My Scottish terrier died.
By mysticmaggie
@mysticmaggie (2498)
United States
September 15, 2012 9:25am CST
Last weekend my Scottish terrier collapsed and had to be put to sleep. Although he had a physical a little over a month ago, no one found the cancer growing in his spleen.
A couple of weeks prior to his death he suddenly didn't want to go on walks any more. If I got him outside, he would stand as though lost in thought and getting him to move was akin to pushing a rock. I mistakenly thought he was just being contrary for reasons unknown.
When he collapsed, I took him to the Emergency Vet and within minutes they knew the diagnosis. His stomach was filled with blood from the cancerous spleen. He had evidently been in great pain, but being a stoic Scotty, he didn't complain until moments before I took him to the vet. Then he whimpered quietly.
Spleen cancer is a vicious, fast-moving disease that destroys animals in a couple of weeks sometimes or even days. It is difficult to find until it has done full damage.
Please, when you take your pet to the vet from now on insist on having any test that might catch this awful cancer before it's too late.
Have any of you faced this with your pets? Were you able to save them? How early was it detected?
3 people like this
5 responses
@HomeBase (1153)
• United States
15 Sep 12
So sorry to hear about the loss of your pet, it is really a tough thing to go through. I have lost a few pets over the years, but do not like to talk about it because it makes me sad, all the coulda-shoulda-woulda's that I find to torture myself with.
It is good that you are warning people about how to talk to a veterinarian when taking a pet to a vet. It is important to speak up for the pet because the pet cannot speak for itself.
1 person likes this
@mysticmaggie (2498)
• United States
15 Sep 12
Thank you for your kindness. He gave the signs, but I had such confidence in his recent physical that I totally misread them. I took those far off looks as an older dog maybe getting senile. It never occurred to me that he might be in such pain that walking was torture.
@41CombedaleRoad (5952)
• Greece
16 Sep 12
I lost a spaniel in the same unexpected way. I also felt guilty because I did not know until the cancer had advanced. Our dog was a rescue dog and she had some odd ways due to her past which were always a puzzle to us.We thought she just had some odd days, she didn't appear to be in pain until the last few days when we took her to the vet. I feel like HomeBase, can't talk about it, don't like to go over it in my mind. Miss the dog.
1 person likes this
@monkmano (585)
• Canada
16 Sep 12
I'm so sorry, I have a little dog and I was just thinking last night I never want you to pass I'd miss her so much.
My dogs a puppy only had one physical but i think if she was ever in pain shed be less stoic than your scottie and would tell me. do you know what tests or what to feel for for this? was there bloody urine or anything that was a sign when my cat had cancer it was very late stage (long time ago) and he had tumours throughout his abdomen.
how old was he? gosh i really am sorry dogs are such a part of our family it breaks my heart to hear about them ill.
1 person likes this
@deazil (4730)
• United States
15 Sep 12
I am so sorry for the loss of your beautiful little Scottie. When I was young I always wanted a Scottish Terrier. They are wonderful companions. I have not lost a pet to cancer of the spleen. I have cats and In 2004 we lost our beautiful Norwegian Forest cat to mammary cancer. We caught it in time for an operation. But then 2 months later she needed another one. This was much more extensive than the first and there were no guarantees. She was a very strong cat and quickly recovered from the second operation. But, as the vet had said it might, it went into her lungs. Six weeks after the second operation we had to rush her to the emergency hospital. She was gasping for air. We lost her that day. She was only 11 years old. That's young for an indoor cat. I'm sorry for your loss.
1 person likes this
@mysticmaggie (2498)
• United States
15 Sep 12
Thank you for your kind thoughts, Deazil. I'm so sorry to hear about your cat. Ours ran away after a recent move and has me worried sick. A neighbor thinks he may have seen it late at night when he took his pup for a walk, but it ran when it saw the dog.
Cats, no matter how independent they may seem, have a special way of getting deep in our hearts, just as our pups do.
1 person likes this
@goldtc (40)
• United States
23 Sep 12
I have not experienced having a dog with cancer, but I am so sorry to hear about your loss. I can only imagine the sadness and void you must be experiencing in your life. I have a toy poodle, and I've had him since his birth. I know all living creatures must pass over, but when his time comes I know I'll be devastated. He is truly a member of my family.
Take care
@kemak28 (724)
• United States
15 Sep 12
I'm so sorry for your loss. I too have been through that with dogs we have had in the past. Ours developed it when they were older in age so there just wasn't much we could do for the animal. With cancer I don't think I would want to put my animal through the horrible treatments either.
1 person likes this
@mysticmaggie (2498)
• United States
15 Sep 12
Poor Good Boy was so far gone he didn't even have a choice. They said I could take him home for a couple of days but he would be in severe pain. What kind of choice is that? So I held him close, told him how awesome he had been as a pet and held him tighter when they gave the shots.
His ashes will be added to a living reef with his former master, my husband on October 22.
1 person likes this
