking decision of when to euthanize your dog with hemangiosarcoma?
Please share your dog’s story below. It is a great way to honor him or her and can provide peace and comfort to other dog parents in a similar situation.
I’m writing this post in honor of my sweet Charlie boy, who passed away on November 30th, 2024, at just 9 years old. Charlie was the most perfect French Bulldog, and he leaves behind his mommy (me), daddy, and his younger french bulldog brother, Hank.
Everything I’ve read about hemangiosarcoma describes it as a silent killer — the dog seems fine until suddenly, they’re not. That’s exactly what happened to Charlie.
I’ve been incredibly attuned to Charlie since I brought him home at just 8 weeks old. I first took him to the vet on October 21st, 2024, after noticing some unusual signs. On our walks, he seemed reluctant to go down the front steps or lift his leg while peeing. He was vomiting after meals here and there, drinking more water than usual, and having accidents in his kennel at night — something that was very uncharacteristic of him.
His regular vet tested his urine for kidney issues and checked for a virus circulating in Los Angeles. Everything came back normal, and I was told it was probably just a random spell of the flu / unexplained. He seemed fine for a while after that initial visit.
However, on November 12th, I noticed the same symptoms, but this time, they were worse. Charlie was intact and so I convinced it must be a problem with his prostate. I do remember that he looked off to me that morning; pale, his gums didn’t look normal, and his belly also seemed swollen. I had no idea about internal bleeding symptoms.
I took him to an emergency vet nearby, and things quickly escalated. They asked if he could have ingested rat poison and noted that his gums were pale and cold and “muddy”, his blood pressure was low, and his temperature was abnormally low. They immediately hooked him up to IV fluids and conducted tests, including an anal exam, ultrasound, and fluid extraction from his abdomen to check for internal bleeding. They started to tell me that they thought he had internal bleeding coming from a major organ. What? How? He was just barking at us opening sparking water cans the night before at dinner.
The doctor told me that the mass could be cancerous, and the chances of cancer vs. benign had gone up from 50/50 to 70/30 because it was already bleeding. I was stunned. My healthy, vibrant dog, always eating the best quality food and living an active life — how could this be happening?
The doctor said surgery was the only way to know for sure, but there were risks. Because he was already anemic, it would require blood transfusions and be a very intenese surgery for him. They would only be able to test for cancer by removing the mass and sending it off for testing.
French Bulldogs don’t do well under anesthesia, and the surgery, if the mass was cancerous, would only extend his life for a short time. My gut instinct told me not to rush into surgery, especially with the high risks. I had always had a gut instinct of not putting Charlie through surgery which is why he was never neutered.
The doctors offered to do a more detailed ultrasound, which we agreed to, to hopefully determine where the mass / bleeding was coming from and if they saw anything else. Maybe this would give me more answers.
This second ultrasound confirmed a mass on his spleen, some fluid around his heart, and potential enlarged lymph nodes. The vet said surgery was no longer a recommended option as these other findings led them to believe that is was hemangioscarcoma that had already spread.
They gave us two choices: take him home to love him for whatever time he had left, or euthanize him immediately. They said we’d only have a few days, if that, and warned that things could turn dire very quickly.
I didn’t have to think about this for long and chose to bring Charlie home as I couldn’t imagine that being the end. I felt a sense of pressure to put him down in that moment based on what they were telling me but I chose to listen to my gut instinct. I wanted him to be comfortable in our home and for his brother to have a chance to say goodbye. I felt like I could nurse him back to health, someway / somehow. They had given him a pain killer before his 2nd ultrasound in case it was painful in any way so he was so out of it and I couldn’t even tell what state he was in but all I can say is that I listed to my gut.
We were given Yunnan Baiyao and steroids to manage his condition. I gave him the power pill that night, and by the next day, he was acting like his old self again — chewing on bones, playing with Hank, and cuddling with me. I was so relieved that I didn’t choose to euthanize him the night before.
After doing some research online, I ordered more Yunnan Baiyao packs so that I would have more power pills on hand for emergencies and could continue him on a maintenace dose.
The doctor said that if he made it through the night, that I would see some of the same signs if he began to internally bleed again; gums, vomitting, excessive water drinking, not acting like himsef, etc. so to keep an eye out.
I continued the Yunnan Baiyao maintenance regimen (1 every 12 hours), steroid, and added supplements like turkey tail mushrooms (I’m Yunnity studied at Penn in relation to this cancer) and freeze-dried beef liver for extra iron support. We spoiled him with all of the food and treats that he loved.
I also ordered an Oncotect urine test, an early cancer detection test for dogs. The results, which came after his passing, showed a moderate risk for cancer with 85% accuracy. Although I don’t think we ever would have opted to put Charlie through surgery regardless of what the test said, I still wanted to know as much information as I could. And so I guess I somewhat got my answer that it was likely cancer.
For two weeks after Charlie’s initial emergency visit, he seemed to be doing great. I kept telling my husband that he was acting like a puppy. I had so many special moments with him for which I am forever grateful.
The day before Thanksgiving, I was on a work call on my computer and turned around to a sound of Charlie breathing heavy laying behind me. His back legs were also shaking. I immediately checked his gums which were turning pale. I ran out into the kitchen and grabbed one of the power pills to give to him. Within an hour, he was back to his normal self.
He spent Thanksgiving day in the kitchen with me, getting extra scraps and watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving parade and Dog Show by my side. He cuddled with me Thursday night in bed in a way he hadn’t done in a long time where he slept with his neck interlocked with mine…so special.
At some point on Friday, he started to have another episode. It started with not wanting to go down the steps on our walks to seeming weak and his gums turning pale again. I gave him another power pill which worked again. My heart started to sink though as I realized that these back to back episodes were not good signs and that the power pills would probably only work for so long and a heartbreaking decision could be around the corner. I had so much hope in the two weeks from his initial emergency vist to this week thinking it was just a one-off bleed and he would be OK for a long time.
I had many conversations with my dad during these weeks, who has had many dogs and is very wise, and he assured me that I would know and Charlie would give me signs if I were to need to take any action.
Saturday was a normal morning followed by an early afternoon nap together. Not long after he woke up from his afternoon nap, Charlie was showing signs of a decline again. I quickly gave him a power pill and within an hour he had thrown it up. How would the power pill work if he never digested it? was the thought racing through my mind.
I continued to monitor him and things progressively got worse. Around 6pm, I was able to give him another power pill with some peanut butter which he never ended up throwing up. I told my husband that if by 7pm, he wasn’t showing signs of improvement then we would likely have to take him to the emergency.
That knowing my dad said I would feel, eventually came. He was too weak to even stand, and he didn’t want to be around us (my dad said when a dog is dying, they will try to leave the pack), he kept getting up and going into each room that we were not in. His chin and paws were cold and he wasn’t lifting his head when I tried to check his gums. These were the signs from him that I needed.
I had gotten Charlie from cargo at LAX almost 9 years ago and our first moments together were in the car, with him wrapped in a blanket, on the way home. I wrapped him in a blanket and carried him into the car for our final ride together. He was so weak and breathing heavy but still tried to perk his head out of the window.
We took him to the vet around 8pm and by 9pm., Charlie was peacefully put down. I was originally so scared of this part in the process but it ended up being a very peaceful experience. The hardest part was watching them trying to get his IV in his arm as they said his veins were hard to find since he was losing a lot of blood and had “thick skin”. My husband asked the doctor how much longer he thought Charlie would live on his own and they didn’t think very long.
We were able to spend as much time with him as we needed to say goodbye. We brought our other dog with us so he knew what was happening. I held Charlie as they gave him the two injections. He peacefully fell asleep and then with my arm wrapped around his chest, as he was lying next to me, I felt his heart stop. We spent more time with him afterward to say our final goodbyes which I’d highly recommend as it was not scary at all.
Saying goodbye to Charlie was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. It was unexpected, and I had so many dreams of what we’d still get to do together. I always envisioned him being by my side as I found out I was pregnant and became a human mommy. I pictured him being the best big brother.
Listening to my intuition and giving him the best possible care for the time we had left brought me peace. I’ll forever cherish the extra time we had together and am grateful for the way in which we got to say goodbye.
You know your dog better than anyone else— listen to your intuition and it will guide you.
Since his passing, I’ve received so many signs from Charlie — little winks that he’s still with me. We had conversations before he left his physical body as to where I could look for him, and I even read him the “Rainbow Bridge” poem a few times.
I was having a hard moment this morning of disbelief and guilt; could he have fought it? did he want to stay around and I took that away from him? How is he actually gone? But reading this blog post gave me the assurance and comfort that I neded so I thank you all.
As my dad wisely told me….”Saying goodbye to those we love is the most difficult part of life. It’s okay to be sad. Charlie lives on with every memory you have of him. Listen closely, think quietly, and you will find he’s never left you at all.”
I have extra packs of Yunnan Baiyao and I’mYunity for anyone in need. I’m in Los Angeles but would be happy to ship anywhere.
Love,
Charlie’s mommy
Dear Meghan,
I am sorry for your loss of Charlie. It is clear he was a big part of your life and a once in a lifetime kind of pup. What a blessing you were able to gain so much extra quality time together and you definitely made the most of it. Thank you for sharing your story with us. I hope as time passes the grief will fade and comfort and peace will help heal your heart. May Charlie’s memory stay with you always and continue to be a blessing to you and your family. ♥
Thank you Charlie’s mommy,
Our beloved Mr Johnny Nash, a 5 yo French Bulldog, was just diagnosed today. We are heartbroken and we know we don’t want him to suffer. We were told we are lucky if we have a few months with him. I’m happy to hear the Yunnan worked. I’ll have to make sure we pick some up.
Dear Lori,
I am praying for you and Mr. Johnny Nash as you face this difficult path. Wishing you strength and comfort. Bless you and your sweet boy. ♥
Dear Meghan
My deepest sympathies to you and your family. Also a big thank you for your detailed post. I can imagine how hard it would have been to write. It has greatly helped me. At this moment my 10 yr old GDX is at the vets undergoing scans but its not looking great and she is showing all the signs of hemangiosarcoma. I am the kind of fur mum who likes to have as much info as possible so I can make the best decision for my Maddie for her best life and your post has given me great comfort and guidance. I am still crossing everything that it will be some little thing and she’ll be back home tonight good as gold, but if I have to make some hard decisions today I feel better equipped to do so.
Thank you Dr Buzby for creating this blog. It gives great information and tells it how it is in plain language, as well as providing people with an opportunity to share and heal.
My sympathies to all who lose their fur babies in any circumstances, Thank you all so much for sharing your stories here. I hope it has helped your healing. It has definitely helped me in this uncertain time.
Dear Kat,
I am sorry your senior girl is facing this unknown future as she undergoes testing with your vet. I am glad you found encouragement and guidance in the stories and advice of other readers. Wishing your girl all the best and praying for favorable results. Feel free to keep us updated on how things go. Bless you and your pup.
I’m so sorry, it’s so awful, beyond words. It is clear you did everything you could, investigated all possibilities, and loved your dogs.
I also wanted to ask about the “power pill”? Jessie, my 14 year old was diagnosed w/hemangiosarcoma a couple weeks ago. I’ve been spoiling her (she still eats), but I was not aware of anything that could actually help her. Does the turkey tail make the dog feel better? What is ‘yunnan’? My girl has multiple tumors, one large one in her brain which caused cluster seizures, nodules on several other organs, etc. She gets librela injections for pain, and is on anti-seizure meds (‘keppra’).
I have been cherishing every moment and every day, every walk, but i just noticed a bruise – on a shaved area – that was not there yesterday. Thank you for any information.
Dear Peg,
I am so sorry you are facing this terrible disease with your beloved Jessie. The power pill is probably the one red “emergency” capsule that comes with each pack of Yunnan Baiyao. Yunnan Baiyao is an herbal supplement that helps stop bleeding and can sometimes save a dog experiencing a life-threatening bleed. Hoping you can find a way to extend Jessie’s life and ensure these last days are filled with love and joy. Bless you and your sweet girl. ♥
Thank you. and thanks for quick reply
Thank you for such an informative article, and I’m sorry you had to go through this with two of your own dogs, they are a big part of the family and leave a big hole. Our 10 year old lab retriever has just been diagnosed with hemangiosarcoma, he wasn’t showing any signs or symptoms but the vet found a small lump in his abdomen, that turned out to be nothing but the ultrasound showed fluid (we now know is blood) surrounding his heart, they drained 500ml of blood! Ted was fine for a week then went down hill over night this Monday, Tuesday he was quiet and very tired so back to the vets (who are brilliant) and they drained another 500ml of blood from around his heart, scanned him again and gave us the shocking news. He is currently asleep next to me on the sofa, not currently showing any symptoms, so we are making the most of him (like we always have). He was a guide dog for his first 3.5 years before being withdrawn and I rehomed him. I’m sure like other owners it comes as a huge shock when you have an otherwise healthy strong dog, we are just grateful to have had the time we have with this loveable big bear, he even converted several of our friends into dog lovers.
Dear Edward,
I am so sorry you are facing these final days with your beloved boy. I am glad he is still feeling well and able to enjoy life. Thank you for being willing to share your story with our readers. It helps others to know they are not alone when in the midst of such an emotional situation. Try to continue making the most of the time you are gifted. Wishing you both happiness and peace. Bless you and give your sweet boy a hug for me! ♥
Hello all,
My heart absolutely breaks reading your stories- the love you have for your furbabies shines through each and every one and they are so lucky to have had you all to love them so much.
I am in a situation I am struggling with- in that my dog has an enlarged spleen and we have been recommended an ultrasound and biopsy – but we have decided to decline as we would not put my baby through a splenectomy. He is 10.5 years old and had an enlarged spleen as a puppy for a while- he had ehrilichia as a pup when we rescued him in Greece.
Last year in July we had a CT scan done on his chest for a suspected melanoma (which it wasn’t! Just a benign nevus!) (by chance really, I work at a vets as admin, the xray machine was down and they did a CT for the same price- it showed multiple nodules on his lungs suspicious of metastatic disease, and enlargement of a few lymph nodes, especially his splenic ones. ) At the time, the vet recommended all sorts of things, US, Ct Abdomen, LN biopsies, lung biopsies etc but as he is very nervous and distressed in the vets we decided not to put him through this, as we would not make any time he has left full of stress for him and having to pin him down in vet rooms and sedations etc.
So since then, he is fit as a fiddle, no real symptoms of anything. I took him for a dental this week and his pre-op bloods were fine, I just asked the vet to have a feel of his tummy again in light of last year’s scare, and he said the spleen feels thickened (possibly from a mass) and he would recommend an Ultrasound with possible FNA/biopsy.
Now I know, given his previous spleen enlargement, this could just be ‘him’. But due to the lung findings etc last year I am thinking it is more than likely a mass and there is some systemic malignancy. I adore my dogs more than I can put into words, but in my heart knowing my boy, I don’t want to put him through more. A scan would only confirm the mass and break my heart further, but I know for him splenectomy would not be right, so why do the scan? The surgery has risks, he is so fearful at the vets, if he already has systemic disease this may speed the process up etc.
He is so full of life and health atm, I would rather him live what he has as he is, fetching ball and snuggling in the duvet and begging for treats!
I am just really struggling thinking am I a bad dog parent for this? I know the signs to look for for any rupture and know this could be traumatic and have a contingency plan in place but if I see any signs of pain we will make the heartbreaking final decision.
I feel so broken right now when I see his little face – he has no idea bless him. And don’t we just wish we could ask them what they want?
I don’t know why I am writing on here to be honest- fear, anxiety, sadness. But thank you for this page.
Hi Carla,
I am sorry you are facing this difficult situation with your senior guy. I applaud you for taking all your options into consideration but trying to focus on what is in your dog’s best interest. Choosing to forgo all the testing and treatment and pursuing palliative care is a great and loving option! I would probably do the same if I was facing something similar with my own pup. Please don’t let guilt have any part of this and hear me when I say you are doing a great job. Make the most of the time you are gifted and fill each day with love and joy. Wishing you comfort and peace as you navigate this emotional path. Bless you and give your sweet boy a hug for me! ♥
I took my almost 10 year old husky/malamute to the vet yesterday. He started to urinate in the house last Friday. I thought that this was because I may not have taken him out enough that day. Over the weekend, he continued to have a hard time holding his bladder and was less interested in his food. I also thought this was because I had just switched his food. At this point I made a vet appointment for Thursday to see what could be wrong. However, when I woke up on Monday morning, I saw that he had urinated again but this time there were blood clots in his urine. I made an appointment for that morning. I was hoping it would be a UTI but I knew that the blood clots couldn’t be a good sign and was something more than just an infection. When I took him to the vet, they did a lateral view abdominal xray that showed his intestines pushed back and there was a mass on his spleen. The Dr explained that the concern is that it is malignant and has moved to his kidneys which is causing the bleeding in his urine. He said there is a chance it could be benign, but we’d have to do surgery and if it isn’t then I could do chemo for him. I don’t see a way that I can fix it since he is an older dog and either procedure may end up with euthanasia. I also do not have the funds to do surgery if it were benign. I am having a hard time trying to decide when to have him cross the rainbow bridge because I don’t want him to be in distress, but I also don’t want to do it too soon. These comments make me feel better and supported because I thought I would have to make this decision based on a quality of life that I could physically see… instead of this tumor that I cannot. Now I feel like I need to show him all the love I can and let him eat all the yummy snacks, then schedule an at home euthanasia before he gets super painful. Hopeful that maybe I will have a few more days with him. Thank y’all for posting your experiences with this.
Dear Brittany,
I am so sorry you are facing the final days with your beloved boy. I am glad you found some comfort and guidance in the article and comments left by other readers. I am praying for your strength and peace for your heart. Bless you and your sweet boy.
Second time I’m reading your articles on hemangiosarcoma and it doesn’t get easier.
On January 2, 2024 I took my 11yr GSDx to the emergency vet as she collapsed in the garden – like everyone else I thought she had overdone it on a walk the day before, where she had to lie down for 10mins before she could make it to the car. As I sat in the vets waiting room I came across your articles. I realise I missed so many little signs that something was seriously wrong before in the early hours of January 3 I had to make the decision to let Briar rest.
Now my almost 14yr lab x Scout has the same damn cancer – this time I found out by accident when she was having an ultrasound on her heart. Her spleen was clear in January, but come 22 October there is a 12cm mass that has metastized to her lung. This whole year her tiredness, panting, coughing were dismissed as being due to her DCM and mitral valve disease.
I’m not ready to say goodbye but I know our time is very limited and she is starting to struggle. Reading everyone else’s experiences I know I’m very fortunate to have had my girl in my life for so long (adopted from the pound 13 years ago on November 22), but to lose two dogs in one year is hard on the heart.
Rose,
My heart goes out to you. Losing two dogs in one year—and to the same cancer no less—is so heartbreaking. I hope that you are able to make some good memories in the time you have left with Scout and that you have a peaceful and beautiful goodbye when the time comes. Thinking of you! ❤️
Our GSD (aged 12 yrs and 6 months) passed on Saturday 16th November from a ruptured spleen/tumour – we chose euthanasia before it became too distressing for him. Symptoms of ‘something’ being wrong with him only started a month before his passing. On the 17th October after a very normal walk through the woods into his favourite field and back, he looked almost drunk, unstable and unbalanced that evening and really tired. He looked nauseous too but didn’t vomiting. We put it down to maybe some dirty river water making him feel sick, and aching joints causing him to struggle to walk. Then the next day he was fine! We saw this same pattern of 2-3 good days followed by a 4th-5th day of lethargy and struggling to rise and walk even just to go to the toilet or get a drink. We took him to the vet’s around the 23rd October – the vet only examined him in the boot of our car and we explained the problems we had seen – they said it was probably arthritis and maybe some signs of neurological/ spinal degeneration with his age and breed in mind. He was prescribed necessary meds for arthritis. We had a physio come to our home, who looked at him purely from a potential arthritis point of view as she and we didn’t assume anything more. Then again we saw the continuation of another odd few days of lethargy and wobbly walking. Only when he started panting more and looked bloated did we think something else was going on. We took him in thinking he may have something else underlying- never did we think we wouldn’t be able to bring him home. The vet did an ultrasound and took a sample of the fluid out of his abdomen and described this situation. The vet said it’s highly likely it had spread and most cases are cancerous by the time there is a bleed. He also showed signs of pale gums during the 4 weeks we had him at home. I think he had a slow bleed for those weeks and we were approaching the end of our time with him. Now I read into hemangiosarcoma symptoms and it all made sense. He was a strong GSD dog, active until the end. His last morning he even made room for 5 sausages…despite all that was going on inside him.
Dear Holly,
I am so sorry for the tragic loss of your beloved boy. What a blessing you were able to be with him in those final days as I am certain your presence was a comfort. I can only imagine how much he is missed but know you made the right choice in offering your boy peace and rest. I hope as time passes the grief will fade and your heart can begin to heal. Wishing you brighter days ahead as you continue life’s journey. ♥
I sit here writing this comment because I cannot bring myself to call an home euthanasia. I’ve read all comments in this section & it breaks my heart to see how many others have gone through this shocking discovery. My 8 year old Teller “puppy” was just diagnosed with cardiac hemangiosarcoma. 5 days ago he didn’t want to walk, threw up food & water. The vet did bloodwork & x rays & the possible prognosis was a tick borne illness (anasplasmosis). We were sent home with 2 weeks of heavy antibiotics. 3 days later, he threw up constantly & was very lethargic still. Back to the vet. This time, his heart rate was elevated. The vet did more scans & an ultrasound. His finding was “something he absolutely doesn’t want to tell me because it’s not good at all”. They found him to have cardiac hemangiosarcoma. What even is that?! I needed a second opinion. I got in with a canine cardiologist the next day. Our appt was said to be 1 1/2 hrs. 15 mins after scans, she came back and confirmed it. He’s bleeding internally into his abdomen now. She gave him days. How?! He was the “picture of health at his age” at our last vet appointment. He’s a dog who backpacks every year with us 30 miles. after having just lost my dog Jax in June, I am absolutely heartbroken. We came home yesterday from the cardiologist and even though he eats all of the yummy food he’s getting, he immediately vomits it back up. I am shattered and torn. I know that I need to make the phone call. My poor boy. It is truly an unreal diagnosis & my mind cannot process that today is going to be my last time with him. I try to think of my two boys running together again, but it just doesn’t seem to help me in this moment. I’m so sorry to anyone who has or has to go through this.
Dear Hailey,
My heart aches for you as you grieve the loss of your beloved pup. I can only imagine how emotional and difficult it must have been to choose to say goodbye. I am certain it was the only way to free your sweet boy from unnecessary suffering and am sure he knew how much he was loved. Praying for comfort and peace for your heart. May the memories of all the good times you shared stay with you always and continue to be a blessing in your life. ♥
We lost our beautiful Amy ( order collie-English Spaniel on 11/9/2024. We did not even know she had this cancer. The night before we lost her, she went from a very happy dog to a dying dog when an unknown tumor burst. The next morning we had to let her go. Six months later, our dog Jake (pit mix) was diagnosed with this same cancer. It started with cutaneous nodules and 2 small subcutaneous nodules. He had 2 surgeries to remove these. We chose oral chemo vs infusions due to the $12,000 cost vs $140/month for the oral. He was given 9 months – 18 months (although the 18 months were based on the infusions. He is now 16 months out from dx. Unfortunately, Tuesday a 6.7 splenic tumor was found. We have decided against further surgery. I am now going to contact vets who do home euthanasia, as I hope when the tumor bursts, we will be able to let him go at home.
In 2021, Marshy (a pittie) whom we had fostered as a puppy, died at the age of 8 1/2 yrs, at my friend’s home from this same cancer.. I was there when she died. It happened so fast we were not even able to get her to vet.
Dear Nancy,
I am sorry your life has been impacted by this terrible disease so many times. The plan for in-home euthanasia for Jake seems like the best choice and I hope it will offer him a peaceful passing when the time comes. Try to make the most of the time you are gifted and fill each day with joy and love. Wishing you strength to make the tough decisions ahead and praying for comfort for your heart. ♥
We had to put our lovely lab Ted to sleep on Monday. He was only 8 and he was our baby (we have his mum and was there at his birth). He vomitted once about five days before and was just ‘off’. He was quiet and ate some meals and refused others. We took him to the vets and I really thought it was going to be something like diabetes or thyroid disease but they said he was bleeding internally. They scanned but couldn’t see because if the blood so we had to collect him and take him to their ‘hospital’ for a better scan. When we collected him he had gone down considerably and could only just walk. We drive the 4 miles and by then he couldn’t walk at all. The scan confirmed a large mass on his liver and the vet said our only option was euthanasia. We had about 15 minutes with him, but he was so poorly by then. I think if he’d been at home we probably would have just lost him anyway.
We miss him so much and it seems unfair to lose him at a relatively young age. We’ve had labs all our married life (nearly 40 years) and their ends have always been ‘old age’ and usually going off their legs. It’s been a huge shock to lose a dog early.
Thank you for writing your article, it’s good to realise that we had very few options anyway and so didn’t euthanise before we had to.
Dear Mandy,
My heart aches for you with your loss of Ted. I know you would have done anything to give him more time but am grateful you could offer him a peaceful passing and ensure he didn’t have to suffer needlessly. It sounds like he lived a wonderful life with your family, and I feel certain he knew how much he was loved. Thank you for being willing to share your story with us. Wishing you comfort and healing for your heart. Bless you. ♥
We lost my 11.5 year old standard poodle on Sunday 7 weeks after hemangiosarcoma diagnosis. Her tumor in her abdomen appeared rapidly and had metastasized (spread) to her lung when we caught it all. This article and these comments helped me a lot – I referred to it throughout the 7 weeks several times. In the 7 weeks, she had 3 hard days. She ate breakfast and dinner every single day and actually was so motivated she awaited her fresh meals in the kitchen at my feet. We switched her to fresh ground meat (beef, turkey, and chicken) for every meal, at times I would add in egg, pumpkin, turmeric, mushroom tail powder (1x / day), Greek yogurt, peanut butter and I think that helped her quality of life. We also had her on Yunnan Baiyo recommended by the doctor (2x / day with food). She couldn’t really tolerate kibble much any more and we tried to toss it back in and it would make her vomit a little bit. She got her daily walks through those 7 weeks and tons of love – and some days were slower than others but overall her quality of life was still there. The vets warned me that just because everything is good, it could be any second where it’s not. I left for 1 hour Sunday and came home to her on the ground and she wouldn’t get up (she’s never done this before). It was heartbreaking and I knew the second that I walked through the door and she wasn’t right there that something was awfully wrong. I tried to give her a treat and she had no interest. Her feet were cold and her gums had turned white (and they were not white the day prior as it was something I checked daily). She had chased my kids around 1 hour prior for snacks and treats. Her body was very twitchy due to loss of circulation and within 2 hours we had her at an emergency vet to have her put down (she didn’t even walk into the vet and we couldn’t get someone to come to our house… her body was shutting down and I couldn’t let that continue for her, it was so awful and sad). I feel so lucky to have had her for 7 weeks, and a happy version of her. I’m heartbroken but I hope this detail can help someone in a similar situation in the future. Dogs are the best. I miss her so much.
Dear Erin,
I am so sorry for the loss of your senior girl. What a blessing she gained 7 extra weeks of happiness after her diagnosis. I can only imagine how much you miss her but am certain she knew how much she was loved. Thank you for being willing to share your story with us. It helps others to know they are not alone when facing a similar situation. May the memories of all the good times you shared with your girl stay with you always. Bless you and your family. ♥
My 10.5 year old Pittie Loki was just diagnosed with Subcutaneous hemangiosarcoma, after having two small tumors removed, one on his
muzzle and one on his prepuce, and as I write this he still has the stitches
in. I have been reading all the comments of the heartbreaking stories the
pet parents have been telling here and the tears have just been rolling down my face.. Thank you so much for explaining everything, since this all came
down on us like a thunderbolt.
I adopted Loki from our local Animal Shelter 4.5 years ago when he was 6
years old and it was love at first sight. He is the sweetest, calmest and intuitive
dog – basically the best dog I have had in my lifetime .
Dear Gudrun,
My heart aches for you as you face this difficult situation with Loki. I am sorry he has received this diagnosis and understand your worry and sadness. It sounds like he is a once in a lifetime kind of pup and you were lucky to find each other when you did. Try to make the most of the time you are gifted. Wishing you both comfort and peace in the days ahead.
My German Shepherd Dog – Blitz was diagnosed with hemangiosarcoma about a month ago. He had two surgeries within a week. The days following his surgeries were tough but he bounced back. He was back to his rambunctious self. About a week ago we noticed he was acting strange. It started with the lupus on his nose. For six years we kept it at bay But over night it seemed like it just went up his nose and was affecting his eyes. He became lethargic and didn’t move much. When he did we discovered the swollen belly had returned. We made a vet appointment the same day. An ultrasound and.a needle to the abdomen quickly let us know we had to make that decision I had dreaded since the day we brought him home as a puppy. Like everyone who has shared their stories I am heartbroken, lost and second guessing everything I did that led up to this point. We live in Alaska so a lot of the emergency vet services and access the vets is limited not to mention most of the modern services available in the lower 48. Blitz was the prototype GSD. Demanding, difficult, loyal, faithful and above all brave. Looking back he probably suffered so much just trying to keep up and be part of out pack. Maybe I’ll be able to give myself some grace in the coming weeks but right now I feel so much guilt and miss him dearly!
Dear Tommy,
I am so sorry for your loss of Blitz. He sounds like an amazing pup, and I am certain he knew how much he was loved. It is normal to ponder all the “what ifs” but please don’t let guilt weigh you down. You did all you could for your boy and gave him peace and freedom from his suffering. I hope with time your heart can begin to heal and the grief will fade. May Blitz’s memory stay with you always and continue to be a blessing in your life. ♥
Hi, my Chloe was diagnosed July 30. I prayed so hard that she live long enough to see her 15th birthday. October 12 has come & gone and my beloved best friend is still here. My other prayer is that she falls asleep and doesn’t wake up. I don’t want to make that decision to give her the shot. I’m 68 & she’s my first dog. Ever. We’re inseparable. I can’t begin to imagine my life without her. But I know that day will be here. I honestly don’t know what will happen when she’s not watching out the window for me? Or when she doesn’t greet me at the door? Or when she’s not there at bedtime? Right now she has good days where she eats great & not so good days. She gets Yunan Bayou twice a day & I give her Turkey tail mushroom once a day & it’s ALL a struggle to get them down. She hates her pills. She looks at me with her big, beautiful brown eyes as if to say “mama, why”? My heart breaks.
Let me tell you, she’s a 14# Hava-szu. I went to the vet on Tuesday, July 30 because she had lost a couple of pounds. I walked out that day with her “death sentence”! I was bawling hysterically. I had no clue! But today, 13 weeks later, after a great weekend, I’m so grateful to God for all this time he’s given me to love her, spoil her, talk to her, listen to her, etc. I feel blessed knowing He’s “preparing” me for *that* day. And though I never want to lose her, I know nothing lasts forever.
May God bless us all & comfort us when we’re in most need! 🩷
Dear Terri,
My heart goes out to you as you spend these final days with your beloved Chloe. What a blessing you have gained so much extra time since her diagnosis. I am glad you are filling each day with love and affection for your sweet girl. Praying for comfort and peace. Bless you. ♥
Thank you for this story as well as your comment. My 14yo dog was diagnosed with a huge tumor on his spleen and had a splenectomy not even 3 weeks ago. Today, histo confirmed its HSA and he already has metastases on his liver.
The last 3 weeks, despite everything along with the heavy surgery and 2 anesthesias have been surprisingly good. He eats again, he cuddles, he has energy and generally enjoys life again, we go on walks and he trotts through woods without a worry in the world,
Yet I am so afraid of how this will proceed and what to expect (How to expect the unexpected?). He doesnt have a spleen to bleed from anymore, but the cancer will spread get to him eventually and I have no idea how that will come about and how to notice and prepare for that – is he going to waste away? Slowly refuse food and excercise with time or suddenly collapse without energy to continue his life? Or will another mass grow somewhere and burst in between out vet visits? WIll he be okay untill the end and one day just he just wont get up or eat anymore and that will be the time to call quits? Your story, at least, showed me one version of what can be expected, so thank you for that.
I am so sorry for your loss. *hugs you tight*
I guess I can call myself lucky my boy got to grow old to 14 yo, but knowing he is in generally in good health (outside the cancer), having pulled through the surgery and anestesia perfectly and being fit and trotting through fields and woods not a week later…it gave me hope we had more time…
And yet, looking at the horrible statistics and peoples stories…I know we will probably have far less time together.
I only need to know that he is in no pain and has some kind of qualitity of life. I dont want to put him to sleep too early, but I dont want him to suffer either by not calling it at the right time. What do I do?
Hi Lea,
My heart goes out to you. It is devastating to find out that your dog has HSA. All your questions are valid and I wish I had a crystal ball so I could answer them for you. Being ok (or as ok as you can be) with the unknown is so challenging. While I don’t know what the future holds for you and your dog, I believe you will make the best decisions for him that you can with the information you have in the moment. The best advice I can give is to take it one day at a time. There is nothing wrong with deciding to let him go while he is still having good days. And there is nothing wrong with deciding to wait until he starts to decline. If possible, release yourself from any guilt over potentially picking the wrong time. There aren’t any “right” or easy answers unfortunately.
Sending big hugs as you navigate this challenging time with your beloved dog.
Hi, thank you for writing this. It is very helpful to hear others experiences. I am sadly dealing with this decision with my dog. I found out 2 days ago that she had a splenic tumor that was very large and had been bleeding substatially. It had spread so she was not a candidate for surgery. I am grateful she was able to come home with me so I can love on her, spoil her, and tell her goodbye. They gave us anti nausea meds as well as the herbal supplement you mentioned to help stop the bleeding. My question though is, can she pass peacefully with this? Or do I have to make a decision to put her down? She’s very tired but still walking and eating and loving her treats. She still wags her tail though not as much. Any thoughts you could share would be appreciated. 💛
Hi Jessica,
I am so sorry your girl has received this tragic diagnosis. I am glad you were able to bring her home where she is most comfortable and is surrounded by love. Dogs do sometimes pass peacefully from this disease, but more often than not it is not a pretty ending. At some point there will be a bleeding event, and depending on how quickly it happens, you may see trouble breathing, seizures, panic, etc. I always think it is better to let go one day too early than one day too late and allow unnecessary suffering. You have the ability to give your beloved pup a peaceful passing and ensure things go smoothly. It is ok to say goodbye before all joy is lost and the only thing that remains is pain. I hope you can find the advice you need to make the best choice for you and your girl. Praying for comfort and peace for everyone involved.
my 12 year old dashound passed away today from this. Monday I noticed my dog panting and buy wensday he stopped eating so we where off to his vet. up till this week he seemed like he was fine ya a little slow at times but he was 12. well they did an xray and found the bleeding tumor on his spleen. I decided to operate. they called me this am and told me that the problem was the tumor was not just on his splean but also on his liver and intestines and that the humane thing to do would be to put him down wile they had him under Anastasia still. so that’s the hard decision I made and I went and said my goodbye to him. I just hope I made the right choice? the vet said that she barley would tutch the tumor and it would bleed so easy. said he would not of made it a few days past surgery. I am heartbroken but reading your article did make me feel a bit better about the heartbreaking decision I made today thank you
Dear Christopher,
I am so sorry for the loss of your Dachshund. From what you describe, I am certain you made the most loving choice to end his suffering and offer him peace. I can only imagine what an emotional decision it must have been, especially when things progressed quickly and didn’t leave much time to process it all. I hope as time passes the grief will fade and your heart can begin to heal. May the memories of all the good times you shared continue to be a blessing in your life.
Two nights ago, after a completely normal day, we returned home from dinner (only gone for 3 hrs) and were about to take our 3 dogs for a walk. Our 10 yo dog, Avery, didn’t jump up to go like she normally does and her ears were down. We weren’t able to coax her off the couch and when we finally did, we noticed her abdomen was distended. We took her to the emergency where they performed an ultrasound and, as so many of you here, was diagnosed with a significant splenic tumor which had partially ruptured and caused a small bleed. Since she was stable, they allowed us to take her home with a course of Yunnan Baiyo and Gabapentin for pain and said that we would need to decide by the morning. When we go home we immediately gave her the red emergency Yunnan Baiao pill and the gabapentin. Given her age, an exploratory splenectomy is not the way we want to go, but yesterday the radiologist confirmed there was no evidence of any other metastasis elsewhere, so I made an appointment with an oncologist in hopes they can provide their expert opinion on whether she thinks it could be benign (I know this is a long shot and am not in denial).
Since bringing her home and taking the prescribed medications, Avery has markedly improved in her behavior, energy level (she wants to play with her ball so badly), her abdomen has gradually softened/retracted and her gum color has significantly improved over the last 24 hrs.
I know she is a ticking time bomb, and we are weighing how we want her last days vs holding out until the oncologist can assess her. If anyone has any insight on whether we have enough time to wait on the final decision until we see the oncologist in 4 days (3 if there is a cancellation)? I don’t want to keep her from doing the things she’s loves like chasing the water hose and ball, but I also don’t want to cause the full rupture until we have made arrangements to get her immediately to the vet for our final goodbye (man it’s hard to type through tears 😭 ),
I want her last day to be the best day ever and don’t want to wait until she collapses without having played with her again.
Ido you think we have enough time given her improving condition?
Appreciate you all. My love and prayers are with all of you.
Casey
Dear Casey,
I understand your concern for Avery and am so sorry she is facing this difficult situation. I too am hoping her tumor is benign and that the oncologist had some great advice to offer. What did you find out? How are things today? Praying your sweet girl is still with you and enjoying life. Feel free to leave an update if you have a chance and wishing you all the best.
The past couple of weeks have been rough, and today is no different. Our 11 1/2 year old Golden Retriever Bella was diagnosed with a splenic tumor. Similar to what I have read from others, it was the change in appetite and a collapse that sent us to our vet. They did remove her spleen along with the grapefruit sized tumor attached to it. There was no other sign of cancer on the liver or stomach, but unfortunately the biopsy on the tumor came back today, and it was and aggressive hemangiosarcoma. We don’t know how much time we have with Bella having the surgery, but she is a part of our family and we were not prepared to say goodbye, especially if there was a chance. She has been great since the surgery even though it was only a week ago, but we know our time is limited so we will spoil her and give her even more love than we always have. It will also let her 4 year old sister spend more time with her before she goes. We are opting to not get chemotherapy for her just to extend her life in a not so comfortable way. We can all spend some quality time before it’s time for her to cross that rainbow bridge and we can know we gave her the best life possible and not make her suffer. We hope it lasts for a while longer.
Dear Darrell,
I am sorry Bella has received this devastating diagnosis. I am glad her surgery was successful, and she seems to be feeling well. She is a lucky girl to have you taking such good care of her and ensuring her final days are filled with love and joy. Wishing you strength and comfort as you face the tough decisions ahead. Bless you and your sweet girl.
Good evening everyone
I wanted to send co silences to each and every one of you all who have suffered the devastating loss of your doggie.
I like many of you have a recent diagnosis of hemangiosarcoma which seemed to happen overnight!
My sweet Wybie (he’s 6) was Drinking, urinating, going outside every 30 mins, then blank staring and not wanting to come back in the house. He wouldn’t get into the bed or couch… in the am, I took his straight to the vet who thought he had gotten some THC but that wasn’t even a possibility so I wondered if he could have the flu or a cold
It was shockingly way worse… a bleeding mass on the spleen. The veterinary clinic sent me to an emergency animal hospital for surgery. Thankfully he wasn’t dehydrated and he did t lose too much blood so we went home that night. He cried for 3 nights straight and I was by his side and have been ever since- now his biopsy had the unfortunate and shocking results we had hoped to never hear.
I have changed his diet immediately to include some organic chicken and veggies, with Greek yogurt berries puréed and frozen into ice cube trays for a treat. We’ve had low sodium chicken broth pumpkin and a couple eggs scrambled in water. We will also have lean ground beef and mix with turmeric and veggies
I am beside myself. I have a hard time being away from him and going to work. I have made and kept a bed in my couch. He always slept with me or my daughter but he can’t go upstairs and jump in the bed either.
I’d like to just send some love and prayers to the author and everyone reading/experiencing this very sad and devastating disease
I plan to take him to oncology Oct 14, but I am so afraid it’s too long! I’ve ordered imyunity and will be giving him that with food as soon as it arrives♥️
Dear Shannon,
My heart goes out to you as you face the difficult days ahead with your boy. I am sorry Wybie has received this diagnosis but know you will take good care of him and ensure he is comfortable and happy. Try to make the most of the time you are gifted. Wishing you strength and peace for your heart. Bless you and your sweet boy.
Darrell, I’m so sorry about your Bella. I hope she gives you many more days and doesn’t suffer too much. Our Harper has his surgery last Monday and is going remarkably well. Although I received the new today that it us HPA. He’s gums are still pale, but his thirst and appetite impressive. What’s to walk farther and farther, making me very nervous. This is all so suddenly new and sad.
Dear Robin,
I am sorry Harper has received this difficult diagnosis. What a blessing he is still feeling well and is maintaining his quality of life. Wishing you comfort and strength as you face these emotional days ahead. Bless you and your sweet boy.
Hang in there. Sending my love to you.
We lost our much beloved 9-year-old husky/border collie mix, Juno, to this terrible disease yesterday. There were no signs she was unhappy or in pain prior to yesterday morning, when she was lethargic before breakfast and then suddenly collapsed. We raced her to the vet, and they suspected a tumor on the spleen or heart. At 12:30 I got the call and the vet said her prognosis was hopeless – she she indeed had a tumor on her heart that had ruptured. He recommended euthanasia. We rushed back to be with her in her final moments. We are devastated this could happen so suddenly and without warning. I only hope she was not in too much pain 😥
Dear Ashleigh,
My heart aches for you as you grieve the tragic loss of your beloved Juno. I am glad you were able to be with her in those final moments as I am certain your presence was a comfort. I hope with time your heart can begin to heal, and you can be at peace. May Juno’s memory stay with you always and continue to be a blessing in your life.
Thanks for posting this information. We had to put our 10 1/2 yr boxer/mix, Toby, to sleep in July because of hemangiosarcoma. We had a diagnosis and concurrence of 2 veterinarians and an ultrasound doctor; they had done blood tests , xrays, and ultrasound imaging to determine the condition. The vets explained the situation well and it was obvious that the best option was to have Toby put down rather than to put her through an expensive surgical procedure that might only provide her with a few more weeks.
As with everybody else who has left comments here, it was a really, really hard thing to do – I kept jumping between what I knew and what I felt. I had never heard of hemangiosarcoma and the necessity to make a quick decision really stunned me.
I still search the internet for information about this disease. One of the areas that I look for is whether there are any medical tests or screening that might give the pet owner an early indication that their pet may have developed this neoplasm before it has turned into a full blown late stage tumor. So far, I found a couple of what appear to be studies in progress that are working to detect and quantify serum levels of certain miRNA biomarkers which may identify the presence of hemagionsarcoma.
Cornell College of Veterinary Medicine had a research project back in 2022-2023 to develop a Point-of-Care (PoC) device and procedure (“A Diagnostic Test for Canine Hemangiosarcoma Using Novel miRNA Biomarkers”) however, I’ve not found anything beyond this preliminary research.
Do you know of any developments in this area? How do you think it might be implemented? Now, if you get a hemangiosarcoma diagnosis, it’s basically too late to do anything that might cure the condition. If this thing was detected early do you think that there any therapies that could be applied to stop further development?
Thanx.
Dear Dave,
I am sorry for your loss of Toby. I can only imagine how difficult it was to make that emotional decision. I am not aware of any new developments in hemangiosarcoma research at this time but continue to watch for any emerging information. The point of care device studied by Cornell is probably something they hope to be able to run in the clinic, similar to a heart worm test. It would hopefully be able to give a definitive diagnosis without having to do surgery to remove the spleen and have a pathologist make the diagnosis. I am not sure it would help improve the outcome but may offer more time before quality-of-life decisions have to be made. Thank you for sharing your experience with us. Wishing you all the best as you continue life’s journey.
I recently lost my beautiful lab Maverick at just 8 years old to Hemangiosarcoma. Like many others I was overwhelmed with grief losing him. Even though the local vet and emergency vet who both saw him more than once with the tell tale signs of the cancer couldn’t tell me what may be wrong with him when he experienced these episodes over the course of a year. I’m angry that they did not consider doing a simple scan. I took him to an emergency vet in Charleston and the 1st thing they dis was an ultrasound scan that found a softball size tumor on his spleen. I just feel that the first two vets are completely inexperienced and should not be able to practice. This should have been found months earlier. We listed the warning signs and they witnessed some of them themselves but had no clue what might be wrong or thought to do an ultrasound. I miss him so much I’m not sure I could go through this again.
Tim
Dear Tim,
My heart aches for you with the loss of your beloved boy. I understand your grief and know how your mind tends to run through all the “what ifs”. This cancer can be very hard to detect, especially in the early stages. It is quite possible that even if an ultrasound had been performed months earlier, the results could have been inconclusive or looked normal. Some of the symptoms of hemangiosarcoma are unspecific and could be caused by any number of conditions. I can only imagine how much you miss Maverick but am certain he knew how much he was loved. Hoping as time passes the grief will fade and your heart can begin to heal. Wishing you comfort and peace and for brighter days ahead. ♥
Hi Tim, I just had the same exact experience with my Boxer/pittie mix and in Charleston too. She went often to the vet and had no idea anything was wrong. The emergency vet found fluid in her abdomen with an ultrasound. I wished her vet would have given her an ultrasound during checkup.
Dear Kim,
My heart goes out to you with the loss of your beloved pup. Praying for comfort and peace. ♥
Like most others in the comments I found my way here after having my world shattered last week by the sudden unexpected loss of my very best friend of 11.5 years- my beloved frenchie Winston. He was my heart and soul and has been with me through every major event in my life… breakups, graduate school, my own cancer diagnosis, marriage, etc.
I got home from work and he was not interested in eating. He has been a picky eater his entire life so I made him scrambled eggs to see if that could entice him to eat something and he still wouldn’t. As I watched him I noticed his breathing seemed shallow and labored. I checked his pulse and his heart rate was high his gums seemed pale and he was just very lethargic and didn’t seem to want to move much. My husband was out of town and it was decently late at night and my kind neighbor made the 45 min drive to take him to the emergency vet. They took him back right away and the moment the ER doctor came to get us in the waiting room I knew in my gut that he was about to give me horrific news. He told me his abdomen was full of blood and he appears to have a large mass on his spleen and liver. Knowing that dogs generally tolerate spleenecotmy and chemo well my husband and I decided to give him the best shot at more time together and opted to do the surgery the next day. They supported him overnight with a blood transfusion and when I got there to see him before surgery he seemed a bit more tired than usual but for the most part acted like his normal loving self. We got to spend a lot of time together and the last thing he did before he went back to surgery was give me a big kiss and I hugged him and told him how much I love him and how he needed to be strong.
They came and got us not long after his surgery began and that’s when I knew I was probably never going to get another smooch from my precious soulmate ever again. They told me that they were able to remove the spleen which stopped the bleeding but they were unable to remove the liver mass because it was too close to the hilum. They also informed me that he had mets all through his omentum and along his diaphragm. They said they could close him up and see how he recovers knowing he would very likely bleed again very very soon due to the extensive mets or we could euthanize him while he’s still under anesthesia.
In that moment my entire world came crashing down around me. Both of those options lead to utter devastation- how can I chose between those two horrible options? Again my neighbor was with me and my husband was on FaceTime and I immediately text my friend that is an internal med vet and she told me that diaphragm mets rarely recover well and don’t often make it out of the hospital. I desperately wanted a little more time with him. I was bartering with God- please let him be okay and just come home for one more snuggle in bed and one more night staying up late reading together and one more morning coffee on the porch together. I knew the decision wasn’t about me though and that if there was even a chance that he could suffer or be in pain or afraid I could not allow him to experience that. We made the earth shattering decision to let him go while he was still under anesthesia. Thankfully I was able to spend as much time as I wanted with him while he was still sleeping under anesthesia and my husband was able to be there during FaceTime for all of it. I’m so grateful that our emergency vet has a social worker who put her arm around me and cried along with me when the time came to give him the injection. No amount of time with him would have ever been enough but I feel so shattered and robbed of time we should have had together. He was perfectly healthy and every vet who ever saw him would comment that they couldn’t believe he was 11.5 because he still looked so good! I don’t think I will ever get over the devastation that this horrible cancer has caused in my life. I feel an emptiness that I have never experienced before. I don’t know how to move forward in my life without my sweet loving Velcro boy by my side to help me get through the really awful things in life. I’m just so lost. The only thing that is helping me to get by is my belief that we will see each other again one day.
Thank you for this article- it has truly helped me to see that so many other people are feeling the exact same way I do. It’s not fair that dogs lives are so short – I pray they find some kind of early detection or vaccination to prevent it all together because no dog or owner should have to suffer through this heartache and pain.
Dear Amber,
My heart aches for you as you grieve the loss of your beloved Winston. I can only imagine how much you miss him but am certain he knew how much he was loved. I too am praying there will be a new breakthrough with this disease and allow for early detection and a more successful treatment. I hope with time your heart can begin to heal and the grief will fade. May Winston’s memory stay with you always. Bless you. ♥
We lost our chocolate lab, Moose last Friday. He was diagnosed on Wednesday with metastatic splenic hemangiosarcoma. I spent all day Thursday and Friday afternoon loving on him. On Friday his breathing was shallow and slow. He just laid in the big dog bed with me. I checked his gums and they were very light and his belly was swollen. I really wanted in home euthanasia but I called 2 places and couldn’t come that day. We opted to take him to our local vet just 2 blocks from our house. Unfortunately, he became very anxious. IM sedation did not help. He became aggressive… growling at the vet. He had never acted like that before. Finally they gave him anesthesia to calm him down before the procedure and even that didn’t keep him from struggling. I believe he was triggered by the iv port being near his toenails, but unfortunately, his passing was very traumatic and not peaceful at all. I am really struggling feeling like I betrayed him at the end. I had to lay on top of him to calm him down while the vet administered the euthanasia. The veterinarian was also pretty upset by the experience saying that this was extremely uncommon and apologized for the traumatic experience we had and and assured us that we were still making a good choice. My daughter in law is also a veterinarian and has assured me that we did the right thing. I m struggling with my journey of mourning Moose but also forgiving myself for traumatizing him at the very end of his life. Have you ever experienced this type of traumatic end of life experience?
Dear Allison,
My heart aches for you as you grieve the loss of Moose. I am so sorry his final moments were not peaceful and left you with traumatizing memories. While these instances are rare, I have definitely experienced something similar. I think every veterinarian has at least one memory of a euthanasia that left them rattled and emotional. Things just don’t always go as planned despite our best efforts. Bodies react differently and you can’t plan for all the possible complications. I do think you made the right choice for Moose and am certain that he knew how much he was loved and that your presence was a source of comfort. I hope with time the guilt and grief will fade and you can begin to allow your heart to heal. May his memory stay with you always and be a blessing in your life. ♥
We lost our beloved Fonzie 6 days ago. He was a cancer survivor and had his spleen removed over two years ago. He was doing great until the day before we were to get his teeth cleaned. I told our vet he hasn’t been eating that much over the last week and he wasn’t walking as usual. He was your typical stubborn beagle so we didn’t think much of it. We received the vets call and she was crying saying we needed to come say good bye. Fonzie had 6 tumors with one bleeding and was diagnosed with hemangiosarcoma. He had an ultrasound done just 7 weeks ago and it was clear. She advised us that he may not make it through the night. We were and still very are heartbroken. We have fights of guilt with the thoughts that we put fonzie down when he still was with us. The vet said that after he passed with us hugging him, that they carried him back and blood poured out of his nostrils showing that he was bleeding into his lungs. We can’t believe 6 tumors would attack his kidneys so quickly and we are still disbelief. Did we do the right thing? Our vet that we trust empirically said it was the right thing to do but our hearts are filled with guilt and pain. .
Dear Brant,
My heart aches for you with your tragic loss of Fonzie. I can only imagine how hard it was to choose to say goodbye, but I am certain it was the most loving choice. You gave your boy the peace he deserved and spared him from unnecessary suffering. I hope with time your heart will begin to heal and your mind will be able to stop pondering all the “what ifs”. May Fonzie’s memory continue to be a blessing in your life. Wishing you comfort and peace.
Like others, I am here after a google search to try and find some peace in this unbearable grief. We had to put our sweet girl to rest on Sunday. She was my soul dog or my heart dog, my first dog as an adult, and I am truly so very lost without her. I woke up Sunday morning and she was laying in a different area than her usual spot (when she wasn’t in our bed). I went to make a coffee and she didn’t move an inch. This is very unlike her, she was always excited to see us in the morning. I called her name and she wouldn’t look at me and I noticed she had odd breathing patterns. It looked labored. I rushed to get the car, she perked up briefly to get in the car, and we went speeding off to the emergency vet. They rushed her to a bed, started an IV, scanned her belly, confirmed most of her vitals were normal but she was showing the beginning signs of shock. Then they found fluid in her belly. She had an X-ray, they confirmed a mass but couldn’t confirm the location. They drew fluid from her belly which was all blood. We were faced with 3 options, surgery with very little odds of full recovery, send her home on pain meds and she would likely pass away within 24 hours, or put her to rest. I shrieked into tears. This is not what we were expecting. I was hoping she had an infection, we’d be given antibiotics and we’d be on our way home to heal. After going back and forth for what feels like an eternity we made the most difficult decision I’ve ever made in my life. I’m in shock, I’m deeply saddened, I’m empty, I’m traumatized from the whole experience. Our Lucy girl was the best, most loving, most loved, sweetest soul. She did not deserve this. She was only 9 years old. We thought we had much more time. We’d do anything to rewind and get her back. We feel extremely guilty for the busy day we had on Saturday and not spending more time with her. If only we had known. I miss you beautiful girl. You’ll always be my sunshine Lucy girl.
Dear Taylor,
My heart aches for you with your recent loss of Lucy. I am so sorry things progressed quickly and left you facing this impossible decision without having time to process the emotions involved. I am certain Lucy knew how much she was loved and that your presence was a comfort in those final hours. May her memory be with you always and continue to be a blessing in your life. Praying for healing for your heart and for peace.
My sweet 10 year old Duke has hemangiosarcoma and it’s on his kidney. Surgery was only an exploratory option and wouldn’t have extended his life. He’s alive today and has been acting his normal self for the past few days after a diagnosis on Friday. This morning, he wouldn’t eat and threw up…I think his time earth side is coming to an end but this blog comforted me so much.
Dear Nancie,
My heart goes out to you as you face these final days with Duke. When the time comes, I pray his passing is peaceful and smooth. Wishing you comfort and strength. Bless you and your sweet boy. ♥
Today I had to put down my 17 year old Australian Shepard mix secondary to a splenic hemangiosarcoma. He was fine two weeks ago and suddenly he had trouble getting up one night and over the next several days his abdomen began to swell. He seemed to bounce back even trying to fetch and eat a little. The vet gave me the news, I was shocked- he wasn’t your average17 year old dog he still played fetch every day – his labs were all normal aside from the nonexistent platelets and . .The Xray showed a large collection of fluid thought to be blood in the abdomen. Isn’t there any tumor marker that could have caught this early enough where treatment maybe beneficial?
Dear Sandy,
I am so sorry for the loss of your senior guy to this tragic disease. Unfortunately, there are no screening tests available at this time to help with early detection. We desperately need something to be developed that can catch this condition in the beginning stages. I can only imagine how much your miss your boy but am glad you were with him until the very end. Praying for comfort and healing for your heart. Bless you. ♥
we had a very similar experience with our 8 year old Aussie 2 days ago. we are in absolute shock. I cannot believe it happened so quick without any warning of something so detrimental to his health. It.does not seem real. I am so sorry for your loss.
Dear Brittany,
My heart goes out to you as you grieve the loss of your Aussie. I am sorry things progressed so suddenly and left you without time to truly process what was happening. Praying for comfort and peace for you and your family. Bless you.
We got Klaus during the pandemic when he was 4 years old. He came to us a little rough, having lived the first 3.5 years of his life in a garage and 6 months at a rescue who saved his life. With training, patience, and time he became the most trusting loving dude. Klaus was a German shepherd/Black Lab mix and roughly weighed 78-80 lbs consistently the almost 4.5 years with us. He came to us with a diagnosis of hip dysplasia and arthritis.
Our journey with Hemangiosarcoma began 11 days ago and ended yesterday with saying goodbye to Klaus. July 26th began as a normal day with a walk and play time at the neighborhood dog park. By that evening Klaus just seemed off. His gait was off as though he had done something to his front paw. 48 hours later we were at the vet and were prescribed a pain medication and told to take it easy. Klaus continued to worsen. The next he lost control of his back legs and back the vet the next day. Klaus was walking 75% ok once we got to the vet and again they told us to get him rest. The day after he had a huge collapse. It was late at night and he put himself against the sofa and went to sleep. The next day he was up and moving. Then Monday this week he was even better, although he was wobbly he did manage to chase birds out of a bush. By yesterday morning he could barely move and was taken to an emergency vet two hours from home. That is when we learned he was anemic from blood loss and he was bleeding internally from the Hemangiosarcoma. The google search brought me here, We had 3 options… 1. Do surgery with little success bc Klaus needed a transfusion 2. Take him home with pain meds 3. Euthanasia. We chose to put him to sleep because Klaus was in so much pain. To say we are devastated is not putting it strong enough. Klaus was so loved and we considered him our child. It’s heartbreaking to lose your baby this way.
Hugs to everyone who commented. It’s comforting to find a forum that has answers as to what happened to our Klaus.
Dear Diane,
My heart aches for you with your recent loss of Klaus. I am glad the comments from other readers have helped to give you some closure as you grieve your beloved boy. What a blessing you were able to offer him a peaceful passing and spare him from unnecessary suffering. Praying for healing for your heart and that you will take comfort in knowing he was well loved. Bless you. ♥
I could have nearly written this word for word myself. I just lost my German shepherd (only 8.5 years old) to hemangiosarcoma. Everything was fine the day before. She was her normal self. At 5:30am, she jumped off our bed and peed on the floor. Then she collapsed and didn’t want to move. She was panting and breathing oddly. Took her to our local vet as soon as they opened that morning. Took them some time to realize she had fluid around her heart, and once they took some off, they could see what they believed were masses. The vet told us heart masses are typically inoperable and even if they are operable, have very poor prognosis. Sent us to a specialty clinic and they confirmed this was hemangiosarcoma and a mass/masses in her heart ruptured. By that time, all we could do was have them pull some fluid off of her and hope it gave us time to spend a few hours with her. She continued to struggle to breathe, and her heart rate continued to be elevated. We spent a very tough night with her, and we had to have her put to sleep the next morning (this morning). We are in shock and also feel guilty; you always think about the “should have, could have, would have’s” in these scenarios. We miss our girl so much. The speed at which this all happened is unfathomable.
Dear Lauren,
My heart goes out to you with the recent loss of your beloved girl. I am sorry you had to make a rushed decision to say goodbye but am grateful she didn’t have to suffer needlessly. Thank you for being willing to share your story with our readers. It is comforting to others to know they are not alone. As time passes, I pray your heart can begin to heal and you are comforted knowing your pup was well loved. Wishing you peace as you continue life’s journey.
on Wednesday of last week we found out my boy has a mass on his bladder wall. scheduled for a biopsy today. Friday I took him for a lovely walk and he had ice cream and was full of life and happiness. that evening I popped out and he was sick and then what looked like he was in shocked. emergency vet trip he was bleeding in his abdomin and he had to be put to sleep. from full of life loving his day to gone from me for ever. he was only 10 and my absolute world. I don’t understand why and how so quickly
Dear Lea,
My heart aches for you with the tragic loss of your boy. I am sorry things progressed so quickly and left you having to make tough decisions without time to really process what was happening. I am certain your pup knew how much he was loved and that your presence was a comfort. May his memory be with you always. Wishing you comfort and peace.
We got Allie from a family looking to rehome her in January 2014 at the age of 9 months. She had a lot of issues and poor training. She was afraid of everyone and absolutely terrible on a leash. Lots of doggie classes and patience and love turned that very difficult girl into the wonderful dog she became. This morning, she was begging my husband for a walk. She got up to nudge him again and fell over. Not too worried at this point, my husband went to get his shoes. When he came back to her, she hadn’t moved. He woke me up and then we woke up the kids. Our emergency vet opens at 8 and we had to use a blanket to carry her to the truck as she wasn’t standing up. When we got there, the adrenaline from the car ride had her sitting up, panting and acting more “Allie-like”. Initial scans looked good and that maybe it was just a reaction to the antibiotic she just started relating to a staph infection on her lip. But, the vet’s diagnoses when we saw her made our hearts sink. Her stomach was distended and she warned us of hemangiosarcoma. We had the U/S done and it showed internal bleeding and several masses on the spleen. When given our options, none of which were good, we called the kids to come in and euthanized her there. The risk of surgery and short lifespan post surgery led us to that decision. I never thought we would come home without her. Even with terrible news, I thought we would bring her home until it was time as she gave us no warning and was acting perfectly fine up to that point. We are all in a bit of shock and are slow to process due to the unfair timing of it all.
Dear Angie,
I am so sorry for your family’s loss of Allie. It is clear she was dearly loved and a vital part of your lives. I can only imagine how difficult it must have been to face that hard decision without time to truly process what was happening. What a blessing the ER vet was able to make the diagnosis and allow you to offer your sweet girl a peaceful passing. May her memory stay with you always and continue to bring you joy. Praying for comfort and peace for everyone affected by her passing. Bless you. ♥
Today was one of the worst days in my wife and I’s lives. Yesterday, our beloved 10-year-old German Sheppard, Titan, started to act outside of his usual self. Around noon, he defecated in the house, which he hadn’t done since he was a puppy. We chalked it up as a one-off and continued with our day. At dinner time, we noticed he was acting very differently. Normally, he is very excited and spins in circles when we are getting his food ready. This time he just stood there with a look of sadness on his face. It took moderate coaxing but he eventually ate his food. He had moderate hip dysplasia and a torn ligament in his knee. We had taken him for a longer-than-usual walk shortly before and just thought that he might be in pain from that. He was very calm the rest of the night as we let him out to go potty and hunkered down for the night. The next morning was when we knew something was seriously wrong. We got up and tried to get him to go outside, but he wouldn’t move at all, not even lift his head from the floor. We hoped and continued to tell ourselves that maybe he was just having severe pain in his hips and knee. We quickly carried him to the car and rushed to the nearest emergency veterinarian. Just like that, our world came crashing down. It was not his hips or knee that was bothering him; rather, he had a Visceral hemangiosarcoma on his spleen, and it had metastasized to his liver. Our poor pup had severe internal bleeding. The vet told us he would likely bleed out internally within the next 48 hours. Due to the severe case, the vet recommended humane euthanizing. Just like that, in less than 24 hours, our pup, whom we had for 10 years, went from his playful, high-energy self to suffering from severe pain. We agreed to euthanize him. Life is unfair, and he was the best dog we could have ever asked for. We are so grateful for the time we had, yet devastated by the thought that we could have done so much better for him. We love you, Titan; you are free from the pain now, my sweet boy.
Dear Mike,
I am so sorry for your tragic loss of Titan. I can only imagine how scared you must have been while waiting for answers at the emergency vet. You didn’t do anything wrong and even if you had rushed him to the vet the day before, the outcome may have been exactly the same. What a blessing you were able to get a diagnosis and offer your beloved pup a peaceful passing and spare him from unnecessary suffering. I am certain Titan knew how much he was loved and that your presence was a comfort. Try not to let the burden of guilt or all the “what ifs” weigh heavily on you. I hope with time your heart will begin to heal and you can find peace. Bless you and your wife. ♥
Thank you for sharing your story. My dog was diagnosed on Friday 8/9/24 and we scheduled an at-home euthanasia. He has cancer attached to his kidneys and there’s nothing we can do other than give him Chinese herbs (Yunna Baiyao) to slow the bleeding and metabolizing down. It’s never a good time to put your dog down but the at-home euthanasia vet was so right when she said it may be better to put him down when he’s happy rather than suffering at an ER.
We lost our beautiful and loyal 10 year old hound mix Willa two days ago. Four out of five of our family members, including me, were out of town on the day she died. She was perfectly fine in the morning and on her midday walk with our dog walker. My husband came home from work around 6:15pm and found her lifeless on our couch. He rushed her to the emergency vet but she was already deceased by the time he got there. She may have already passed when he found her – she was unconscious but still warm and he just acted as quickly as he could. The vet told him it was most likely a ruptured undetected tumor on her spleen.
I would give anything for any of us to have been with her during her final hours, and to have had the option to prevent her suffering through euthanasia. I am haunted by the suffering she went through by herself. Our other dog, who was deeply bonded with Willa, was home and witnessed it. I don’t think I can ever forgive myself for not being with her – I was her person and I was with her for every medical event in her life, including two TPLOs and a broken leg when she was hit by a car as a 6 month old puppy. We all came home from our travels immediately but never had a chance to say goodbye to her. We are devastated beyond words.
I had never heard of hemangiosarcoma before this. It is a brutal condition and I am so sorry for everyone who has had to go through this with their beloved dogs.
Dear Erin,
My heart aches for you with your tragic loss of Willa. I understand how your mind can be overwhelmed with all the “what ifs” but please don’t let the burden of guilt weigh you down. I am certain Willa knew how much you loved her and am sure your husband’s presence in her final moments was a comfort. I hope with time the grief will begin to fade and your heart can start to heal. May her memory stay with you always and continue to be a blessing in your life. ♥
I have recently received the news that my sweet senior pitbull, Dragon has a mass in her spleen, as well as her abdomen. On top of that she was diagnosed with heart disease in December. Unfortunately she’s not a good candidate to remove her spleen because of fluid build up in her heart that won’t go away with medication. I have been thinking about when the rupture happens and how traumatic it could be for her. I’ve been feeling like maybe euthanizing her before she feels pain is the best option. Give her the best few days I can and let her go when she still has her wits about her. This article definitely helped me process a bit more but some more advice is always welcomed. The level of guilt I feel is immense because she’s such a happy lady right now but it can go wrong so quickly. Thank you so much for sharing your experience.
Dear Laney,
My heart goes out to you as you face these last days with your beloved pup. I agree, I would rather let go one day too early than one day too late and allow unnecessary suffering. I know there is no amount of information or advice that will make this decision less difficult or emotional, but here is a link to another article that could be helpful: Preparing for Your Dog’s Euthanasia: 10 Thoughts for Peace
Ultimately, you have to trust your intuition as you know your girl better than anyone. Make the most of the time you are gifted and spoil Dragon rotten. Wishing you strength to face tomorrow and comfort for your heart. Bless you and your sweet girl. ♥
I lay here having a cuddles with Mr.B who collapsed suddenly at home on Thursday 20th June, he was then diagnosed with a bleeding heart (hemangiosarcoma) 21st June after emergency tests. On Saturday 22nd of June we were allowed to take him home to spoil him and keep a close close eye on any signs of deterioration (bleeding begun again) which is when we will off to the vets to well….say goodbye. I am so so sad but so grateful for the somewhat good days we have had over the last couple of days which were not atall promised and being able to prepare (mentally) to say goodnight rather than being faced with sudden death there and then last Friday. spoil your pups and remember them forever 💙
Dear Kelly,
I am sorry Mr.B is facing his last days but what a blessing you were gifted with these extra days to love on him and spend time together. I am praying for your strength and comfort as you prepare for what lies ahead. Wishing you both all the best. Bless you and your sweet boy.
This is the same story for us. The emergency vet saved our girl and we’ve had the weeken with her. What a horrific and cruel shock this cancer is 🙁
I am feeling for you
Dear Whitney,
I am sorry your girl has received this devastating diagnosis. Praying for comfort and peace for everyone involved. Bless you and your sweet girl.
Found out my 9.5 y/o rottie Tasman has a large mass on his spleen 8 weeks ago after he struggled on an uphill walk and I noticed his gums were white, he was breathing heavily and vomited. He did not collapse and seemed to mostly recover. I have opted not to do surgery due to his age and arthritis. This left me with the devastating choice of whether to put him down while he seems happy and healthy or wait till it’s an emergency situation…. or let him pass naturally. After a lot of thinking, and talking with my vet I have chosen to let his body decide when it is time to go, so long as he still has quality of life. He is still very active, though we’ve had to reduce his walk distance and speed as he can get a bit nauseous with too much exercise, and I don’t like to be too far from the car in case he collapses (which so far has never happened). My vet said that it wouldn’t be cruel or painful to let him pass naturally if the mass ruptures.. Not sure how true this is, I’ve seen some conflicting statements.. I couldn’t bring myself to put him down while he’s still enjoying life, and so far I’m very happy with that decision. It is extremely stressful to know he could go at any moment but I’m so blessed that he is still hanging in there and I have this time to cherish him (more than usual lol) and also to process the reality we are facing.
I have to say I’m so glad I didn’t jump the gun on putting him to sleep, I’ve had weeks longer than I was expecting to get with him, after what the vets told me at the initial diagnosis. All I can say is love and appreciate your doggies every day <3
Hi Sophie,
I am sorry your boy is living with this terrible disease. What a blessing you have been gifted with so much extra time together. I understand how hard it can be to make end of life decisions and I am glad you have found peace with your choice to let nature take its course. There is no one specific way to handle this type of situation and what works for one person may not work for another. Of course, Tasman’s well-being is of utmost importance and as long as he is not suffering or in pain, it is ok to give him more time. Praying for strength to face each new day. Bless you and your sweet boy.
Thank you for this article, it gave me so much support. We are currently going through a similar situation with our 10yr pit mix. I’ve had Lucy for 7.5yrs and I adopted her from a local shelter. She got me through my 20s and many life changes.
I noticed her acting a little odd, specifically panting and pale gums and we visited our vet. After blood work, X-ray, and ultrasound, we found a 4cm splenic mass. We did not perform a biopsy but it’s safe to say it’s most likely a hemangiosarcoma, without an active bleed. Lucy had a long history of mast cell tumors and benign mammory tumors, and had a complete bilateral mastectomy one year prior to her diagnosis. She was even featured in a CEU over MCTs by The Ohio State University veterinarian oncology department in 2020.
After the diagnosis, We took her home to spend the rest of her days in peace. She still eats well, gets around okay, and still goes outside to potty. Lately I’ve noticed more pot-bellied appearances and getting worn out easily. I hate to think we are getting closer to having to euthanize, but I know our time is limited. We have a plan in place when we decide it’s time.
Thank you for your encouraging article, it helps so know others have experienced similar situations.
Dear Emily,
My heart goes out to you as you spend these final days with your beloved Lucy. It sounds like she has been through a lot over the past few years but what a blessing she has you to take such good care of her. Make the most of the time you are gifted and try to find joy in each day. Wishing you all comfort and peace. Bless you and your sweet girl. ♥
Thank you! I found this very helpful. I had to euthanize my beautiful sweet Bailey yesterday. She was 9.5 year old and a malamute husky mix. She had been slowing down recently which I attributed to her just getting older but just a few days ago she had trouble walking and collapse but only for a few minutes and then it resolved. Then again yesterday she collapse again and began to pant heavily. I drove her up to the veterinary teaching hospital near us and they rushed her in to the ER. An ultrasound of her heart showed a pericardial effusion. I elected to do the pericardiocentisis to help figure out what was going on. Unfortunately it was blood and the vets suspected a hemangiosarcoma of the heart. I decided to humanly euthanize her so she wouldn’t suffer. Tapping her heart gave me another hour to love on her before we ended her suffering. Talk about a heart break disease. My two and six year old boys are heart broken as am I and my husband.
Dear Kelsey,
I am so sorry for your loss of Bailey. I am glad you were able to get answers quickly and offer your girl a peaceful passing. It is clear she was dearly loved, and I am certain she knew how important she was to your family. Wishing everyone comfort and peace as you grieve her absence. May her memory be a blessing in your lives. ♥
Posting for a reader:
“I am really struggling from recently having to make a rapid euthanasia decision due to this terrible cancer in my absolute best buddy of 10+ years. His name was Gryffindor… we called him Gryffin or Gryff. Like so many stories here, he was the dog who was with me through it all, and my velcro boy… always with me, whenever/wherever he was allowed to be (and sometimes even where not). I was a good mama to him. He had been diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy 14 months prior and had been doing well on Vetmedin and benazepril for that time. He did have increased cough and work of breathing about 6 months ago, but I took him to our normal vet at that time, we did an x-ray, and it looked like pneumonia and not heart failure. We treated him with antibiotics and he responded well, so I didn’t make an expensive appointment with the cardiologist at that time. Fast forward – Three-ish weeks before we ended up saying goodbye, I’d again noticed signs of labored breathing and the “heart failure” cough, so got him an urgent follow up with the cardiologist. She repeated the echo and told me what I suspected – yes, his heart was worse and he was now in heart failure – and also found a new 4+cm mass on his spleen with scant abdominal fluid. Though neither was good news, the hope was that this fluid was backup from his heart failure and would respond to an increase in his medications. We maxed his Vetmedin and added Lasix and spironolactone twice per day. He responded! After 1-2 days, he seemed back to his usual self – happy, loving, quirky, by my side every second, improved breathing. My brain convinced me that, since he responded so well, we didn’t have to worry about the mass – at least for now- and would have more time with him. I did notice that his respiratory rate was still higher some nights in that next week, but always calmed when he was fully asleep (in retrospect, I wonder if he was in pain). Nevertheless, I planned to keep an eye on it over the weekend and touch base with the cardiologist when they opened on Tuesday.
That weekend, he was himself and enjoyed coming along to the park with my toddler, to Lowe’s (his favorite place), and moving around in different sleeping spots near me as I painted our garage. In hindsight, of course, he probably was slower than usual (I hesitate to say “lethargic”) on that Sunday. I don’t remember him being any different on Monday morning when I gave him his meds, his food, and kissed him as my daughter and I left for work. When I got home, however, he didn’t greet me at the door. This had happened zero times in our life together. I went upstairs and my husband (who works from home and is usually on a call at that time), asked where Gryff was, and he told me that he’d mostly been sleeping in his spot next to my side of the bed all day. He’d gone outside at the lunch break, but hadn’t touched much of his food and hadn’t come in to see him like usual. When I saw my boy, he was now actually lethargic, panting heavily, pale gums, and slightly tender/distended belly. I knew what that meant. Given his heart condition, I didn’t feel that it would do any good to rush him to the emergency vet, as he wasn’t a candidate for surgery and I didn’t want to put him through anything stressful if it wasn’t going to change the outcome. I got him to eat a carrot muffin (he gobbled it down) and slept on the floor with him that night, thinking that he likely wouldn’t make it through the night, and just loving on him as much as I could. To my surprise, he seemed slightly better in the morning – gums had regained some color, panting had slightly lessened, but he had the distended belly and a hard time getting down the stairs.
The humans in our family had plans to leave for our 10th anniversary trip the next morning. I wanted to cancel the trip (my husband decidedly did not), but I had to know for sure. I took him in. The emergency vet confirmed that he now had moderate hemoabdomen and a new scant pleural effusion and pericardial effusion. Labs were consistent with blood loss, not hepatic/renovascular congestion. We felt that we had to make a decision and, within 6 hours, Lap of Love was at our house giving him a peaceful passing. I am medical (human), so was able to enter the logical-decision-zone that day, knowing that my main goal for him was to avoid suffering given his multiple diagnoses and inevitable outcome. I didn’t want him to die without me, to die scared or in pain, or to die alone. It still killed me.
It’s now been 3 weeks and – fully recognizing that I’ve entered the guilt phase of grief – I am now questioning every nuance of that decision. Could this have been detected or delayed if I’d brought him to the cardiologist months ago? Or brought him to the ER the night before? Since his symptoms were more stable in the morning, could the bleeding have actually stopped (or perhaps experienced relative tamponade and slowed)? Could we have tried the herb to curb the bleeding and drained some of the blood in his abdomen at that point? (Would that have required sedation/anesthesia, which he wouldnt have been able to do anyway?) Could I have started the herb 10 days before when we saw the cardiologist? Would it have even made a difference at that point, since he’d already started to bleed? Did we make the decision too quickly? Could I have gotten more good days with him if we’d delayed the decision and canceled the trip, or was a more-massive bleed or painful arrhythmia inevitable (as I thought after speaking with the emergency vet and the hospice vet)? I know this is all normal grief, but I could really use a vet’s perspective. I’m not sleeping now with these replays and questions, and am definitely not feeling as certain in the compassion of the decision as I was on that day. I miss my best friend, my heart aches, and my head now screams in quiet moments that I could have done differently or earlier to affect this outcome. I thought we were doing the best and loving thing for him, but it’s only left me with guilt and more grief. The emotional costs of euthanasia are real, even if the motivation is love.
Thank you so much for the support,
Kristen”
Dear Kristen,
I am so sorry for the loss of your beloved Gryffin. I too have experienced the heartache of saying goodbye and I can only imagine how much you miss him. It is normal to ponder all the “what ifs” while grieving, but please don’t let the burden of guilt weigh you down. You did everything right. You made a loving choice to allow your own heart to break so that your boy could find peace and rest. I know you are wondering if you could have given him a few more quality days by intervening in some different way. You may have gained a day (or a few), but you were absolutely headed for a more massive bleed. I would rather let go one day too early than one day too late and allow unnecessary suffering. It is ok to say goodbye before all joy is lost and the only thing that remains is pain. We tend to focus on giving our pets a good quality of life, but a peaceful passing is just as important. If you had waited any longer, it is possible that choice could have been taken from you and Gryffin could have met with a very tragic ending. I hope with time your heart will begin to heal and you can take comfort knowing you gave him a wonderful life. May his memory stay with you always and continue to be a blessing to you and your family. ♥
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I had to put my 11+ year old Bandit, lab/retriever to sleep this past week, all in 24 hours. I am so devastated and heartbroken beyond words. He was acting pretty normal, little more tired, not eating as usual. He had lost weight, which he needed but continued to lose weight. I took him to the vet on Tuesday afternoon and he had a large mass/tumor, bleeding internally with possibility of ” bleeding out’ which was told its a horrible, painful way to die. I asked if we could have just one more day and they said no, it was dire. I took him to see all his friends on Wednesday to say goodbyes. We went to the bank where they always gave him treats, Dunkin Donuts for his pup cups, our local little market where everyone knew him, came out to tell him goodbye and then to McDonald’s for chicken nuggets, plain hamburgers and French fries. He loved riding with me. The same afternoon we took him on his last ride to the vet to be put asleep. my biggest regret was not having someone come to our house. So much in 24 hours and he was gone. After reading the comments I realized how bad shape he was in but still was the same Bandit to us…so hard to get past that. We definitely didn’t want him to die a horrific. painful death at his home. We got him when he was 5 months old, a stray at the animal shelter. Absolutely beautiful solid white, best dog I’ve ever had and I’ve had great ones. When we took him to the vet after adopting him, he said “you’ve got one in a million dog’ and that was so true. He had a wonderful life, he gave us so much love and we did him. My best friend, riding buddy, porch buddy, deck buddy and yard buddy. My son trained him to stay in the yard and he always did. My son’s best friend and walking buddy, never ever needed a leash. As hard as it was to let him go, it was the right decision. I felt that after reading other people’s stories. There will never be another Bandit. We are going to bury him in the front yard in his favorite place, so he will always be home ❤️
Dear Becky,
My heart aches for you with your recent loss of Bandit. He sounds like a once in a lifetime kind of pup and I am sure he knew how much he was loved. Thank you for sharing his story with us. As you know, it offers comfort to others to know they are not alone when facing a similar situation. I think your plan to bury him at home in his favorite place sounds beautiful and brings tears to my eyes. Wishing you and your family peace and healing for your broken hearts. May Bandit’s memory stay with you always and continue to be a blessing in your lives. ♥
I can’t believe I found this article and the thread of comments just hits so hard. Knowing I’m not alone in this is tragedy makes it a little more bearable.
It’s been 9 days since we had to put my yellow lab Arnold down who was just about to turn 7 on June 11th. He just had his routine vet visit and received his updated vaccines. He got a clean bill of health and we were on our way. Arnold even lost a few pounds like the vet wanted. Later that evening it was storming so I thought that was contributing to the panting but there was just more to it. He was lethargic, walking really slow, no excitement, and continued panting. I did call the emergency vet to see if I was over reacting or if I should bring him in. They told me to bring him in right away so we packed up and went. Within 10 minutes I was given the worst news I could have ever imagined and faced with what felt like an impossible decision. I had to call his grandma and grandpa at 11:30PM, tel them the news, and told them they needed to get here to say goodbye. I could not put Arnold through a surgery and knowing his quality of life would not be the same. Arnold was officially sent off to the rainbow bridge by 1:30AM and my heart still hurts. The waves of sadness are so overwhelming.
Arnold was my “soul dog”. My first dog in my 20’s that went through all of these big changes. He was my best friend. He loved balls, pillows, and Kwik Trip chicken. I feel satisfied that I know he had the best life, but I’m still heartbroken. I find myself just randomly tearing up. I’m bored without him. He was the best part of my life and now I feel lost like what am I supposed to talk about now?! We centered our entire life around him. I miss him so much and I just don’t know how to move forward without my pal. The hardest part was that I wasn’t prepared. He was too young and I wasn’t ready to say goodbye. I wish I had more time and that’s what makes me so angry. But I know I could not put him through surgery and have his quality of life diminish. He was the best boy and he deserved to go in peace with no pain. All 98.9 pounds laid in my lap and I held him as he took his last breath. Truly a horrific thing to go through and I do not wish this upon anyone.
Dear Sam,
My heart aches for you as you grieve the loss of your beloved pup. I know you would have done anything to give him more time, but what a blessing you were able to spare him from needless suffering and offer him a peaceful passing. I am certain Arnold knew how much you loved him and that your presence in his final moments was a source of comfort. Praying with time your heart can begin to heal. May Arnold’s memory stay with you always and continue to be a blessing in your life. ♥
I hear you man, I felt like you wrote my story. I just went through this two days ago Tuesday with our beloved golden boy 10 yr. All out of nowhere after being his normal self, seems like I blinked and within 24hrs I was having to put him down. Life isn’t fair and he didn’t deserve this. I’m sorry for your loss my friend, just know that we provided them with the best lives and they knew that. 🐾
Dear Joseph,
I am so sorry you had to say goodbye to your senior guy. Thank you for offering sympathy and support to others even as you grieve his loss. Praying for healing and comfort for your heart. Bless you. ♥
In trying to find some peace with our decision, I came across your page and can’t begin to thank all of you enough for sharing your experiences. We just had to say goodbye to our beautiful, Brody, on Tuesday night soooo unexpectedly. He was only 7 and a half. We rescued him when he was around 6 months old. We believed him to be a Rhodesian Ridgeback/Black Mouth Cur mix. He was fine. Everything seemed fine. We had a wonderful weekend and he seemed normal on Monday. Tuesday morning when he woke up, I just knew something was off. He was laying in our son’s room on the rug, which he never does. He just wasn’t being his normal, silly self. As the day progressed, he became more and more lethargic. His head felt heavy in my hands, he was only laying flat on the tile floor and felt noticeably cold to the touch. He wouldn’t go outside and go to the bathroom and didn’t appear to have eaten much, if at all, that day. I called the vet and they agreed he should be seen. I brought him in and he didn’t have a fever and his physical exam seemed okay. The vet then discovered his gums were pale and she had immediate concerns about his spleen. She decided to do bloodwork, that we would receive back the next morning. She then asked if I thought his belly looked distended. I told her possibly? He was laying flat, whereas he normally lays on his side, and it was hard to tell. She took him back for bloodwork calmly and came back in the room quite frantically. She told me that after she did the bloodwork she felt fluid in his abdomen and decided to do an abdominal ultrasound. The ultrasound showed a splenic tumor that had ruptured, causing his spleen to rupture and he was actively bleeding into his abdomen. What I thought would be a routine visit with maybe leaving with some medication and heading home, became emergent. She advised he would need emergency surgery that they wouldn’t be able do until the next morning. The time was currently 6:30pm. She called some emergency vets for us and only one could do it and the surgery would be between 8-10k. I didn’t focus on the money issue at the time because I needed more answers on what this would mean. She then said they would have to remove his spleen and stop the bleeding. They would send the spleen off for testing and we would find out a week or so later if it was metastatic and malignant. Throughout all of the questions my husband and I asked her, although there was a small chance it could be benign, she felt it was more than likely malignant. I tried to do as much research as I could in that short amount of time and everything I came across led me to believe that even with the surgery, he would only have a possible few months to live. She also mentioned how critical he was and did not appear he would make it through the night, or possibly through surgery. My beautiful boy that was happy and playing the day before was just laying on the floor barely moving and could hardly stay awake. My husband and I made the hardest decision of our lives, while feeling absolutely blindsided by this horrible diagnosis. We had to say goodbye to our boy. I arrived at the vet at 5:15pm and left at 9:15pm with a collar and a leash, but most importantly a broken heart and my best friend missing. Reading all of these stories are making me feel like we made the right decision for him and didn’t want him to suffer, but the awful reality of having no time to prepare and never in a million years thinking it was something as dire as it was is what we can’t seem to come to terms with. He was always so full of energy and we had no idea that anything was wrong with him before that day. Trying to find peace with our new reality is so very hard. Thank you all again for sharing your stories. It is comforting to know that other families have walked in our same shoes. although I wish this pain on no one.
Dear Brody’s Mom,
My heart aches for you as you grieve the loss of your beloved boy. I can only imagine how much you miss him but am certain he lived a wonderful life by your side. You absolutely made the most loving choice to offer him peace and freedom from suffering. Thank you for being willing to share your story with us as it will comfort others when facing a similar situation. As time passes, I hope your heart can begin to heal and the pain will fade. May his memory live on and always be a blessing in your life. ♥
Hi Julie, i just lost my golden retriever just yesterday to hemangiosarcoma. she was fine in the morning, being her usual self. Suddenly during the evening, she didnt eat her dinner which was very unlikely of her. My parents decided to bring her to the emergency vet to see what’s going on. Turned out, there was fluids in her body and doctors said that she had an enlarged spleen and it was a high possibility that her spleen had ruptured. We had to make the hard deicision of going through with surgery or euthanising her. If we did surgery, we would need extra blood for backup incase she lost some and the surgery was quite costly too. We eventually decide that it would be better if she was put to sleep since she was going through so much pain and we didnt want her to suffer the surgery process. Ive been non stop thinking wether or not ive made the right decision. Telling your experience has definitely made me understand the sickness so much more and reassure me that my dog is doing better now. It has only been a day since ive lost her but.i keep thinking that ill never recover from this experience. Her name was luna and we had adopted her from a breeding farm that used her to breed dogs. We took her in when she was 5 years old. She passed away on 14/5/24 at 7 years old. She wasnt considered very old and i thought she would have lived for few more years. I hope that ive made the right decision. I was by her side when she got euthanised and gave her endless amount of kisses and hugs. Im still quite shocked with how random and fast it happened, luna was a friendly and kind dog that loved everyone she came across. Rest in peace luna.
Dear Stella,
My heart aches for you with your recent loss of Luna. I know you would have done anything to give her more time, but I am certain your choice to let go was the most loving option. It is clear your girl was dearly loved, and I am sure your presence was a comfort in her final moments. Thank you for sharing her story with us. May her memory be a blessing in your life, and I wish you all the best as you continue life’s journey.
We just put down our 10 year old Bernese Thor two days ago because of a diagnosis of hemangiosarcoma of the spleen. He had been experiencing some mobility issues due to arthritis which was normal given his age, and had had a few episodes where he would freeze up and not want to move, usually when trying to get up. He’d always recover within 5 minutes or so and return to normal. But two days ago he went to get groomed and when my husband picked him up they told him Thor was laying down and didn’t want to get up. My husband had to carry him out to his truck, and into the house when they got home. He made sure he went outside to do his business but then Thor just laid on the ground and wouldn’t get up. We carried him back in the house and he essentially didn’t move for several hours, whining intermittently. When he wouldn’t eat dinner, we knew it was serious, he had never refused food before. We called the emergency vet and they said to bring him in. We knew this wasn’t looking good so we told our four year old daughter to say goodbye/good night to Thor, and that it might be a forever goodbye. That conversation broke my heart. When we arrived at the vet they took vitals and did an EKG because they heard some abnormal beats in his heart. The vet met with us and said he was worried about an enlarged heart, or hemangiosarcoma. We proceeded with an ultrasound and chest xray and the ultrasound told us what the vet had feared. Thor had a huge mass on his spleen. The vet said we could do surgery but that was risky and would only give us another month or two at best. We knew given Thor’s age that wasn’t right for him. The other option was to euthanize, and their recommendation was to do it immediately. The tumour hadn’t ruptured yet but that was a big risk, and he also still wasn’t mobile so taking him home wasn’t really an option (he weighed 100 pounds). We made the difficult decision to say goodbye in the most humane way possible, without any further suffering for him, and with us both by his side. We were so fortunate to have him as long as we did (a double digit age for a Berner is amazing), but it would never be long enough. He was our first “child” and was the bestest dog, to say we’re devastated is an understatement. His fur brother Loki (another Bernese who is 8) is also missing him terribly. I don’t regret our decision, I’m so thankful we got to say goodbye and be with him when he passed. This is just a heartbreaking disease that comes on so suddenly, I feel for anyone who has to deal with this situation.
Dear Heather,
I am so sorry for your recent loss of Thor. I know you would have given anything to have more time with him, but I agree you made the most loving choice in setting him free from his suffering. Thank you for being willing to share your experience with us. It offers comfort to others to know they are not alone when facing a similar situation. I hope as time passes your heart will begin to heal and the grief will fade. Wishing you all peace and brighter days ahead. Bless you and your family. ♥
My black lab Lilly (12) was diagnosed with hemangiosarcoma at the end of October 2023 and had her spleen and part of her liver removed in early November 2023. We were told to expect a remaining lifespan of 1-3 months since we didn’t feel it would be right to put her through chemotherapy at her age. She’s returned to relatively normal behavior (for a senior girl) and is still thrilled and jumping up and down at dinner, scarfing down treats and generally acting like a goober.
It’s now been nearly six months since her surgery, and I try to take the advice of our vet and “not count the days” but everything I’ve been reading has indicated that she’s a bit of an outlier in terms of her lifespan post-surgery. We’re monitoring her closely and other than panting more than usual (but not constant) she’s been acting pretty okay, though I know dogs hide their pain well. Reading the stories above really help. It’s hard to know when to say goodbye, but right now we’re viewing every day with her as a gift.
Dear Amanda,
I am sorry Lilly has received this tragic diagnosis, but what a blessing she is still by your side and living a good life. Make the most of each day you are gifted and spoil her rotten. Thank you for sharing her story with us as it offers other readers hope and comfort. Praying for your strength as you navigate the difficult path ahead. Bless you and your sweet girl.
A few days ago my 8 year old shepherd named Loki passed away from humane euthiasia due to Hemangiosarcoma of the heart. On Wednesday of last week he was acting strange and just didn’t seem right in the eyes, having a hard time walking, and didn’t want to eat. Eventually he did eat and the next day he seemed perfectly normal so I figured it had just been something he ate (since he loved cleaning up after our 15 month old baby and also enjoyed eating things like chocolate cake and bananas peals lol) and then in the afternoon on Friday he began having multiple collapsed episodes 10 min apart. Panting very heavy, big eyed, and just unwell. Luckily my husband was on his way home from work and once he arrived we carried Loki to my car and i drove strait to the hospital by myself because I didn’t want my 15 month old with me because I knew bad news was possible. Since I had called prior to get him on the ER list they were ready to receive him the moment we arrived, and eventually the doctor took me back to discuss what she had discovered. Through an ultrasound she found a tumor around his heart as well as blood pooling around his heart. She informed me my options of either taking a needle to draw out the blood but since it was cancer it would only fill up again so chemo or radiation would be needed, but that would only extend his life shortly and the probability of pain free would be hard to know for sure. At this point he was in pain and seeing what she saw she stated that he more than likely only had a few hours left. We dont have the money for treatment, and at the same time I just didn’t want to put him through treatment and the possibility of pain and discomfort. So I decided within 15 min of being told the news to making the choice to put him to sleep. We were only there for maybe an hour until he passed, and just as soon as I walked in with my dog, I walked out with nothing but memories. The vet team and doctors were incredible, gentle and so loving. And I’m so thankful I had brought him their in a split decision even though I had never been there before.
Loki was with me through an abusive marriage and infidelity. He was my guardian Angel through some very dark times as a young adult. And then he got to see me get married again and have a baby a few years later. He is more than a dog, but a good friend. 8 years of walks and now nothing. It was just so sudden and so fast, I couldn’t even wrap my head around it and I’m still trying to. I just stare at his bed and can’t believe he’s just not here anymore. I keep thinking maybe there was more I could do, maybe the vets were wrong, maybe I should have noticed something before. But it’s all a part of the grief. In truth, as I read more about this disease and remembering how he was acting, I realize it was a miracle that he made it to the vet in time for us to intervene and put him to sleep before the disease could take him. I am thankful I was able to be with him as he passed, just like he was there for me when I was hurting and trying to heal.
Seeing all of your stories reminds me that I’m not alone in this situation, and I’m not alone in my grief. Thank you for this article. Reading about his disease somehow helps me to understand it more and I guess helps me heal and have peace in a way.
Dear Brittany,
My heart goes out to you with your recent loss of Loki. He sounds like a once in a lifetime kind of pup. I am so sorry he endured this tragic disease, and it forced you to make the emotional choice to say goodbye without time to really process things. What a blessing you were able to be with him in those final moments and that the veterinary staff was there for you in every way. Thank you for sharing your story with us. I hope as time passes your heart can begin to heal. May Loki’s memory stay with you always and continue to bring you joy.
Hi
Reading the blog and all your stories are very helpful.
My beautiful golden retriever “Polo”has developed a splenic tumour which is most likely Hemangiosarcoma.. Polo is 7 yrs and 3 months old. He presented with lethargy, loss of appetite and bulging tummy. He had blood test, tests on fluid from the abdomen and a CT scan. The scan has shown a tumour in the spleen and some enlarged lymph nodes near liver and some fluid in the abdomen. There is no bleeding anywhere.
He is rapidly becoming more weak and eating very little. His behaviour feels slightly dissociated with us. He is still going on walks and can climb the steps.
We are in this dilemma to weather opt for surgery of removing spleen and lymph nodes to buy few more weeks or may be months or say good bye. Also although there is no bleeding yet , it sound a like it will happen eventually. It’s very difficult to know what to do. I will appreciate any advice or suggestion. Thank you.
Hi Preeti,
I am sorry Polo is facing this possible diagnosis and I understand why you are conflicted about how to proceed. I am a bit surprised that the fluid in the abdomen was not blood as this is usually the case. With hemangiosarcoma, internal bleeding is what causes the lethargy and weakness. It makes me wonder if there is something else going on and the splenic tumor is just a coincidence. I would ask your vet for clarification about the fluid that was seen in the abdomen. I am not sure there is wrong choice when it comes to treatment. It is ok to pursue surgery and would also be acceptable to choose hospice care. Trust your intuition as you know your boy better than anyone. Wishing you all the best and praying for comfort for your sweet boy.
I want to say that, while I’m incredibly sad for you all who have lost your dear pets to this horrible and sudden loss, I am extremely grateful to have found this thread. Last week, my 11 year old golden retriever/lab mix, Joe, seemed “off.” On Saturday, he perked up and went on a couple of walks and seemed on the mend from whatever had been ailing. Yesterday, he took quite a turn. He was very lethargic, head hung low, and wouldn’t stand long without laying down. Around 2:30 yesterday afternoon, we decided to take him on our back deck for some fresh air and he collapsed into a seizure. We rushed him to an emergency vet where they found abdominal bleeding, a mass on his spleen, and a spot on his liver. They gave him fluids and got his blood pressure up. We were given two options: surgery to remove the spleen and accompanying mass, as well as look at the spot on the liver, or send him home on “hospice” care with gabapentin and yunnan bayiao. After a lot of tears, we decided to proceed with the second option. We were worried that the surgery would ultimately only provide temporary relief, just prolonging the inevitable by a couple of months. Today, he’s alert, eating a lot, and has been on a couple of walks. We are trying to keep him happy and comfortable, hoping he may pass on his own, but will take him in to be put to sleep if discomfort begins to outweigh comfort. I barely slept last night trying to swallow the fact that my sweet boy is dying, who I’ve had since he was 6 weeks old, and whether or not we made the right call. Reading this blog and your all comments has given me peace in our decision, no matter how painful the pending loss is. These sweet pups are never with us long enough.
Dear Emily,
My heart goes out to you as you spend these final days with your beloved boy. What a blessing Joe is feeling better since receiving treatment and starting his medications. Make the most of the time you are gifted. Spoil him rotten and fill each day with joy and happiness. Praying for your strength and comfort when tough decisions have to be made. Bless you and your sweet boy.
Thank you so much for this post.
We lost our boy, Hugo on Friday.
At the beginning of march he was severely constipated and struggling to go to the toilet, so we took him to the vets and they kept him in, did an x ray and saw he was very constipated and needed an enema. He had that and was given meds and seemed to not be fully better, but was at least eating and toileting a little better afterwards. However, things started going down hill again the following weekend so he went back to the vets and they said he had colitis. We got new medication for this. He was still unsettled at night and a few days later we noticed he needed his anal gland expressing. Then again the same the next week. He was still unsettled in the night but seemed much more comfortable going to the toilet so we thought he was still recovering from his colitis.
On the following Saturday I checked his gums and they seemed slightly paler, but he did seem a little dehydrated so we kept giving him water and monitoring him. He still wanted to go for a walk that afternoon and seemed ok in himself
on the Monday and Tuesday he wasn’t bothered about walking a great deal, although did go out with us once or twice. this wasn’t unusual for him really, he was a homebody and loved to sleep. on wednesday i tried to take him on his favourite walk but he seemed tired so i just took him home. i spent all day frantically cleaning as no-one was home and hugo had had lots of little accidents when he had his enema so i wanted to try and get the carpets cleaned.
the next day my partner took him out and he saw everyone of his whippet friends. he was apparently so happy. we then left him with a treat to go for breakfast, we saw on the camera he disappeared for a while then appeared on his chair and just slept. i’m so worried now that he raced upstairs to look out the window and was scared he was alone. i then went to town as soon as we got home and my partner stayed with him. i wish id stayed at home.
the next day we were taking our toddler to a wildlife park and id arranged for my mum to stay with hugo. i checked his gums and they were so pale.we again thought it was dehydration and constipation, although i had my doubts, so against my better judgement i decided to go to the park. i cried when my mum got to my house and told her i was worried. we set off and my mum called within ten minutes and said hugo couldn’t bear his weight. he’d tried to get up off his chair and fell back down. we turned straight round to go home and i called the vet hospital for an urgent appointment.
i took hugo to the hospital and they kept him for what I think was an iltrasound. The vet called about three hours later to say his abdomen was full of blood and whilst they couldn’t see the source, it was likely to be tumour that had metastized to his heart as that was also surrounded by blood. our options were to do surgery to find the source, which wasnt recommended as he’d bleed out, to give him steroids which wasnt recommended, to take him to another hospital for a CT to find the source with the warning that he was gravely ill and again if they found the source of the source of the bleed hed be unlikely to survive surgery anyway, but that it was likely to be cancer and if they managed to stop the bleed, with chemo, he’d have about three months to live, or the last option was to put him to sleep. i initially said CT but my partner and i went to speak about it after seeing Hugo again and he looked so ill. we just didnt want to put him through any more operations and pain, so we opted to put him to sleep. i held him in my arms when they did it, and told him he was so so loved.
I take comfort from your post, as I know now that I made the right decision. My only concern is that for the past couple of years he would get these little blood blisters on his trunk that would eventually dry up and fall off, leaving nothing but a tiny mark. We spoke to a vet about this once last year (it was his orthopaedic vet, so perhaps they weren’t the best to ask) but they weren’t concerned. I also checked online and saw people saying it was a concern if they bled and grew large. Hugo’s never did, he didn’t actually have any for the past six months or so. I’m worried though that I should have done more about this. Could this have led to the sarcoma? Thank you
Dear Alison,
I am so sorry for your tragic loss of Hugo. I agree that saying goodbye was the most loving option and only way to give your sweet boy freedom from his suffering. What a blessing you were able to be with him in those last moments. I am certain your presence was a comfort and that he knew how much he was loved. I have never seen cutaneous hemangiosarcoma lesions that would dry up and fall off. I truly do not think these were related to the cancer. You did not miss anything and there was nothing you could have done differently to change the outcome. I hope with time your heart will begin to heal and you can let go of the guilt as the grief fades. May Hugo’s memory stay with you always and be a source of joy in your life. Bless you. ♥
It’s been about 4 months since I lost my best friend. It all happened so fast and I can’t understand how. I felt like I made it through all the stages of grief, but things have been coming back up and I feel like I am going back through them all. Reading this (I read every single story/comment) has helped but also makes me wonder why I had never heard of it until it was too late. Maeby was 11, regular check ups, no arthritis yet, the vet said she would guess she was closer to 7. She walked twice a day, went with me wherever she was allowed, and never showed any signs anything could be wrong. We were on a road trip and she was running and playing in the creek and as normal as ever. Then that fateful next morning, she wouldn’t eat (even turned down her favorite, chicken), wouldn’t stand, and her gums were pale. We rushed to an er vet in an unfamiliar state. After tests, we were told the devastating news of a splenectic mass and had minutes to make the decision. The vet said it looked like it spread to her liver and surgery was possible but risky as she had lost a lot of blood. I am 90% sure we made the right decision to not put her through the surgery and let her go, but then I wonder if she would still be here (possibly healthy if it was benign since the vet couldn’t say it was for sure a hemangiosarcoma). I’m back at the anger stage: angry at myself for not trying more and angry at the vet because I didn’t know her and she didn’t know Maeby and she gave me the worst choice. It’s so baffling to me that she was fine the day before and literally gone 12 hours later after only knowing something was wrong for maybe 2 hours. Hugs to all you and thanks for sharing your stories.
Dear Jess,
My heart aches for you with your tragic loss of Maeby. The anger you feel is normal and unfortunately the grief process can ebb and flow and doesn’t always completely fade. What a blessing the ER vet was willing to offer you the hard truth and allow you to give your sweet girl a peaceful passing instead of something catastrophic happening while on the road. I am certain Maeby knew how much you loved her and that your presence was a comfort. I hope with time your heart will begin to heal and the memories of all the good times you shared will bring you peace. Bless you. ♥
Reading these stories helped me feel less alone after losing a dog so suddenly to hemangiosarcoma. On february 6th my pup started having small nose bleeds and only when he ate. We went to the vet and a small nasal tumor was found the tip of his nose, which I knew would eventually progress and be terminal, but didn’t at all suspect how little time i had left with him. I ordered a 6-week subscription of yunnan baiyoa and had hopes for more months with my boy. (13 1/2 old lab mix). On march 8th he collapsed and vet saw the splenic tumor via xray and ultrasound and explained the likelihood of it being hemangiosarcoma which may have been the cause of the nosebleeds. The tumor seemed to reabsorb the lost blood and within hours he was pretty much back to himself, though I knew my time with him was days to weeks at that point. However, sadly on march 9th he had another episode and i took him to emergency vet to say goodbye. it was heart wrenching to go from one normal day of him rolling in the grass in the sun, enjoying meals and belly rubs and slow walks, to being gone. It was the first time in my adulthood to say goodbye to a dog; i am sure it’s hard any which way you have to say goodbye, but the quickness of it all was quite traumatic. We’re a week out now and my appetite and energy levels are slowly coming back. Me and his sister have been coping as best we can. My heart goes out to all who have lost their beloved companion so tragically and suddenly. The agony of not knowing what to do after the diagnosis is horrible; thanks to the author for creating this space to share.
Dear Ellen,
I am so sorry for the tragic loss of your beloved pup. What a blessing you shared over 13 years together. I can only imagine what wonderful memories you must have. Thank you for being willing to share your story with our readers. I pray as time passes your heart will begin to heal and wishing you comfort and peace.
Thank you so much for this article! On Feb. 19, 2024, my 14 year old Welsh Terrier, crazy Guinness, suddenly collapsed without warning. He was moaning, had vomited and his gums were white. I have a vet clinic at the end of my street who is always helping with last minute needs and they saw him immediately. An ex-ray revealed a mass near the spleen. I was shaken and alone when I was faced with the unexpected decision to either do the exploratory surgery immediately, or let him go. I appreciated the vet told me if it were her dog, at this age, she would not put him through the surgery with prognosis more than likely HMS. I knew nothing about this, and had no time to think. I’m reading so many conflicting things and feeling so guilty I didn’t try. I opted to euthanize and returned home without him in shock. All that to say my regular vet now sees white spots on my 13 yo female’s spleen, and we are going to re-ultrasound in a couple weeks. I’ve opted to start her on homeopathic remedies per a DVM I used years ago and who kept my one girl alive a year instead of the diagnosed 2-3 months. My regular vet has suggested a splenectomy if the white spots increase. Your article has really helped me plan Dr. Buzby!!! You are so kind and supportive for whatever option a person chooses. I just wanted to thank you from the bottom of my anxious heart…you really helped me moving forward! God Bless you!
Dear Kathi,
Thank you for the kind words. You are so gracious! I am sorry you are facing this worrisome situation with your senior girl just a month after saying goodbye to your beloved Guinness. How are things today? Have the spots increased? Praying all is well and hoping your sweet girl is happy and healthy. Feel free to leave an update if you have a chance. ♥
In October of 2023, I lost my wonderful Catahoula mix Rufio to the cruel disease. He had just turned 9 the weekend before and I was too busy to celebrate, so i promised him we would go all out the upcoming weekend. He died Friday. He was perfectly fine all day, went to his canine physical therapy with no issues, and then when i got home he wouldn’t get up to greet me, and then wouldn’t take food out of my hand. I immediately rushed to the ER, where he was found to have internal bleeding in his heart, lungs and abdomen. They presumed emergency sarcoma. We biopsied, no confirmation but with the actively bleeding heart tumor, the general consensus seemed to be euthanasia ASAP. I would have done anything, spent anything, to save him and give him more time with me, but once they told me not only would he most likely not survive surgery, but that the heart tumor would kill him at some point and could not be removed like the splenic mass, and possibly cause an extremely painful and lonely death for him, my only choice was euthanasia so I could be with him and he wouldn’t be scarred or in any pain. I miss him every single day and wish I had seen earlier and maybe I could have caught it in time. He had been losing weight, but was on a diet so there was no concern. He was also a bit more relaxed and calmer, but I attributed that to a new routine and him settling in. He went to physical therapy and exercised without issue twice a week, and none of his providers suspected anything wrong. Honestly i felt like no matter what choice i made i would never forgive myself. if i did. the surgery and he died on the table, i would regret not being there in his final moments. When i euthanized him, i kept wondering “what if he would have made it? what if i could have done something to give us more time together?”.
every bet professional involved in his case and my friends in the field all
agreed on the choice i made, and stated they would do the same thing, but i don’t know if i will ever stop wondering what if i would have tried.
Dear Victoria,
My heart aches for you as you mourn the loss of your beloved Rufio. The grief you describe and pondering the “what ifs” are unfortunately a normal part of this emotional journey. I am glad you were with your boy during his final moments and am certain your presence was a comfort. Thank you for sharing his story with us as it helps others to know they are not alone. I wish you brighter days ahead and pray the memories of all the good times you shared will continue to be a blessing in your life.
I am thankful to have found your wonderful website. We lost our 7 year old black lab last Sunday after taking her to our emergency vets as she just wasn’t herself. Still eating, alert but her spark wasn’t there. They diagnosed a ruptured tumour on her spleen and she went in for emergency surgery to remove it. Whilst under, the vet called to say she had legions on her liver and gall bladder also and we decided to let her go as the prognosis was so poor. I didn’t want her to go through such major surgery and have very little time left. It has been devastating as she had never been ill before and we are all heart broken. I didn’t know anything about this disease until after we lost her so it has been a comfort to read other people’s stories and your kind words. Thank you xx
Dear Jane,
I am so sorry for the tragic loss of your beloved pup. I am glad the article offered some insight and you found comfort in the words and experiences of others. I am hopeful that as time passes your grief will fade and your heart will begin to heal. May the memories of all the good times you shared bring you joy and continue to be a blessing in your life. My deepest sympathies. ♥
Hello,
My dog, who’s a 11 year old German Shepherd had surgery back in September and has his spleen removed, one tumor was bleeding and two others were still in tact. We were given 3 months for him to live but he’s still with us today, and it’s March 14, 2024. We did not put him on chemo and decided to move forward with a holistic approach and even contacted a holistic vet. We give him Yunnan Baiyao that we buy at our local Chinese Market to when we has a bleed (bloated belly). We give him morning and night doses on a regular day and if we suspect that he’s bleeding we give him two capsules every 3 to 4 hours for 48 hours. He eats cooked greens and meats, in addition to his supplements like calcium, Milk Thistle, and Turkey Tail, Iron Supplements and other nutritional things. We are not vets but this is a testimony of mine that I feel the need to share because so many people don’t know about it and we’ve done our research. Adding, phosphorus is also a plus when they are experiencing a bleed. I know one day he will cross the rainbow bridge and every day is a blessing for us.
Hi Michelle,
This is such great information! What a blessing your sweet boy is still with you and able to enjoy life. Thank you for sharing your experience with us. Wishing you all the best for many happy days ahead and keep up the good work!
So sorry to hear about everybody’s loss. This is a new kind of brutal pain.
Sunday Feburary 25, 2024 at 3:45 pm was when I lost my beautiful chow chow boy named Sunny. i adopted him when he was 3.5 years old and we had just celebrated his 14th birthday Jan 1. He died in my arms in our apt in NYC. Based on what I’m reading, I think it was gastric cancer. The last six months he seemed to get old. Chows don’t really show age…. but everything about him started to change. His usually contagious energy was draining. He was losing his balance; the graceful gait he possessed wasn’t there anymore. in December he started urinating in the house — something he never had done in the past. He started drinking a LOT of water. He stopped wanting to go out. He slept constantly. When he went to do no 2, he strained. He lost 10 pounds. He didn’t want to eat; if he ate, he would sometimes throw it back up.
Saturday, the 24th, I heard him collapse on the hardwood floor. I went to him and he growled at me when I tried to help him to his feet. So I set up camp right next to him on the floor and got ready for him to leave. When his breathing became very shallow and labored, I thought that was it … I only had minutes left with him. So I just held him and tried as best I could to keep everything calm and peaceful. After about 30 minutes, he started breathing normally again. Then he wanted to get up and he used his pee pad and went to his favorite spot in the living room, by the floor-to-ceiling window. He stayed that way all night — I woke up every hour to check on him and he was staring out the window. He finally got some sleep around 5 am.
Sunday was very painful for both of us — in different ways. I gave him 1 pain med to help him. He started labored breathing again around 3:30 pm. I was on the floor with him, holding him. I heard his stomach growl, pretty loudly, and thought he had to go no 2. Since he couldn’t walk, I put a pad to catch it if he did. Then he seemed to get restless and move around like he wanted to get up. Then he started barking and crying at the same time. Then he put his head on my leg, stared straight into my eyes and died. Just before he died, I saw his eyes darting left to right. Then my little beautiful baby was gone. I saw the life leave him through his eyes.
It’s almost been 2 weeks and I’ve just now been able to bring myself to try and find out what might have been the cause of his death — I’m pretty sure it was gastric cancer; the symptoms are spot on to what Sunny experienced. I’ll never know for sure, and don’t think I need to. He had a good, happy life. I don’t know that I could have done anything to help him — I wouldn’t have permitted surgery on him — thrusting a dog into a surgical environment when they are already traumatized and scared sounds like the worst kind of cruelty possible. It wasn’t easy or in any way romantic, but I think he at least felt safe when he passed.
Dear Daniel,
I am so sorry for the tragic loss of your senior boy. I can only imagine how difficult those last days were and am glad Sunny had you by his side. I am certain he knew how much you loved him and that your presence was a comfort. Thank you for being willing to share his story with us. May the memories of the happy times you shared bring you comfort and peace. Bless you. ♥
We found out our baby boy Diesel had hemangiosarcoma 3 weeks ago. I had rushed him to the emergency vet a week prior because he was not eating and would just stare off and was not interested in giving his 1 million kisses. However by the time we got there he was acting 100% himself and all his vitals were perfect. So we went home, and then when it hit again with him not eating we knew we needed to dig deeper. My husband was out of town for work so a couple friends met me and were there when we got the expectations it could be hemangiosarcoma but that the spleen had ruptured. We elected to do the surgery. Diesel came home and has been back to his lovable lab self. Always ready for a snuggle and feeding time is his favorite time of day. We know we want to do in home euthanasia when the time comes, so he can be comfortable and surrounded by all the people who loved him. Our biggest worry now is it will be like the first time and it will happen without warning and we will have to go to the emergency room to alleviate his pain. I just want to do right by him because he has been there for all of my worst moments over the years with a comforting cuddle and his patented million kisses a day healing treatment. The day I met him in person we both knew we were meant to be in each others life instantly. He ignored everyone else at the adoption event and I felt like he was the only dog there. He was my first dog all my own, and now we have his little sister and two cat brothers and my husband all added to our family. Diesel has been the best boy. We know our time is limited, so for now he is getting spoiled as much as possible..
Dear Cory,
My heart goes out to you as you face these last emotional days with your beloved boy. I can only imagine how hard it must be without knowing how things will progress. What a blessing the surgery was successful, and Diesel is back to living his best life. Make the most of the time you are gifted and lavish your sweet boy with love and affection. I pray there will be clear signs with plenty of time to prepare to ensure his passing is smooth and peaceful. Wishing you all strength and comfort. Bless you. ♥
Hi,
I put my best friend, Carmella to sleep on 2/23/24 after I came home and noticed she couldn’t see. 12 years old. she was fine just a few minutes before. I’m not sure what happened but reading other stories, I see the same thing happening to them. she was sick in October and vet put her on probiotics which seemed to clear up the diarrhea but she wasn’t quite as energetic as before. I just passed it off as old age and getting over her illness( she was never ill before). she still loved to go on walks and a neighbor asked 1 day why are you panting so hard? its not that hot. I just blew that off. thinking back though it was a sign about her heart murmur which she developed because of the anemia she had(not known and never had until now). Vet diagnosed her with a hemoabdomen. Blood was drawn out. diagnosed as cancer and that is probably why she went blind.
I feel guilty for having to put her to sleep even though I knew it was the best for her.
1 last thing, about a week prior to her going blind, I noticed her collar was tight, I had no idea how that happened so I just loosened it up and figured that was why she was panting so heavily and lethargic. she was better later that night and next day was when she went blind.
I didn’t know any of these signs. 😞
I love and miss her so much!
Dear Virginia,
My heart goes out to you with your recent loss of Carmella. I am so sorry her condition declined so rapidly, but grateful you were able to get her to the urgent care and offer her a peaceful goodbye. I am certain your girl knew how much she was loved and that your presence was a comfort. You absolutely made the most loving choice. I know it is easy to be weighed down by guilt when pondering all the “what ifs”. I hope with time you can let the grief fade and be comforted knowing Carmella’s life was full of joy and happiness by your side. May her memory live on and always be a blessing in your life. ♥
We’re putting our boy down tomorrow. He was pretty textbook – one of his legs started giving out when we were out on walks, and he would stop a lot and just stare at me. The vet diagnosed a splenic tumor, confirmed by ultrasound. She said that while there was no easy to know if it was malignant or benign without surgery, the rate of growth (she hadn’t felt it at his last appointment) indicated trouble. He’s 13.5, so we opted for palliative care. It’s now May 2nd. He stopped eating a week ago. I took him back to the vet and she said his lymph nodes were very enlarged and that it felt like the tumor was taking up his whole abdomen. She gave us a steroid to use for a week so that we could do a few last things with him before his euthanasia appointment. He did wonderfully up until today, and got to enjoy short walks, lots of snacks, and cuddles. I’ll miss him terribly, but it’s time to let him go before the cancer takes him.
Dear Megan,
My heart aches for you with the recent loss of your beloved boy. What a blessing you had time to spoil him a bit and then were able to offer him a peaceful passing. Thank you for sharing your experience with our readers. Wishing you brighter days ahead and healing for your heart. Best wishes. ♥
Hello! Our beautiful white English golden doodle Belle will be 13 on March 1st. On January 25, 2024 she was lethargic and did not want to eat in the morning. By afternoon she wouldn’t go outside or lift her head. We took her to our vet for an emergency visit & by the time we got there she couldn’t move to get out of the car. Her gums were white and stomach was hard. They took her into triage & within minutes told us she was bleeding internally. We had to make a decision on the spot whether to do surgery or let her go. Belle had a splenectomy and survived the surgery. She came home & recuperated very well. At the two week visit her stitches were removed & we were told she has hemangiosarcoma. The diagnosis is a little more complicated in that there were two tumors. The one that bled out was not malignant but there was a malignant one on her spleen which was removed with her spleen. We have not started any treatment (yet). We were offered the option of doxorubicin ( a course of five treatments) but they first want to test her heart to see if she would be able to tolerate the treatment. And disclosed that the treatments may make her feel ill with possible nausea and vomiting at home. We are so broken hearted and torn as whether or not to go forward with treatment. They estimated a possible 6-8 additional months if the treatment works otherwise we probably have two -three months with her. Today Belle is happy, walking long walks twice daily and eating her food. It’s hard to imagine that she is that sick inside. We don’t want her to suffer but not sure if we should try to extend her life with the proposed treatment and side effects. Are there any other suggestions to explore? And is the two tumor diagnosis unusual? Thank you for your time for Belle and for your amazingly informative blog and website. It has helped me tremendously during the past three weeks.
Dear Kim,
My heart goes out to you as you face this tragic diagnosis with Belle. I understand how these emotional choices can make you feel very conflicted and confused. In case you haven’t seen our other article about Hemangiosarcoma, I will post the link here: Hemangiosarcoma in Dogs: Symptoms, Treatment, and Life Expectancy
It has more detailed information on treatment options and lots of great comments from other readers about their personal experiences. Many readers mention holistic therapies they have tried, and you may find some ideas to discuss with your vet. I am not sure there is really a wrong answer here and it would be ok whether you decide to pursue chemo or want to just focus on quality of life. You have to do what is best for your family and what you are most comfortable with. Trust your intuition as you know your girl better than anyone. It is fairly common for dogs to have more than one mass when this diagnosis is made, and it is not uncommon for one or more to be benign. I also encourage you to consider scheduling a consultation with an oncology specialist. That way you will be sure to have all the answers and make the best-informed decision that you can. Hoping you can find a clear path forward and praying for peace and comfort for everyone involved. Bless you and Belle. ♥
Our dog Scout was 9 on 20th January 2024.
A labradoodle mum and a working border collie dad – we were lucky to meet both his parents.
Scout was the most beautiful dog, he was 33kg & mostly black with one white paw, he became “Scout White Paw”, he loved everyone he met & would sit on anyone’s foot and lean into them for a cuddle.
Without warning last Saturday he suddenly collapsed and was unable to stand on his back legs, lifting him to the car to take him to the vets we noticed his belly was distended and felt ‘squishy’.
Weighing in at the vets he was 38kg?? After emergency tests / scan we were told there was blood in his abdomen and there was a Splenic mass.
Due to his good health, all was well with him up to Saturday morning, we opted instantly for him to have his spleen removed.
Scout remained overnight at the vet hospital to recover from the op, but he didn’t recover.
They had removed the spleen & 4.5 litres of blood from his abdomen. He just didn’t come round from that.
Scout knew my husband, myself and our daughter were with him, he wagged his tail and ever so slightly raised his head when we spoke – but sadly that was the most response we or the vets had throughout all of Saturday night / Sunday morning.
He passed away at day break on Sunday 17th March 2024 and we are completely heartbroken.
It was all so incredibly fast and I’m switching between utter grief and anger that we’ve been robbed of more time with him – such an incredibly powerful emotions that take my breath away at times.
I know it is early days, scouts toys, water bowl, leads etc are still in situ and will remain so for now. But I’m taking solace in knowing he was loved by many and he didn’t suffer with a prolonged illness, right up to Friday last week he had had lovely walks, playing in streams and through woods with his family and his doggy pals.
He will be forever missed, the best boy there ever was 💔
Dear Jeanette,
I am so sorry for your loss of Scout. He sounds like an incredible boy, and it is easy to see why he has left such a big void in your life. I wish things had turned out differently and he could have made a full recovery. But what a blessing he didn’t have to suffer needlessly, and you were able to visit with him that Saturday. Thank you for sharing his story with us. He will never be forgotten. ♥ May the memories of all the good times you shared stay with you always and be a source of joy in your lives.
Our four and a half year old Aussie was diagnosed not only with a splenic mass, but also growths on her liver. Four years old….how does this happen? We are quickly approaching having to make this heartbreaking decision, maybe even within days. She was eating, peeing and pooping all through this for the last month or so. But now, her gums are even more pale and she pants and just wants water. She’s also very spaced out.
Thanks for listening.
Dear Jamie,
My heart aches for you as you face this devastating situation with your young Aussie. While we may never know the exact cause, I can say that cancer doesn’t follow the rules and can often leave us with more questions than answers. Praying for peace and comfort for everyone involved. Bless you and your sweet girl. ♥
I’m so sorry. We are experiencing this right now with our 6 year old Aussie as well, his name is Chance. He went from a very energetic dog, to very lethargic in what seemed like overnight. In addition to the splenic mass, he was also found to have fluid around his heart and lungs. Did you guys experience that as well? Our vet said it was most likely related but couldn’t be sure. He’s definitely struggling more to breathe and I think we are in our last days with him, it’s so sad and so hard.
Dear Andrea,
I am so sorry Chance has received this devastating diagnosis. This cancer does have a high incidence of metastasizing to or forming on the heart. So, it is common to find fluid in the chest as well. I hope you can find the best way to ensure these final days are full of comfort and happiness for your sweet boy. Praying for your strength as you navigate this emotional path. Bless you all.
Our 3 year old Boxer-Bulldog mix, Bentley, was diagnosed yesterday. We went in to the vet 3 days ago with what we thought was a bad upper respiratory infection, he was coughing, labored breathing and not eating and lethargic. The vet did x-rays and told us poor Bentley had the worst lung infection he had ever seen, bordering on pneumonia. The infection was obscuring everything on the xray and he couldn’t tell if there was any cancer there or not. Bentley spent yesterday at the vet and with antibiotics and a diuretic things cleared up enough that we were able to see spots all over Bentley’s lungs with an xray. He has abdominal swelling and when the vet tapped the fluids it was almost pure blood. We can’t afford surgery or any further treatment, and they wouldn’t do much anyway as it’s metastasized to his lungs. We’re spending the next few days giving him snuggles and snacks (when he’ll eat them), and we’ll say goodbye on Saturday morning. The vet said there was nothing we could have done to prevent this, and that there was no “right” answer for what to do in this situation…. thanks for this post, it’s nice for a 2nd affirmation of that.
Dear Heather,
I am so sorry for your loss of Bentley. I am glad you were able to make his last days full of love and affection. I hope things went smoothly and his passing was peaceful. Praying for healing for your broken heart. May Bentley’s memory stay with you always and continue to be a blessing in your life. ♥
Our darling bulldog Aurla (10 years old) became lethargic and vomited last Friday, 02nd Feb. She had just been for a walk, was her usual self and then decided half way through eating her dinner that she needed to go outside. We rushed her to our local vet and she was seen within 20 minutes. The vet carried out an ultrasound and broke our hearts to tell us that there was a massive tumour on her spleen which had spread to (at least) her liver. The tumour had ruptured and she had ‘hours to live’. We cannot fathom how normal she had been. She had been checked over in October and we were told she had a heart and lungs as healthy as a dog half her age. She was our world, so sassy and showed us no symptoms of being unwelll until it was too late. She had slowed down some more in recent months but she loved to sleep and as she was eating/drinking/engaging normally, we missed that anything was wrong until it was too late. Losing her so suddenly and abruptly has been so painful. The guilt of not knowing she had this awful disease continues to eat us up. I personally feel like I failed her. To lose her within one hour is something I can’t get my head around. If anyone has any advice on coping after losing their loved one in this way then it would be so appreciated. Thank you.
Dear Marge,
My heart aches for you with your tragic loss of Aurla. I know you would have done anything to give her more time, but you made the most loving choice to offer her peace and rest. You absolutely did not fail your sweet girl. As soon as you realized there was a problem, you acted quickly and made sure she received the medical attention she needed. I am certain she knew how much she was loved and that your presence was a comfort during her final hours. I hope with time the grief will begin to fade and your heart will start to heal. May her memory live on and continue to be a blessing in your lives.
Grieving the Loss of a Dog After Euthanasia (& Finding Peace)
We lost our beloved Callie on Nov 4 2023. She was sitting in her chair after being outside; I heard a. “thunk” and looked up from my book snd saw her splayed out on the floor with the most terrible look on her face. I knew we were in a lot of trouble. We went immediately to the emergency vet, but there was nothing they could do, and I wanted her to die with us, her mom and dad, instead of with a bunch of strangers. We took her home; she deteriorated more on the way home, and died shortly thereafter. Within an hour we lost her. I feel the same way. I feel I failed her and it still makes me cry four-and-a-half months later. I don’t know if I’ll ever revover from it.
Dear Bruce,
My heart aches for you with your loss of Callie. I am sorry her passing was so sudden and tragic. I am certain she knew how much she was loved and that your presence was a comfort. May her memory be with you always. Bless you and your family. ♥
Marge,
I hope you see this and that it helps you. I have a dachshund in whom the vet just detected a splenic mass so I was reading up a bit to get an idea of what we could be facing. I read your story and I see myself so much in what you have written. We lost another dachshund to cancer a little over 1.5 years ago. She had previously had a mast cell tumor removed and the prognosis was actually pretty good, relatively speaking. We were at the vet’s constantly between her normal vet and the oncologist just keeping an eye on things. We thought we were being so proactive and that if any cancer did come back, we’d have a chance to fight like the first time. Unfortunately we did not. Lady (only about 9) suddenly stopped eating one day and was a little bloated. Not even a week later we had to have her euthanized because multiple vets assured me there was no long term recovery on the other side of surgery which was already a 50/50 proposition of death if undergone. I was, and sometimes still am, in shock and felt absolutely wracked with guilt. I still do sometimes because it just had to be my fault. I should’ve seen something, anything that could have changed the course of events. Logically I know that’s not the case and I know that Lady felt loved up until the very end. I don’t think she would want me to feel guilty and I don’t believe Aurla would want that for you either. Unfortunately the price we pay for the years of the most special, unique kind of love between dog and human is that we have to say goodbye. I know logically it would hurt just as much if we had warning, the only difference would be the initial shock, which has since subsided mostly. I know from an outsider perspective that you did nothing wrong, and I hope you will know that one day too, just like I now know that about myself. Idk if this helped at all or if you’ll see this. I don’t normally comment on things like this but I had to say something just in case it could help even a little bit. Just like with all loss, it will get easier, but I know that we will miss our beautiful pups until the day we join them beyond this world.
Dear Chad,
My heart goes out to you as you work through your grief over the loss of your beloved pup, Lady. Thank you for being willing to offer comfort and support to others in their time of need. I know you are facing some difficult decisions with your other Dachshund after receiving the news about a splenic mass. You are in my thoughts, and I am praying for strength and a clear path forward. Bless you. ♥
Chad, I have just seen your message and I can assure you that your empathy and kind words have helped very much, – thank you. 7 months since Aurla passed and you’re right, the shock has subsided and my head has processed it all now but my heart with forever hurt. The price we must pay for the love of our amazing dogs. Thank you again.
Dear Marge,
I am so sorry for your loss of Aurla. Praying for healing and comfort for your heart. ♥
A month ago , we were told that our fur baby had a splenic mass and she had to undergo surgery . The first few days after were rough but thereafter things seemed to be looking up as she was healing and playful again. Last Saturday morning things took a turn for the worse and on Tuesday 27/02 we had to make the painful decision of letting her rest . The grief is crippling and the guilt of not having known they were in pain shatters my heart . You are not alone in this . I am trying so hard to cope but no one ever prepared me for how much this would hurt . Sending you lots of love and if you ever need to speak , pet lover to pet lover , please reach out
Dear Chrissy,
I am so sorry for the tragic loss of your beloved girl. Thank you for being willing to reach out to others and offer support even while grieving yourself. May the memories of the good times you shared bring you comfort. Praying for healing for your heart and wishing you peace.
Thank you Chrissy. I’m so sorry for your loss and it’s comforting to know there are people like yourself that are willing to help others while they are also grieving. I’m with you – 4 weeks down the line and there’s not a day I don’t worry about the last few weeks of her life and what I could have done differently had I known she had this tumour, Ultimately I know Aurla knew I would have moved heaven and earth for her and spent our entire time together making sure she had the best life I could have possibly provided. The hardest decision was to say goodbye and yet I didn’t think twice when I knew the rupture was causing her pain. I’m sure your little one knew the same and hopefully you too find peace in the coming weeks and months ❤️
We lost our baby girl, Norah on 26 Feb 2024. She was 12 (would have been 13 in June), and I got her as a 3 month old puppy. I had taken her for a long walk on the riverside because it was a beautiful day, but in the evening she wasn’t feeling good. She didn’t eat dinner which wasn’t an immediate red flag because she could sometimes be picky. Then she got very lethargic, and wouldn’t take treats. We rushed her to the ER, expecting that she had hurt her leg on the walk. They found that her spleen had masses and suspected one had burst. When they aspirated, there was blood and it would not clot. We were told that it was likely cancer, and even when treated, she may only have weeks/months. There was also a possibility of her not making it through surgery. We decided it was time to let her go.
Letting her go was the hardest decision I have ever made in my life. I question if it was the right decision all of the time. The only thing that gives me comfort is that we were able to say goodbye to her and give her all the peanut butter and kisses we could. I think about what would’ve happened if this happens while we were at work and I didn’t get to say goodbye and it makes me feel incredibly lucky.
I miss Norah every single day, and often have the realization that she is no longer here. The sadness is slowly becoming only love, and happy memories.
Thank you for writing this piece. Before the evening of Norah’s passing, I knew nothing of this awful cancer. I felt awful that I didn’t know something was wrong with her, and truly couldn’t believe she was sick because she was acting so normal just hours before. I have now learned that is so common, and have been able to let that guilt go.
Dear Kim,
My heart goes out to you with your recent loss of Norah. I am glad you were able to leave behind the unnecessary burden of guilt and focus on the wonderful memories you shared. Thank you for sharing your experience and I appreciate the kind words. May Norah’s legacy live on and be a blessing in your life. Wishing you brighter days ahead as you continue life’s journey.
I’m in this period between surgery and waiting for the inevitable too. I see so much improvement since that surgery and it’s so difficult to make amends with the fact that this could change so quickly on us. It’s hard to find joy in the time we have left with that looming over everything.
Dear Sean,
I can only imagine the emotional burden you must be under. Wishing you comfort and peace as you navigate this difficult path. Praying your pup experiences nothing but love and happiness during these last days. ♥
We adopted Paddy a choccy lab he was 6yrs old ,his previous owner didnt have time to look after him, we had him 3yrs and loved him to bits , as did our neighbours , I took him out for his usual afternoon walk on the 28th March , he ate all his tea then during the evening he was acting strange and could not settle, i went to bed and he usualy followed me up to sleep on landing , but he stayed downstairs , i thought hes a bit off maybe he will feel better in morning , how wrong i was , he refused his chew and laid on his bed then he got up and walked to his bowl only to collapse , we got him into car and took him to vet who imeadeatly save him scan to reveal he was bleeding internaly froma tumour on his spleen which she was positive it was malignant and had already spread , if he survived surgury the best we could hope for was another 2 months , so we made painful decision to euthanize he was still wagging his tail when the vet prepared him we put our heads on his and held him and he closed his eyes knowing we was there , we cried our hearts out , but he his now back home with us which helps as we have not scattered his ashes as yet he is badly missed😥
Dear David,
I just finished replying to your other comment. I hope you will see it too. Paddy was a lucky boy to have found you when he did, and it sounds like his life with you was full of love and joy. You made a selfless sacrifice to say goodbye to your beloved pup and offer him the peace and rest he deserved. May his memory stay with you always and continue to be a blessing in your life. ♥
It’s been 11 days since I lost my pit mix and I can barely type this. I am not one to post anything but I just had to comment how helpful this blog has been. Nix was my child, 3 weeks from his 11th birthday. He had been slowing down over his last few months due to age and started to develop arthritis so I thought nothing further when he started acting unlike himself. He had been to the vet for bloodwork a month and a week before it happened, some values were a little off but we were told nothing to worry about just keep an eye on him. The entire week before he even started acting like his young self again, eating, playing, and being sassy. Then I woke up for work one day to him gulping water, walking funny when I let him out, his gums were drained of color, and he refused any food. We took him in not knowing what to expect. They found a mass on his spleen, belly full of blood, and a growth started on his liver as well suggesting it already spread. His blood levels were way off. We weighed the options presented but ultimately decided to say our see you laters. The what ifs and why couldn’t we catch this sooner are eating me alive, but I believe we made the right decision in the moment, as painful as it was. Will miss him every day.
Thank you everyone for helping myself and everyone else get through this garbage.
Dear Ryan,
I am sorry for your recent loss of Nix. I know you would have done anything to give him more time but agree that saying goodbye was the most loving option. Thank you for being willing to share your experience with us. Like you mentioned, it helps others to know they are not alone and offers comfort while walking this difficult path. May Nix’s memory stay with you always and be a blessing in your life. Wishing you healing and peace as you continue life’s journey.
Hi Dr. Buzby–i just happened onto this site looking up hemangiosarcoma in dogs. Last friday morning (2/2), our Golden Retriever Chauncey who would have been 14 next June, was acting oddly and had pooped in the house the night before, which had never happened. She appeared exhausted and we tried to feed her–she reluctantly ate some breakfast. It was a mystery because the day before (2/1), I had hiked her through fields and she seemed happy and was accepting treats from her friends at Orvis. THen I noticed by noon, she had trouble standing…her hind legs were unstable and I scopped her up and we went to our Vet. Her heart sounded normal and she had no temp-her gums were not pale…so we were stumped but the Vet noticed her abdomen was distended so she put Chauncey on her back and did an ultrasound. There was fluid in her abdomen and they aspirated some of it. Blood. Her spleen, normally a small smooth organ was mishapen and large. Vet said tumors–likely hemangiosarcoma — had ruptured the spleen. Spleenectomy was out of the question because of her advanced age. We decided right then and there to let her go and she passed very quietly and peacefully. Subsequent discussions with other vet friends told me these tumor and spleen rupture is a medical emergency and it all unfolds really really quickly–sometimes within minutes. But as devistating as it was, I think it unfolded just right-she was walking relatively ok and even wagged her tail at a person in the Vet lobby. Her gums were not pale and so she was not at the point of severe anemia but very close to it. THe euthanasia was done when she had no pain, probably just some discomfort, and so the gift we gave her to avoid anything serious (shock, for example) was perfectly timed. I thought I’d share our experience with others. We live in Vermont.
Dear Christopher,
I am so sorry for your loss of Chauncey. What a blessing you were able to offer her peace before things declined even further. I am certain your presence was a comfort in her final moments and that she knew how much you loved her. Thank you for sharing your experience with our readers. This will give hope and peace to others facing this difficult situation with their own pups. Wishing you brighter days ahead and may the memories of the good times you shared with Chauncey continue to be a blessing in your life.
I lost my heart and soul on Monday October 28, 2024. it has been 2 days since his final dive into this disease. Charlie, my 10 and a half year old BC was fine October 22nd. he got pictures taken by a local photographer that day. when we got up the next day October 23, I let Charlie and my sons golden out for a pee. the golden came back before Charlie. not like Charlie at all. I went out to see what he was up to and he was lying near the hydrangea treee, totally not him and I had a flashback to my beagle going out and lying on the ground under the same tree.
Max my beagle died on March 24, 2019 of hemangiosarcoma.too.
I called Charlie and he came in and laid down but was not interested in his food. I had a previous unrelated appointment and called vet to get Charlie in. it was for 3. I was back by 11am and noticed he was worse so I called a neighbor to get Charlie to my car.
Charlie has always been protective of his home and went with all he had to get to the door. He collapsed and had to be carried to the car.
At the vet he was given UltraSound and an aspirate confirmed the worst. Hemangiosarcoma..2 dogs, 5 years apart.
I was given the options but knew from Max that the prognosis was dire. Max lived 3 good days before his final crash.
I called my daughter who came and helped comfort Charlie. as the hours went by he improved enough to leave waling out and having a pee before we left.
Over the next several days he was almost back to his old self until Sunday October 27. he was off. Around 2:30 in the morning he was stumbling around my bed and i heard him flop to the floor. i could not move him myself and had to wait until morning to call for help.
All i could do was hold him and tell him how much i loved him and tha i would not let him go through this again. Help arrived T 7:30 am on October 28 to help me get him to the vet.
When the neighbour rang the doorbell and i opened the door, Charlie gathered every bit of strenght he had left and got up and got to the frond door where he collaped into the door (that is my final memory of him in his home). Lucas picked him up and carried him to my car which i had placed his bed and his stuffy..
He was alert when he recieved his sedating shot and i held him and told him i love him and will see him again.
i looked into the herbs that are supposed to help him,. i gave him 2 rounds of Turkey Tail Mushroom but the Yunnan Baaiyao is not available except online..which arrives tomorrow..too late for my baby.
Dear Cheryl,
I am so sorry for your loss of Charlie to this terrible disease. I am glad you were able to be with him in those final moments to offer love and comfort. While the grief is heavy, please know you did all you could for your boy, and I am certain he knew how much he was loved. May his memory continue to be a blessing in your life. Wishing you peace for your heart.
I have been reading all these stories and they are just heartbreaking. We lost Hendrix our German Shepherd on February 3rd to a ruptured tumor on his spleen. One week ago today and I am still completely devastated by his loss. He was 3 months shy of his 12th birthday.. I am sharing this story because I believe there were signs even the vets may have missed. Mid December my dog walker called and said that Hendrix nose is bleeding. I rushed home took him to our vet that we’ve been going to since he was 8 weeks old. I left there believing that it could very well be a nasal tumor and they could be very aggressive, We were given Yunnan Baio and I immediately made the appt for chest ct/scan. Wonder full news that the nasal bleeding seemed to be from chronic rhinitis. I was so over the moon.., no cancer for Hendrix.. We were told to continue the Yunnan Baio until the results came back. Got a report from the Dr a week later stating that they did see a small nodule on his spleen but he didn’t feel it was to concerning,,could be due to age. Forward one month later and I wake up one morning early as I always do with Hendrix following me down stairs.. I notice that something sounds different with his breathing..,,. He won’t eat and when he did get up he was unsteady on his feet. We rushed him to the emergency vet and were told that we was bleeding internally. We were given the information about the surgery and that 2/3 of the time it’s cancer – we had the surgery holding on to the hope that maybe Hendrix was one of the lucky ones…. Two days later we brought him home awaiting the results of the biopsy. Sadly three days later we were given the news that it in fact was cancer and very aggressive. When we brought Hendrix home he was never the same… he wasn’t walking, never did walk on his own again without our assistance or the help em up harness we purchased, He also was peeing constantly, not able to hold his bladder. Hendrix was a 93 lb german shepherd and it was devastating for us to see him this way. We made the decision two days later to say good bye not wanting him to suffer. I can’t help but thinking that that spot they weren’t concerned about was possibly stage 1 of this awful disease and we might have had several more years with our boy if we had done something differently. It’s absolute torture to think that the nose bleed was a sign that should have been taken more seriously. I will forever miss my boy and will always regret not being more informed about this awful awful cancer.
Dear Dianna,
I am so sorry for your tragic loss of Hendrix. I can only imagine how much you miss him and know you would have done anything to give him more time. It is normal to ponder all the “what ifs” when walking the path of grief. Please know that the choices you made were good and you didn’t do anything wrong. Even if you had pursued surgery to remove the spleen when you saw that first nosebleed, if this was hemangiosarcoma, then the outcome may not have been much different. Only 29% of dogs diagnosed with this type of cancer survive one year. You made a loving choice to give your sweet boy freedom from his suffering the only way you could. I hope with time your heart will begin to heal and you can find peace. May his memory continue to be a blessing in your life. ♥
Hi, my vet prescribed Yunnan Baiyao for my dog’s very large splenic tumor at just one capsule a day. He is 135 pounds. I have been giving it to him once a day, as prescribed, for almost two weeks. I asked my vet about higher dosage and taking breaks and how to know when to use the red pill and she didn’t know the answers and suggested I research it. I know you don’t give medical advice, but I am seeing on other sites that the dosage for the size and condition of my dog should be more like 2 caps, 3 times a day. Do you think I am under dosing him? I am also giving him a daily iron supplement – do you think this is ok? I live in a rural area and really don’t have access to good vet care. Any advice or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Hi Sara,
I understand your concern for your big guy and think it is good you are searching for advice. He is a lucky boy to have you advocating for his health and well-being. The dose of Yunnan Baiyao you are giving does seem small to me, but since it is a supplement and not truly a medication it is hard to make specific recommendations. If your vet is ok with you increasing the dose, then I think it could be a good choice. I am not aware of any issues with giving iron in combination with the herbal supplement. As far as the red pill goes, signs to watch for are all symptoms of internal (or external) bleeding such as: shortness of breath, white/pale gums, bruising, nose bleeds, blood in the urine or feces, lethargy, etc. If you are seeing things that worry you and you think there could be an emergency trip to the vet, then give the red pill. Hoping you will never need it and wishing your boy all the best. Take care and keep up the good work!
We literally just lost our beloved bichon Caesar who just turned 12 due to this horrible cancer. One day he was fine and literally the next we were in dire straights. I can’t stop crying I miss him so much and I’m also second guessing myself if we did right by him because that little guy was awesome and deserved a longer life. Reading everyone’s experiences has helped me gain some perspective. Loving Caesar was easy losing him is absolutely hard. Wishing everyone peace in their decisions 😢😢😢😢
Dear Florence,
My heart aches for you as you grieve the loss of your beloved boy. I am certain you made the most loving choice in offering Caesar rest and freedom from his suffering. I hope with time your heart will begin to heal and you can find peace. Wishing you comfort and happier days ahead as you continue along the path of life. Bless you. ♥
We discovered today that our 10 1/2 year old French Bulldog has a tumor in his spleen. He has been shaking, losing weight, having accidents in the house, and drinking bowls of water. He had bloodwork done last week and has high liver levels and low kidney/thyroid levels. They performed an abdominal ultrasound today and found the mass. Chest X-rays were then done, but they told me they weren’t able to say whether he has cancer or he doesn’t, which confuses me. We can, however, send them to a radiologist for further review. We need to decide whether to remove the spleen or not. We are torn, as we could remove it, find out it’s malignant, and he still doesn’t live much longer. However, it could also be benign. He is my third child and my shadow. I absolutely am not ready to lose him. If finances were not an option, we would do the surgery in a heartbeat. I also don’t want him to be in pain. My vet also recommended yunnan biayao if we decide against the surgery – is this a good option? My heart is just broken.
Dear Angie,
I am sorry you are facing this difficult decision for your senior guy. I will attach links to other articles with more information that could help guide you in the right direction. Yunnan Baiyao is great at helping to control the bleeding from a leaking or ruptured splenic tumor, but definitely will not slow the growth or progression of this cancerous process. If you forgo surgery and choose to only use this herbal supplement it would fall into the category of palliative care, which can be a wonderful and loving option for some dogs. I hope you can find the answers and advice you need to make a choice you can feel confident in. Wishing you all the best and praying for a positive outcome.
1. Splenic Masses in Dogs: Types, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prognosis
2. Yunnan Baiyao for Dogs: Help During Life-Threatening Situations
3. Hemangiosarcoma in Dogs: Symptoms, Treatment, and Life Expectancy
My 10 year old chocolate lab, Java, was an exceptional Hunting Retriever. She had her AKC Master National Hall of Fame as well as HRC Grand Hunting Retriever Champion titles. I noticed she was ‘off’ in field training and took her to the vet for full evaluation a month ago. They did an exam, full blood panel, a Senior test, urine and stool checks. They called me and said her Lymes disease numbers were elevated and she was somewhat anemic and put her on Doxycycline. She continued to have good days and bad days, not eating here and there which I attributed to the Doxycycline. I ran her in a Master Test 2 days ago. She was slow moving but wagged her tail, sat at the line and watched the birds go down. She trotted to the closest bird and showed difficulty picking it up, turn and slowly walked to me with her head low. I quickly went to her, took the bird and scratched her from the test. Yesterday she seemed fine. We arrived home from our winter trip and I took both dogs for a beautiful walk in the field. .This morning Java could hardly move. When she couldn’t pee, I knew it was bad. I checked her gums and they were white. We drove her to the Emergency Vet (Easter Sunday) in Winston-Salem NC and they said she was dying. An ultrasound showed a large mass that was bleeding on her spleen. The vet said it was terminal. The whole staff was compassionate and kind. We sat with her while they put her to sleep. Java was my soul dog and went everywhere with me. She was smart, athletic, sweet and loving, not to mention cute. Lying in bed tonight and not having her tucked in beside my leg is strange. I’ve lost my best buddy but I wouldn’t want her to endure any more pain. My sweet Java…..RIP.
Dear Bonnie,
I am so sorry for your loss of Java. She sounds like a once in a lifetime kind of pup. I can only imagine how much you miss her but am so thankful you were able to be by her side even in those last moments. May her memory stay with you always and be a blessing in your life. Wishing you brighter days ahead and praying for comfort and peace. ♥
My family’s 13 year old lab Lucy was diagnosed exactly one week ago with hemangiosarcoma, and the vet advised of all the options and it was decided we would take her home and spoil her until her bad days outnumbered the good. She got anything and everything she wanted, from a happy meal burger to her own little doggy cake. We decided yesterday that it was ultimately time to make that terrible decision, but last night around midnight she passed away next to my sister who was asleep, bundled up in her comfy blankets. This was such an unexpected and painful week that it still doesn’t feel real. It still feels like I will go to my parent’s house and see her there, because she honestly seemed so fine until she suddenly wasn’t. Her dog sibling was able to see her after she passed which I hope is helpful for him in understanding.
Dear Emily,
My heart aches for you with your recent loss of Lucy. What a blessing her passing was peaceful, and she was comfortable in her own home. I know her absence brings sadness, but I hope with time the grief will fade and bring healing to your heart. May Lucy’s memory be with you always as you continue life’s journey.
After many happy years with our beloved shih tzu, Tobes, we are now facing a similar situation to Emily’s family with their Lucy. My heart goes out to u all Emily and to the other owners & dogs I’ve read about here. Our ‘lovely boy’, despite his arthritis, early dementia, protein allergy and an ongoing liver issue, has still had a very good quality of life up till now with lots of enjoyment & love. But last week I noticed his abdo pain episodes increasing sharply to once or twice daily – from the few short episodes per week that the vet knew about & has been treating the last year or so. So we got him straight to the surgery and after doing repeat bloods & ultrasound the vet said he has a small mass in his spleen and his gallbladder now has thickened walls & contains stones. He’s been given painkillers & an antibiotic shot and we have an appt tomorrow to discuss surgery. So now we have to make the terrible decision as to whether to put him through extensive surgery to remove both his gallbladder & spleen when there may not be a good prognosis or to let him go now while his life is still happy. I don’t feel there’s an option of letting him carry on without surgery, the end result of this being spleen/gallbladder rupture and him dying in the midst of awful suffering. Maybe u can correct me on this Julie? Reading some of the heartbreaking stories here, I guess we’re lucky (and even more so Tobes!) that we know the situation now before this happens and we have the option of giving our precious boy a peaceful pain-free death here at home with his loved ones. It is likely we’ll come to this decision and after all we knew this moment would come soon – he was 14 last October. It’s still heartbreaking and feels a bit like we’re giving up on him but it has to be about Tobes at the end of the day doesn’t it and what is best for him. Thanks Julie for sharing your experience as a vet and with your Lulu & Swiper, it’s helped a great deal
Dear Kas,
I am sorry you were faced with this difficult and emotional decision for your beloved boy. I am not sure how things unfolded but am hoping that no matter what choice was made, there was peace and comfort for everyone involved. Thank you for sharing your experience with us and for the kind words. May Tobes’ memory continue to be a blessing in your life, and I wish you brighter days ahead. ♥
Our sweet 8 year old Zoey, Rottie/German shepherd mix crossed the rainbow bridge just 3 days ago. 😢 It all came on so suddenly. She was fine at 730am, had breakfast, went outside, etc. Then suddenly around 930 my daughter noticed she was walking weird as she came in. She went to the family room and we noticed her breathing heavily. She finally layed down but continued having trouble breathing and we noticed she had a large mass on her left side. I checked her stool and saw dark red color in it. Took her to the emergency vet – we had to lift her up as she could not stand or move on her own. Dr did a quick ultrasound, found her gums were pale and low blood pressure: She told us there was a mass likely on or near her spleen that had ruptured. Her abdomen was full of fluid – likely blood from the rupture. The blood work was done and X-rays. Our options were leave her for the night (with possible blood transfusion needed) so she could have ultrasound the next morning and possibly surgery to remove the spleen. We could euthanize her. Or we could take her home, she would give pain meds and we could make decision the next morning but knowing she may not survive through the night at home. We agonized over the decision. Dr felt it was most likely malignant but of course there is always the chance the tumor was benign. But surgery is a risk – vet said not all dogs make it thru surgery,…do we spend thousands for a small hope tumor would be benign and she’ll survive? And if malignant she likely wouldn’t live much longer. Do we euthanize her so she doesn’t have to suffer? She was definitely a sick pup on Monday….Ugh. No good answer without a crystal ball. This was one of the worst days we’ve had as a family. Sadly we opted to say our goodbyes. 😪 My kids, husband and I all gave Zoey hugs and kisses through our tears before we called the Dr in. I feel guilty about the decision – deep in my heart I know it was the right decision but the what ifs are killer. We adopted her at 10 weeks old. We were her family. She was so deeply loved and we will miss her always! Wish dogs lived so much much longer….
Dear Tracy,
I am so sorry for your tragic loss of Zoey. I know saying goodbye was heartbreaking, but I am certain you made the most loving decision. I am sure your girl knew how much she was loved and that your presence was a comfort during her final moments. As the days go by, I pray the grief will lessen and be replaced with happiness when you think back on all the good times you shared. May Zoey’s memory stay with you always and be a blessing to you and your family. ♥
So sorry for your loss. It was a brave and humane decision to make under the most terrible of circumstances. Sending love and light to you and yours.
I lost my Lulu to this silent killer in November.
Looking back on all of this I missed a few signs a few days before diagnosis.
Lulu was my 9 year old basset hound. That only 3 years prior had both of her eyes removed due to glaucoma. The first sign that I missed was one night on our way to bed she had an accident in our room. Lucy never had accidents. She would always use the doggie door( yes even blind) to go potty. I didn’t think anything about it. Then a few days later she was being very stand offish about her food. If you have ever owned a basset hound you know that is weird. Then the episodes of vomiting started the next day and she became no longer interested in food. She would vomit every morning. She also started drinking excess water and only get up to pee and drink water. After 2 days of not eating, she wouldn’t even take peanut butter, it was off to the vet. This is when I got the bad news. She had spleen and liver involvement. I took my big blind basset home and we spent the next three days together. I had her put down the day before thanksgiving laying on her favorite spot on the couch. I do miss my lulu everyday. What a hard choice and very silent/quick killer.
Dear Adam,
I am so sorry for your loss of Lulu. What a blessing she was able to spend her final moments with you in her favorite spot on the couch. I am sure this brought her comfort and peace. May her memory stay with you always and be a source of joy in your life. Wishing you the best as you continue life’s journey.
Someone else commented that they were surprised at how quick their fur baby got sick & I have to repeat that sentiment. M J was never sick or lethargic, & Saturday night she was running around & leaping over things like normal. As per usual she went to bed with my son then about 4am she woke up & came downstairs. She was a little wobbly on her feet but it wasnt too bad then I felt her ears & they were cold, which I thought was a bit strange since she should have been in bed with my son which would have been nice & warm but I figured maybe she had slept on the floor so I laid down with her in front of the fire & fell asleep.I woke up @ 9 & she was in the computer room asleep in her bed so I got on the computer & kept an eye on her. About 30 mins later she woke up & tried to stand up but just fell, she laid there for a bit while I frantically called to get a ride to the emergency vet then she tried to stand up again. This time she made it to her feet took a step then fell again, she never got up after that. We rushed her to the emergency vet & they told us that she was bleeding from her spleen. She was so close to death that I knew I had to let her go. The doctor brought her into the room to give her the shot but she was gone right after she administered the propofol so she didnt even give her the final shot. She was just a month shy of her 13th birthday & she leaves behind a brother who has spent every night of his life with his sister. MJ was never formally diagnosed with hemangiosarcoma but her brother was diagnosed with the cutaneous form of it back in 2018 & about a yr & a half ago she had a spot similar to what he had that was removed but not biopsied so we had assumed she might have it too, we just thought she had the same from as he does which I suppose she did at first but it obviously metastasized at some point. She was such a bundle of energy so the house is so quick without her & my heart hurts from missing her but I know she had a good life & am grateful that she wasnt sick or in pain.
Dear Katherine,
My heart aches for you with your recent loss of MJ. I am sure she knew how much she was loved. What a blessing you were home and able to get her to the vet quickly. I am certain your presence was a comfort during her final moments. I can only imagine how much she will be missed by you and her brother. Praying that with time your heart will begin to heal and the sadness will make way for happier days. May MJ’s memory be with you always.
Thank you for your kind words.
Yesterday I took her brother in for routine xrays because the vet heard a slight heart murmur during his recent physical & have been told that there was a mass seen on his spleen as well as a spot in his lungs. The vet suggested Yunnan Baiyao but I was unable to find any locally so I had to order it online & it wont be here until Friday so I called back the vet today & discovered that they actually carry the remedy so I went in to get a box & they had a prescrip sticker on the box with dosage instructions & oddly enough it said to give the same dosage as mentioned in Sara’s comment, 1 pill every 12 hrs. On the website I ordered it from it said for Dro’s weight (70lbs) the dosage is 2 pills 3x/day. I asked the technician to leave a message for the vet about the discrepancy but have yet to hear back from them. Had I not been unable to find the meds sooner than I did I would have not bothered to call the vet & would have simply followed the recommended dosage on the website, which I still think is more accurate than 1 pill every 12 hrs. So my question is there a possible for an overdose & if not then why does it seem as if the vets (since its more than just my own) are undermining the recommended dosage amount? Also, regarding the red pill, when MJ collapsed I couldnt get her to even smell the the meat I was trying to give her so there is absolutely no way I could have gotten her to take a pill, how exactly are you supposed to give it? I honestly had no idea I would be back here less than a month after losing my sweet girl & am not in denial about the seriousness of Dro’s condition, I just need a bit more time before making any final decisions & because he isnt exhibiting any signs of discomfort & still has a very healthy appetite I’m hoping the herbal remedy will give me that time.
Hi Katherine,
My heart goes out to you with all you have endured over the past few months. I am so sorry Dro is facing this similar situation, especially after your recent loss of MJ. I am not sure why this specific dosage was recommended. It is hard to make conclusions without any firsthand knowledge. I am hoping your vet will call you back and you can discuss the situation and ask these important questions. It is possible that with so many sources of this herbal supplement that they may come in different concentrations. Also, since it is a supplement and not an FDA regulated medication, I am not sure we really know what the overdosage potential is or what amount would have to be administered to induce negative results. The brand of Yunnan Baiyao that your vet has in the clinic may come with its own prescribing information and give recommended dosing instructions from the manufacturer that your vet is following. Ultimately, I hope you can get the answers you need and ensure your boy remains stable for as long as possible. Make the most of the time you are gifted and enjoy each day you have together. Please keep us updated on how Dro is doing. Praying for comfort for you both.
I lost my beautiful baby girl Nana almost 3 months ago to hemangiosarcoma. She was 9.5 years old, a white Siberian Husky, very healthy. She never had a medical issue, I was taking her to the vet for annual check-ups and vaccines, and the doctors told me she was healthy. We didn’t know she was sick until one Tuesday morning in October when she was almost unable to move and refused her morning treats. The evening before she was very vocal asking for treats, she ate everything and played. Also, two days before we were in a park and met our friends, she played, she ran, and everybody was telling me that I would have my baby girl for at least another 3-4 years (I was stressed out about losing her since I got her). So, that Tuesday morning came, and when I saw her I knew she was not ok, and I will lose her. I took her to the emergency and they did some exams and told me that she had a huge mass and internal bleeding. I asked them to save her, but the doctor explained to me that if they could stabilize her, they could move on to the surgery to remove the spleen, and if she survived the surgery, she would not live more than 3 months. It was not the news that I wanted to hear, and after I talked to my husband I realized that I didn’t want to see my girl suffering, so I had to put her to sleep. I stayed with her until the last minute, and I asked the doctor many times if they could save her and if she could live at least one more year. Even after almost 3 months, I am still asking myself if I did the right thing for her. Thank you for this article
Dear Andreea,
My heart aches for you with your loss of Nana. It is clear she was dearly loved, and I know you would have given anything to have more time with her. As difficult as it was, I am certain you made the right choice. You allowed your own heart to break so Nana could find peace and rest. I hope as time passes the grief will fade and it will be replaced with joy as you are reminded of all the good times you shared. May your sweet girl’s memory stay with you always and continue to be a blessing in your life.
Andreea,
We were faced with a similar situation with our Pea dog. She was two months shy of 13. She had already exhibited bruising from internal bleeding. She had started limping and whining, even seeking out a private place under our arborvites. After previously seeing my friends dog suffer and eventually collapsing and dying in his bedroom doorway, I knew I didn’t want that for her. I couldn’t see putting Pea through a spleenectomy, and then chemotherapy assuming she survived the surgery for just a few months more life. It’s been six months on February 26th. She died on national dog day. I still struggle with it, but I know we did right by her, you did too. I know our Pea had a great life and was loved to the max. Give your love to another dog in need, and cherish your memories.
Dear Stephen,
I am sorry for your loss of Pea. What a blessing you were able to offer her a peaceful goodbye and spare her from unnecessary suffering and pain. Thank you for sharing your story and being willing to encourage others. Wishing you brighter days ahead and may Pea’s memory be with you always.
Our 12 year old lovely dog had surgery on october 2023, a nodule on the leg, the pre-surgery blood test showed increased bilirrubin, so ultrasound was performed, revealing something in the liver. After the surgery ( the biopsy revealed a soft tissue carcinoma), we performed a tomography that showed several nodules in all the hepatic lobes, our veterinarian told us it was with a great certainty a malignant tumour, with no options of surgery. He offered us to perform a biopsy to know exactly what type of tumour ( hepatocellular carcinoma, cholangiocarcinoma…) but knowing chemotherapy without surgery woudn´t make a great difference, we chose not to stress her with another surgery to perform a dangerous biopsy and give her the best life possible the time she could stay with us…sadly 11 weeks after the leg surgery, she started with internal bleeding, confirmed by ultrasound, it was a really strong dog, with lots of exercise, mountain and summits, so I think it helped her to recover from several episodes to play again, walk and eat her treats. But the episodes along the week got worse, the veterinarian offered us antii-nflammatory for the pain and the day before we put her to sleep, buprenorfin that I think that was a mistake, because the fatal day, she had another bleeding episode ( between episodes she was good, that made the decision very difficult), this time she was worse, and I think when we administered the buprenorfin, it was a big mistake, because she got even worse ( I´ve been reading and probably the vasodilator effect could be the cause). A veterinarian came home to put her to sleep, it was the most painful decision I´ve ever made, but she couldn´t even stand by herself…it tortures me the idea that buprenorfin precipitated the fatal result, she had 11 weeks of joy and happyness, without needles and hospitalizations or surgeries, but it´s unavoidable to think if the outcoume could have been different if we had administered chemotherapy or if we didn´t administer buprenorfin that day. Perhaps the buprenorfin didn´t play a role, perhaps it did, the veterinarian who came home told us that any moment she could pass away suffering, because of the bleeding, so we took the humane choice .That´s our experience, it´s been 2 weeks and the family won´t ever be the same without our furry friend.
Dear Diego,
I am sorry for the recent loss of your beloved pup. I know you would have done anything to give her more time and I can only imagine how much she will be missed. It is normal to ponder all the “what ifs” while grieving but please don’t let this trap you in a circle of guilt and pain. The buprenorphine was needed to control pain and suffering. Without it your girl may have gained an extra day or two (and maybe not) but at what cost to her quality of life? Hospice care is a delicate balance of offering relief and peace while waiting for the final moments to arrive. A fatal bleed is unfortunately how hemangiosarcoma progresses with or without intervention. I hope with time your heart will begin to heal and you can allow yourself some grace. May your girl’s memory stay with you always and be a blessing in your life.
I really appreciate your words, thank you.
I feel absolutely horrible, my dog snowball was a staff cross border collie 12 years old all his brothers and sister from the same litter as him passed away years ago due to there back legs going and a few passed away from cancer, one vet told me years ago he will only live till he’s 7 years old with how big he was he said it would be his leg that would give way, at 9 years old he went back for his booster and the vet was shocked he was still going strong he said his legs will definitely go first on him, I then started taking him to another vet as I was sick of being told he should be dead by now, a month ago I noticed snowballs belly was getting larger he always had a big belly he wasn’t overweight just always had weight to his stomach I new I should of took him to the vet’s straight away when I felt a large hard mass I new it was a high possibility it would be cancer so yes i did avoid going not because I’m selfish or because I’d rather him suffer but because i new at his age he was already blind and deaf he was slowly losing control of his bowels I new it would mean the worst, he went to have his booster done but the vet said scan his stomach first, she found two massive masses both were huge but one a lot bigger both were attached together and both on his spleen one went all the way under his rib cage, his stomach was getting bigger and bigger everyday they showed more at night, his visit was on Saturday just gone she said it’s an emergency as they could rupture and kill him at any point she recommended surgery, she said he would go in Monday morning have bloods and then an x-ray that showed it was in his lungs I’d have to put him to sleep there straight away she said if he passes the x-ray would do the surgery there and then but once they opened him up if cancer was present all over they would stitch him back up keep him under anesthetic and I’d have to put him to sleep there straight away, if he passed all that had the masses removed and his spleen they would send it off for a biopsy if cancer was confirmed it would result in death at home within 2-3 months but she said he’d only have 1-2 months at most so I’d have to have him put to sleep once he went down hill, I mentioned instead of putting him through all that as the outcome wasn’t great I said could they not use a needle go take a sample through his stomach she said it was possible but moment they did that he would start to bleed as it would cause the masses to rupture, my partner mentioned putting him to sleep she wasn’t keen on the idea but I said if he was your dog would you do the operation or put him to sleep she said it’s hard to say even though she was pushing for surgery, I made the hardest decision ever to put him to sleep Monday just gone and i hate myself for it because it wasn’t time, when they mentioned the operation she kept saying is he off his food is he losing weight is he coughing no he was eating drinking still being snowball yes he grunted when he lied on his belly funny but that was it, for months snowball was always hungry he’d sleep all day wake up have his tea then wait for more and more food no matter how much I fed him he was never full I thought it was due to being an old boy, I found a bit online about cushung disease but he only had the pot belly and the constant hunger, or was he so hungry because he had that or was it the tumors needing more food or was there a chance that wasn’t cancerous at all, he stopped pooing two days before he was put to sleep, I regret putting him to sleep badly I wish I went through with the operation but that would ment no food that day and if they said he couldn’t be saved and put him to sleep my face wouldn’t of been the last he saw it would of been the vets, I wanted to keep hold of him longer I wanted to wait until I new he was going downhill but everyone kept rushing me telling me it’s an emergency they could rupture at any point and it would be a horrible painful death for him, the vet said he was days if not weeks from rupturing. I took my happy healthy snowball to the vet’s he was scared he new what we were doing to him he cried when they inserted the canuler then just before they inserted the anesthetic he started to whimper he new I was killing him I held his head and sang you are my sunshine my only sunshine as I slowly lowered him to the floor he died instantly, a vet assistant said dogs that pass really quickly we’re not long from death, i hate myself for what I’ve done I didn’t give him chance I didn’t wait longer I ended his life before he was ready and I’ll never ever forgive myself. I’ve not eaten for 3 day’s and have no intention of doing so because of what i did to him, I should of waited longer and I should of done it at home he hated the vets i should of never ever done it there. I always new eventually I’d have to go through with putting a dog to sleep and I always new he’d be the first one out of the older 3 he was the second eldest but I alway’s said I’d know when he’s ready to leave I new he would look at me to tell me it’s time to leave I new even that would be hard but I would of known it was his time to leave but putting him to sleep before all that just incase they ruptured was the worst thing I’ve ever done I killed my dog before he was ready
Dear Rachael,
My heart aches for you with your loss of Snowball. It is clear he was dearly loved, and I can only imagine how much you miss him. You made the right choice even though I know it is hard to see that through your grief. You allowed your own heart to break so that your sweet boy could avoid unnecessary suffering. It is ok to say goodbye while there is still some joy, before all happiness is gone, and the only thing that remains is pain. Your decision to let go was the ultimate act of selfless love and one I would have made for my own dog if in a similar situation. It is normal to ponder all the “what ifs”, but please don’t continue to carry the burden of guilt. I pray with time your heart will begin to heal and you can allow yourself some grace. Please make sure you are taking care of yourself. Snowball wouldn’t want his passing to be the end of your life as well. May his memory live on and be with you always. Wishing you comfort and peace. ♥
I first want to say thank you to everyone for sharing your experiences, and my sympathy for your losses. We are on the verge of losing our second dog in a row to cancer, at too young an age.
We lost our 8yo Boxer to mast cell tumors 7 years ago. We recently came to face this specific cancer with our 6yo German Shorthair Pointer, Fritz. He didn’t display many signs, but we knew something wasn’t right a few mornings ago when he wasn’t his usual “highly-active” self running around the farm. His belly appeared swollen, and he had no interest in eating. We had concerns of bloat, so we didn’t delay getting him to an emergency vet; not an easy task two days after Christmas.
We unfortunately learned he had a mass on his spleen that had ruptured and was bleeding internally. Surgery to remove his spleen and the tumor was recommended, and it would allow for discovery of any additional tumors or lesions. The surgery was performed the same day and he came through it strong with no signs of spread to his heart or liver. The Dr. said he’s probably the healthiest and strongest dog she’s done a splenectomy on. He lost over 3 liters of blood, but his BP and cell counts stabilized post surgery without a transfusion! Fritz the all star patient came home this morning, he’s resting and getting all our love, while we wait anxiously for results from testing the tumor.
Like any concerned dog parent I have researched the disease, this article provided insight and lined up with our experience so far. We are clinging to hope the tumor is cutaneous, but we know the chances may be low. I don’t think we’ll do chemotherapy if it would reduce his quality of life and only delay the outcome a few months. I am curious if in the time since this article was first shared if there are any insights into developments in treatment like eBAT, or alternative medicine like Yunnan Bai Yao? I read about both in my research, and saw reference to the herb in the comments. We will discuss this with the oncologist once we have results.
Hi Brian,
I understand why you are concerned for Fritz and am praying the results from the pathologist are favorable. I will attach links to other articles with more information (including the use of Yunnan Baiyao). Feel free to keep us updated as things progress. Hoping your sweet boy has many happy days ahead. Wishing you all the best.
1. Splenic Masses in Dogs: Types, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prognosis
2. Hemangiosarcoma in Dogs: Symptoms, Treatment, and Life Expectancy
I really appreciate your response and the information shared overall as it has helped us process this.
We unfortunately got the results back and they are not good. He has probably 2-3 months. This is an awful disease.
Dear Brian,
I am so sorry the pathology results were not favorable for Fritz. My heart aches for you as you navigate this difficult path and face some hard decisions in the days ahead. Wishing you strength and comfort. Bless you and your sweet boy. ♥
Thank you for this blog. I’m crying reading all of the stories as I sit waiting on pathology reports for my sweet miniature schnauzer, Schatzi (age 9). A week ago, she vomited and started having a strange abdominal breathing pattern. To the ER we went where she had hemoabdomen from a ruptured tumor on her spleen. She was only mildly anemic and had no signs of mets on xrays so we opted for surgery. Now, we wait. She is recovering well, wants desperately to jump and play but still on activity restriction. It seems impossible she could be so vibrant but potentially have a fatal cancer growing that could take her life in weeks or months. We were also told 85% chance this is hemangiosarcoma so we are treasuring every moment of time while still holding a bit of hope it could be benign. Thank you everyone for sharing your stories. We are hoping for the best but bracing for the worst and feeling comforted knowing we are not alone navigating this horrible disease.
Dear Stephanie,
I am sorry you are facing this unknown future with Schatzi. What a blessing the surgery was successful, and she has regained her energy and strength. I too am holding on to hope that her pathology results will be favorable. Feel free to leave an update if you have a chance. Wishing you and your sweet girl all the best.
We just got news that it is Hemangiosarcoma. We are grateful we have time to prepare emotionally for the time ahead while she still seems relatively healthy. For now, she is playful, happy and blissfully unaware of her disease and prognosis. Bless you for creating this space for people to share their experiences.
Dear Stephanie,
I am so sorry Schatzi has received this devastating diagnosis. Wishing you strength and comfort as you continue down this tough path. Make the most of each day you are gifted and try to focus on the happy memories you share. I’ll be keeping you in my thoughts. Bless you and your sweet girl. ♥
I’m coming back to this “tab” on my phone’s browser two days after saying goodbye to the bestest dog, Bear. I have had this tab open for the last two months since Bear had surgery to remove his spleen. his cancer hadn’t spread to the lungs or other parts, so the surgery got us a few more weeks of a really happy pup. But we knew were were not going to seek treatment for thus specific cancer and were wondering how we’d know when to let go. This article – and the community that has developed around it – has been instrumental to our coming to terms with losing Bear. On Saturday the 23rd we went for a long walk with Deb (the crazier, wilder of our two dogs). He ate great food, as this was one of the great tips we had gotten from this post. He played chasing Deb around the house. And then Sunday, Christmas Eve, he woke up not able to do any of those things. His gums were white, and he collapsed on the carpet after going outside, not able to eat or get to his favorite spot on the couch. And, so, Christmas Eve for us was full of tears, lots of them, lots of goodbyes, and then going to Massachusetts Vet Referral Hospital. I can’t say enough good things about how they treated us and Bear. It all still seems surreal to us, since there was really an overnight change in behavior. I can’t thank you all enough for this community. I’m probably keeping this tab open a little longer. 💜
Dear MT,
My heart aches for you with your recent loss of Bear. I am sorry his condition declined so rapidly and had you making tough decisions on Christmas Eve. What a blessing the team at the vet hospital was so comforting and helped bring some peace to an emotional situation. Thank you for sharing your experience with us. Please don’t feel like you can’t reach out again just to get your thoughts typed out and work through your feelings. May Bear’s memory stay with you always and be a source of joy in your life. Wising you and Deb the best for many happy days ahead. ♥
I just lost my best bud Bentley, a Golden Retriever, to this awful cancer. He was only 7 years old.
A few weeks prior to diagnosis he had an intermittent cough, not unlike Kennel cough. Then one day I came home from work and he had vomited multiple times and was very lethargic and wouldn’t eat. I took him to the vet Saturday morning and after x-rays and ultrasounds they found he had significant pericardial effusion most likely due to a hemangiosarcoma. His cough was most likely beginning stages of heart failure. My choices were either emergency surgery/chemo or euthanasia. The prognosis was not good.
I was beyond shocked and heartbroken. I knew without draining his pericardial sac he would continue to deteriorate rapidly But the vet was confident that in doing so would only buy us hours at worst and weeks at best. I was told any sort of significant recovery would be unlikely as the tumor would just bleed again or has already spread.
So I took my pup home and the rest of the afternoon the family said their goodbyes. It was extremely difficulty because he couldn’t play, or eat, and could only cuddle. I would’ve given him a whole Pets Smart worth of treats if he could eat them. That night I made the agonizing, impossible, heartbreaking decision to put him to sleep with his head in my lap – just like how I brought him home as a pup.
I’m still struggling with that decision now. Should I have spent $10, $20, $30 thousand dollars on surgery and treatments? Would it have mattered? Would it have bought an extra week or month and would that have been worth it? Would the quality of life have been worth it? Regardless, we did this on our terms and our decision – peacefully.
He was my first pup and was there for all of my life’s ups and downs over the past 7 years, including greeting my three children when we brought them home from the hospital to meet them. He was warmest, gentlest soul, with just enough goof ball in him. We will all miss him so much. For this to happen at such a young age I feel so incredibly robbed by life and blessed to have had in my life.
Dear Jacob,
I am so sorry for your loss of Bentley. I know you are running all the “what ifs” through your mind, but I am certain you made the right decision for your sweet boy. While no amount of time together would have been enough, what a blessing you were able to share seven wonderful years together. It is clear he was a vital part of your family. Praying for comfort and peace for everyone involved. May Bentley’s memory live on and be a source of joy in your life.
Our 12 year old Oso is going through almost the exact same situation right now. He’s a rescue mutt and we never figured out his breeds, but he looks like a retriever of some kind. He’s older with arthritis but has remained chipper if not very active. Less than a week ago he started coughing and retching intermittently. I took him in to the vet and X-rays showed fluid in his abdomen and a rounded heart. It was a clear sign of pericardial effusion. We elected to have the sack drained because at that time we did not understand the severity of his disease. The sonogram was evaluated by a cardiologist and we were told the Hemangiosarcoma had spread all over the right side of his heart, and likely metastasized to spleen and liver. We have had a good few days since, but have decided tomorrow is the day because we don’t want him to suffer from what is inevitable. It is such a hard choice even now. My struggles are what led me to this page. I was trying to justify putting off the end, but the more I learn about this disease the more at peace I am with our decision. We were blessed with so many great years with our best boy! It’s an honor to see him off. Thank you for sharing your story with us!
Dear Mike,
My heart goes out to you with your recent loss of Oso. I know saying goodbye was very difficult but agree it was the most loving option for your boy. Hoping his passing was smooth and peaceful and wishing you all the best for brighter days ahead. Bless you.
We just put our 11 year old dog down today with the ruptured spleen. It happened a couple of days ago where we noticed he was extremely lethargic and no longer wanting to visit with visitors and he almost was tripping down two stairs to get outside. It was the hardest thing we have ever had to do but made the decision as there was a lot of blood in his stomach. We may the choice for him not to suffer and these stories are making me feel that we did the best thing for him. We miss him so much and it’s the worst feeling in the world.
Dear Elle,
My heart aches for you as you grieve the loss of your beloved pup. You made a loving choice to say goodbye and give your sweet boy peace and freedom from his suffering. I can only imagine how much you miss him, but I am certain he knew how much you cared. May his memory be a blessing in your life and stay with you always.
We just lost our 13.5 yr old Springer to a pulmonary embolism 2 days post splenectomy. We have were holding onto hope that the biopsy of the mass on her spleen was benign as there were no other abnormalities noted during the surgery. No active bleeding. Winds up that it didn’t matter as she suddenly experienced what was later determined to be a pulmonary embolism. Symptoms were suddenly refusing to take medication (wrapped in liverwurst) and panting. Rushed to emergency hospital where they tried to stabilize her but couldn’t. We were left stunned. She has been a happy /fine dog hours before. We had been told that it was an easy surgery with minimal blood loss (no transfusions). How often are embolisms in such a case?
Dear Chris,
I am so sorry for the tragic loss of your senior girl. This was completely unexpected, and I can only imagine how difficult it must be to find peace as you make your way forward. I don’t have specific numbers for the frequency of occurrence of an embolism after surgery. But unfortunately, it does happen and is a possible complication of ANY surgical procedure. I know you are pondering all the “what ifs” and rethinking every decision that has been made. But I would have made the same choices if in the same situation. I don’t think you did anything wrong or have any reason to feel guilty for how things happened. I hope with time your heart will heal and you can find comfort in knowing your girl was dearly loved and lived a happy life. May her memory stay with you always and be a blessing to you and your family. ♥
Just got the diagnoses today for my 9 year old lab/boxer mix. My heart is so weak, I helped birth my precious Angel, Reagan. She’s all white, literally an angel. Her back left leg is now turning black/purple from blood. The vet gave us the option of removing her leg but said the cancer would come back. I’m so lost and numb to the fact of losing her. She’s laying beside me as I type this and I can’t even fathom the thought of coming home and her not being here any longer. I’m so lost
Dear Brandon,
My heart aches for you. It is clear how dearly loved Reagan is and I can only imagine how difficult it will be to say goodbye when the time comes. This is the hard part of falling in love with a dog…. choosing to allow your own heart to break so your sweet girl can find rest. Only you can give her the peace she deserves after a lifetime of devotion. It is a curse and a blessing. Make the most of the time you are gifted. Praying for your strength and comfort as you face the emotional days ahead. ♥
Any update do you still have ur angel ?
I’m struggling a lot right now and seeing a support group like this is comforting. About two weeks ago we noticed our sweet baby boy golden retriever Bodie (8.5 years old) was becoming not interested in his food and was sluggish when playing fetch. He wasn’t sprinting and feverishly going after the ball like he usually did, he was trotting, walking and then laying down. He seemed to be a little more tired and lethargic than normal. At first we didn’t know what to think, maybe old age just catching up? He was still eating a little bit, but not much. Then we noticed his stomach was looking a little bloated. We made a vet appointment on Monday for Tuesday at 4pm. The vet took blood, said his gums look pale and his stomach is distended. She came back in and stated his red blood cells are very low, he’s anemic, and his blood platelets are very low. She took a needle and withdrew blood from his stomach. Out vet told us our pup is currently in the process of dying and presented two options. Go across the street and have emergency blood transfusion and surgery, to remove what is most likely hemangiosarcoma of the spleen or euthanize. She told us that she would euthanize if it was her dog, and that she’s seen this a lot over 17 years of experience and very often people who elect surgery it doesn’t turn out well. She did provide us some statistics and stated 80 percent of the time the tumor is malignant. We were in complete shock, totally caught off guard, and devastated. We didn’t know what to do and we absolutely didn’t want our boy to suffer. We elected to euthanize. I had never even heard of hemangiosarcoma. I’m questioning my decision big time right now and don’t know if I made a bad decision. Should I have elected for surgery? It’s killing me thinking that my guy might have had a benign tumor and that he could’ve lived a good life after the surgery. I’m aching, thinking that I made a terrible decision.
Dear Joseph,
My heart aches for you with your loss of Bodie. I understand your grief and know you will be running all the “what ifs” through your mind for days. I honestly think you made the best choice for your sweet boy. With his abdomen already filled with blood and his platelet count low, surgery would have probably ended very tragically even if the tumor was benign. Choosing to give your pup a peaceful goodbye saved him from unnecessary suffering. I pray with time your heart will begin to heal and you will be comforted knowing Bodie lived a good life full of love. May his memory stay with you always and be a blessing in your life. ♥
Exactly what we are going thru with our 11y/o GSD. We brought him home and plan to euthanize in 2-3 weeks – unless he shows pain or deteriorates. Kids Birthdays, Christmas and our wedding all happen in the next 10 days – I dont want his death in all that. I hope I’m not selfish for wanting to keep him just a little longer – he’s my baby..
Dear Heather,
My heart goes out to you as you face this emotional decision for your senior Shepherd. I completely understand waiting a bit due to all the big life events you have happening in the next few weeks. Enjoy the time you are gifted, and I wish you and your family a Merry Christmas. Bless you all. ♥
First off I need to tell everyone I am so sorry for all your losses. My heart ❤️ goes out to you.
Our family is currently going through a similar situation with our chocolate lab Gus. He just turned 10 this past December. He is our general giant at 135lbs. So sweet Gus has not had an easy life. Before the age of 1 he had FHO done on both his back hips. So he was never really able to be an energetic pup. Has always struggled with walking/running or even playing for long periods of time. 3 years ago he developed an abscess on his front paw on the pad and between his toes. I thought maybe a hot spot. Ultimately He had to have a toe amputated. We thought it was cancer. But luckily in that case we found out the abscess was actually filled with fur. Our vet has never seen anything like this before.
Moving forward with In the last 6 months he has developed several tumors. 1 on his hip that is big and squishy. Another that is located on what I would consider is butt area. We noticed it when it was the size of a grape and with in the last month 1 1/2 it is now the size of a baseball. In the last 2 days it is now red and what looks like a black scab that is bleeding. The last week we have noticed an increase water intake (ALOT) he has also started to have accidents in the house everyday. He only gets up to walk when he is thirsty or needs to go outside. But other than that he just lays around.
I have an appointment with vet on Saturday to see what they have to say but I FEAR he has hemangiosarcoma. At least that’s what I think from everything that I have read
Hoping for good news
Hi Melissa,
I am so sorry Gus is dealing with this worrisome tumor on his rear end. I can only imagine how worried you must be. Luckily, it is not common for hemangiosarcoma to appear on the skin. Without examining Gus myself, I would have to say I am suspicious that this lump may be a mast cell tumor or another less severe type of tumor. I am glad to hear you already had an appointment scheduled to have your vet do a thorough evaluation. What did you find out? Hoping you were able to get answers and praying for a favorable outcome. Feel free to leave an update if you have a chance!
Hi Joseph we had exactly the same decision to make as Paddy our 9yr old choccy lab had a tumour on his spleen the vet after scanning his stomach said it was full of blood and looking at the scan was 99% certain it was malignant, we made the painful decisin to euthanize and he died peacefuly ive spoke to the vet since and she says we made the correct decision so dont beat yourself up about it hope this helps
Dear David,
I am sorry for your loss of Paddy. Thank you for being willing to offer support and comfort to others while working through the grief process yourself. Wishing you brighter days ahead and healing for your heart. Bless you.
I’ve just lost the most precious thing to me in my life, my only friend,my bestest friend. He was only three years old, the most beautiful, intelligent, talkative, understanding human like rottie that I’ve ever known or owned.
His name was Raf. I was forced to neuter him at one for starters as my state in particular bought in a mandate only in 2018 that cats and dogs must be desexed sithin 6mo- 1yo. I was quite shocked at this…. My rotties was papered, I find out far too late, that I could have used a loophole w the papers to get around this. I repeatedly asked multiple different vets about effects of neutering especially a male so young- was told allllll benefits, decreases risk of cancer (they didn’t mention ALL the cancers it significantly increases though, OR that it significantly WILL decrease the lifespan of a dog. Ie in Rottweilers neutering at @ 1 they have found it brings an average life span of 5yo
@4.5 yrs (after fully growing= life exp = 8-10yrs
Intact = 10 plus years…… I found they were doing a study on this ONLY on south aus dogs, where I reside……
Over past theee years Raf struggled with gastrointestinal issues, saw countless vets, one even cut open his stomach for investigation. No diagnoses, couldn’t tell me what may be, pancreatitis or IBS maybe they said, said to break down meals into three a day
Kept bringing up lymphoma, because I’d noticed especially on the “Rottweilers or Adelaide” page on fb, that’s rotties we’re dying on lymphoma at 4yo at an alarming rate, so I was super vigilant about wanting Raf checked, kept getting told no no no noooo too young for cancer…..
His stomach issues continued on and off, kept asking be checked lymph, he has sagging skin around neck but lymph nodes didn’t feel too swollen, kept asking get shcecked, kept getting ignored, told too young…
Then only just last week his energy levels dropped significantly, then appetite decreased, a couple sloppy poos and noticed he seemed be breathing more heavily. Checked breath rate – between 40-60/min while resting, temp 39.1, pulse 120bpm resting…. Didn’t feel right to me, took him to emergency as was a Sunday, made wait twelve hours waiting room, still being told no no won’t be lymphoma, after sitting twelve hours not even having him offered water while human owners get given coffees etc I had to give my dog a drink out of a human cup 🙄 they stretched us waiting and waiting til 6pm, sat me down, told me bloods taken at first emergency we had gone to was showing anaemia, said best to keep him in over night….no blood transfusion was performed (as the $8000 estimate had included)…. They said they’d send me photos to update me through night, received none, just the bill of course,,,,
Next morning 10am vet calls – says he doing well etc, he ate bit chicken (which I don’t believe as that’s one thing he was very off of),,,, we still don’t think it’s lymphoma that’s bottom of our list so don’t stress too much……had to make them j crude that in tests…..
Come 6pm when I went back down for meeting w vet surgeon…I got dropped on me that coldly by one who hadn’t spoken to yet “sooooo obviously he has a mass near his chest, spleen, liver, blood bone marrow”… with me just like excuse me!! Few hours ago u said not it and all sudden now it’s Stage 5?,!.!
He came out with eyes rolling back in head, more dehydrated than when I’d taken him in, kept asking if they’d given him extra ketamine or something, that he didn’t seem right, or are they saying the cancer has progressed THAT much from the wagging dog I saw 8pm last night as I left ?
They sent us home, said not really candidate for chemo but flogged off blood transfusion said to bring him back for next week, took 8k n sent us on our way home w him still ha,f out of it, more dehydrated and with no pain meds and no real way to know what to expect
My what they were saying I expected I had months…so I regretfully (now I regret it) spent last three days trying find someone in another state on other side country to get him into immunotherapy trials, sourcing stuff get his body alkaline. Hadn’t slept or eaten in around 5 days as was so stressed and wanting to help him.. he perked up a couple of days after coming back from hospital, so I felt positive, didn’t eat yday, which made me back worried again but was still drinking, weeing, seemed bright, even played with a new ball.
I accidentally dosed off, I remember thinking I should get on his bed with him but he must have felt hot as went outside room to lay on floorboards. I accidentally dozed off, and woke four hours to him dead in the next room, he was still hot to the touch but his face was frozen and had passed a lot of watery/mucous/oil/ blood … he was gone that soon, my beautiful boy who only a week ago was running and playing and spending 24/7 by my side as always.
I will never forgive myself I wasn’t there at his time of passing as I just don’t know what happened. I’m starting think he must have bled internally I just don’t know I just want to know if he was scared or suffered, I so wish now that instead of researching that I had just spent all the time I could holding him and wish I’d never fallen asleep 😭
Dear Jasmin,
I am so sorry for your tragic loss of Raf. He sounds like an amazing boy, and I can only imagine how much you miss him. Hemangiosarcoma can be so tricky. It can develop rapidly with little to no symptoms. And once it has spread and there is bleeding present, often there is not much that can be done other than to offer a peaceful goodbye. I know things did not end as you would have chosen but take comfort in knowing Raf was at home where he was most comfortable. It is clear he was dearly loved, and I am certain he knew. May his memory stay with you always and be a blessing in your life.
We adopted our sweet baby girl, Lexi when she was a year old to help our son, who was in his early twenties, cope with major depressive disorder.
She was a Rhodesian Ridgeback mix (with a larger breed – we think Great Dane) and quickly bonded with our whole family, though our son was always her number one (if she would not obey us – she could be stubborn at times – we could count on her to obey him).
She was a beautiful, sweet, loving, intelligent, fiercely loyal dog and everyone who got to know her fell in love with her right away and, she loved them right back.
Unfortunately, her playful, athletic energy, coupled with great strength and muscle mass was difficult on her more delicate frame. She had two TPLO surgeries, suffered from a rare reaction to antibiotics after her first surgery that almost cost her life and left her with large scars on her belly, and had happy tail that became such a constant health issue for her that we had to dock her tail (although she had enough tail to wiggle it vigorously when she was happy – which was most of the time).
She also had, in the last year and a half of her 11 year old life, developed a staff infection in her left lower leg that took a long time to diagnose and resulted in the removal of her TPLO hardware in that leg to allow complete eradication of the infection. She began to have another reaction to the antibiotic (a different antibiotic this time but the same reaction – on her left leg instead of her belly) that we caught right away but took a long time to heal and left a large patch of scar tissue on her ankle that matched those on her belly. She was always such a trooper and loved life and people so much, even through all of her physical maladies.
She was still battling the infection, which would return when she finished a course of antibiotics, when she lost her appetite (which was incredibly unusual for her as she looooved to eat). We attributed it to the antibiotics, since she was taking two different antibiotics at the same time. She almost stopped eating her dog food completely but still loved chicken, her favorite , and really anything else that was offered her, but began losing weight.
Then we noticed she was sleeping a lot, and in the middle of a walk she would suddenly stop (even then she would make herself as stable as she could and point in the direction she wanted to go when we turned around- and it was never in the direction of home) and we she could barely make it home.
When her breathing started becoming quick at times when she was laying down, and her belly looked swollen and taught on one side, we realized it was likely more than her infection and antibiotics that was causing these troubling symptoms.
She was scheduled for some routine bloodwork in a couple of days (December 27th 2023), so we called the vet and requested an exam also during that time.
Her regular vet was not available that day, but another veterinarian at the clinic (she was great) examined her. Lexi had lost 10 of her 115 lbs and the vet noticed everything we were concerned about right away. She took x-rays of her belly and showed us her enlarged spleen with a mass on it and the free fluid around her spleen and heart. Coupled with her textbook symptoms, she was diagnosed with hemangiosarcoma on her spleen with the high likelihood that it had spread elsewhere.
The vet recommended that we think about euthanasia, but told us we didn’t have to decide in the moment, her gums were still pink, but in the next week for sure, or her spleen could rupture, which would be a traumatic event for everyone.
After I spent that night awake, listening to her quick breaths, I knew we needed to take her in to be put down the next day, especially since our vet would be unavailable the the day after that, which was followed by the New Year’s holiday. That day, December 28th, happened to be my husband’s and my 38th wedding anniversary, but it wasn’t hard to convince him we needed to take her in after I let him know I couldn’t sleep because I could hear that she was breathing fast almost continuously. I always knew if she was in any discomfort as she had slept on her dog bed right beside me for the last several years. She was always able to ask for a comforting pet during her many ailments that would put her right back to sleep (eventually).
Her vet was available that day and we made an appointment to have her euthanized in the afternoon.
That morning, so many family members and people that she loved came to spend time with her. She was hugged, stroked, fed all of her favorite foods that we used to limit. We practically smothered her with love, gave her everything she wanted, and even took her for a short walk, allowing her to sniff as much and as long as she wanted.
I’m sure it was one of the best days of her life. She was so happy, but you could see how tired she was, and her physical appearance had changed so much. She was thin with a swollen belly and you could see in her face that she was weary.
Her veterinarian was so compassionate. We were with her when she passed. When she was given a sedative first, she fought going to sleep. When she realized her body felt different than when she usually dozes off, she got a look of fear in her eyes and looked back and forth at me and my husband for reassurance. Even though we were talking to her and petting her, and trying our best to comfort her, she had that look in her eyes when she finally succumbed to the sedation. She was completely out when her vet came in to give her the final medication, and that was very peaceful. Her heart just slowed until it stopped, and we were given as much time as we needed to give our baby girl her last pets and loves, and see her for the last time.
Even though I am certain we did the right thing for her although it broke our hearts, that look of fear in her last moments haunts me and I feel as though she died thinking we had let something bad happen to her.
Just when I think I am beginning to cope with the loss of our sweet girl, the image of her frightened eyes intrudes into my memory and I don’t know how I am ever going to get over that.
Dear Christina,
I am so sorry for your loss of Lexi. What a blessing you were able to be with her during her final moments. Even if the initial effects of the sedation caused Lexi some anxiety, please rest assured that as soon as it took full effect, she did not continue to feel those worrisome emotions. She was resting peacefully and able to hear you speaking words of love and assurance. I am certain your presence was a comfort and that she knew how much you cared. I pray with time your heart will begin to heal. May her memory live on and be a source of joy in your lives.
I just had to put my best friend of almost 14 years down this past Monday, November 27. It was a complete and unexpected shock! He was tired the day before, he had also played with his “cousins” over Thanksgiving and was going up and down stairs. He did nap a lot, but chalked it up to his age and all the activity and chaos. He puked early that morning on Monday, but just thought he had a tummy ache. I let him out, he went pee, and came back in to his kennel and went back to sleep. A bit later he was whining, but that’s not abnormal either, so I let him out again and this time the other two go out with him. With age, there are nights he has to go pee more frequently. So he and the others go back in their kennels. Some time passes, he starts whining again, so I get up, grab a blanket, go to the couch and bring him into the front room with me. (My hubby has to be up early for work, he does construction. I wanted him to be able to sleep). Houdini fell back asleep but started whimpering, I used my phone flashlight and his eyes were closed so I thought he was dreaming, which he does a lot. By this time the hubby had left for work. The vet opened at 8. I called, told them how he was acting and they told me to bring him in. When I let him out to potty before we left, he about fell down the two steps to the grass, all he did was lay down. went and grabbed him and brought him in the house and set him down while I put my shoes on and he tried to stand there, wobbled back and forth with his back hunched. His a little guy. He’s a jack Russell/ papillon mix. He was a rescue. They first asked if we had and rodent poison around, but we don’t. They took blood. He was severely anemic, pale gums, breathing fast by the time we got there and his tummy felt hard. His white blood cell count was through the roof. Ended up he did have this tumor and it had burst. He was bleeding in his abdomen. It was too late to do anything. He would have been 14 this coming Tuesday, December 5th.
Dear Shannon,
My heart aches for you with the recent loss of your senior boy. I know tomorrow will be difficult and filled with emotions. What a blessing you were able to spend almost 14 years together. I am sure you have some wonderful memories of the adventures you shared. I hope with time your heart will heal and you will be comforted knowing Houdini lived a life filled with love and joy. May his memory be with you always. Bless you. ♥
Four days ago we woke up with a perfectly healthy happy dog and went to bed that night with a dead dog and in complete and utter shock. Our boy, Rigby, a German Shepherd/Plott Hound mix, was only 9 years old, we thought we had more years with him. We had picked him up the day before from boarding for 10 days over Thanksgiving after spending it across the country with our son where he was stationed at. I am so grateful that Rigby got to come home and be happy and content at at home and that it didn’t happen at boarding while we were so far away. The morning he died he was full of life perfectly ok happily chasing his web ball and taking treats from our little grandtwins. Then in the afternoon while I was sitting on the couch watching a show with my little grandtwins he came and sat by me and laid his head in my lap. He’ll do this when he wants loving or comforting so I started stroking his head but then noticed he was drooling. I thought he was going to puke so I ran to the door and commanded him to go out but he was frozen in place like he was unaware of me. I commanded him again and he suddenly leaped straight up in the air and his legs stiffened straight out and he did a back flip slamming hard on his back. I screamed, “OMG, RIGBY!!!!” and ran to him but he was completely unresponsive. I saw that his flank was twitching and I thought he had a seizure. My grandtwins upset begged to pet him but I was afraid if it was a seizure he might blindly snap so I told them no. He was like that for about 5 minutes then he slowly came to. He uprighted him self but just laid there with very labored breathing. Then I noticed his gums and tongue were pale and I knew it wasn’t good. I desperately started trying to google his symptoms but realized he had to be rushed to the vet right then and now and called them, they said bring him in now. Rigby was able to get up and wobbly walk to the car and go up his ramp to get in and my husband stayed home with the twins. He was able to walk into the vets with his head hung low. The vet took him immediately back for blood tests and X-rays then came back with it written all over her face. Blood tests showed he was anemic and X-rays showed there was a mass on his spleen, she was holding a syringe filled with blood she got out of his abdominal cavity. I put my face in my hands, I knew what it all meant. She said chances were very high it was a type of aggressive cancer, told me about surgery that might give him 2-3 months at best or she could put him down cause he was dying and wouldn’t make it through the night. That hit me like a ton of bricks. She did say there was a slim chance it was not cancer and he might live the rest of his natural life… I needed my husband. I called him and told him what was happening and that I needed him and he called my daughter to come get the twins and he came. He asked the vet what exactly were the chances it was cancer and she said over 70% but that because it already burst and he had so much blood loss he could die during surgery and his recovery would be hard. My dog had already gone through a painful huge fatty tumor removal and torn ACL a couple of years ago that was sooooo painful and hard on him. My heart wanted to give Rigby the chance but I knew logically we needed to let him go peacefully and not put him through anymore surgeries and pain. I asked my husband, not considering what I wanted, what did he think we should do and he said to put the dog down. His eyes were red and welling with tears and sniffling, he never does that. So that’s what we did. I stroked Rigby’s head telling him how good a boy he was as he died… it was horrible. We were in shock. We live in the country so we told them we would take him home and bury him, we’re older so my son-in-law came and helped. Then for two days I was racked with guilt that I didn’t give the dog a chance, it was just eating at me. With my other dogs they were elderly when we put them down, it was their time and it was a relief, but this guy was so full of life… it wasn’t his time. Then people started telling me how this happened to them and their dogs all had the cancer and that we did the right thing. My sisters dog had the cancer and died, my brother’s dog, he did the operation and his dog had the cancer and died shortly afterwards anyways. Another person’s dog had the cancer and only made it 3 weeks after the surgery. Then I found this blog and read all the comments… I know now in my heart we did the right thing, and it brings me peace. Thank you for this. (Rigby was the most obedient dog I’ve ever owned. He had that shepherd want to please you attitude. He was sensitive and greatly did not want to displease anybody. Even if you nicely told him to stop something he’d go to the other person and lay his head on their lap to be comforted. He was great with all our friends, family and kids. He had so much personality and even taught himself games like pushing a ball down the stairs, running down to get it and back up to push it down over and over. And when I was soooo sick and suffering coming out of the ICU with an acute attack of an autoimmune disease that attacked my nervous system he was glued to my side laying his head on me. We’ll never forget him.)
Hi Treece,
My heart breaks for you on the loss of Rigby. He sounds like he was an amazing dog and it is clear what a special part of the family he was. I’m so thankful that after talking to friends and family and reading the blog comments, you are now at peace with the decision to euthanize him rather than pursue surgery. You made the hardest, most loving, and most selfless decision you could for him, and it was the right one. Sending hugs as you go through the grieving process and as you remember Rigby and the pawprints he left on your heart.❤️
I was blessed to pick up my baby boy Dre at 6 weeks old in 2012 while I was 21 years old, both of us still babies. I told my parents I found him in downtown Los Angeles although my grandparents helped me adopt my boyo at a rescue. Dre became my husband at that point my beautiful German shepherd Labrador Pitbull mix brought all the love and joy into my life that I would I ever need, also would probably never allow a boyfriend in my life, we tried haha. My boy is so loyal loving energetic and absolutely crazy. Spending my 20’s with my boy saved my life in so many ways, I did party quite a bit and was learning about life, but he is the reason why I was ready to leave the party and get home to Dre. His nose in the door waiting for me, barking and yelling at me if I was on the phone too long, putting his body out my sunroof driving down PCH for miles. Dre is the love of my life.
At 32 now, I have had to take my free time and grow up get a job go to school, I am in nursing school now and working for a surgeon. I hate leaving my boy in the morning but ensure his favorite show is on and snacks hidden around the house. I felt guilt for not being able to be with him 24/7 as i used to when I was younger but he was always my number 1, I don’t leave his side otherwise and he never has left mine.
I work a weekend job as well and sleep well into my Saturdays where he does with me so mom can get some rest, my weekend job provides for us so I do not like to take off work. I was offered to join a conference in Newport Beach with a doctor I work with as well as my best friend who is a nurse. Her baby boy Bentley is Dre’s best friend so I said screw it let’s take the boys and I’ll take off work so they can have a vacay. I came home from work Friday, November 10th around 5 pm to Dre of course finding a piece of salmon sushi from the night prior, I am aware of raw salmon parasites in dogs so I kept my mind aware. Dre eats anything haha If I would allow him to. He’s a bigger dog it was a small piece, my thoughts it would pass through.
Walking into the hotel I took a video of the boys entering the hotel room soooo happy. We had 20 minutes to change to get down for dinner, as I went to give my boy a kiss and a treat he didn’t take the treat which was already odd. I called the vet at dinner to explain the salmon situation and checked on him. He had thrown up once and nothing else, good feces and all. The vet told me if he is not continuously doing so, he’s probably just rejecting it, he was eating some grass so I say oh baby you don’t feel well you’re soothing your tummy. He tried to get off the bed multiple times during the night, I was checking his gums they were picking so I assumed to get off the bed to vomit like he usually would. My bub is 11 so I obviously help him on and off even thought my doggy is still so active and healthy as of our vet visit check up 3 weeks prior.
In the morning I noticed a bit of labored breathing, I called the vet and didn’t want to take any chances so I went to get the bell hop to help me cart him to my car my baby was collapsing. I get to the vet and triage my boy, the medical assistant holds my hands and says “please get the word salmon out of your head it’s not the salmon” i think she did this knowing I was in a panic my dog was perfect less than 24 hours prior. He was rushed on a gurney and I was left with no answers other knowing that the only thing in my head could be possible is this salmon. Dres vet walked into the room and explained he had pericardial effusion, I do work in medical so I do know what the term means, he was bleeding into his pericardial sac due to a mass that has ruptured. I had her aspirate the blood no matter the cost at that point knowing it was possible the procedure would not give my boy success. My best friend and Dre’s best friend arrived to comfort me and to help me understand what’s going on my head was spinning. The blood started to flood his heart again and there was abnormalities in his abdomen as well as fluid. She explained my baby was dying. Neither of us had a choice, neither of us knew. Knowing I had no other decision I asked to ensure I get to be with my baby the whole time after begging her to let me take him home so he’s with me a comfy, she informed me it would be awful for us both to be stressed to get back to Los Angeles where he probably wouldn’t have made it there.
I didn’t want my baby to suffer, he was brought into a comfy room with mommy his best friend his auntie and grandma on the phone. I look around and a random number “1103” was written on a white board, this is my apartment number, we were home. I held by baby and talked to him and made jokes about his looking away from mommy crying. He used to kiss me but again throughout your 20s you cry a lot, at a point Dre Jsut walks out of the room, like mom stop you cry too much.
The vet informed me that giving the propofal he would try to breath by hovering and not to worry.
My baby, instead showed me his belly, my friend informed me the get started to cry and said she’s never seen that happen because anatomically it’s incorrect. My boy was telling me he’s okay. I held his body as he transitioned over the rainbow. It was the worst day I could think I would and will ever experience but I was blessed. My boy passed or 11.11, I live on the 11th floor and get press the button every day .
If for some reason I did not go that weekend I would have woken up with my precious baby deceased in my bed thinking I killed him because I left salmon in the trash.
I received his labs and all diagnostics and started researching, he had hemangiosarcomas is both his spleen and heart, I believed both ruptured that day, when I picked him up on Thanksgiving I aasked to run through the labs with me. She informed me if I had a billion dollars at the time and how aggressively his sarcomas ruptured it would have been the same outcome. If I were to catch is 1-3 months prior that would be his prognosis with surgery and chemo. My baby didn’t have to suffer I am happy we didn’t catch this early or my baby wouldn’t have been able to be at his favorite place, the beach when he crossed over the beautiful rainbow. I l feel very lost I have never lived on my own without my boy, it is difficult but he’s with me and I feel him every day. I miss my baby so much, Dre is the biggest blessing to ever be given, I am so lucky to have experienced a love and connection we have. Hold your babies tight they’re the best, they are amazing, they are present, they are perfect
Dear Jay,
I am so sorry for your loss of Dre. It is clear he was amazing and a once in a lifetime kind of pup. Thank you for sharing his story with us. I assure you he will not be forgotten, and his legacy will live on. May his memory be a blessing in your life and stay with you always. ♥
My Tibetan Terrier Enzo is 13years old, he has given us many a health scare with several cancer investigations and severe autoimmune IBD, all of which turned out to be benign or treatable so part of me was hoping this would be another of his dramatic ( and expensive!) false alarms.
Thursday night he showed signs of a nasty UTI which appeared out of no where so as a precaution I took him to the emergency animal hospital. During the examination the vet did a quick ultrasound check and noted a “huge” mass on the spleen and “something not right” with the liver.
Follow-up today with a specialist ultrasound vet has shown a 6cm mass on the spleen plus 4 smaller ones along with 4-5 masses in the liver.
I understand with liver metastasis we are almost certainly faced with a highly malignant tumour and spleenectomy is no longer a option so we must consider the best palliative care.
The good news is there is no abdominal bleeding and he is perfectly happy and his usual self completely over the UTI.
The bad news is I must make decisions on his behalf and I’m extremely concerned that my desperation to postpone the inevitable will not be in his best interest and turn his last weeks/months into a round of miserable medical experiments. He has severe separation anxiety and generally is highly stressed just at our family vets.
I dont know if chemotherapy or chinese mushroom extracts will do anything other than drag this out or if I’m denying him a more comfortable passing.
Hi Clare,
My heart goes out to you on Enzo’s presumptive hemangiosarcoma diagnosis. I would agree with the vet and specialist that unfortunately the fact that there are masses in the spleen and liver points to an aggressive cancer rather than a benign mass. It is great that he is feeling so good now, but in a lot of ways that probably makes it all the harder to know what to do. Some dogs with hemangiosarcoma go on to have more good time, while others decline rapidly when the tumors start bleeding. And sadly there is no good way to know which category your dog is going to fall into. As you have gathered from the article and all the other dog parents who have shared their story, there is no universally right answer.
Talking to a veterinary oncologist (if you didn’t already) might be a good way to get a better idea of what chemotherapy might look like for him (side effects, treatment frequency, prognosis, etc.). And oncologists are also often skilled at discussing the pros and cons of palliative care, so that might help with some of your other questions too.
I’m sure this is a lot to take in, so you may need to take some time to regroup and create a plan. In the end though, I’m confident that you will be able to find the way forward. Thinking about you and wishing you clarity and peace in these tough times. ❤️
Thank you for your insightful article. My sincere condolences to all who have lost their beloved pets. Buffon, a Jack Russell was 13,5 years old when he was crossed on November 7, 2023. My Mom passed away in May 2021, and I took Buffon into my family. He was an incredibly strong boy and loved his walks and food (especially his chicken breast and brown rice for dinner). On November 1, he went for a monthly check-up to the vet. He had chronic lymphoplasmacytic rhinitis, which was starting to stabilize and the vet was pleased with his health. On November 5, he ate very little, To that day he had never refused a meal. He was also very slow on his walk and we had to turn around to take him home, I phoned my vet and she prescribed an anti-nausea pill, which seemed to bring him around the following day. On November 7, he was lethargic and we didn’t go for a walk. I looked at his gums – they looked slightly pale at that stage. I booked an appointment to see the vet. Three hours later, as we were getting into my vehicle I looked at his eyes, which seemed dark, and his gums. His gums were white – I’ve never seen such white gums in a dog before. We got to the vet, who immediately ran blood tests and did an abdominal ultrasound. His blood tests were all normal except for a drop in his red blood count, making him slightly anemic. After the vet had done the ultrasound, she called me urgently into the consulting room. She told me that Buffon had ruptured hemangioma sarcomas on his spleen and his liver and that he was dying. I held him in my arms and he licked my face and tears. I told him how much I loved him. The vet sedated him and he fell asleep in my arms. Then we gently placed him on the table and we crossed him over the rainbow bridge. This is the second dog that I’ve lost to this disease. My other dog, Dante, an Italian Greyhound, was euthanized at 8 years. He had the cancer in his spleen and kidneys. Never, did I expect any of my dogs to go through this again. It’s one of the most invasive and aggressive cancers that strike without warning. I’m praying and hoping that ongoing research will one day reduce its incidence. My heart goes out to everyone here. The pain I feel is indescribable. I’m just gutted and shattered.
Dear Sanchia,
My heart aches for you with your recent loss of Buffon. What a blessing you were able to be with him in those final moments. I am certain your presence was a comfort and that he knew how much you loved him. I pray one day this disease will be a thing of the past. Until then, we will continue to love our pups fiercely and make sure they experience joy in each day. Wishing you comfort and peace as you continue life’s journey. Bless you. ♥
It’s been 10 days since I suddenly and unexpectedly lost my 11 year old golden Pyrenees pup. She had a clean bill of health at her 6 month checkup, walked 2 times a day, was her normal self Sunday and then Monday morning wouldn’t get out of bed, wouldn’t eat, had very pale gums, and looked very disoriented when she did try to get up. Rushed to the ER where they took her straight to the back. We were traveling out of state so this was a random vet which made the situation even more stressful. After a series of tests and ultrasounds, it was determined to be a splenetic tumor rupture. I was told the odds and prognosis and was ready to get the spleen removed but then the vet said another nodule was found on her liver so her odds of it being malignant was even worse and she mentioned euthanasia. I just can’t wrap my brain around how we went from normal to dying in less than 12 hours. And the options were stabilizing her for surgery with blood transfusions immediately or saying goodbye immediately. Money wasn’t a problem and as much as I wanted to try everything, I opted to make the heartbreaking decision to let her go because the er vet made things so grim. I can’t stop thinking about it and wish I could have had time to process and ask more questions. I want to believe I did the right thing by her even though I’m a mess. She lived a very full life and I have so many wonderful memories, but I’m tormented right now about the decision to not try everything. She was so incorporated into my life, I feel like I let her down.
Dear Jess,
I am so sorry for the loss of your beloved pup. I can only imagine how much you must miss her. I absolutely feel you made the right choice in giving her a peaceful goodbye. I hate that your decision felt rushed but with the life-threatening bleeding that was happening, a quick decision was needed to prevent unnecessary suffering. I am certain your girl knew how much she was loved and that your presence was a comfort in her final moments. I hope with time your heart will begin to heal and the grief will be replaced with peace. Praying for your comfort and may the memories of all the good times you shared bring you joy.
I’ve had this blog open in a window of my laptop for nearly a month. That’s how long it’s been since one of the worst days of my life – the day I lost my Kearney boy. In those first days after losing him I was searching for answers, searching for anything really that could give me some insight into what I had just been through. This page helped me to understand a little bit more and I thank you for posting this blog. Like so many others, I had no idea that this was something to look for and worry about until I was being asked to euthanize my beautiful boy by an emergency room vet who was telling me about internal bleeding and hemangiosarcoma at 3am. I was completely dumbfounded because just before we went to bed my lovable floof was running around the yard like a crazy boy, only stopping to get hugs and give kisses between laps.
I got Kearney from a local rescue. He was the one dog in the litter without an application, but his foster mom told there was something special about him. My husband and I talk about how lucky we are that no one else knew that there was such a beautiful soul in the litter because he was the kindest, sweetest, most vocal and loving dog either of us has ever known. He thought every creature was his friend, but never strayed far from his pack. He followed me everywhere and was always by my side (well, except when college football is on the tv…that’s too stressful for any of us!). My handsome goofball would have turned 9 in January. I feel like he was robbed and the world lost a good boy that night.
I too noticed that Kearney (and his older brother Misio) had diarrhea a few weeks before that night. I didn’t think much of it because both have been pretty picky eaters and had bouts with stomach issues periodically, so I thought that was probably it and gave him some easy-GI foods to help. When he woke me up at 1:30am, I thought he needed to go out, but then quickly realized that he was breathing heavily so I checked the temp, tried to soothe him in case he was just scared, and then I looked at his gums. They were so pale. I woke my husband up and we rushed him to the ER vet. Never did I think those would be the last tail wags, kisses, and looks we would exchange. After going through options and me telling the vet I could not give up on him and that I had to fight for him, she said she’d try to get him ready for transport. But then she came back to tell us she was having a hard time getting a BP. (How could this be?!?!?!? He was just looking at me and wagging his tail!). I asked to see him and immediately wrapped my arms around him so he could feel me there with him. I made sure to tell him he was a good boy, that I loved him, and that it was ok. He surprised the vet by picking his head up and then made a classic Kearney “chewbaca” noise before laying his head back down on me. Shortly after he laid his head down, his heart rate increased and he was gone. I’ve never lost a dog so abruptly or unassisted, and I’m not sure if or how I’ll ever understand HSA or why this happened, but I’ll always cherish the time I had with my Kearney boy. He was a beautiful soul that made the world a better place.
Since then I’ve learned so much about this disease and am still shocked that there isn’t more awareness of it. Thank you for posting this article and spreading knowledge about this horrible disease. It’s been helpful in my journey to cope with this new life we’ve all been thrown into.
Hi Patty,
My heart goes out to you on the loss of Kearney. Your tribute to him was beautiful (and made me laugh when you go to the part about college football). It is clear how much you loved him and what a special, one-of-a-kind dog he was. I’m so sorry that you lost him in such a sudden and traumatic way. Hemangiosarcoma is so heartbreaking because it often causes dogs to go from fine to gone in a short period of time, leaving their parents shocked and devastated. You are in my thoughts as you grieve this loss, adjust to life with a Kearney-sized hole in it, and remember all the good times you had together. ❤️
My 12 year old German Short Hair was just very ill all of the sudden. I had already decided at her age I would not do anything but supportive care if she developed cancer. The vets believe this is what she has. They put her on the Yunnan Baiyo after she spent several hours in intensive care. She continues to eat like a horse, drink normal and act just like she did before her very sudden illness. I can’t help but hope it is the more benign form of tumor. But I am treasuring every day as a gift, and know my time is getting short with her.
This blog has me in tears, but it helps to know others really understand my pain. She is my heart dog. I have already found a vet that would come to my house should euthanasia become necessary. I won’t let her suffer. She has seen me through some of the toughest times in my life. I will see her through this.
Hi Maureen,
My heart goes out to you with the news of your heart dog’s potential hemangiosarcoma diagnosis. I’m so thankful that she is feeling good right now and hope that you are able to continue to have good days together for awhile yet. The deep love you have for her is so evident in this post. Thinking about you as you treasure the time you have left and prepare for that heartbreaking goodbye. ❤️
OMG, the same thing happened to us. Last Sunday we brought Farley to the vet because he just stopped eating. They found fluid in his belly and wanted me to either put him down or do exploratory surgery. We took him home and started Yunnan Bayou and he is back to normal!!
Hi Ravonne,
I am glad the Yunnan Baiyao helped to stabilize Farley and restore his quality of life. Please know that this could be a temporary fix and your boy may need additional medical attention. I hope you can figure out what option will offer the most benefit to you and your sweet boy. Wishing Farley all the best!
I am going through the same exact thing. I lost my 9 year old chocolate lab, Tucker one week ago and I can’t wrap my head around it. Just like you said, this article has helped me understand more. I’m so sorry you are going through this awful pain as well. Sending hugs
Hi Kelsey,
So sorry for the sudden loss of Tucker. I hope that in time you can find a measure of comfort in all the wonderful memories you shared together. Thinking about you in this time of grieving. ❤️
just happened to us yesterday. Dewey our 9.3 year old goldendoodle hadn’t been eating much for over a week. finally took him to vet for blood work and a senior exam. the next morning his poop was orange and I knew there was a problem. by the time I got to vets they said the test results showed low red blood cells and he was now anemic. bleeding internally, they did an x-ray and found masses on what they thought were spleen. said they would immediately do surgery to try and get the blood stopped and remove spleen mass. then they called and gave us the news that there were also masses on his liver and would not recover we made the gut wrenching decision to euthanize him while he was still under anesthesia rather than wake him to be in pain to say goodbye. went in with no clue that he had this aggressive ruptured tumorous cancer and that this would be our final farewell. we are beyond devastated. didn’t know there was any cancer that would rupture and take a dogs life so quickly. love your dogs each and every day.
Dear Judy,
My heart aches for you with your tragic loss of Dewey. As painful as it was to make the decision to say goodbye, you definitely did the right thing. Letting go was the only way to offer your sweet boy freedom from his suffering. I hope with time your heart will begin to heal and you will be comforted by the memories of all the good times you shared. May Dewey’s memory stay with you forever and continue to be a blessing in your life.
My boy, Felix is in this boat. he was diagnosed 3 weeks ago and his tumor is enormous. I couldn’t bring myself to euthanize him so he is on hospice with pain management right now as I try to figure out what to watch for. I don’t know how I’m going to survive this….he is also my heart dog. I don’t even want to think about his death, and I have to plan it?
Dear Gretchen,
My heart aches for you as you face this emotional decision for Felix. I can only imagine how hard it will be to say goodbye, but sometimes it is the only way to offer freedom from suffering and give a beloved pup the peace they deserve. I encourage you to reach out to a hospice vet in your area. They will help guide you along this difficult path and give you clear indicators for what to watch for. Here is a link to another article that may offer insight and advice: Preparing for Your Dog’s Euthanasia: 10 Thoughts for Peace
Praying for your strength and comfort for you and your sweet boy. ♥
Thank you for your blog on Hemangiosarcoma. My William a 14.5 year old cocker spaniel had a spleen tumour and it had spread to his liver as well we found it before it bled and had it removed and he now is having chemo. He needed to have a pericardiectomy because fluid was building around the heart and this operation was a success. He is managing well on his chemo and has a little cough but other than that he is doing well.
I have made plans for the end at home In France. I am aware of the stages and i guess all been well we are at stage 2 going into 3 and the plan is not to get to stage 4 where serious pain occurs.
My local vet gave me some real comforting words of wisdom.
She said to me; Remember this, unlike humans who are diagnosed and informed that they have cancer and are going to die, William doesn’t know he has cancer and he doesn’t know when he is going to die. if you choose the right time when he isn’t in pain and he has a good pre med he will drift off to sleep not knowing.
This gave me such comfort[ not easy for me having to watch and know] because i want him to enjoy the last bit of his life.
Dear Christopher,
My heart goes out to you as you face these last days with William. Your vet is absolutely right…we often focus on a good life, but a beloved dog also deserves a smooth and peaceful goodbye. As humans we look forward to the future, but dogs only focus on today. So, give your sweet boy the BEST today and make each day count. Wishing you both strength and comfort. Bless you!
Hi there,
Your blog was of great help as our beloved dog Harley, who is a 6 & 1/2 year old Kelpie has been diagnosed with hemangiosarcoma. Just over 2 weeks ago, Harley was fatigued and out of sorts all of a sudden and not eating or accepting any treats … even though he would typically gobble up any treat we offered him normally.. After contacting the vet, they had asked to check the colour of his gums which were a pale pink. They suggested he be taken to emergency right away. After heading to our emergency vet, we were advised that his abdomen was full of fluid and suspected internal bleeding. He was very weak and they were concerned as to whether he would make it. After performing X-rays and further tests, a mass on his spleen was detected and we were advised that it had ruptured along with the likely prognosis. We chose to progress with surgery and the splenectomy, still hoping with all our might that the mass may just be benign. At this stage, there were no other masses present on any other organs so once again, we were hoping that was a small sign that the mass may be benign.. Harley needed a blood transfusion during surgery and was in hospital for a few days before he was able to come home.. Within a few days of being home, he started to gain back his appetite and boy is he still loving his food right now! After a 2 week gruelling wait for results, we were told today that Harley has Hemangiosarcoma and that the cells appear to be moving quickly 💔.
We are now planning how we prepare for a peaceful at home euthanasia for our Harley 🙏. It terrifies us not knowing when his time will be up and having to then rush him to the vet to be euthanised. Harley has always been an anxious dog and does not cope being at the vet. As heart wrenching as losing Harley will be, our primary focus is to soak up the little time we have left with him and to provide him with the most peaceful and comfortable goodbye possible.
Thank-you for your blog. It has really helped us along our journey with Harley as we prepare to say goodbye to him ❤️
Dear Theresa,
My heart goes out to you as you face the emotional days ahead with Harley. I am sorry he has received this devastating diagnosis but am glad you have some answers and can make sure he remains comfortable and happy for as long as possible. Thank you for sharing his story with us as it helps others to know they are not alone. Harley’s legacy will not be forgotten. Wishing you strength and peace as you navigate this unknown path. ♥
I’m laying in bed at 5am in Japan on the first evening of my honeymoon, 5 days after getting married, with my Mom at an animal hospital at 6pm in the Midwest in the United States.
We said a happy goodbye to our dog Sidney and my mom at the airport about 36 hours ago. Woke up to a call from my mom at 3am. Now he’s laying on a cold table, barely alive. A mass on his spleen ruptured, and he has severe internal bleeding. They are now reviewing the x-rays to let us know if the cancer has spread already but said the outlook isn’t great.
How could I ever say bye over FaceTime? How could I ever live with myself knowing we didn’t do all we could? How could I put my 11 year old dog through the pain of a month long surgery recovery and just a couple more weeks of life just so that I can fly home and get to see him?
Dear Becca,
My heart aches for you and this tragic situation you were forced to be a part of. I am so sorry for what happened with your beloved Sidney. I am not sure how things played out. But I am praying you have found some peace and comfort amidst the sorrow. Wishing you happiness in your new marriage. Bless you. ♥
This Blog has helped me understand and cope with what happened to my dog. My dog was the best of the best- I know people say that, and I’ve had pets growing up, but not like the bond I had with Ky(my dog). I do not know how to put into words how much that dog meant to me and I him- he was hte most loyal dog (he would lay by me in bed always even if I slept in super late- he would never leave my side), extremely kind- to all other humans and dogs- he got nicknamed the “smiling dog” at doggy day care. protective as well but never in an aggressive way- just always checking who was trying to play with mom! he was nearly 12 years old.
I lost kyguy about a month ago and have been absolutely devestated and am still trying to grasp what happened. My Husband said he had been acting “weird” on a thursday night but he seemed ok to me (I got home late from work tho).. I came home on Friday over my lunch break to check on him- and noticed he didn’t seem to want to go on our normal walks- we didnt make it far but none the less he was chipper on the way back, I thought maybe he was having trouble with bowel movements and so that night I gave him a full thing of pumpkin-he gobbled it right up–was eating/drinking normal. next day seemed fine- it was raining so we couldn’t walk him but he was acting like himself- I didn’t notice anything wrong. Saturday night he seemed lathargic- but still came up to bed with me- would come when I called-etc. I told my husband we’d try and walk him the next morning and if he wasn’t feeing any better and I would take him to the vet if he wasn’t shaping up.
the next morning goes down as one of the worst for me. I got up and noticed he wasn’t in bed by me-very unliked him—- i came downstairs and he was lying on the floor. I noticed he had had 2 accidents in the house (v unlike him). My husband and I tried to get him up to go potty and he could barely walk- my husband was shouldering him on each side. I knew we had to get to the vet and fast. I had researched previously old age in dogs and heard they got diabetes- so honestly thought he was going into diabetic shock. We went to the closest emergency vet nearby cuz his vet wasn’t open and I could tell something was seriously wrong. By the time we got there, he could not stand or get up- We had to carry him into the waiting room to which we laid him on the floor. Luckily- the staff acted fast – checked his gums (i never knew to do this) and asked if he ran out of oxygen if I wanted to them to do CPR- I said yes.
The next thing I know i’m being pulled into a room with a vet whom I’ve never met explaining that my dog has a tumor in his spleen and is bleeding out. he said there was an 85% chance that this tumor was hemangiosarcoma- and that with Surgery and chemo they would give him about 3-6 months to live. I asked for any success rates- none- minus one dog that was 10 and had a benign tumor. , I asked for other options to make him comfortable- none. I asked for ANY other options- none. The vet prompted to consider euthanizia. the surgery also cost about 8-10k. The vet told us the first step in pursuing the surgery was to do an ultrasound to see if surgery would even be feasible. I opted for the ultra sound, for $1200. The vet came back, with a rather grim look on his face, telling us that hte ultra sound had revealed several light ups around the spleen, and then he saw a couple lesions on his liver- which he believed was the cancer. he told us the 85% chance this was hemangiosarcoma bumped up to 95-100%- and if the lesions were what he believed they were- and with everything else—-Ky’s time frame left with us just went from a possibility of 3-6 months to 1-3 months “if that”
He left us devestated, crushed, and in shock. I was worried we weren’t even going to be able to make a decision before he died because I could tell her was dying rapidly. The vet didn’t talk to us much about risks of the surgery- but I was so worried he wouldn’t make it through or would have serious complications due to his old age (almost 12-i had read german shepherds normally dont live much past 13)— the vet said that dogs can “bounce back” and can survive the surgery fine- — but I was very concerned with how old he was- how much it looked like he was actively dying. I also worried about the next month— my husband and I both work in office and I would hate for my bub to die if one of us wasn’t home-or at work— and we were supposed to be out of town as well. So in the end- in a manner of like 30 min- we opted to put him down. =( I asked the vet if its’ what he would do, he told me yes.
Since then i’ve been a total wreck. I had no idea this was even a thing. literally never heard of it. I had googled what german shepherds typically die from in old age and a lot of things said hip or elbow displaysia so I spent effort making sure he had happy healthy joints! At his vet check up in June they gave him glowing reviews! I event “felt” for tumors from time to time and never felt anything.
I have also been plagued with what-ifs, second guessing myself, and wondering if I should have tried the surgery. I worried about doing the surgery though and them him bleedding out if i was at work or out of town. or not with him. I’m thankful that my husband and i were both there with him, hugging him in his final moments. but i have had a hard time shaking what-if’s because I loved that dog so much and would love for him to be here with me.
It’s been 4 weeks now and i’m starting to feel more at peace we did the right thing but it kills me I had no other viable, good options- every other pet i’ve had we’ve been able to do fluids/medications/etc to give them a little bit more quality of life. I miss him so so much, but am thankful he lived a long, for the most part very healthy life, and we were able to be with him every step of the way.
Thanks for sharing your story and for others sharing theirs- it helps to know that we are not alone.
Dear Elissa,
My heart aches for you with your loss of Ky. It sounds like he was a once in a lifetime kind of pup and I can only imagine how much you miss him. I agree, you made the right decision to let go and give your boy freedom from his suffering and pain. It is clear he lived a happy life full of love and I am certain he knew how much he meant to you. I hope with time your heart will heal. May Ky’s memory live on and be a blessing in your life.
We had almost the exact same experience and our beautiful Benji passed away on Friday in my arms. He was a 13 year old Bichon cross and we’re all heartbroken.
Dear Kelly,
I am so sorry for your loss of Benji. Wishing you comfort and peace for your heart. ♥
Our experience this last 16 hours sounds identical to yours. Our beautiful Max (Shepherd/retriever mix) just experienced this scenario overnight. I’ve been up with him all night and we received the same news at emergency vet this am. I am a RN of 30 years and suspected he had bloat. Vet was gracious enough to show me the huge mass and free fluid on the ultrasound. We are sick but know we made the best decision for him. He just turned 11. Hugs to you! Thanks for sharing your story.
Dear Kasey,
My heart aches for you with your recent loss of Max. Praying for your comfort and peace. ♥
I let my dog Roxie go 5 weeks ago. She too had vomited several times off and on and had a bad case of diarrhea a few weeks before she died. The first time she vomited, she acted just fine again the next day so we assumed it was something she ate and were not overly concerned. When it happened again about a week later, I took her in but waited for the next available appointment, several days from the time she had vomited. The vet took a blood and urine sample. The next day, she vomited again and this time she defecated right beside me, without making any effort to get up at all. I called my husband who came home from work and I rushed her to the ER vet. They found internal bleeding from a ruptured mass on her spleen. I was told there was a 50/50 chance it was cancerous. I could either have them do surgery, which I was told that Roxie was not a good candidate for due to the internal bleeding, or I could let her go right then and there. I let her go. I keep questioning though, should I have done the surgery? what if it wasn’t cancerous and she could have survived the surgery and we could have many more years together? She was only 9 which I know isn’t young but she wasn’t that old. I’m still crying every day and feel like I will never be at peace with this. I love her so much. I feel terrible that I didn’t give her the attention she deserved in her last few weeks because my husband and I had our first baby end of July. Roxie was my original baby and before my baby and husband came along, it was just me and Rox. When she first got sick I even wondered and worried if it was because she was feeling left out and was depressed. I keep wondering, if the splenic mass was benign, would she have still been sick or was the vomiting and diarrhea an indication that it was certainly malignant?
Thanks for your blog above and thanks in advance if you can respond to this.
Dear Andrea,
I am so sorry for your tragic loss of Roxie. It is normal to ponder the “what ifs” while grieving and I understand why you are conflicted about your decision to say goodbye. But I truly feel you made the most loving choice, and I would have done the same for one of my own. It is clear Roxie was dearly loved and I am certain she knew and had no doubts about it. I hope with time your heart will begin to heal and you can find comfort in knowing she had a full and happy life. May her memory live on and be a blessing to you and your family. ♥
Our sweet baby Kobe recently fought this nasty disease. He was a Jack Russell, Black Lab, German Shepard mix. He was the sweetest, kindest dog in the world. One day out of the blue, he stopped eating his dry dog food. We started noticing labored breathing but we thought maybe he was just exhausted from our long walks and playing outside. We tried to get him into the vet, but our current vet would no longer see us because we had moved out of the county. So, we made an appointment with a local vet but it was 6 weeks out into mid November. In the meantime, we switched him to a moist dog food and he seemed to enjoy that until he didn’t. We knew we had to get him seen, so we called in a favor to a vet someone in our family knew and got him seen the next day. Kobe walked into that vet appointment so scared. His bloodwork showed extremely low platelets and severe anemia. X-rays showed a bleeding splenic mass, nodules all over his lungs, and blood in his abdomen. The vet said she did not recommend surgery due to Kobe’s age of almost 11 years and the nodules already present on his lungs. We left the vet on Tuesday devastated but we took our baby home hoping for a few more weeks with him. He seemed like a puppy again after that appointment. We started making him burger and rice and adding gabapentin to it for his pain. He was playful and joyous and spoiled for a few days. And then on Friday, 3 days after his appointment, he stopped eating again. This time he was breathing really hard and hiding from us, drinking water constantly and could not get comfortable, even struggling to go to the bathroom outside. We knew it was time but in our own selfishness, we could not accept it. The next morning, I called the vet and we took him in to be euthanized. He left this earth with us rubbing his neck and kissing his head like we had always done. We had this beautiful boy for almost 11 years and we can’t believe it happened so fast. He was sweet and kind, loved our children. Our surviving dog is sad and our family is devastated. Watching him leave us and burying him in our yard was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do in my life. I am full of sadness, wondering if he would have had a few more good days left, but I know I had to put my own wants aside and do what was best for my boy. Kobe deserved that much. Thank you for reading my story.
Dear Amanda,
I am so sorry for your loss of Kobe. I know you would have done anything to give him more time but what a blessing you shared almost 11 years together. It is clear he was dearly loved, and I am certain your presence was a comfort during his last moments. Thank you for sharing Kobe’s story with us. He will definitely not be forgotten. May his memory stay with you always and bring you joy. Wishing you all the best as you continue life’s journey. ♥
My dear sweet boy Fergus, 11 year old Irish Terrier, is currently at the vet recovering from surgery to remove a mass from his abdomen.
I’d been on 3 weeks leave last month and returned home to find Fergus looking very mildly chubby but I just assumed he’d been fed too much by his carers while I was overseas. He was still behaving normally, enthusiastic for walks, maybe slightly fussier with breakfast but he has been that way for the last few years as the weather gets warmer.
This Sunday, I groomed Fergus, we went to visit my Mum as she’s in care and he had an important job to do in cheering her up after she had a bad fall 2 weeks ago. Then we went to a dog friendly event at a local pup where Fergus gobbled down a doggo-burger (hamburger slider made especially for dogs). I noticed in the evening that his stomach looked swollen – as if he were heavily pregnant with a litter of pups. So first thing Monday morning I called the vet and we went in earky afternoon.
They did blood tests – all ok save for mild anaemia – & a spot ultrasound which showed a big mass in his abdominal cavity. They asked me to come back yesterday (Tuesday) with Fergus fasted so they could do full diagnostic ultrasound and chest xray. I was warned that the tumour could potentially rupture overnight. We spent a good portion of the evening with Fergus lying on my belly while I lay on the couch. He ate his favourite dinner – roast chicken.
I took Fergus back to the vet at 8am Tuesday. At around midday, the vet called and confirmed it definitely is a tumour. It was very large but did not appear to be bleeding, and his lungs were clear. I was told I had to make the decision whether to operate as they didn’t want to keep him under anaesthetic longer than necessary, or wake him up if I were to decide to operate as putting him under a 2nd time would be very tough on him. If I decided not to operate, they would not wake him up at all and would euthenaise him while under anaesthetic.
I rang and had a frantic talk to my sister – she lives interstate. I decided to give Fergus every chance and opted for surgery.
He came through surgery and has been in care since, while he has his vitals monitored, stays hydrated by IV fluid, they monitor him eating etc. I got to go and give him goodnight pats and tell him what a good brave boy he is & how much I love him last night, and lie with him for 15 minutes at the vet this morning.
I am still waiting biopsy results and should know by end of week if not early next week if its this nasty cancer. I hope above anything else it is not, but I feel sick to my stomach now knowing it probably is.
I love Fergus more than anything. I am struggling to come to terms with how quickly he got sick when he was otherwise such a healthy boy – we were only at the vet late August for his annual heartworm vaccine and he had a full health check including palpating of abdomen, with nothing abnormal found.
I wish I had been given more realistic statistics about survival post surgery if it is this aggressive cancer, and been told that it probably is this type of cancer. Had I appreciated the bleakness of the situation, I don’t think I would have opted to put Fergus through such a big surgery. It’s eating me up that I may have made the wrong decision and have put him through needless trauma with so little benefit. When I made the decision I thought the chances of a good outcome were more balanced. I wish I sought a second opinion, or had more information to hand… Time pressure was just so urgent., and I didn’t take him to the vet Tuesdsy morning expecting that he may have to be euthanaised on the spot. If I knew 24 hours ago what I know now, I would have rushed to the vet and held my little redhead while they euthanaised him and he peacefully went over the rainbow bridge. I feel so selfish, that I have let Fergus down, that he may spend his last days feeling horrible after a major surgery. I cant stop crying but I am trying to focus on the fact Fergus will be on pain relief, and we will get more days together. I just hope they are good days. I don’t want him to suffer…
Dear Nina,
My heart goes out to you as you navigate this difficult path. I can feel the emotion in your words, and it is very clear just how much you love Fergus. I honestly think you made a good choice in opting for the surgery. There is still hope that his nasty tumor was benign, and he could have many happy days ahead. Hear me when I say you have not let him down and are making the best choices you can to offer him the best quality of life. I pray you receive good news when the biopsy results are finalized. Hoping Fergus’ recovery will be quick and smooth. Wishing you both all the best. Bless you. ♥
Biscuit had an unknown didn’t show up in blood work or doctor visits tumor in her spleen and it ruptured just after midnight on the 21st Sept. she was running around chasing the cat and eating 2 innout puppy pattiesthen sudden collapse with pale gums. I had to carry her to the car. a very sinking feeling. they took her right out of my arms at the all night vet ..another bad sign….we couldn’t get money out of the bank and had to wait til 5 for their accountant to verify our check, but at least they had her down in the exam room with us we took turns holding the oxygen mask on her until five. I didn’t know then we were going to lose her later or I probably would have been bawling as it was we were holding out hope so we’re able to reassure her with calmness.
after the check was approved they did housands of dollars of diagnostics (at hospital care llevels) later they explained her spleen had a tumor that had ruptured. they said surgery had a fifty percent chance of her dying. they also said would cost 9000. too much. in desperation I called her regular vet one we started using a year ago I didn’t know what to expect but was desperate told them the situation how 9000 was too much and can Dr. Kim help her? even though it was afternoon he said he could, but they didn’t have blood for transfusion, but the all night vet place did have ability to do so it was agreed she would get it from all night vet then be transported to her regular vet. it won’t be complete until six when Dr. Kim closes. I was so scared. but he agreed to stay late with his staff if we paid after hours fee of 400. what a relief. whole she got the transfusion which took hours I found a pet ambulance so she could be transported in oxygen tent. another 750 but I couldn’t take the chance and she is worth it. in for a penny in for a pound I told the animal paramedic as I prepaid. the transport went great and they took her in to prep. I didn’t go talk to her I just said from the exam room we live you they’re going to help you. it was shocking how everything was slipping away so fast when no one ever said that was something that could happen to dogs. even if their blood work was fine, I had thought that meant she was healthy. I was so shocked. the hardest to grasp was that up until a few hours before shed been walking playing eating chasing and now seemed so far gone. whole his staff prepped her Dr Kim our vet said if he starts the surgery he sees that it is only the spleen with a one off tumor he will be able to just remove the spleen and tie off the vessels and she would be home with us tonight. she wouldn’t live too long after usually 1-3 months is all but we would have some time.. but if he saw that it had spread to the liver or other parts it was a bad prognosis with no real chance for recovery to pain and bleeding free state so then if that is the case he would recommend euthanasia. because she would suffer. he warned us that was actually more likely. but if course I believed my biscuit would be the lucky one. the vet said he would call us after they started the surgery if they found it had spread and we had to decide about euthanasia and he would bring her back out of anesthesia and we could say goodbye. However once they started the surgery he saw much more was wrong. and they called us. it was the saddest thing in my life but it meant a lot to me to tell her everything I felt looking in her beautiful loving eyes. my heart was breaking. I focussed on her though and not me or the past or the future but just on her and me in the eternal space that love exists in. that is what helped me thinking just of that moment as forever. like I would want if I was about to depart this world.
and then they said it actually helps your dog if you stay while they give them the euthanasia so we did and again I just thought what would I want if I was departing and I would want those I lived to stay with me so it was about her.
Biscuit you are our doggy forever and we will always love you.
it’s long feel free to edit I dont know if it helps just to know it happened to others or it helps someone know this potential emergency could happen with no warning really. I would just say you will be strong enough to get through it and whatever happens if you focus on being with your dog in a transcendent lovng way staying in the moment you will be at peace later. on that emergency day just be there for your dog that is what they want
Dear Sarah,
I am so sorry for your tragic loss of Biscuit. You did everything you could to give her the best chance at survival and ultimately made a loving choice to offer her peace and freedom from suffering. I am certain she knew how much you loved her and that your presence was a comfort in her final moments. Thank you for being willing to share her story with us. Biscuit will never be forgotten. May her memory live on and be a blessing in your life. ♥
Nina – My dog is in his final time with hemangiosarcoma and I plan to share the full story here soon as these stories have been so helpful for me. But, as I see this post is recent and Fergus may still be with you, I wanted to let you know how that surgery can still be a good option, even for malignant hemangiosarcoma, and you shouldn’t second guess. There are risks to every decision and choosing one you think is right, is right. Even if Fergus still passed, you can feel you did the best with what you knew, and he did have a chance. There are new things being learned every day about this disease. My beloved dog Patton had merely a cough and we took him to urgent care in June and quickly realized he had a bleeding mass. We did surgery and it turned out to be hemangiosarcoma. It wasn’t organ specific. It was so metastasized that the surgeon called me mid surgery to say it was everywhere and it wasn’t even the mass that was bleeding. We still took him home and I too had the fear the surgery recovery would be his last days. It wasn’t. We tried chemo treatments but he didn’t tolerate them well (very sick, was non shedding so lost all his hair) so quit after two (late August). We gave him Trementinib and Yunan Baiyo at home and he had 4 really great months where he was more energetic than he had been in a long time even (he just turned 12). Sadly he is succumbing now, but I don’t regret anything we’ve done. There is hope everywhere – of saving a dog from pain with euthanasia, of happy months after surgery. You had hope and you followed it. Sending you hope for a future with wonderful memories of Fergus, which I am sure will come.
Dear Allie,
Thank you for offering comfort and support to others in your time of hardship. I am sorry Patton is facing his final days but glad you have been able to make the most of them. Wishing you strength to continue down this emotional path. Bless you and your sweet boy. ♥
This post has just helped me tremendously. I just had to say goodbye to my Great Dane a few days ago who would have been 12 in just one month. At such an old age for a Dane I knew his time was coming so I was so intent on looking for any unusual symptom or bump because I wanted to be prepared for when his time had come. Sometimes I felt like I made too many vet appointments for smaller things but I wanted to ensure I caught anything early. He just received “perfect” bloodwork at his biannual senior appointment in August and other than some mobility issues, he was super healthy. And then the other night he was acting a little nauseous, breathing a little harder than usual but other than that acting completely normal, still demanding his nighttime treats. The next morning he was suddenly super lethargic, anxious and when I took him outside he just wanted to lay down and I had to use a lot of strength to get him to stand. We rushed to the vet and nothing showed up on his xrays so I was little relieved but then the ultrasound showed a lot of bleeding and what was most likely hemangiosarcoma. It was such a hard decision but I decided to not go through with the surgery. My vet was honest about the possible outcomes and we decided it would be too much for the old man to go through. Despite the usual grief of losing him, I have been struggling because I was always watching for signs of anything wrong and then of course it was something that you usually can’t detect early that took him down so devastatingly sudden. I have also been feeling a little guilty, wondering if I should have gone for the surgery but this post just gave me so much comfort that I did the right thing for him. So again, thank you.
I apologize for the rambling but I think typing this post is helping me out 🙂
p.s. my dog used your toe grips and they helped him so much in his final months
Dear Cameron,
I am so sorry for the loss of your Dane. Almost 12 years together is amazing! What a blessing to have had him by your side for so long. I am glad the article was helpful and offered some comfort and reassurance. You gave your sweet boy a great life and a peaceful ending as well. I’m not sure there is more anyone could ask. Thank you for sharing your story with our readers (and for the positive feedback about ToeGrips!). Wishing you nothing but the best as you continue life’s journey.
About seven months ago, they found a splenic mass in my 11 year old dog. The doctor said we have an option of getting surgery but he didn’t recommend it. We went to another vet and they said the same thing although they did tell us there’s no way to diagnose whether the mass is malignant or benign by examination, nor should you do a biopsy, it may burst the mass.
For the past seven months she has not been feeling well, up and down, fever, not eating well. We decided to get an evaluation at a real veterinarian hospital. We met Dr. Swartz and he explained everything to us. After speaking with him we realized that the only option was to do the surgery or she would surely die. This was the only way to find out if it was malignant or benign. .The doctor was amazing and the surgery went very well. She was up and walking within one day and ready to run within seven days after surgery. Of course, we still had one more week until the sutures were coming out, so we had to keep her calm. It was just so wonderful seeing that her pain was all gone and she is back to her normal self. We definitely understand that it may be malignant, but we will not know until the pathology comes back. We were very happy to hear that it hadn’t spread according to the ultrasound. The pathology will be the final answer as to what either it is cancerous or benign. My fingers are crossed and I am waiting patiently. It is definitely a big expense, but I would absolutely recommend getting the surgery. Seeing my dog back to her happy normal self is worth every dollar..
Hi Janine,
I am glad to hear the surgery was successful and your girl made a full recovery! Hoping you receive good news from the pathology report. It is so nice to hear these success stories. Thank you for sharing. Feel free to leave an update as things move forward. Best wishes to you and your sweet girl.
Thank you for this. I cannot read all of the comments because it is hurting me too much and I am honestly painfully sobbing right now. My Dozer is sleeping on the couch across from me now, he’s a beautiful blue pit who just turned 13 in August. I am forever grateful for all the time I have had with him but I have no idea how I am supposed to go on without him. My fiancé got him when he was 8 weeks old and I have been in their lives for 9 years. I’ve never loved anyone or anything like I love our pup. We’ve gone through having small mast cell tumors removed from his legs and smaller surgeries and I have always been beside myself leaving him at the vet because I can’t stand imagining coming back to get him and he’s not okay. I knew his stomach had began to look somewhat odd but then in July this year I woke up one morning and he was not okay. I knew something was wrong and I took him to the vet. I’ve no idea how we didn’t catch it sooner but the tumor is huge. All we can do is keep him comfortable. At this point it’s so large and we cannot afford surgery. I actually took him to the vet the day after I lost my job. We bought our home specifically for him, we didn’t want to have anyone say a word about his breed and we wanted him to have a big yard so we decided to buy our house so he would have a home. Now I am home with him every single day and I am thankful for the time with him but it is also the hardest thing to watch my best friend, the only one in the world who has never ever left my side for a second, slowly go downhill. He is still getting around and has good days but I am the one always here so I see all the bad and the good and it is tearing me apart. I never thought I would think “I wish it were me instead” about a pup, but I do. I’d take it from him in a heartbeat if I could just so he’d never have to feel bad at all. I apologize for going on and on, I am just struggling with this and I read this because I haven’t ever had to euthanize a pet before so I haven’t known really what to look for or how to help him. I have just been terrified he’s going to pass and I’m not going to be with him and I don’t want him to be alone or scared. When I read that you also have a Dozer I lost it. Thank you for sharing your experiences and explaining what to look for. I know a lot of people think I am a little crazy about him but I don’t have any children, he’s my child.
Dear Katie,
My heart aches for you as you face this emotional decision for your beloved Dozer. I know you would do anything to give him more time and take his pain away. It is clear how much you love him, and I am certain he knows. Try to make the most of these last days together and take advantage of every moment you are gifted. Praying for your strength and peace. Bless you both. ♥
I am going thru the same emotions is you pup still with you? I’m sick to my stomach a nervous wreck our sweet girl too😢🙏
Dear Debbie,
My heart goes out to you as you face this difficult situation. Wishing you comfort and strength.
Hello, Sunday october 1st we had to make the decision to put my 10yr old lab down. Phoebe was the sweetest and most beutiful soul I could’ve asked to grow up with. Im 17 now and she has been by my side every single day for the past 10 years, no matter what I did or where I went she would be fast behind me. But one Saturday Night I got a text that she had went outside and just collapsed in the lawn. My father took her back inside and she laid down while breathing very heavy. After a couple minutes of resting she got up again and went to the door. She then went outside and collapsed again. I raced home from school and we took her to the vet at midnight. The vet told us she has hemangiosarcoma with a heart rate of 200bpm and we have the 3 options. They said surgury (which we just cant afford), Pallitive (we went with that night), or to put her down. The vet did say that she is way happier and excited than most patients they see with this and thats why they even offered the pallitve treatment. Once we got home she would barely be able to get onto the couch without assistance and could barely catch a breath. When I woke up next to her in the morning she was even worse. Wouldn’t eat, wont get up, and is breathing so fast. We managed to get the pain killers, and herb pills into her mouth that we got the night before. After 2 hours she started to eat, walk and breath normal. She became herself again and had such a big smile on her. But at the same time, she was very bloated. My dad had already kind of decided after the very painful night and morning of her suffering on the ground that it was time to say goodbye. He said she’s not living much of a life like that and it would be better for her not to be in pain. I was a wreck, and frankly still am but all I keep thinking is that we did the wrong thing. Should we have stuck with the pallitive for a little, or did we do the right thing for her? We did have another vet confirm the diagnosis before we made the move to say goodbye.
Dear Toby,
I am so sorry for your loss of Phoebe. It sounds like she was a once in a lifetime kind of pup and what a blessing you were able to share 10 years of your life together. You absolutely did the right thing by offering your sweet girl rest and freedom from her suffering. It is ok to say goodbye before all joy and happiness is gone. I like to think we give them a great life and an even better goodbye. ♥ I can only imagine how strange it is without her by your side, but I also know her memory will live on and stay with you forever. May the memories of the good days bring you comfort and joy. Wishing you all the best!
It’s almost 1am and I’m laying here sobbing. My rescue lab/pit mix, Mocha, is roughly 8 years old, perfectly healthy, and very active. After a full day that included a car ride and a playdate with two of his doggy friends, Mocha uncharacteristically took himself to another room and laid down trembling. I checked his gums and rushed him to the emergency vet. He was at the vet less than an hour after he finished zooming and playing in the yard. Vet found tumor on his spleen that has ruptured and is bleeding internally. Chest x-ray is clear. They are transfusing him and keeping him stable until a surgeon arrives in the morning to do a splenectomy. I am hanging on to the very small hope that it is benign. I’m 6.5m pregnant and Mocha is supposed to be the best big brother ever. Plus, he was abused for 2 years, then at the shelter for 3 years, and hasn’t even been with me for 3 years yet. He deserves to have more good than bad years. My heart is breaking as I prepare for the worst.
Dear Lia,
My heart goes out to you as you face this uncertain future for Mocha. I can only imagine how worried you must be, but it sounds like he is in good hands and getting the attention he needs. I pray his surgery went well today and that he will have a smooth recovery. Hoping the pathology report will bring good news. Feel free to leave an update and let us know how Mocha is doing. Wishing you both many happy days ahead and congratulations on welcoming a new baby very soon. ♥
I’m so sorry to hear about Mocha and hope she pulls through this. My dog also became sick out of nowhere in a similar manner on July 30th and she got her splenectomy the next day. The results came back as HSA 5 days later. For almost 2 weeks, I was a crazy person digging through everything I could read on the internet and came upon Dr. Buzby’s posts. Not only am I grateful for her generosity in sharing her personal experiences with sweet Lulu and Swiper (they were so helpful and I cried my eyeballs out reading through them), but it was here that I came upon a comment that gave me a sliver of hope–the fact that there are holistic ways of treating this horrible illness (success rates differ but my dog is surviving through a couple of bleeds right now thanks to their sharing of experiences and recommendations). I recommend that you check out a facebook group called Hemangiosarcoma Diet and Supplement Protocols (https://www.facebook.com/groups/422464568087083/). I also learned that jumping up and down the couch/sofa or running can cause life-threatening bleeds (that’s what happened 2 weeks ago for me and I thought I was going to lose her). When the bleeding stops, my dog is her happy self. However, the bleeds do seem to be coming in shorter intervals these days (she’s just passed the 2-month mark). When she’s not bleeding, I have her on yunnan baiyao, I’m Yunity turkey tail, milk thistle, coq10, and b12 (also I’ve stopped giving her kibble and am feeding her Dr. Harvey’s raw vibrance/paradigm with cooked beef). I wish you and Mocha all the best.
Hi Nayoun,
Thank you for sharing your experience and for the positive feedback about the article! I am sorry your sweet girl is battling this terrible disease but so glad the holistic treatment is giving her a better quality of life. Wishing you and your pup many happy days ahead. Bless you both!
I’m using the same thing 🙏
Lia,
I am sorry for your loss. We lost our 12 year old Shar-Pei mix to hemangiosarcoma of the spleen August 26th. We had been so focused on her, we didn’t even realize it was national dog day.
I bent over to pet our dog Pea on June 27th and noticed bruising on the majority of her abdomen. We took her to the vet, and unfortunately they didn’t recognize it for what it was. We scheduled a follow up appointment and the bruising went away after a couple of days. The veterinarian at the follow up appointment noted some swelling and said to bring her back for another follow up in three weeks. Some light bruising came back. We went to the follow up appointment on August 24th. The vet xrayed her lungs, and they were clear. She did another view of the spleen and found a tumor the size of an orange. We were told she had maybe two months, and because of the bleeding the cancer had likely spread. We made plans to spend quality time with her and have her euthanized at home after Labor Day. Unfortunately that wasn’t to be. We woke up on the 26th to her whining and limping on the morning of August 26th. Her lymphnode in her groin was swollen causing pain and possibly cutting off blood circulation. I had watched both my best friend and his dog both suffer miserably and die of stomach cancer. I knew I didn’t want that for our Pea dog. We miss her terribly and carry the guilt of euthizing her.. Believe when us when we say we know what you are going through. We have filled our bedroom with her photos of happier times. Videos are on a thumb drive in the TV to watch as a reminder of how special she was. I suggest reading The Gift of Death on the Vetitude. Take care.
Dear Stephen,
My heart goes out to you with your loss of Pea. I am sorry things progressed so quickly and you were forced to say goodbye in order to spare her unnecessary suffering. It is clear she was dearly loved, and I am certain she knew. Thank you for sharing your story with us. May Pea’s memory be with you always. Wishing you peace and comfort.
It has been 21 months since my dog Nyko had his raptured spleen removed due to Hemangiosarcoma . A few days ago I noticed that he behaved the same way when his spleen raptured. I noticed his gums looked almost white. But in the morning he was back to be normal. I also noticed that at night he would have soft coughs for a few minutes before going back to sleep. I feel that maybe it is back. I don’t know how much time we have left with him. I am taking him to the vet this weekend for the checkup. My vet still in disbelieve that he has lasted for 21 months without any symptoms. I did give him turkey tail mushroom based pills right after his spleen removal surgery.
Hi Alex,
I understand your concern with the return of these worrisome symptoms in Nyko. I am glad you have an appointment to get him evaluated this weekend. Wishing you strength to face whatever lies ahead and comfort for your heart. Bless you and your sweet boy.
Dear Alex, did you give chemotherapy to your dog who lived 21 months after having his spleen removed. My dog has just had his spleen removed a week ago and I am trying to make a decision as to whether to give him chemotherapy or not. Regards Brent
My almost 13 year old pit/lab mix Shelby had been acting a little more tired than usual a few weeks ago. We took her to the vet, they said she had a fever and the results of her blood test were her white blood cells were a bit high. They thought it was an infection so they put her on antibiotics. After about 5 days and no improvement we took her back and had X-rays done. They said her spleen/liver looked enlarged so they would want to do an Ultrasound. A few days later they did they ultrasound and said she has cancer which they think started in the spleen and had spread to her liver. They said it was all over her abdomen and there wasn’t anything they could do. Said to just take her home and keep her comfortable. Throughout this she wasn’t eating much, so we were feeding her steak, salmon, chicken and ground turkey just to put something in her stomach. She was very lethargic, had a hard time getting up, falling down etc. We made the appointment yesterday to put her down earlier today. It was such a difficult decision. What made it a little easier for me was thinking there was never going to be that “perfect” time to do it. She lived a great life full of people and 5 other dog siblings. The night before we put her down we had a BBQ and she was in the den on the couch and we were in the kitchen. She was able to get up on her own and walk into the kitchen to be with everyone. We put her bed down and let her hang out with us all. Just the effort she put in to walk in to be with everyone made my heart melt. She was put down today, at home with her family surrounding her. I could see in her eyes she was ready. We talked to her and pet her until she was gone. She went so quick and was so peaceful. She’s been such a big part of my life and was such a popular dog with friends and family. People coming every day to say goodbye to her. I’m sure she loved all the pets and attention she got the past few days. She will be loved and missed for the rest of our lives.
Tim,
What a beautiful tribute to Shelby. Thanks for sharing her story. I’m so glad she felt up to joining you in the kitchen during the BBQ and that you were able to say goodbye to her at home, surrounded by her favorite people. She was clearly a treasured member of the family and an amazing dog in general. Sending love as you grieve this loss. ❤️
We had to put our lab/pit mix shadow down on June 16th this year. She was 13 and in great shape for her age until she became sick out of nowhere. She would not eat or want to walk on occasion for about 2 weeks until one day we took her out and she was limping badly and had a swollen belly. Long story short we took her to the hospital and discovered she had stomach tumors that had bled out. Surgery and chemo was $15,000 and they estimated her life expectancy to be 6-12 months. So we had to make the painful decision to put her down. It was all so sudden, one moment she’s on a walk with us and 3 hours later we’re ending her life. Words cannot describe the amount of pain I felt and still feel. I had suicidal thoughts for 3 weeks and was constantly crying at work. She had been with me for almost half my life, one of the few real friends I’ve had in my life. I felt awful for putting her down and not going with surgery. The guilt was eating me up knowing she could still be with me. The empty feeling when your companion is gone is so painful I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy. The only thing that brings me comfort is knowing that she had a wonderful life and was embraced in loving arms in her last moments.
Oh Walter, your pain is so evident in this post and my heart breaks for you. I’m so thankful that you are still here with us. Keep wading through the grief day by day or hour by hour because you matter.❤️ Please don’t hesitate to reach out to a pet loss counselor or to call one of the pet loss hotlines (see link below). Losing a dog so rapidly is incredibly difficult to process and beyond heart breaking. It is clear how much you loved her and that she had a wonderful life with you. You absolutely made the right choice to set her free, and I’m thankful you were able to hold her until the end. Thinking about you!
Pet loss resources: OSU Pet Loss Support and Online Resources
This site is so helpful and I thank the contributors for their helpful tips even in their time of grief. My constant companion my 10 year old Norfolk Terrier was having short shivering, fits once or twice a night, reaching vomited his breakfast once and had blackish poo for a fortnight( now improving more normal). He’s on hydrolysed protein kibble, some raw carrots and cooked plain vegetables but we cut out the sprats and Yumove as a result of this he’d been doing well on them before these shivering fits..
A CT scan last week showed that he has multiple splenic nodules under 5mm and a enlarged spleen that was bright on ct – the fna sample was benign luckily but now I fear that these lesions will grow and bleed without any treatment. The spleen imaging looked like a starry sky so highly vascularised. platelets are normal.
Are multiple nodules under 5mm a precursor to anything or, as he is an older dogs is it possible that all the nodules are benign? I was distraught and now I have accepted the situation I’m very anxious not to miss out any action that can help now but it seems there’s nothing!
Hi Mara,
I am sorry you are facing this difficult situation with your senior terrier. Unfortunately, the presence of multiple nodules and/or size does not lend any clues as to if this is a benign or cancerous condition. The only way to get a definitive diagnosis (and prognosis) is to have the spleen removed and send off tissue samples for pathology to review. My best recommendation is to continue to monitor this closely with your vet and have them give you guidance as to when surgery would be indicated. Hoping for the best and wishing you and your sweet boy many happy days ahead.
I put my beloved Coco to sleep yesterday. She was suddenly very picky food wise. Would only eat a little or nothing. She’s always been a chow hound so I noticed that right away. Then she started to become bloated. So I took her to the vet yesterday (Wednesday) morning. And was sent to an emergency hospital. There I was told that she had extensive tumors on her liver and spleen, and was bleeding a lot internally. And her abdomen was noticeably more distended than even that morning. The doctor recommended euthanasia right away as her blood pressure was dropping quickly. I agreed and was with her, petting her, and telling her she was the best girl ever. I’m posting this, because it has really been helpful to read all the other posts. Also posting because it was so fast. From noticing her lack of appetite to putting her to sleep was all within five days. In the morning at the 1st vet she seemed herself, wagging her tail and barking at other dogs. By the time we got to emergency she was very apathetic. I first noticed the appetite loss on Saturday, I took her to the vet early Wednesday morning and lost her mid afternoon Wednesday. Five days. I know there was nothing to be done. I only wish I’d taken her in on Monday, so the whole family could have been with her at home when she was finally put to sleep. In many ways she was my best friend. I’m still in shock.
Hi Webster,
I’m so sorry for the loss of Coco. It does seem like so often hemangiosarcoma hits out of nowhere and then rapidly becomes life-threatening. I’m glad you were able to be with her at the end but understand your sadness that the rest of the family couldn’t be there and you weren’t able to do an in-home euthanasia. It sounds like you made the best decisions you could in the middle of a very difficult and heartbreaking situation. Sending love as you grieve the loss of your sweet girl.❤️
Today has been the most shocking and painful day of my life; and it’s still going on, feels like endless stabbing into my heart. Over the last two weeks our sweet dog Joker got so skinny, lost his appetite gradually, and has been very lethargic, not getting excited for anything. And his belly seemed swollen for the last few days, but I thought it was from drinking too much water. Today we went to the vet, feeling scared but still hoping for nothing very serious. After we talked about all the symptoms, they did the blood test, bunch of other tests and x-ray; and all the results pointed out a huge splenic mass in his abdomen. First they mentioned an emergency surgery possibility, but when they did a chest xray they detected metastatic spread in the chest area already. So that brought us to the worst conversation possible; they prescribed some pain medication, appetite stimulant and said we can spend a few more days with him, keep him comfortable and in the meantime we should schedule his humane euthanasia before he faces a painful death from bleeding inside. Just in case we asked for a second opinion and the results were sent to a radiologist; unfortunately they also agreed about the diagnosis and hopelessness of the situation. Now our poor baby is laying beside me, ever since we brought him back home he couldn’t stand up at all; kept laying and has been breathing very fast for the last 5 hours at least. I’m scared that he won’t even make it to the morning at this point. It is just terrible to see him sentenced to death. Reading all the stories here and seeing lots of unfortunate pet parents going through similar scenarios has given me some emotional support, but of course it doesn’t make the pain any less. We were thinking about scheduling euthanasia towards the end of the week to spend some more time with him, but looks like it will have to be tomorrow assuming he will survive the night. When we adopted him from the shelter his age was estimated as 2; now it’s been only 4 years together and we have to say goodbye to him so unexpectedly. His abdomen got so big that it might be putting pressure on all the internal organs and causing him so much pain; hearing his helpless fast breathing and not being able to do anything about it is unbearable. I wish all the pets could live a happy healthy life without dealing with any type of sickness, they are so innocent all this pain they have to go through is not fair at all. I feel so stupid for all the small things I felt sad for in the past; now real pain slapped me in the face by taking away my sweet baby.
Dear Isabel,
My heart aches for you with your recent loss of Joker. I am sorry his health declined so rapidly and forced you to make this emotional decision. I know his time with you was short, but it is clear you gave him a wonderful life. He was well loved, and I am certain he knew. Thank you for being willing to share your story with us. I pray with time you will find peace. May Joker’s memory live on and be a blessing in your life.
This is the first article that I’ve read that made me feel somewhat closer to peace. My little Henry (whippet lab mix) was diagnosed with hemangiosarcoma on his spleen with lesions all throughout. I started noticing his appetite decline a few weeks ago and put it off as an adjustment since we just moved from Washington to Arizona around the same time. But I figured I’d try to get into a vet anyways and get some updated vaccines. After waiting nearly two weeks for an appointment and barely any food Henry had lost 9 pounds and for an under 40 plus buddy that’s a lot. I could see his ribs, hips, spine. It was heart breaking. We got in on the weekend and had an X-ray show a mass in his abdomen. After an agonizing weekend not being able to get an ultrasound or anyone to take a look at him. We finally got someone to do an ultra sound revealing the mass was 6x8x6. Huge for his little body. We declined surgery as the surgeon wasn’t comfortable due to the high risks. And took him home. I’m sitting on the floor next to him right now trying to find the courage to schedule a in home euthanasia but it hurts so much. He seems to be sort of eating and all I want is to think he’s okay. My biggest fear is letting him go too soon because sometimes he has energy and sometimes he eats. But I know that’s not enough for a good life. All these comments and this article has helped me understand more that I’m making the right choice. Doesn’t mean it’s easy or feels any better. But at least I can have some understanding that I’m not alone and this is the best route.
Thank you
Hi Andrea,
My heart goes out to you. What a challenging time between the stress of a move and finding out that your beloved Henry has a hemangiosarcoma. It is so difficult to face saying goodbye. Yet as you said, quality of life is so important. I hope that you were able to have a beautiful and meaningful goodbye with Henry and that you will be able to find peace and comfort as you grieve this loss. Thinking about you!
I’m in the same boat as everyone else’s stories right now. We noticed wheezing when my lily girl (11 year old German shepherd mix) was sleeping and got her to the vet the next day. Saw fluid around the lungs and 2 masses on her spleen. We went to an animal hospital/surgeon that was referred the next day and were going to have her spleen removed, however, they had to take the fluid off her lungs to do the surgery, and we discovered the fluid was blood which likely means more tumors in the chest area, and surgery would be essentially unnecessary torture making her last month stressful and painful. She’s totally fine now that they drained the blood from her chest cavity. They think it was a very slow bleed that took a month or more to build up cause it looked like it had been sitting there for quite a while. So now I’m torn, cause she’s eating and playing and happy, but eventually the blood will fill back up. But do I wait until signs of the wheezing or lethargy? Or go ahead and put her to sleep sooner to avoid the chance of one of the spleen tumors rupturing and causing pain? It’s such a difficult place to be in. Trying to do what’s best for her, but putting her to sleep when she’s so full of life feels wrong. But so would seeing her suffer due to a rupture we could have avoided by laying her to rest sooner, since the near end is inevitable….we just don’t know how much time it will take for symptoms from the slow bleeding to come back…I know it’s a very difficult and personal decision, but I’d love to hear what you would do if it were your pup?
Dear Kayla,
I know you are in an impossibly difficult situation right now and I wish I could tell you what is best. I try to err on the side of caution and would rather say goodbye one day too early rather than one day too late. It is ok to let go while your beloved pup still has some joy in their life. I am not sure I would want to wait till all happiness is gone and only pain and suffering remains. With that being said, knowing when the “right time” comes is a grey area and is usually more of a window of time rather than a specific day. You have to trust your instincts. You know your sweet girl better than anyone. I will attach links to other articles with more information. I hope you can find the advice you need to choose the best way forward. Wishing you comfort and peace. Bless you both. ♥
1. Preparing for Your Dog’s Euthanasia: 10 Thoughts for Peace
2. Dog Euthanasia: Knowing When to Say Goodbye
3. How Will You Know When It’s Time to Euthanize Your Dog? 5 Caring, Heartfelt Messages
Hi everyone,
Today at 10:00 am I had to put my sweet old boxer Tyson to rest. It was a day I wasn’t prepared for. We just had him at the vet last year and all was well. Bloodwork, dental, everything was great. (He was missing some teeth, but the doctor said if he eats and drinks just fine, they are no worry) . Last night, we had our usual routine, dinner, dishes, potty, movie, then bed. It was quite a hot day so Tyson stayed in the AC for the most part. He ate some dinner, didn’t really go potty and went up to bed early, we stayed on the couch and for the first time in a long time, he came back down to sit with us. We figured maybe he was lonely since we were outside fighting our fencing, while he got to enjoy the AC. Anyways, didn’t think much of it. Fast forward to this morning, he got up fine, laid at the top of the steps (occasionally did that at times) then finally came down. I fed them, he didn’t eat. I told him to go potty, he just stood there staring. I was patient, thought maybe old age was kicking in, then he seemed “off” or “dizzy”. I brought his food inside off the porch so he could lay and eat it. He had no interest. That NEVER happened before. I became worried. Our vet didn’t open until 9 and the emergency vet was over an hour away. I watched him closely and noticed his breathing was short and shallow. He was very cold and wouldn’t really get up off the carpet. (He had his own couch spot he always went to) so I called off work, got his favorite blanket set up in my car, and we were off to the vet, getting there right after they opened. He normally loves car rides, he sits up awhile then lays down. But this time I had to carry him and he didn’t even move when I had to brake quickly for a car that was turning. ( always made him anxious) we got there, he lifted his head but it looked like a struggle. I was already crying but had unrealistic hopes. I never called the vet to tell them I was coming but they could already tell I needed to get him back there. The nurse took his temp, she said it was very low. At that point, the tears were uncontrollable. She was very very kind, as was the doctor. He told me Tysons tumor had ruptured judging by the free fluid in his belly and how “bloated” he looked. He offered to do an X-ray to show me but I trusted his word. He petted Tyson with the most gentle hand and said we were probably working with minutes, not hours, if I had anyone I wanted to be there. We knew surgery wasn’t an option, Tyson was 13. In less than a few minutes, I had to make the decision to let him go. I am telling you, it was the worst thing I’ve had to do. I got him when I was pregnant with my son so they’ve grown up together, but he’s always been my dog or “the man of the house”. The nurse and I wrapped him in up in his favorite blanket, I held him as we all gave him pets on his way across the rainbow bridge. Feeling him take his last breath is something that will live with me forever. But I will also never forget how kind the staff was to me. They both shed a tear as well. My heart is with all of you who have lost your fur baby to this cancer. My only advice would be to take them for check ups more frequently as they get older. I never thought I’d only have a year with him after his last wellness visit when all was well. I would’ve liked to take him on his favorite car ride and give him all the snacks he couldn’t have often.
Hi Rachel,
My heart breaks for you. It is clear how much you loved Tyson and what a special part of your family he was. I’m so sorry you had to say goodbye that morning with so little warning. Chances are good there wasn’t any way you could have predicted that he had a hemangiosarcoma or anything you could have done to change the outcome. I know that doesn’t take away the pain of losing him though. I’m glad you and he were surrounded by love until the end, and that the veterinary team was able to support you and share in your sorrow. Thank you for sharing his story with us.
My 13-year-old dog has been diagnosed with hemangiosarcoma during a regular vet checkup. She has a tumor on her spleen which measures 4.5 x 5.5 cm. The vet informed us that surgery is not recommended as the cancer has already spread to her liver, resulting in only a few more weeks of survival. I am devastated and not sure what to do. Since the diagnosis, a month had passed, and despite her condition, she still appears happy, maintains a healthy appetite, and enjoys her walks, although she sleeps more than usual. I don’t want to make the decision to euthanize her too soon, as she is still finding joy in life. However, I am fearful of the tumor rupturing and causing internal bleeding. I want to prevent her from experiencing pain or needing an emergency vet visit for bleeding. Our vet told us that we can wait with euthanasia until I observe a decline in her appetite or overall well-being, but there’s also the possibility of the rupture happening suddenly without any signs. I’m scared and confused about what to do, do you have any advice?
Dear Kata,
I am so sorry you are facing this difficult road with your senior dog. I wish I knew how to guide you and could tell you what was best. These situations are so tricky and don’t have a right or wrong answer. Ultimately you have to decide what choice you can feel at peace with. Would you rather wait to say goodbye knowing there is a chance something tragic could happen? Or say goodbye while your girl is still feeling ok and possibly miss out on a few good days/weeks? I always think it is better to let go one day too early rather than one day too late and allow unnecessary suffering, but that is easier said than done when it is your own beloved pup hanging in the balance. Maybe you could talk to your vet about having some pain medications or the Yunnan baiyao herbal treatment on hand in case of an emergency. That way you could hopefully give your pup some relief while you make hard choices. If you make a choice now, you can ensure her passing is smooth and peaceful. If you wait the choice could be taken from you. My heart goes out to you as you navigate this emotional path. Praying for your strength and clarity in your decision making. Bless you and your sweet girl.
My sweet Nala Jean was diagnosed with hemangiosarcoma Sept 2022. She had emergency surgery and had her spleen removed while we waited for the final results. While our vet removed her spleen, she did perform exploratory surgery and didn’t think it had spread to her other organs. She was so happy and back to herself after her surgery. Nala was already getting IV infusions due to another cancer, so we continued that treatment plan until December 2022, when we found out she has a plasma cancer in her right left elbow. Even though my girl has the WORST of luck, you would have never known she was sick. She still ran and played and is so happy. Here we are 9 months later after her initial diagnosis and she’s still with us.
Her bad days are closer and more often. I know I’ll be making a hard decision by the end of the summer. And I hate that my resilient girl has to go through so much, it’s truly a nasty sickness. I’ve been having such a hard time coming to terms with it, even with the extra borrowed time we’ve had. Nala has been with me the past 13 years. I rescued her when she was 6 weeks old and truly has never left my side. shes a black boxer/lab mix with the cutest little underbite and smile. I’d spend every last dollar to make her better so she could continue to grow old and not be in pain. my husband keeps telling me the reason she’s still here is because she doesn’t want to leave me too.
This article and the comments were truly comforting though. I had already spent most of my nights Googling hemangiosarcoma and this was one of the more informative and uplifting ones. I feel like I’m ready to make that hard choice for Nala when she’s ready to go. Thank you!
Hi Cassie,
My heart goes out to you. Dealing the diagnosis of with one kind of cancer, let alone three, is challenging. I’m so happy that you have gotten as much good time with Nala as you have after the HSA diagnosis, but I also know that it is never enough. She sounds like an amazing dog and it is clear how much you love her and how dedicated you are to caring for her and helping her live her best life for as long as possible.
Thanks so much for sharing her story with us and for your kind words about our blog. We always try to provide good information and encouragement, so I’m glad to hear it helped you. I hope that you and Nala have gotten to have some more good time together, and that when the time comes to say goodbye, you will have peace and comfort.
We lost our 11 year old pit/lab mix this past Saturday. He was coughing blood the weekend before so we took him into the vet and X-rays revealed metastatic lung tumors with hemaniosarcoma being a likely diagnosis. They started him on some medications and he was fine for a couple days. Saturday morning he woke up coughing quite a bit and with every cough there was blood. He was acting normal otherwise, he was always the happiest boy. I rushed him to the vet and pretty much was told there wasn’t much else they could do to help him. We could take him home and monitor him or humanely euthanize him. It was a heartbreaking decision but we decided to let him go to puppy heaven. I wanted him to go out on happy note and couldn’t bare him going through any suffering. I miss him so much and can’t help but wonder if I made the right decision. My heart hurts everyday thinking about the “what ifs” and that I should’ve done more or asked more questions. I could’ve even think straight in the moment and can’t help but dwell on the decisions we made. Reading others stories that had similar situations make it a little easier but still the hardest thing I had to do.
Hi Kayla,
My heart goes out to you on the loss of your dog. Hemangiosarcoma is such a devastating diagnosis. I know it can be difficult to think straight in the moment and easy to get caught up in the “what ifs” after the fact, but I want to assure you that based on what you have said, you absolutely made the best decisions for him that you could. You tried medications and were able to have a few more good days with him. And then when the tumors started bleeding again, you made the selfless choice to say goodbye. Keep reminding yourself of that, and feel free to come back and read the other stories as often as you need to. ❤️ Thinking of you as you grieve the loss of your sweet boy.
I just had to say goodbye to our incredible and so adored mixed breed Sadie. She was playing with her toy and zooming around the house top speed. Suddenly she stopped in her tracks and laid down. A few hours later she was not getting up, not eating and seemed to be in a fog. I couldn’t bribe her into coming upstairs to bed so i slept on the couch downstairs next to her. we took her to the vet in the AM and he confirmed she had huge tumor stuck to her spleen. We then at the vets suggestion took her to an excellent clinic to make an informed decision .The wonderful Dr at the clinic told us that she had all the symptoms of hemangiosarcoma and was kind enough to give us the truth about her condition . He said that even if we got her chemo and radiation she would probably only live for 6 to 8 months and it would be a painful time for her. I’m so grateful we decided to put her down yesterday even though my heart is broken and I can’t stop crying, it’s comforting to know that I’m not alone with this devastating disease and it’s inevitable outcomes. we rescued Sadie when she was four from a bad situation, and she has been an angel and so much fun and she is now eight . we’ve had four years that i wouldn’t give up for the world. It helps so much to read all of your words and to know that I didn’t do anything wrong and that this would’ve happened no matter what we could’ve done and I’m just so sad but I know I’ll get to gratitude part.. Sadie only felt sick for a few hours, and then she was gone. That’s been the hardest thing it’s just unbelievable. I don’t know what’s coming for us, but I don’t think I could ever love a dog the way I love Sadie and I’ve had a lot of dogs. So there’s a chance I’m just gonna throw in the towel and not adopt anymore.
Hi Wendy,
What a heartbreaking situation. I’m so sorry for the loss of Sadie! She was such a lucky gal to be rescued by you and it sounds like you had an amazing four years together. You made the kindest choice for her, and did everything right. I have no doubt she knew how much you loved her. Praying for you as your process her loss. ❤️
My 13-year-old dog has been diagnosed with hemangiosarcoma during a regular vet checkup. She has a tumor on her spleen which measures 4.5 x 5.5 cm. The vet informed us that surgery is not recommended as the cancer has already spread to her liver, resulting in only a few more weeks of survival. I am devastated and unsure of what to do. Despite her condition, she still appears happy, maintains a healthy appetite, and enjoys her walks, although she sleeps more than usual. I don’t want to make the decision to euthanize her too soon, as she is still finding joy in life. However, I am fearful of the tumor rupturing and causing internal bleeding. I want to prevent her from experiencing pain or needing an emergency vet visit for bleeding. The vet told me that I can wait with euthanasia until I observe a decline in her appetite or overall well-being, but there’s also the possibility of the rupture happening suddenly without any signs. I’m scared and confused about what to do, do you have any advice?
Hi Kata,
My heart goes out to you. Receiving a diagnosis of an aggressive tumor like hemangiosarcoma is always devastating and confusing. I completely understand what you are saying about being torn between euthanizing her while she still has a great quality of life or waiting and potentially having to make that decision in an emergency situation. It is such a personal decision for each family and each dog, and there is no right or wrong answer. By now I’m sure you have already decided how you wanted to proceed, and I hope you found a sense of peace with whatever choice you made.
I just lost my third Australian Terrier to this terrible cancer. Prince was my first. He was 8 1/2 when he died. He had tumors on his spleen and his liver. He displayed no symptoms until he had a massive bleed, prompting me to rush him to the vet. I made the terrible mistake of not wanting to believe he was going to die. Instead of peaceful euthanasia, I decided to bring him home thinking he would somehow magically avoid the inevitable. His passing two weeks later was not peaceful. I blame myself everyday for letting this happen to my beloved pet. But I learned a valuable lesson. Lucy had just turned 11 when a tumor suddenly burst. There were no earlier signs that she was sick. 6 months before she had extensive senior dog lab work, that was normal. We rushed her to the vet who initially thought her distended abdomen was caused by gas – something she had experienced years before. The next day when she was not responding to the medication, the vet confirmed tumors on her spleen and liver. We feed her a can of cheese whiz before letting her peacefully pass in our arms. We had just returned from a trip to Barcelona on Monday. Ricky was thrilled to see us when we picked him up at the kennel. He would be 13 in one month. He was getting white hair, but seemed to be in perfect health. Tuesday evening he suddenly had diarrhea and then vomiting. We thought he might have gotten a virus at the kennel. We took him to our vet Wednesday morning. He had a temperature of 104 and an extremely large tumor on his spleen that could rupture at any moment. There was another mass on his liver. The vet confirmed that he was in no condition to come home with us and that he could suddenly die during the night should the extremely large tumor rupture. The tumor was pressing on his intestines causing him great distress. He died peacefully in our arms Wednesday evening. The memories of my final hour with Lucy and Ricky are very different from the final hour I had with Prince. This cancer is so horrible because it forces you to suddenly make life and death decisions for your beloved fur baby. I am thankful nothing happened to Ricky while we were traveling overseas. We were there when he needed our love to sustain him in his final hours. And our vet helped guide us through the process of deciding what was best for Ricky.
Dear Patricia,
I am so sorry for your loss of Prince, Lucy, and Ricky. While I know you wish things had gone differently with Prince, I am glad it helped to bring comfort and peace to the goodbye process with Lucy and Ricky. Thank you for being willing to share your experience. I am certain this will help others make difficult choices when faced with a similar situation. Bless you and may the memories of your precious pups live on forever.
Patricia,
This story has saved my soul I am so sorry for your losses. I had an 8 y.o. German Shepard, healthy as a horse. Would run long distance with me, do sprints with me, and fetch balls, sticks, toys, apples or whatever I would throw for her, follow me around the yard doing yardwork and practice sports with my kids in the yard (once getting a leg a little too close on a swing-which ended with a lot of blood, but alright). We left our home, and a healthy Kiya, the night of Dec 23 for a night on the town and arrived back home to some trash on the floor (from Kiya getting in to it) and Kiya in the corner. When we tried to get her to go outside, she didn’t want to move. We figured it was because she knew she did something that she wasn’t supposed to, which was her normal reaction to us when she got in the trash. Aluminum foil was on the floor, so I was initially worried that was in her. I went over to her and coaxed her in to going outside. After about an hour outside (which was normal for her, she loved the outdoors), we tried to get her inside and she wasn’t interested in coming in. We had to get our voices up a little to get her inside and she came in and just laid down on the floor, not interested in moving. I wasn’t sure if something was lodged or if she was just sick from some old chicken or whatever she found in the trash. Her belly felt a little bloated, but not enough to be sure. It was about midnight and I decided to wait a few hours and to see if she throws something up, and if not better, go to emergency. About 5 hours later my wife came home from work, Kiya got up from her bed, started walking towards her happily and half way there, just stopped and flopped down. My wife, also in the medical field, noticed her belly twice as big as the night before. Got me up and immediately we drove 1 1/2 hours south to get to emergency vets. AEV in Rochester MI is amazing. Waiting for us with a gurney, we were hoping for blockage or bloat. After testing, she had a large hemangiosarcoma tumor on her liver that had ruptured and multiple tumors all over her liver. We knew this wasn’t life-sustainable and any measures would just be painful and unpleasant until she died. Our options were take her home and she dies, probably very uncomfortably due to bleeding or euthanize, which the Vet said she would do if this were her dog. After much thought-on the spot-we knew what the best thing for Kiya was. We wanted the kids to see her, so thankfully, Facetime helped with the kids being able to say good by. To say that was the hardest thing to do in my life is an understatement. Fentanyl kept Kiya pretty happy and in not as much pain-which made it harder on us, because she almost seemed normal, but, we knew…She walked around for a couple of seconds and her anemia made her stop and she laid down with me and my wife for 2 hours while we said our good-by’s. Even when you know its the right thing to do, it still is the hardest decision I’ve ever had to make in my life. She died on Xmas eve, this year, 2023, 4 days ago, 12 hours after we found her in the corner. I didn’t let her go for an hour and I am not the same person I was when I walked in the door. She meant WAY more to me than I knew! I feel scared, alone, empty, sad, angry, and now, guilty as can be! Could/Should I have done more? Did I do enough? After reading your story about Prince, I now understand that that is why I didn’t wait. My heart wanted Kiya (and still does)to come home, but I felt that she would be miserable until death. To hear your story brings me some extra peace. I’m sorry you, and Prince, had to go through this, but it brought more peace to my life and I can’t thank you enough for sharing that story in an open forum! Because of your story, I now, will never forget Prince, your wonderful Australian Shepard, and what he means to me.
Dear Shawn,
I am so sorry for your tragic loss of Kiya. What a blessing you were able to stay by her side during her final moments. I can only imagine how much you miss her but am thankful you found some comfort from Patricia’s comment. I agree you made a very loving and unselfish decision to offer your sweet girl freedom from her suffering. Wishing you peace and healing for your heart. Bless you and your family.
Reading this article today helped. I just yesterday got the diagnosis that my sweet girl Maya has this terrible cancer on her spleen. She’s 12 years old. Just a year and a half ago my sweet Levi came down with the same thing. I’m honestly terrified of making the wrong choice. I’m afraid to have the surgery – what if it just causes her more pain? I’m afraid to not have it – what if she’d live for much longer and enjoy her life? Overall I’m desperate to give her as less pain as possible. Like so many in the comments – this came on incredibly rapidly. Only three months ago she got a full work up at our vet with everything coming back clean and no concerns. I can’t tell you how happy I was to hear that report. I thought for sure I’d have her for at least another year. Now just three months later she’s dying? Like, dying, right in front of me. It’s mindboggling. Right now she is on palliative care and has perked up and seems well, if tired. She’s been a fantastic dog. Trying to grapple with how I can best honor her and show her love in this time of crisis. I’ve known her days were numbered, I didn’t realize how small that number was though. We’ve had a camping trip planned for this weekend. She loves going camping. This will be her last trip. Send a prayer for my sweet Maya that her last days will be enjoyable and that her dad and I will make the right call on when it is time to say goodbye.
Dear Kari,
My heart aches for you as you prepare to say goodbye to Maya. I hope the camping trip went smoothly and she was full of joy while in her happy place. Praying for your comfort and strength as you navigate this emotional journey together. May Maya’s memory live on forever and be a blessing in your lives. ♥
Our 12 year old pup had an ultrasound yesterday that showed a 4.7cm width mass on her spleen. A needle biopsy wasn’t able to be done at the time due to the difficult location of the mass. While we don’t know definitively if it’s cancer, our daughter is an OR nurse and believes from the report that it is. I brought Lola to the vet last week for frequent drinking and urination. Our vet heard a heart murmur, urine was clear, but she was slightly anemic and had lost a bit of weight. I’m overwhelmed with the news as she is eating well, her activity is the same, and she’s her happy little self. As a family, we are still digesting Lola’s diagnosis and trying to figure out what’s best for her-if it’s worth her going through surgery for a bit of extra time or to spoil her to pieces until she no longer is living her best life.
Dear Jamie,
My heart goes out to you as you face this difficult decision for your senior girl. I am not sure there is a definite right or wrong answer and I wish I had some great advice to give. I can only imagine what an emotional time this must be for your family. I am praying you find the answers you need to have peace with the path you choose. Wishing you strength and comfort. Bless you all.
We said goodbye to our sweet, 12 year old beagle boy, Dodger, this Saturday after his spleen tumor ruptured and two weeks after it was first discovered. We had an exploratory surgery scheduled literally for 2 days later, but the vet advised that since the tumor had doubled in size in such a short amount of time, that he had another mass in his lungs and there was already bleeding in his stomach, the prognosis for emergency surgery was not great. We never found out whether it was malignant, but we suspect that it was. He died peacefully in my lap cradling my baby bump. Then, our car died in the parking lot after we said goodbye. By far the worst day of my life a.
I am an utter wreck right now. Dodger’s brother from the same litter, Oliver, is pacing and sniffing around a lot, searching for him. I miss him so much. While I’m 100% sure we made the right decision in the room on Saturday, I can’t help but think back to the weeks before the diagnosis and wonder why I kept on waiting for our family vet instead of going to the ER. I might have been able to get an earlier appointment and ahead of the rupture. The what-ifs are haunting me. At night, I keep hallucinating Dodger’s footsteps and his perfect aroos.
Thank you for this article and all the comments. Weirdly, it’s comforting to read about other people’s experiences. It sounds like the outcomes for this disease are utterly random, and we did the best we could with the info we had. May all dogs go to heaven.
Dear Linda,
My heart aches for you with your loss of Dodger. You are absolutely right that you did the best you could and there is nothing you should feel guilty about. It is normal to ponder the “what ifs” but please give yourself some grace. It is clear that Dodger was dearly loved, and I am certain he knew and was comforted by your presence during those last moments. I hope Oliver is adjusting to life without his brother. I pray for comfort and peace for you all. Congratulations on your baby on the way. May Dodger’s memory be a blessing that stays with you forever. ♥
I am so sorry for everyone’s loss, truly heartbreaking. Thank you for this site -I wish I had known then what I know now.
We euthanized our 12.5 year English Bulldog on 4/13/23 to what I believe was hemangiosarcoma – a slow bleed -(although we never received a definitive diagnosis). JB was slowing down with what I thought was age and arthritis – she would pause to rest after walking a short distance. A week prior to her decline, I noticed JB was drinking more than usual (which i attributed to her extra effort with walking). She continued to eat her meals, treats, and continued to sit with me on the sofa in her normal spot. On Easter, she exerted herself a bit more than usual, and later that day I noticed intermittent rattling with her breathing. The next morning, she was still rattling (on occasion), so I took her to the vet. (Her regular vet was not in so we saw a colleague), The vet asked how long JB had a protruding belly (I did not notice this as she is a bulldog,is a big girl and always had a bit of a belly. She always sat beside me upside down while i petted her belly and never noticed anything different. The vet said her lungs sounded good, but thought her liver and spleen were enlarged. The vet said they would be taking x-rays of her spleen and lungs, but only did her lungs as she said the lungs were filled with fluid (and possibly a tumor). We were told that we could to take her to the ER Vet for oxygen therapy in a tent to get her stabilized – (which she would need to be without me by her side) following which they would drain her lungs etc (to get better views of her organs), give her a possible transfusion, and do ultrasound AND she might not “make it off the table” due to her condition, or (when I said I didnt want her to be put through all that stress and didnt want her to suffer) Euthanasia. JB has anxiety with new people and places, and I could not justify taking her to a strange ER vet and not being with us, while possibly not making it “off the table” – especially at her age. I asked the vet if there were any alternatives as we were in shock, crying, and completely devastated with the news. The vet said we could try lasix without guarantees, ..so the vet gave her a shot and lasix meds for the week – advising that we needed to be aware that JB could have a medical emergency and to keep checking her gums etc. Lasix appeared to work at least for a day or two, as JB had some of her energy back and breathing was normal. On Wednesday, JB started declining again, and just looked worn out and exhausted. She would walk outside to bathroom then come back into house and lay down immediately. And, she needed to go outside more often than usual as she was on Lasix. JB did not attempt to go upstairs to bed wed night, so I slept with her downstairs- this was a huge concern as she loved her routines and going upstairs to her bed. She could not get comfortable and was up almost all night and I brought her bed downstairs to try to get her to relax.
I Called the vet on Thursday, to schedule a euthanasia, and was able to speak with her regular vet who said she looked at the xrays from Monday, and thought JB was having heart issues and to bring her in to have lungs drained and xray again. I got my hopes up, thinking we had another option. We took her to the vet and the vet tried to drain the lungs and then took xrays. (dont know why she didnt do xrays then attempt to drain the lungs- but I wasnt thinking straight enough to ask). This time xrays showed that there was not as much fluid in her lungs so vet said lasix working (for her lungs). Vet also said her liver was extra-large and she still had distended abdomen. The Vet said we could try heart meds, I was becoming anxious as we could not understand why JB was not getting better if her lungs were becoming clear, We did not want to bring her home and have her undergo a medical emergency with a stressful rush to the emergency vet. I would have thought that if it was a heart issue and her lungs were clearing, then she should have been improving not declining. At this point JB would not even get up off of her blanket in the Vet room and didnt lift her head. We made the heart wrenching decision to euthanize. That was 4 weeks ago and I am completely destroyed. I have done extensive research and based on symptoms I believe she had hemangiosarcoma. A year earlier she had a skin tumor removed that came back benign, but since her passing and doing nonstop research – the small growth looks just like the classic pea size dermal hemangiosarcoma on internet images. – I didn’t question the vet when the test came back benign, but now I am wondering that although it was benign, what else might have going on inside that we did not know. I am climbing walls as I never had a definite diagnosis. Everything happened so fast. JB had her yearly exam in January and except for her arthritis, The vet said she looked good. Her bloodwork etc. was all very good (except the vet did say her liver bloodwork was slightly elevated (but that it was normal for a dog her age)… The vet also said her liver was a little large, but she was not concerned with that as well…..I keep thinking what else could I have done to save her, what did I miss, maybe I should have taken her to ER vet initially, but I did not want to stress her out and I didn’t want her to suffer and be scared and shaking without me. Should I have pressed for more tests during her exam in January? The vet seemed pleased with her in January. JB was a regular visitor to the vets at almost every 3 months due to ear infections, allergies, etc. I am looking at pictures and now I do see that towards the end of her days she seemed thinner, but she still weighed the same – maybe from the fluids? I didn’t notice any weight loss. I cannot quit thinking about what more I should have done, (if anything) because she was my best friend and I loved her dearly. I am heartbroken. The guilt just will not stop.
Dear KG,
My heart aches for you with your loss of JB. It is clear she was dearly loved, and I can only imagine how much you miss her. It is normal while grieving to ponder all the “what ifs”. Please don’t let the unnecessary burden of guilt continue to weigh you down. You didn’t fail her, and I promise you didn’t do anything wrong. This condition can form very quickly and likely was not detectable at your girl’s previous visit to your vet. Even if you had pursued additional testing, the results would probably have been normal. Try to give yourself some grace and take comfort in knowing you did everything you could to give her a fighting chance. I am certain she knew how much she was loved. May JB’s memory live on and be a source of joy in your life. Bless you. ♥
Hi. feeling unbearably sad. our beautiful rescue lab Willow was pts this Monday 1st May 2023. she would have been 10 years old next month. she has been on pain relief medication for 2 years for chronic arthritis. on Friday 28th April she became very lame on her left fore which deteriorated massively over the Saturday and Sunday. we made an emergency appt for her on Bank Holiday Monday for her lameness. the vet took bloods to check she could have stronger pain relief medication for her lameness. these showed off the scale high liver results. which lead to an ultrasound of her liver. Willow’s liver was riddled in tumours, some of which had had small bleeds. so within 2 hours my partner and I had gone from seeking pain relief for lameness, to discussing euthanasia for liver tumours. she came home for a few hours on opiate injection which didn’t touch her leg pain. so that afternoon we took her back to be pts. she had been our beloved companion for 8 years. she was a nervous girl and old for her age due to her arthritis. we wanted to prevent any suffering and decided to let her go before any serious ruptures. but it’s so hard now living with the decision. definitely don’t regret calling it a day maybe earlier than others would, but the shock and trauma of losing her is too much. my heart is broken. my partners heart is broken. how do we get through this.
Dear Gill,
My heart goes out to you as you grieve the loss of Willow. It is clear she was dearly loved, and I am certain she knew what an important role she played in your family. Maybe one way to help your heart heal is to focus on Willow’s legacy. Here is a link to an article with great ideas and advice: Dog Memorial Ideas: 10 Ways to Honor Your Dog’s Legacy
May her memory be with you always and continue to be a blessing in your lives. Thank you for sharing her story with us. ♥