My german shepherd is having surgery tomorrow - UPDATE

[nadine_mn]

Last edited Fri Sep 18, 2015, 04:03 PM - Edit history (1)

UPDATE

Thank you so much everyone both in the Lounge and in the Pets forum for all the love, hugs and best wishes. I double posted for double the love because you can never have too much!
I forgot to mention that his name is Durango and he is a rescue. We are his 4th home (original, rescue group home, my mom adopted him and had him for 3 yrs in less than ideal conditions and then we took him and have him for 7 yrs).

Let me just say why rescues are amazing before I update his condition - When we took him in, he was feeling so unloved. He was left alone in cage type kennel for 10-11 hrs a day, no other pets, no blanket, toys or bones in the kennel. Our home had us, 3 dogs (2 who have since passed) and a cat. Because I am not working, I am able to be home so he never had to be in the kennel alone again. At first he wasn't sure he belonged but the magic love of our other pets and from my husband and me finally convinced him. One day he just went from reserved to joyous...he must have realized that finally he has his forever home and family. And then the love just poured out of him like water bursting through a dam. And the goofy wackiness too!

So here is how today went:
His exploratory surgery revealed what my vet thinks is lymphoma - his spleen is 4x the size it should be but she did not remove it. She gave him some red blood cells to get his count back up and we will have him home for a few days. She did a biopsy and is sending it out to the oncologist to get a better idea of what is going on.

Whatever happens next, we will shower him with love and make his time as comfortable and as pain free as possible. Thank you all so much!



He may have a mass on his spleen. He went from wild happy dog to lethargic sad dog in just a few days.

But this is how we think of him

[hollysmom]

1. poor baby, Hope he does well.

[nadine_mn]

7. Thank - he has a very strong spirit

so we are truly hoping for the best

[Purveyor]

2. Wishing you and that fine fellow the best.

Looks a lot my long passed gal, Auge.

Take care.

[nadine_mn]

6. Thank you

Love how they can go from goofy to regal looking

[bigwillq]

3. Beautiful dog.

Hoping for the best.

[nadine_mn]

4. Thank you

he is quite the handsome pup - and a big lovable lug

[restorefreedom]

5. all the best to you both.

what a cutie.

[nadine_mn]

8. thank you so much

and yes - he is a cutie! He is very irresistible!

[Hassin Bin Sober]

9. Handsome boy!!

[Laffy Kat]

10. Precious pup.

Positive thoughts your way.

[shenmue]

11. Hug

[CaliforniaPeggy]

12. I hope everything will go well for your pup, my dear nadine_mn!

I'd love to see him return to being a wild happy dog!

[nadine_mn]

22. thank you!

He has so much love still in him to give!

[magical thyme]

13. what a beauiful doggie!

Love his little cowboy!

I will be thinking of him today. Sending healing vibes for simple surgery and quick, easy recovery...

[nadine_mn]

21. thank you! nt

[Xyzse]

14. Best wishes and much love.

Poor doggy.

[TuxedoKat]

15. How old is your dog?

Good thoughts and prayers for him a good outcome.

[nadine_mn]

20. He is 10 but acts like he is 5

I think it is because he is a rescue and we didn't get him until he was 3 and his life kinda started over from there. He has been healthy and happy up until this past week so I am hoping that strong spirit will help him get through this! Thank you for the the good thoughts and prayers!

[Worried senior]

16. He's beautiful

Has the surgery been done yet. Fingers crossed for both of you that everything is fine.

[Sanity Claws]

17. He looks happy

He looks like he knows he is loved. I'll bet he gives a lot of love back to the members of his pack.

[nadine_mn]

19. He does! He is so loved and gives it back tenfold

He is one of those dogs that is not shy at all about letting you know that he loves you!

[hamsterjill]

18. Good looking guy!!!

It is my hope that your quick action to his downturn in health will have caught whatever this is EARLY and that this gorgeous boy will be healthy for many more years.

Please keep us posted.

[magical thyme]

23. aw craps....I'm so sorry Durango

may the rest of his days, however many there are, be pain-free and filled with love, peace, joy, and did I mention love?

[roguevalley]

24. some lymphoma is doable. My dad had lymphoma. He survived it.

[magical thyme]

27. lymphoma in dogs is treatable, but not curable.

With treatment, it can go into remission for up to 18 months. Eventually, it does recur with resistance to the available treatments.

[lovemydog]

25. Big hug to Durango.

I can tell you love him so much and he loves you back!

[femmocrat]

26. He is a very handsome boy.

I'm really sorry about his diagnosis. I hope his condition is treatable and he has many more happy years with you. One of my dogs is a two-year cancer survivor now.

Wishing you the very best.

[passiveporcupine]

28. Can a dog live without a spleen like people can?

When I lost my baby girl (chocolate lab) at about 11 years old, it was very fast and it was from a ruptured tumor on her spleen (they just did blood work to determine that). I would be afraid to leave a mass on a spleen, especially if the spleen can be safely removed. But I don't know if that was an option with your dog.

I'm sorry you are facing this. I'm glad you have had such a joyous time with your Durango, and hope he can hang in there for a bit longer. He's a beautiful dog.

[nadine_mn]

30. Yes they can

We had a collie mix whose spleen ruptured and she lived for 2 more years without it.

I asked about removing it, but our vet said it wouldn't do any good since that wasn't the problem, it would cause more shock to the system and it is holding a ton of blood cells he needs.

I am lawyer and supposedly a smart person. I know the importance of making sure you have all the facts and understand everything.

But when it comes to my pets, esp in crisis and when they are in pain - I go dumb. All I want to hear is if they are ok, are they going to live, or are they in pain. Everything is filtered out like the way adults talk in Peanuts cartoons. It's embarrassing. Our vet doesn't have a warm bedside manner - she talks in vet speak. Her father was a vet and she basically grew up in his practice, so I think vet speak is her 1st language. She is a great doctor though.

Durango is home and is resting well. He is wagging his tail again and that means more to us than anything.

[passiveporcupine]

31. I'm glad you have a vet you can trust

I'm a basket case when anything happens to one of my babies. I'm glad Durango is home with you now and hope things keep getting better.

[bamademo]

29. One of my neighbors has a dog that had tumor on spleen.

They had her spleen removed and she has been like puppy since. 11 year old dog. Talked yesterday to him and it was remarkable how much better that dog looked and felt.

Love to you and your precious baby puppy.