Was there any thing that I could of done?

[Nikkisangel]

My husband and I just lost our 9.5 year old Rottie and the necropsy came back that she had a tumor that was common to large breeds. I can't remember off hand what it was caled but it ruptured her spleen and she went to sleep. I just want to know if it could of been prevented other that seeing it on an x-ray.

[Judi W]

No there is nothing you could have done. We never know how long we are going to have our dogs (or the people in our lives for that matter). What one can do is make sure each day is lived ethically and with the love we have and our values determining our actions. That is the gift we give, as we do not have the power to defeat all disease and danger.

[Miabella]

It sounds like hemangiosarcoma, rather common in Rottweilers, unfortunately. I am so sorry for your loss. Hemangiosarcoma generally remains asymptomatic until it is too late to do anything. I lost a Rottweiler in the same way almost 3 years ago, she seemed just fine until suddenly she wasn't, and we had to euthanize within 36 hours of the first symptom. Her spleen had also ruptured, and she had smaller masses on most of her other organs as well. There is really nothing you could have done for her other than what you did, easing her passing. I'm sorry.

[moondog]

That was hemangiosarcoma and it is a silent killer, you can't even know it's there until it ruptures. There's nothing you could have done. I'm so sorry you had to lose your dog in this way, and Judi is right...we never know how long they'll be with us and the only power we have is to appreciate every day they are with us, because tomorrow they may be gone.

We have a Rainbow Bridge forum where you can post about your loss, that may help with your grief.

[Nikkisangel]

Thank you for your replys. Nikki was an angel here on earth and now our unborn son has someone special watching over him. I was very lucky that she went the way she did,she lost blood pressure and went into shock then to sleep. I just cant settle with the fact that I sould of found this awful tumor. There is no test for it?

[Miabella]

It can be detected by ultrasound and seen on x-rays, but realistically, you are not going to find it unless you are doing these diagnostics for some other unrelated reason. Tumors can develop quite quickly, and nobody is going to do monthly ultrasounds on their dog. They are quite expensive.

[moondog]

There are tests that can reveal it, but the problem is, there are normally no symptoms until the tumor ruptures, so you would have no idea any testing was needed. There's no way you could have prevented it.

[pazzo]

I lost my Nico in a very similar way, I never knew exactly which type of cancer got him but it sounds like the one you are all describing. Nico slowed down eating one day, had him to the vet the next(I demanded tests, they told me he was fine!) the nect day the tests came back, I took him to university of penn. only to find out he was hemorraging into his thorax and into his chest cavity!! I chose to take his life at that point, altough they wanted to do everything under the sun, but his dignity was more important to me. The point to this is there is nothing we can do when it is thier time,my Nico NEVER showed ANY signs of being sick, I too stuggled with "what If" it's been close to 2 yrs now and I too realize there was nothing I could do, God wanted him and I thank god he did not my my boy suffer. It hit us just like that! It's hard enough to lose them, please do not blame yourself. Your girl was lucky to have someone to love her so much. I am sorry for your loss, your family will be in my prayers.