german_shep_fan Posted February 1, 2012 Share Posted February 1, 2012 Hi everyone I will try and make this post as short as possible. I have a male GSD who is 7yrs old. He has had alot of tummy upset since i lost my old girl last year and we ended up putting him on ZD cans and dry to help. This seems to have solved the problem so i had started taking him off the ZD and putting him back onto normal food (chicken necks, frames ect) however the other morning i had to call the mobile vet and he rushed over as i suspected he was bloating. He threw up all his dinner and then contiunally threw up white foam stuff and his tummy went pot belly like. He seemed to settle down however and vet checked vitals and he wasn't bloating however he palpated his abdomen and said his lower abdomen left heavier then normal and that his spleen felt enlarged. This was on monday, we checked again today and it still feels enlarged. He is coming again on monday to check him over and we are going to discuss doing a scan. My question is, is the only answer to an enlarged spleen in the GSD cancer? I lost my old girl last yr to spleenic cancer and my boy is my absolute heart dog. I am just SO worried i am going to lose him and the enlarged spleen is going to turn out to be something that is terribly wrong. Has anyone else ever had this happen and what was the outcome? Thank you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erny Posted February 1, 2012 Share Posted February 1, 2012 (edited) Can't an enlarged spleen be caused by bloat? Did the Vet take any blood tests to run that can determine organ function, clotting function and blood count? I think these are one step that can be immediately taken towards narrowing down to the cause behind an enlarged spleen (I think IBD can be one cause so if he was doing ok on the Z/D I'd put him back on that for the time being at least) - I think that to know what can be done to help depends on the actual CAUSE of the spleen enlargement. Gosh, GSF - I hope everything turns out to be ok. I don't know much if anything of what you speak of but hope it helps to know that people are thinking of you and sending best wishes for a good outcome. Personally though, if the Vet hasn't done anything yet and is relying on just seeing him again in a week, I'd be a bit concerned and would opt for a 2nd opinion, in case there are checks that could be conducted now rather than waiting. As I mentioned though, this is not something I have experience with. ETA: Oh - and no, it seems that cancer is NOT the only cause for an enlarged spleen and I hope that knowing this has you sleeping a bit better than you might have, tonight. Edited February 1, 2012 by Erny Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
k9angel Posted February 1, 2012 Share Posted February 1, 2012 Sorry I cannot offer any advice but keeping everything crossed that it's nothing serious. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bianca.a Posted February 1, 2012 Share Posted February 1, 2012 Sorry I have no experience with this, but am keeping all fingers and paws crossed for a good scan result for Troy *hugs* Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
german_shep_fan Posted February 1, 2012 Author Share Posted February 1, 2012 (edited) Can't an enlarged spleen be caused by bloat? Did the Vet take any blood tests to run that can determine organ function, clotting function and blood count? I think these are one step that can be immediately taken towards narrowing down to the cause behind an enlarged spleen (I think IBD can be one cause so if he was doing ok on the Z/D I'd put him back on that for the time being at least) - I think that to know what can be done to help depends on the actual CAUSE of the spleen enlargement. Gosh, GSF - I hope everything turns out to be ok. I don't know much if anything of what you speak of but hope it helps to know that people are thinking of you and sending best wishes for a good outcome. Personally though, if the Vet hasn't done anything yet and is relying on just seeing him again in a week, I'd be a bit concerned and would opt for a 2nd opinion, in case there are checks that could be conducted now rather than waiting. As I mentioned though, this is not something I have experience with. Thank you Erny. No, no blood tests were taken as it turned out when vet tested whatever functions are needed to determine if a dog is bloating he wasnt doing them or they were not present. He gave him an anti-nausea tablet and he seemed to perk up quite a bit after that. As he is a mobile vet he couldn't hang around for hrs but did say to watch for splenic torsion which didn't happen on monday and hasn't happened yet (i don't know much abt it but i suspect having a enlarged spleen will make him more prone to it). Vet said hopefully with his history of IBS or whatever the dog form of it is called that this might possibly be the cause. He also thought on monday that perhaps the reason his abdomen felt heavier might of been due to inflammed intestines ect. Now that he has eaten his ZD dinner for 2 nights in a row he seems to be perking up back to his old self again. But i am still very worried as to why it is enlarged. Vet said it may of been like this for ages and we have just never noticed till now? Its just the last two times i encounted problems in the abdomen they have been cancerous and i have had to send by beloved babies to that better place. I am just dreading the outcome with my boy. Thank you K9 Angel and Bianca for your kind thoughts. Edited February 1, 2012 by german_shep_fan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erny Posted February 1, 2012 Share Posted February 1, 2012 (edited) I'm glad he seems to be perking up a bit, GSF. I'd still be asking for bloods to be run, rather than waiting a whole week. Well and good if it was the food causing Irritable Bowel Disease to flare up and that this is back under control (and I hope this is the case and that things settle down), but if it were me I'd like to rule out whatever I could in case it related to something else. But that's just me - I'm inclined to cover as many bases as possible and feasible. Edited February 1, 2012 by Erny Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
german_shep_fan Posted February 1, 2012 Author Share Posted February 1, 2012 I'm glad he seems to be perking up a bit, GSF. I'd still be asking for bloods to be run, rather than waiting a whole week. Well and good if it was the food causing Irritable Bowel Disease to flare up and that this is back under control (and I hope this is the case and that things settle down), but if it were me I'd like to rule out whatever I could in case it related to something else. But that's just me - I'm inclined to cover as many bases as possible and feasible. Yes i will call tomorrow and see what he says abt the blood tests ect. IF the enlarged spleen is related to his IBD i wonder if the spleen can go down on its own? (ie un-renlarge itself?)I really don't know much abt it, he did explain the function of the spleen to me today but i didn't ask if it can fix itself on its own i was too upset that things were still not right. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancinbcs Posted February 1, 2012 Share Posted February 1, 2012 Lots of things can cause an enlarged spleen in humans so I suppose it applies to dogs as well. However the high rate of tumours on the spleen in dogs would make me check that out first. If he has a tumour and they can get the spleen out without the tumour rupturing the prognosis is very good. It shouldn't be the last thing looked for because it is an emergency and every day counts if it is a tumour. If there is no tumour, then look for other causes of the enlarged spleen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aussielover Posted February 2, 2012 Share Posted February 2, 2012 There are lots of different causes for an enlarged spleen. Sometimes the spleen enlarges during an infective process- it produces a lot of the blood cells that help to fight infection. Cancer is of course a possibility, but dogs also get a nodular hyperplasia which is benign and usually not a problem. Hopefully the scan will tell you more. Wishing you both all the best and hoping that it is nothing serious Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
german_shep_fan Posted February 2, 2012 Author Share Posted February 2, 2012 There are lots of different causes for an enlarged spleen. Sometimes the spleen enlarges during an infective process- it produces a lot of the blood cells that help to fight infection. Cancer is of course a possibility, but dogs also get a nodular hyperplasia which is benign and usually not a problem. Hopefully the scan will tell you more. Wishing you both all the best and hoping that it is nothing serious Thank you very much Aussielover. I am still hoping and praying that it is somehow connected to his IBD. I have had my last two girls die from spleen cancer and even if you remove the spleen the cancer is so severe that it spreads anyway. I am praying for a good outcome. After his attack on monday (if this is when the spleen enlarged) i am wondering if it may go down on its own? I need to find out more if it is not cancerous. Thank you again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
puglvr Posted February 2, 2012 Share Posted February 2, 2012 My GSD Holly, had a hugely swollen spleen that was removed suspecting cancer. It was tested and came back as an overwhelming bacterial infection. This was 4- 7 days after she was vaccinated. She lived for another six year in exceptional health. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jed Posted February 2, 2012 Share Posted February 2, 2012 I sincerely hope he will be ok. Those "mystery" problems are a worry. Shall cross my fingers for him. Other causes could be - I think - pancreatitis; infection Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WeimMe Posted February 2, 2012 Share Posted February 2, 2012 My girl had a hermangiosarcoma in her spleen and was given only a few weeks to live. She had the surgery to remove her spleen as she was in good health otherwise (and I just wasn't ready to say goodbye) and nearly 4 years later she is doing fine. Even when the prognosis isn't the best, you just never know. Hopefully it will be something much more benign - fingers crossed for you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
german_shep_fan Posted February 6, 2012 Author Share Posted February 6, 2012 Just wanted to say thank you again to everyone who replied and wished my boy and i well. The vet has been back again today as i was going to ask for a blood test and then go from there about the scan ect. When vet felt the abdomen again today he said everything felt normal again. So either the spleen was enlarged and has now seemingly returned to normal or intestines were filled with fluid ect after his bad tummy upset and have now cleared. He is going to come back again in a few weeks when TroyBoy needs more of his ZD food and have another feel of his abdomen then. I asked if Hamengiosarcoma was present if the spleen would reduce in size and he said not normally and that at this stage he is not too worried. So i am hoping he is right and i will be praying that all is well at the next visit. Thanks again everyone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bianca.a Posted February 6, 2012 Share Posted February 6, 2012 Wow that's weird but in a good way! Keeping all fingers and paws crossed here that it was just a one off thing and Troy will keep a clean bill of health :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meea Posted February 6, 2012 Share Posted February 6, 2012 I had a deerhound who had a very enlarged spleen and went to surgery fully expecting cancer. I instructed my vet to pts on the table if this was the case and spent the day at work in a mess. Then I got a call asking when I was coming to pick him up! Huge spleen no cancer. He had 5 more years! Fingers x'd for you. Meea Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WeimMe Posted February 6, 2012 Share Posted February 6, 2012 That's great news! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted February 6, 2012 Share Posted February 6, 2012 :) good news . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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