DOGANGEL Posted March 27, 2007 Author Share Posted March 27, 2007 (edited) We were told to rest her as much as we can because of the previous surgery 12 days ago unrelated to this condition . I did have transport before but not at the moment at all, i am in the western suburbs of Melbourne thanks.... Edited March 27, 2007 by DOGANGEL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Staff'n'Toller Posted March 27, 2007 Share Posted March 27, 2007 We were told to rest her as much as we can because of the previous surgery 12 days ago unrelated to this condition . I did have transport before but not at the moment at all well as i stated before i am in the western suburbs of Melbourne thanks.... Well Werribee Uni Hospital is in the phonebook under Veterinary. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DOGANGEL Posted March 27, 2007 Author Share Posted March 27, 2007 Yep - that's a frequently discussed possibility and the reason why many people are resorting to titre tests (to check antibody levels are adequate) rather than the stock standard yearly "let them have it" routine. Hope all goes well for your dog, DA. The very first time she had her vaccine and heart worm shots she was very ill, i thought she was going to pass away then, i rang my vet and he said many dogs have this sort of reaction she will be ok dont worry, then the following year, and so on, she was ok, last year she had the same adverse reaction must of been to much for her to take and now i wished i had not given her the vacs at all, i rang the vet and spoke to the girl at the desk and she told me the heart worm is not needed in your area i asked her why wasn't i told this before if that's the case?? she said you asked for the shots!!!! i was livid but if its not needed then why wasn't i just told ,then i have a choice ,i thought i was doing the right thing by my dog , obviously the 55 dollars for heart worm needle a year was more important then being honest with me ..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DOGANGEL Posted March 27, 2007 Author Share Posted March 27, 2007 (edited) We were told to rest her as much as we can because of the previous surgery 12 days ago unrelated to this condition . I did have transport before but not at the moment at all well as i stated before i am in the western suburbs of Melbourne thanks.... Well Werribee Uni Hospital is in the phonebook under Veterinary. Thank you have spoken to them at Werribee and getting a referel from my vet to them at least it will give me an idea how bad she is after all her testing is done ..... Edited March 27, 2007 by DOGANGEL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shihzoo Posted March 28, 2007 Share Posted March 28, 2007 Oh Dogangel, I'm so sorry - I am praying for you both. I went through similar late last year and it is heart breaking. I wish you all the best and send lots of hugs and kisses to your little shep Thank you so much everyone is so understanding how did everything turn out for you was is positive???? I am in the western suburbs ........... Good Luck with the tests, our fingers and paws are still crossed for you both. Unfortunately, it didn't turn out well. After 4 months, HEAPS of tests and an operation (we had the best specialist in the country) and several thousand dollars in vet bills, I had to make the decision to put him down. He was diagnosed with congenital microvascular dysplasia which is hundreds of micro shunts in his liver - it can only be managed with medication and diet. Unfortunately just as we thought we had it under control he caught a virus and it knocked him around really bad. After about 4-5 days in hospital and still so sick he couldn't lift his head I had to call it - I was devastated. I rescued him in November last year and he changed my life in his short 4 months he was with me. I know I did everything I could to give him the best chance of surviving and I have to believe that there is a reason for everything. I know if someone else adopted him he may not have been given those chances as not everyone can afford the sort of bill I ended up with. He was 10 mths old and it appears no one realised he was sick (the symptons were so subtle it took me 3 different vets till one believed me and test him) so he may not have even been treated at all. AND, I know he gave me the strength to foster a puppy who found a great home and then adopt my Cibo. If it weren't for Pietro, I would never have been able to help the others. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DOGANGEL Posted March 28, 2007 Author Share Posted March 28, 2007 (edited) Thank you heidig29 for your thoughts I couldn't stop crying after reading your touching post, i think everyone here feels so much for their beloved companions , i rescued my little one as well and gave her a warm loving home but i feel guilty i didn't do enough to realise something was wrong even if it was a small thing thinking her slight weight loss was due to her separation anxiety and even panting more than usual was the summer weather combined with anxiety, vets said she is fine after going there a few times for a check up>>>>>>>. she has a big growth and 4 vets couldn't feel it in her stomach ...:cool:( Edited March 28, 2007 by DOGANGEL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shihzoo Posted March 28, 2007 Share Posted March 28, 2007 (edited) Dogangel - from everything I have read YOU have done everything you could have - and you still are. Like I said above, I went to 3 vets in as many days before I was believed (2 in 1 clinic!) and I even then slightly exaggerated the symptons that he had because after the first and second time I was frustrated (and in tears cause I felt that he was going through unneccessary trauma by me dragging him around vet to vet cause they were too ignorant to listen to me! I walked out yelling at the first vet!!! (I'm not known for my patience with people, but have it in leaps and bounds for animals - go figure!!!). I guess cause I only had him a couple of days they thought I was over reacting or didn't know what I was talking about. Well, NOW they know! I complained LOUDLY afterwards so that this didn't happen to anyone else. I also had my sister who had a lot of experience with dogs to keep me on track or I may have started doubting myself! She picked up the main sympton first as she had fostered him for a few days prior to me adopting him. All I can suggest is be like a "dog with a bone" !! DON'T GIVE UP - just keep nagging and calling and be very firm. You may feel like a pain and they may make you feel you are putting them out but it is win/win, you get your dog better and they get their money! Once you get to the specialist, it will get better, they know what they are doing!!! I must say though, my vet that believed me is WONDERFUL and did tests thru her clinic for the specialist so it would be cheaper and didn't charge me for consults and would ring often to see how he was. Then the specialist... well, he was awesome!! (and cute!). Pietro loved both of them - tail would instantly start wagging when he saw them so it helped with over nights and long stays knowing he felt loved. But it was one of the hardest things I've ever been through cause they are so helpless - you feel the weight of the world on your shoulders and are constantly second guessing if each decision you make is the right one. My only advice is, put yourself in your dogs position and do what you think she needs. Obviously pain isn't a good thing but if the end result is worth it then it makes it worth it. My main issue was prior to the diagnosis, how far did I go with this, how much money did I spend and how much pain should he go through? Then afterwards, when the diagnosis came back poor with it being something that couldn't be fixed permanently - only the symptons treated that sucked. Everything I had told myself changed and I needed to reavaluate what my answers would be which I knew would come up. So when he got sick that last time and I there was no guarantees he wouldn't go through this every couple of months I had to make the decision I was dreading as it is all about QUALITY OF LIFE. I had rescued him from an abusive/neglectful situation and couldn't then make him go through a painful/sick one just cause I loved him so much. That's the part you need to put yourself in her position. No matter what, you need to believe in yourself and that you HAVE and will do everything you can do help her. I pray that you don't have to make the decision I did but if you do, for whatever reason, just keep believing in yourself and that she knew she was loved and that is all a dog WANTS! Also, one other BIG tip that my dad told me that I didn't realise, the dogs KNOW when you are upset or anxious so try and remain calm, confident and happy when you are around her, then cry your eyes out in the car or anywhere away from her. It is soooo hard though! I am going to pm you my phone number in case you need to talk. Edited March 28, 2007 by heidig29 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DOGANGEL Posted March 29, 2007 Author Share Posted March 29, 2007 My darling little one has cancer on her spleen the aggressive type.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erny Posted March 29, 2007 Share Posted March 29, 2007 DA - I am really sorry for this devastating news. I can only imagine how mind blown you must feel, having gone from something you thought was 'routine' to this. What is the Vet's prognosis and suggestions? Are there options? Where did you go? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aniangel Posted March 29, 2007 Share Posted March 29, 2007 i'm so sorry to hear about your dog's troubles and i hope i can offer some assistance. i am an oncology vet nurse in sydney. my first bit of advice is go see Charles Kuntz and SARC - not only is he a specialist surgeon, he's a specialist oncological surgeon - he's your best bet in melbourne. secondly, get her there quickly. he can tell you ALL your options and help to treat her post-op. from what you have said in your posts, i think what you are dealing with is a haemangiosarcoma and it is very, very serious. german sheps are prone to them. you will want a vet to do a cardiac ultrasound as well as an abdominal one, and get them to do 3 view chest xrays as well. normally haemangio's strike in older dogs, but unfortunately with cancer, there is always the exception to the rule. haemangio's normally present in the spleen, but they can also sometimes be heart based as well, with spread to the spleen. in the years i have been an onco vet nurse, i haven't heard about a correlation between vaccine's and this type of tumor - it is a tumor of blood vessels. usually splenic haemangio's are silent killers, owners come home to find their beloved dog dead in the back yard from a massive bleed - often without any previous symptoms - so be thankful you have caught this early. i think what has happened, is that your dog had this tumor growing for a while unknown to anyone. the general anaesthetic strained her circulatory system and she had small bleeds causing the anaemia and low proteins. if she had been lying mostly on one side because she was feeling a bit weak, the low proteins would have caused seepage of fluids from the vessels into the tissue space, causing the swelling. being a 4yr old dog, with no previous symptoms of being unwell before her anaesthetic, it wasn't wrong of the vet not to do any bloods beforehand, but i would think he would have complied with your wishes - but unfortunately, there could have been very likely no abnormal changes on the pre-op bloods anyway with this type of tumor. i know you are very concerned about her undergoing another op, but believe me, if it is a haemangio, it is the only option. so let the specialist do the surgery if it is within your means - and while the surgery is risky, she would be in the best capable hands with the best prospective outcome. after the surgery you would be giving her good quality time with you. because haemangios are usually so aggressive and the situation comes on so quickly you need to have the best quality time you can with her, just to take a breath and wrap your head around the whole situation. i truly hope its not a haemangio - but please get her to the specialist tomorrow if you can - if i can be of any further help, feel free to pm me.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DOGANGEL Posted March 30, 2007 Author Share Posted March 30, 2007 (edited) Thanx for everyones concern , wishing her well and trying to find choices for me and my liitle girl after more tests and subjecting my baby to more needle wounds ultrasound to find out what was wrong we decided to put her to sleep this morning to end her any more future pain, but things just went from stable to painfull and her screaming , rushing her to a 24 hour medical centre which was 25 minutes away and hearing her breathing so rapidly and loudly she passed away in our arms in the car when we got there, she still had a pulse she fought so hard every step of the way. W are in shock and depression the house is empty without her we have our other dog that we love very much , he cried and whined for her its so horrible and is looking for her (( PICTURe ON MY SWEETY GIRL LITTLE BOOTS in 2003 we found her 2002 SEPT 4th She had an aggressive spleen cancer with blood clotting factors not working and large legoins in her liver :D ....i feel so guilty and horrible for her suffering but i went to so many vets and they all said she is ok she went thru hell and back ;) .....:cool:( Edited March 30, 2007 by DOGANGEL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fastgals Posted March 30, 2007 Share Posted March 30, 2007 Oh Dogangel, I'm so, so sorry. You did your best to find out what was wrong with your girl, so don't be blaming yourself. I'm so sorry. My deepest sympathy. Your darling little girl is at peace now, no pain. Sleep softly little one, now in God's care. Kind regards, Fastgals. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shihzoo Posted March 30, 2007 Share Posted March 30, 2007 oh Dogangel, I'm so sorry. I know you did your best and you have to believe that. You were amazing in your persistance and you did everything you could to give her a chance. I wish I could say something to make this easier for you but there isn't anything. If you need to talk you know what to do. I just know she is up there playing with Pietro now - no doubt they are causing havock. I am so sad this happened to you.. tears flowing. Hugs from me and sloppy kisses from Cibo to you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eclecticgirl Posted March 30, 2007 Share Posted March 30, 2007 Dogangel a big hug from me too, have been thinking of you the last few days Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erny Posted March 30, 2007 Share Posted March 30, 2007 I know that my words will not suffice to make you feel better right at this moment, DA. So please accept a . I am so deeply sorry for the outcome - but you gave selflessly and always with your dog's best interests at heart. Allow your feelings to nestle on this fact - it will help to take the edge off that horrible raw, sharp feeling of grief. Your girl has crossed the and feels no pain - just warmth and comfort. I'm sure my girl will be there to greet her and bear her welcome to the sunny tree-lined fields upon which they frolic, play and rest. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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