Sansena - how are you and your dog faring this morning?
I feel your pain
Friend of Otis, I sympathize with you. We lost our dear Beagle three weeks ago. She had a splenic tumor (no bleeding) that seemed to appear overnight and we could not confirm it was cancer, so opted for surgery, knowing if it was benign we might buy her a few more healthy years. It was a difficult decision. She died 3 days later. Seemed to be slowly on the mend, but passed in the night. Besides missing her intensely (didn’t realize how much I would miss her physical presence and touch), I sometimes struggle with whether we made the right desicision. Pathology revealed it was an aggressive cancer. We would have lost her either way but maybe we could have spared her unneccessary pain. It is awful when you think you are making the right decision at the time and then are left wondering, forever, if it was really so. Maybe better to say goodbye too “early” than too late.
Murphy rejoined his girlfriend Coco this morning. Peacefully.
Another legendary dog to meet us on the other side.
Thanks for all the support, kindness and sharing your personal stories.
Oh, I’m so sorry. God speed, Murphy. You will be joining a lot of good ones. 
Sending hugs. It’s never easy.
You have my complete sympathy. I’m sorry.
So very sorry to hear this.
So, so sorry for your loss. Having been through it several times, I’ve come to the decision that a week too early is better than a day too late.
I am so, so sorry. I am so glad that Murphy had a peaceful death. Hugs to you and yours, Sansena.
My Abbie was diagnosed with this and unfortunately our vet encouraged us to do the surgery - 50/50 chance he said she would survive. When I heard survive, I thought it meant long term survival. We did the surgery ($$$$) and she lasted 3 days after the surgery. I wish I would have done the euthanasia at the diagnosis to prevent her suffering even more. You did the right thing.
My boy taz a German shepherd was diagnosed with a spleen mass,I have opted to bring him home on painkillers for a few days then I’m going to let him go before he begins to suffer .the vet said that he is like a ticking time bomb and may have a bleed any time,he is 10 and I dont want to put him through the stress of surgery for a possible few months for my benefit, knowing all this I’m still questioning my decision and probably always will.i love him
I hate to say ut TinaTazzy- that is kind. My parents golden had a mass on his spleen. We were going to a specialist to officially diagnose if it was cancer, etc. Before we got to the appointment, late at night I was at their house, and he suddenly collapsed and couldn’t stand.
I had advised my Dad that may happen, but my Mom wasn’t really aware. His gums were as white as a sheet of paper. We had to go to the emergency clinic last January. We did an ultrasound, but already knew, and his belly was filled with fluid.:’(
I lost my friend, my shadow to what was suspected hemangio tumor on his heart 11-16-18. He was 12. He went from being his normal self Monday to Wednesday NQR with vet trip and unknown what was going on, to Friday trip to UGA and echo showing the tumor diagnosed by cardiologist on UGA staff. He was dying on the 2+ hour trip up there and they had to drain the blood around his heart when we first got there to stabilize him long enough for diagnosis and for me to say good bye. I still miss my shadow, but I am glad that I was able to ease him over the bridge as hard as it was.
OP so sorry for your loss, they certainly take a piece of our heart with them when they go. We lost 2 in 2018, our big dog was expected but my shadow was not.
The worst thing is when they seem ok and you start to question your decision, but you know it is the right thing. My heart goes out to anyone else in this situation I’ve had my baby boy since he was 3 and a half weeks old 10 years on and I feel I’m losing a huge part of my family.
Splenic masses are difficult. They are time bombs without immediate action. But they are about 50/50 benign, but when they are malignant it is extremely aggressive typically. My dog (9yo Boxer mix) had a splenectomy in October, thankfully he recovered fine and the mass was benign.
If you aren’t going to proceed with surgery (totally valid option especially in a 14yo dog with a low PCV), I would euthanize sooner than later.
I am so sorry. It is such a difficult choice.
I’m so sorry about your Murphy. Please know that you made the best choice.
I lost my first dog from hemangiosarcoma. The vet was having me drive her out of town the next day for some diagnosic tests, but her lungs filled with fluid and she drowned internally, very scared and in my arms, wanting me to help her. It was horrible, and thinking about it still makes me cry.
You made the right decision , as hard as that decision is to make. I also opted to euthanize our 14 yr old black spitz type dog. I brought her home from a terrible shelter when she was a puppy and she was the sweetest dog from day one until her last day. It broke my heart to euthanize when she wasn’t suffering yet, but many told me that with her diagnosis ( x-ray confirmed it, she has been losing weight and had a distended belly) the tumor on her spleen could rupture and it would be a horrible death. I am shocked at how many are diagnosed with this and wonder what is causing it?
Unfortunately, hemangiosarcoma is one of the most common cancers in dogs.
