Large Spleen?

[Denise L.]

Yesterday I took Cyrus to the emergency clinic as he was vomiting, had the runs and refused all food even boiled chicken and rice.

His xrays showed his spleen as enlarged. The vet told me she needed a radiologist to read the film and I would find out today...yes, I am glued to my phone. They also did blood test and a urinalysis.

They gave him fluids and he ate very well last night when we got home. Drank water too and held it all down. This morning he was fine, ate his prescription food (W/D) and had his Pepcid.

As I sit here awaiting the call does anyone have any experience with a spleen that "seems large" vet quote.

Thanks!

[mmgy]

I don't know why spleens enlarge so much, but they do fairly often, and the cure is to take them out. It's usually a tumor of some type, but most often they are localized, and you'll never hear of them again. The bad thing about spleens is that they can rupture, and that part is bad. So they're probably going to tell you to schedule surgery ASAP, he'll feel rough for a couple of days, and then be brand new.

Our dogs have had 3 splenectomies, one was a self-contained abdominal fibrosarcoma, the second was a plasmacytoma---so rare I've never found a shred of research on it, and the third was just an enlarged spleen.

[Sharon Marples]

How is Cyrus doing? Get any answers from the vet yet?

I agree with mmgy, if it is enlarged and if it shows anything on the x-ray, better to take it out. A friend of mine had her 10 year old rottie into the vet a couple of weeks ago because his back was bothering him. They took films and it showed his spleen was enlarged. They removed it and found a tumor that weighed almost 6 lbs! It was not cancerous, but they did tell her that if it was cancer, finding it early would have let them remove it all with no future problems.

The dog is now running around, feeling great and had no problems with the surgery at all.

Please keep us posted on your boy's progress. Good luck.

[Denise L.]

Hi! As it turns out his spleen isn't enlarged at all...I had an intern, not a doctor at the emergency clinic. She DID tell me she wanted a radiologist to read the Xray and told me to call Monday. Here is there story:

First I was aggravated because every time I called on Monday the "dr" couldn't take my call. I already made an appt. with my own vet for Monday evening. When I got home from work there was a message on my machine stating: Cyrus has pancreatitis, gastroenteritis and a partial bowel obstruction. These, she said were indicated by an elevated lipase and the Xrays. The spleen appeared "slightly" larger than normal but no mass was present. She said I had to admit him immediately for 7 days for tube feedings! Never once did she ask to speak with me directly to see how he was after his Sunday visit. He was fine when we got home Sunday night, he ate, drank and was his normal playful self. Monday AM he was great. Even during his time at the clinic he was alert and active...I only brought him because I was concerned about dehydration...and I am a new mom!

My vet examined him and he is absolutely fine. His spleen is normal and he does not have pancreatitis! My vet told me to keep him on the W/D for a few days, continue with the pepcid for 2 more days and that's it. Clean bill of health.

Anyway, that clinic is a teaching hospital and they use inexperienced interns to work emergency. My vet feels she is very green and was covering all bases and in his 19 years of practice never saw a dog have all three of those issues.

So I am happy to say all is well!

PS: TRC hooked me up with a different 24 hour emergency clinic that is staffed with experienced doctors! Yay! Hopefully I won't need to use it!

[mmgy]

Originally Posted by Denise L.

She said I had to admit him immediately for 7 days for tube feedings!

Good Grief!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Glad to hear the news from your vet though. Since the clinic did bloodwork, try to get a copy for his files at your vet's. Wouldn't hurt to have it as a reference.