Looking for Support (lost dog to hemangiosarcoma)

[skischool]

I too have just lost my beloved companion of 10 1/2 years Jake. He was slowing down a little the last two months and then suddenly heavy breathing collapsing and weak. He had a black stool before we went to the vet, his breath smelled funny and his gums were white and he looked so tired.. I am still in shock and totally devastated by this. Angry, feeling guilty and thinking I failed him as an owner. Then I researched it and found this forum and I feel not so alone. I cried a little less today, its been 4 days since I put him down. The only clues now were increase in water consumption and lethargy. He was fine on Saturday and crashed Saturday night. Died sunday at 1:45 pm in my arms.. He spirit will be with me forever...

[CaliBoy]

Originally Posted by skischool

I too have just lost my beloved companion of 10 1/2 years Jake. He was slowing down a little the last two months and then suddenly heavy breathing collapsing and weak. He had a black stool before we went to the vet, his breath smelled funny and his gums were white and he looked so tired.. I am still in shock and totally devastated by this. Angry, feeling guilty and thinking I failed him as an owner. Then I researched it and found this forum and I feel not so alone. I cried a little less today, its been 4 days since I put him down. The only clues now were increase in water consumption and lethargy. He was fine on Saturday and crashed Saturday night. Died sunday at 1:45 pm in my arms.. He spirit will be with me forever...

So very, very sorry to read about your beloved Jake. My dog also drank lots and lots of water, and slept practically all day, before I lost her. Those last moments when they are in your arms--that is a killer. My girl looked up at me, stared me straight in the eyes, before her eyelids became droopy and then her soft, furry head laid gently against my arm. It's like something in you is dying also. May Jake rest in peace.

[skischool]

Thank you Caliboy, I am still so completely wiped out and its been 5 days. I go to his grave every day and talk to him. I am putting together a photo book of him but it just tears me up to see him.... He was so smart and loyal and gental and sweet... I am totally devestated! I am glad I didn't know of his condition as I would have slowly died along with him.. We had a wonderful summer playing in the river and at the beach, his favortite place!! Two months later I bury him... Not fair!!!!!

[wolfstraum]

I am sorry for your loss Skischool....I lost Kyra to this almost 2 years ago....we (her retirement family and I) opted for surgery - she died 10 days later.

After watching, and hearing, of dogs suffering and progessively getting worse and worse from other illnesses and ailments, I do feel that a short time of illness/discomfort is far less traumatic for our furkids than a long drawn out losing battle - my male, Ghost dog , had many relatives on his bottom side that were lost to this...and I am prepared that this may happen as he reaches nearly 11 years old....

<<hugs>>

Lee

[lrodptl]

We lost Shaeffer (11) last year to torsion 2 weeks after splenectomy for hemangiosarcoma. I buried him on his bed with his ball and covered him with a blanket on a piece of my wooded property. I still tear up when I think about it and I stood over him yesterday reminiscing. It's easier now but we have a 2 year old GSD who has helped fill in the void. It gets easier weekly,I wouldn't say daily.

[skischool]

Thanks Irod and Wolf, The pain is starting to ease yet I find myself slipping into bouts of utter sadness at times. I go out to his grave all the time and talk to him. I tell him that I am sorry and tell him that he was such a good boy, he did his job, protector of my children and wife and my best friend.
He presence is everywhere in our house, I had to move all his beds out the first thing, yet I still look for him wherever I am in the house..
I have a huge oil painting of him done at 1 yr and it is so Jake. Sweet, sensitive, caring, loyal. I speak to him thru that painting as well.
I really hope I can get thru this, I havent worked since I put him down, don't know if I can...
Michael

[Daisy&Lucky's Mom]

I am so sorry for the loss of your sweet Jake. My heart goes out to you .Please take care.

[corolla]

I just lost my 8 year, 9 month old female Kali to hemangiosarcoma.

When she was diagnosed in early August, it was because the mass on her spleen had burst, and we got her to the emergency clinic. They stabilized her, ultrasounded her and found no other masses. We discussed it thoroughly with the oncologist and the surgeon and went ahead with surgery to give her a chance at more time, with the understanding that if there were more masses found during surgery, we'd spare her the pain of recovery and euthanize her there.

The report came out to the waiting room that the surgeon found nothing else and surgery went well. She came home after two days, and we set up camp on the first floor for two weeks so she wouldn't have to climb stairs to go to bed. The biopsy of the mass came back as malignant, though the the liver sample was clear.

She went through 5 chemotherapy treatments, tolerating them very well. No nausea, diarrhea, good bloodwork, great energy levels. Her quality of life was GREAT. If you didn't know, you'd never know there was anything wrong with her.

Five weeks ago, her chest films and ultrasound showed no masses. Bloodwork normal. Everything normal. In the ensuing weeks, we'd spent time with her on the Chesapeake, down at the Outer Banks of NC twice and just enjoying this bonus time with her as much as possible. She was spoiled even more than ever before. She got to play in the snow one more time because of the freak storm in October.

Last Wednesday, she had a great day, complete with a walk on the beach. That evening she collapsed. Early Thanksgiving morning, we let her go. Even knowing it was coming, I'm still devastated.

We did get those three extra months with her. I can't overstate how important it was. We had great vets and techs caring for her and educating us. Her quality of life was excellent until the very end. When it wasn't possible for that to continue, we kept the promise we made to her that we would not prolong her pain to spare us some.

Every case has to be taken on its own. I guess I'm posting this story for people who are looking for information. It's just one more experience, but maybe it will help someone.

[Kym]

My shepherd had a hemangiosarcoma - diagnosed upon xray (prior to surgery for bloat). It was on the left atrium of her heart. She showed no abnormal ekg's and/or arrythmia's. She was 9 when they found it. I was told that it was a very slow growing tumor and that she probably had it from a young age-if not at birth. No medical treatment necessary because of no symptoms. She would probably die of "old age" or be eaten by a vampire before it would effect her life. The spleen can be removed and a dog can survive without it

[LisaT]

My boy, Max, lost to hemangiosarcoma 2/7/2012

Abdominal u/s showed a large mass in his spleen, several in his liver, and diffuse spread in his omentum. This follows a long hard battle with illness over many months, in fact years.

VDI test in 11/2011 was 5.5. VDI test on 2/7/2012 was 18.5. He was on several antibiotics at the time (including doxycycline) and 2.5 mg of pred every other day, which may have affected some of the tests., or slowed the growth.

Bloodwork in Jan showed no signs. Ultrasounds, xrays, and cardiogram last summer showed no signs of hemangiosarcoma. The u/s then, and in 4/2010, showed an enlarged spleen, which did not look like hemangio. In fact, u/s last summer, the vet said it looked more like a lymphoma would look like, or a chronic inflammatory process.

I am very sad to add him to this thread. I miss my boy.