On the Friday before last, I took both of the puppies (they are big, we called them puppies anyway, as they are our children) out to do their stuff, and was talking to my husband on the cell phone as he was just on his way home, when I noticed Sumner looked like he tripped a little while lifting his leg. I chalked it up to clumsiness, he was a big boy (not fat just a big boy, although he had a tendency to put on weight which we always kept in check) and was never even as a puppy the most coordinated of guys, so fine. I brought them in and walking across the living room, Sumner started to wobble like he was drunk, then he started to fall over and I grabbed him and tried to help him steady himself, which was hard, 100 lbs of dead weight but his legs just seemed to be going out from under him...I tried to get his legs in a position for him to lay down comfortably and now my husband, still on the phone was racing home...I used the regular phone and called the vet, even though it was after 4 on a friday, and we brought him in there, my husband had to carry him and he kept swaying and falling over in the car, with me trying to hold him steady as my husband drove. Got to the vet and he was still very wobbly, could only stand for a few moments that his legs would give out...they took blood and gave us the numbers for some emergency clinics should we need to bring him, as they had no one there to watch him overnight.
We brought him home and he had no more episodes and was starting to get around a little better, only he was dragging his front right paw, like he just couldn't curve it to walk, you know? and another vet called us on saturday to say the blood results were back and that Sumner has slight anemia and that all the other tests were ok still (we had him in for a checkup less than two months prior and he had a clean bill of health)but suspected a tumor on the spleen and wanted to do x rays just to make sure. They also tested his thyroid and saw that it was low and wanted to put him on thyroid medicine.
In the meanwhile we started giving him beef liver cooked to give him more iron and he was walking better, not dragging his leg at all anymore and following Mollie about as usual, barking, etc. We took him in for x rays and they came out clean, no tumors or internal bleeding, and the liver was helping his anemia and we were encouraged. They said to take the medicine and wait a few weeks and see how he does... He was better but still sleeping a lot of sometimes having trouble getting up (you would find him sprawled out on his stomach) he was also breathing very rapid and had very little appetite, which we thought maybe the weakness and breathing would be helped by the medicine, and so we gave it to him religiously, and slept downstairs because we didn't want him on the stairs...me on the couch and my husband on the recliner, I slept on the floor with Sumner at some points to hold him and see how his breathing was...
He seemed to be eating a little better and getting around a little better but then on Sunday suddenly everything went downhill. He wouldn't eat anything, drink anything and when we took him out, he went outside and just lay down and we knew it was bad..... I told my husband to bring him in and he carried him in to the kitchen where his spot was to lay and I just stayed with him, hugging and kissing and petting, and much of the week when he slept, he was partly oblivious to us, but at this point, he gave me his paw and I took it and it felt like a claw, all tensed up and nails out and I saw him start to tense up and my husband came and rubbed his hind legs which he said felt cold and Sumner had a seizure laying there, after less than a minute it stopped and I felt his paw relax but kept holding it.... eventually I put his head in my lap and petted him and spoke to him, and then he started to cough and I thought maybe I had him in a bad position or something but he coughed up some phlegm that was a bloody tint to it, not dark but bloody and at that point, I told my husband to get me the emergency numbers and we were going to take him to the clinic, even though I think we both knew there was nothing to be done...so my husband ran out and I ran to get shoes and my watch and as I came back in the Kitchen I saw him tensed up again, it looked as though the middle of his body was being pulled off the ground by some unseen force and I jumped down and wrapped my arms around him and this time blood came out of his mouth and then he passed...he was gone....
hemangiosarcoma support group
ONE OUT OF FIVE GOLDENS WILL DIE OF HEMANGIOSARCOMA!!!!
THESE NUMBERS ARE ABSOLUTELY UNACCEPTABLE!!!
This cancer cannot be detected by x rays, only by ultrasound. No one even suggested an ultrasound to us. Many times, even if this cancer is detected early, it is still fatal. I am determined to raise awareness about this condition, and to find ways to fight it or make it less common. I will not let Sumners death be in vain. I've cut and pasted some articles about this below, that describe the symptoms, please, those of you with dogs, especially goldens and german shepherds (as they are most suceptible) please, keep this and if your dog shows any signs, request an ultrasound, just to be on the safe side. This cancer kills at the speed of light.
I am beginning my quest to fight hemangiosarcoma here, and will eventually have a website for the awareness and will take it from there. I don't care if I have to become like Jerry Lewis and the labor day telethon, I will fight this. This disease is pure evil. I have lost everyone I have ever loved to cancer. Enough already!!!!!
Information is below. Thanks for reading this far.
Hemangiosarcoma
Hemangiosarcomas are a form of cancer which originates in the endothelium, which is the lining of blood vessels and spleen. As might be expected of a tumor arising in the blood system they are highly malignant and can be found almost anywhere in the body since blood vessels are necessary in almost all body tissues. There is a strong predilection for the spleen, pericardium and heart. These tumors are most common in middle aged or older dogs which are medium sized or larger but can occur in any breed. German shepherds are reported to be more susceptible to this tumor than most dog breeds. In our practice golden retrievers also seem to have a higher than normal incidence.
Because these tumors arise in internal organs there is often little warning that they are present prior to time they cause severe clinical signs of disease. A common estimate of the average time from discovery of the tumor until death occurs in affected dogs is six to eight weeks but death occurs more rapidly than this in a number of cases.
Visible bleeding, usually in the form of nosebleeds, and signs associated with blood loss, such as tiring easily, episodes of unexplained weakness, pale color to the mucous membranes of the mouth and eyes, increased respiratory rates, abdominal swelling and depression are the most common presenting signs for patients with hemangiosarcoma. A few dogs just suddenly die with no clinical signs having been noted by their families prior to death. Bleeding disorders associated with hemangiosarcoma are sometimes confused with immune mediated hemolytic anemia (IMHA) because the type of anemia caused by the two conditions is very similar and early clinical signs are often very similar, as well. Hemangiosarcomas can cause very large tumors, sometimes as large as ten or more pounds, when they affect the spleen.
In most instances tumors of this size in this location are found on physical exam. In other cases the tumor affects the heart and is hard to find on a physical exam and even easy to miss or X-rays. Sometimes there are hundreds of small tumors spread throughout the body and surgical exploration or an autopsy are the only ways to identify the problem.
The blood disorder that most commonly accompanies the presence of hemangiosarcoma tumors is disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). This is blood clotting that is occurring inappropriately inside the blood vessels. It uses up all of the blood clotting elements rapidly and dogs with this condition usually have platelet deficiencies, increased blood clotting times, decrease in fibrin content in the blood and an increase in fibrin degradation products (FDPs). This is probably the cause of death in most dogs affected with hemangiosarcoma.
Diagnosis of hemangiosarcoma can be accomplished in a number of ways. Identification of a tumor in the spleen or heart raises a high degree of suspicion for this tumor. Abdominal swelling is also highly suggestive in an older large breed dog. If fluid is aspirated from the abdomen and it looks like blood it is even more suggestive of hemangiosarcoma. If blood is drawn and will not clot when left in the syringe it is another sign that a dog may have this tumor. In some cases careful evaluation of the type of bleeding disorder present is necessary to raise the suspicion of hemangiosarcoma.
If a tumor is identified when it is small it may be possible to remove the spleen if the tumor is there or even to remove tumors found near the heart and prolong the pet's life. Most of the time this will not make much difference, though. These are highly malignant tumors and most have spread by the time they can be identified. To the best of my knowledge there is not a very successful hemotherapeutic or radiation protocol for this cancer at this time but dogs treated with chemotherapeutic agents do live a little longer than dogs that do not receive this treatment.
Treatment for the bleeding disorders and aggressive supportive care also prolong the life of patients with hemangiosarcoma. If treatment for IMHA or immune mediated thrombocytopenia (ITP) are instituted due to confusion over the underlying cause of clinical signs early in the diagnostic process there is not likely to be any harm to the dog.
Due to the tendency to look for an inciting agent in IMHA and ITP it is a good idea to consider an autopsy exam if a dog dies before a definite diagnosis of any of these conditions can be made. Finding hemangiosarcoma saves a lot of agonizing over possible causes of the death of a friend. There are no known predisposing factors other than size and breed that I am aware of for hemangiosarcoma.
Mike Richards, DVM
Section: Overview
Hemangiosarcoma is a malignant cancer of the cells that form blood vessels. Because these tumors start in blood vessels, they are frequently filled with blood. Consequently, when a blood-filled tumor ruptures, it can cause problems with internal or external bleeding. Hemangiosarcoma is considered to be a very aggressive tumor and can spread rapidly to other organs.
Hemangiosarcoma is more common in dogs than in cats. It usually occurs in middle-aged to older dogs 9 to 11 years of age, and German shepherds appear to be predisposed to developing this cancer.
The most common primary location of this cancer in dogs is the spleen. Other primary locations include the heart, liver, skin, and bone; however, it can start in any location where blood vessels are present. These tumors usually spread to the lungs, liver, spleen and heart.
Signs of this disease are usually the result of the tumor rupturing, which causes bleeding. This may occur without any warning, and the symptoms will depend upon where the tumor is located.
When the tumor is located in the spleen or liver, the signs are usually due to rupture of the tumor and subsequent bleeding into the abdomen. This causes anemia, weakness and if the bleeding is severe, collapse. The gums may appear to be pale or white. In relatively few animals the diagnosis is made before the tumor ruptures.
When this type of tumor occurs in the heart, it can cause symptoms, such as weakness, collapse, difficulty breathing, exercise intolerance and fluid build-up in the abdomen. This is usually due to the development of fluid around the heart, called pericardial effusion. A thin sack, called the pericardium, normally surrounds the heart. In pericardial effusion the sack fills up with fluid and prevents the heart from beating effectively. With hemangiosarcoma, the pericardium fills up with blood due to rupture of the tumor.
When the tumor occurs in the skin, a mass or lump can usually be felt in or under the skin. The mass may become ulcerated and bleed. When the tumor occurs in a bone, it can cause pain and discomfort. In some locations, such as a rib, the tumor can be felt as a firm swelling in the bone.
What to Watch For
Anemia, weakness and collapse
Pale or white gums
Difficulty breathing
Exercise intolerance
Fluid build-up of the abdomen
Mass or lump under the skin
Swelling in the bone
Pain in the bones
Diagnosis
Diagnostic tests that may be needed to recognize hemangiosarcoma and to direct treatment include:
Complete blood count (CBC) including platelet numbers
Clotting tests
Serum chemistry panel and urinalysis
Abdominal radiographs (X-rays) and/or ultrasound
Abdominal tap
Chest X-rays
Ultrasound of the heart
Electrocardiogram (EKG)
Pericardial tap
Biopsy
Treatment
The treatment and prognosis depends upon the location of the tumor. When the tumor occurs in an internal organ such as the spleen or heart, the chances of long-term survival are poor. Treatment is more successful when this cancer occurs in the skin. Exposure to the sun may play a role in the development of this type of skin cancer. Dogs with poorly-pigmented skin and sparse hair coats, such as the whippet, saluki, bloodhound and English pointer, are more likely to develop this form of hemangiosarcoma. There is no known cause of hemangiosarcoma in other locations. In humans, exposure to certain chemicals such as vinyl chloride has been implicated as a cause.
Treatment for hemangiosarcoma may include the following:
Stabilization
Intravenous fluids
Blood transfusion
Pericardial tap
Surgery
Chemotherapy
Radiation therapy
Home Care and Prevention
Seek veterinary attention promptly if your pet develops pale gums, signs of weakness or collapse. Have any new lumps on your pet evaluated by your veterinarian.
Minimize your pet’s exposure to the sun, especially dogs that are poorly pigmented and have a sparse hair coat.