Chuy, my Chihuahua had a splenectomy, a surgical removing of the spleen, in 2022. I shared his journey on my social media in real-time because it was taking place however I’ve been wanting to place every thing collectively in a weblog submit in case you’re going through the identical robust resolution we needed to make. Making a call on your canine to have a splenectomy is extremely troublesome and I perceive the entire anxiousness and worry you’re feeling.
On the time this occurred in 2022, Chuy was 12 years outdated. He has a coronary heart murmur so he sees a heart specialist twice a 12 months to observe his coronary heart. Coincidentally main as much as a scheduled heart specialist appointment, Chuy was not feeling good. He wasn’t consuming a lot, had excessive diarrhea, and low vitality. Unsure if it issues or might be associated however our complete household had abdomen flu within the weeks main as much as this.
I discussed this throughout his cardio re-check, so his physician did a full examination. His heart specialist broke the information to me that she found a mass in his stomach. He was additionally dehydrated from the diarrhea. They really helpful that we hospitalize him to carry out a full stomach ultrasound and to deal with the dehydration. He was hospitalized for two nights. They acknowledged that the GI points had been Gastritis and never associated to the mass.
The ultrasound confirmed it was a 4cm mass on his spleen with a “advanced” look. He additionally had 2 different smaller nodules on the spleen that didn’t seem advanced. She defined to me that very often, “advanced” equates to most cancers however not all the time.
I used to be devastated.
I couldn’t breathe. I wasn’t able to face doubtlessly shedding my boy but. I had him hospitalized to get his secure from the dehydration and headed dwelling. Coming dwelling that day with out Chuy was simply terrible. There’s no different person who I’ve spent as a lot time with previously (now) 14 years with. Not even my very own kids or husband! Chuy is aways with me…after they’re at college, at work, or sleeping – it’s me and Chuy.
The vets began giving us some choices. Thoughts you, at this level all of this has been over the cellphone because of Covid insurance policies. I had not seen one physician face-to-face! The entire choices sucked. It was agonizing and heart-wrenching attempting to determine what was greatest for our Chuy boy.
Choice #1: Surgical procedure
Choice one was to surgically take away all the spleen and ship it out for a biopsy. There isn’t a manner presently to take a biopsy with out absolutely eradicating the spleen. If it’s most cancers, he would solely have just a few months (possibly) left with us as this can be a very aggressive most cancers and it often spreads to the key organs. If it’s not most cancers, the surgical removing is healing and we transfer on. Chuy was 12 and some months shy of turning 13 on the time this occurred. He has a grade 5 coronary heart murmur. Surgical procedure could possibly be dangerous AF. He may move away on the working desk even when it’s not most cancers.
Choice #2: Do Nothing
The second choice we got was to do nothing. The splenic mass is vascular so principally it will simply be a matter of time earlier than it will rupture. Chuy would internally bleed to dying. Principally, this feature would go away Chuy as a ticking time bomb. When these items rupture it’s a particularly traumatic occasion for the canine and everybody within the household. The emergency vet instructed us that he’s already outdated, has a coronary heart murmur, and has tracheal illness, so we may simply go get pleasure from life to the fullest with him till this factor ultimately ruptures.
Choice #3: Euthanasia
The third choice took my breath away. One of many choices offered to us was euthanasia. With this feature, they reiterated he’s outdated, has a coronary heart murmur, has tracheal illness, and we may choose a date. They had been telling us it was like an 80% probability that this splenic mass was cancerous. It will be a quick and aggressive most cancers. It was beginning to really feel like saying goodbye would possibly really be a viable choice. I couldn’t imagine it. I didn’t wish to imagine it.
We requested if we may come and see Chuy. That was an enormous ask contemplating all of the Covid insurance policies that had been nonetheless in place on the time. That was the longest drive we’ve ever taken. My husband and I held palms and fought again the tears whereas we drove. We had been quiet a lot of the drive as a result of we knew we would should make the toughest resolution of our lives. Based mostly on what the vet instructed us, we had been anticipating this is likely to be the final time we see Chuy. We knew that we’d must decide as soon as we noticed him. We knew that we couldn’t make this excruciating resolution with out seeing him.
They instructed us that Chuy wasn’t consuming. I instructed them he by no means eats when he’s within the hospital or away from us. They stated to convey some meals with us. So, we stopped at Chick-fil-A and obtained his favourite; grilled nuggets.
Frank and I sat in a room, masked up, nervously tapping and pacing backwards and forwards whereas we waited for the vet assistants to take him off his IV and convey him into the room.
Chuy got here in, operating in the direction of us, and wagging his tail. He instantly perked up, going backwards and forwards between each of us. He devoured the nuggets. All of them. Frank and I didn’t even should say something to one another. We have now this factor the place we are able to inform what the opposite individual is considering with out saying a phrase. I suppose that occurs after virtually 20 years collectively! We simply checked out one another and we knew what to do.
It was not his time.
Frank and I each determined a very long time in the past that placing him to sleep is simply going to be an choice if he’s struggling or clearly in ache. We are going to each know if and when that point comes. My intestine instructed me it’s not this time.
We have now to offer him a combating probability.
We liked on him. Cried into his fur. Talked to him. Promised him that we’d do no matter it took to maintain him with us so long as attainable.
He wanted to remain within the hospital a bit longer so we stated goodbye and went dwelling. We talked all the manner dwelling about what to do. We went by all of the dangers of surgical procedure versus the horror of “wait and see.” We had no concept how lengthy he could possibly be “okay” with out surgical procedure. No one knew for positive if was 100% most cancers or not. No one may inform us what to do. It was a call that solely we may make.
After a few nights within the hospital, we determined to convey Chuy dwelling. After just a few days, he began feeling a lot better. As soon as gastritis cleared up, he was completely again to his loopy self. You wouldn’t have ever recognized he was strolling round with a ticking time bomb in his abdomen.
After agonizing over the professionals and cons and the what-ifs, we selected surgical procedure.
Prepping for Surgical procedure
We met with the surgeon for a session (once more whereas sitting within the automobile, on the cellphone…sigh). He defined all the small print to us. He instructed us that Chuy can be candidate for surgical procedure and that they’d have a complete staff there to deal with him; together with his heart specialist and paying additional shut consideration to his coronary heart.
The Day of Surgical procedure
The fact was that Chuy may die proper there on the working desk. I used to be a large number the night time earlier than and that morning. I knew that this could possibly be the final time we’d ever see him once more. We had been up earlier than dawn and dropped him off on the vet. I couldn’t sit nonetheless. I couldn’t focus. I stored wanting on the clock to see if it was virtually time for them to name based mostly on their estimations. I about threw up any time my cellphone rang earlier than the time promised.
We ate breakfast within the parking zone of the vet’s workplace. We sat there for some time. My husband stored saying there’s no motive to remain as a result of we gained’t see him immediately anyway. They really helpful that we wait till he’s discharged the subsequent day to keep away from any pointless misery. I didn’t wish to drive dwelling. Our vet is about 45 minutes from our home. It’s too far. I wanted to be shut simply in case we don’t get excellent news. We went throughout the road and wandered round Wal-Mart simply to kill time.
The cellphone rang. Chuy was out of surgical procedure. He was alive! He was doing wonderful! His coronary heart was secure all the time and he had no issues! All of his different organs seemed nice together with his liver. Thanks, God! The surgeon stated he eliminated a mass the scale of a golf ball plus a smaller one. It will now be despatched off for a biopsy. So, now we made it by the primary hurdle. Now, we wait and discover out whether it is most cancers or not.
This was Chuy on the way in which dwelling from the hospital. You possibly can inform he’s in lala land from the ache meds!
Restoration From Surgical procedure
Chuy needed to be on strict crate relaxation for two weeks till the staples had been eliminated. He wanted numerous medicines. We have now a two-story dwelling so we stored Chuy in his extra-large crate upstairs in our bed room. He was our little affected person as we needed to convey him medicines across the clock for the primary few days. I’d additionally make him rooster or ham as a result of he wouldn’t eat his common pet food. He healed superbly and the entire veterinarian workers had been actually happy along with his outcomes. You possibly can see the development of his scar beneath. In the event you get squeamish with stuff like this, simply scroll previous!
The primary picture is the staples the day after the surgical procedure when he got here dwelling. You possibly can see the pores and skin is a bit swollen. The second is 2 weeks after the staples had been eliminated. The third picture is just a few days later. In the event you see the picture a bit additional down, you may see how nicely he healed!
The Biopsy Outcomes are In
I used to be shaking once I took the cellphone name. Every little thing got here again benign! There was NO signal of most cancers in Chuy’s spleen or liver. They referred to as it a nodular hyperplasia because of age. After I you I fell to the ground after they referred to as with the outcomes. This was the very best information! My instinct instructed me it wasn’t his time and I’m SO glad I listened. Chuy is doing very well and hasn’t had any issues or setbacks.
A splenectomy is just not a straightforward resolution to make. I understand how onerous it’s when you’re going by this. It’s important to weigh the professionals and cons, educate your self, and make the very best resolution that solely you already know in your coronary heart is true. Sending you numerous love when you’re on this scenario. Hoping our story may give you slightly little bit of hope.
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