The vet dropped this one in my lap, and I'm not quite sure what to do, so I'
m seeking opinions. Y'all know about Khan and his ongoign Cushing's saga.
While pursuing a Cushing's diagnosis last year, he had an ultrasound, which
also revealed an enlarged spleen. According to the IM vet, GSDs have
spleens about 33% larger than dogs of comparable size, and she said that
this was likely normal for him.



Now, a year and a half later, our vet had another consult with the IM vet
because of some ongoing abnormalities with his Adrenal panel, and she
recommends that we do another ultrasound, just to make sure that the spleen
is okay. The adrenal abnormalities are not related to the spleen. As the
vet explains it, they want it done because GSDs are prone to
hemangiosarcoma, and given that his spleen has shown up as enlarged they
want a re-check.



I am confused at the rationale. Mostly because the IM vet basically told me
that the spleen looked normal, but now they want to check it again, just in
case. It's not like all GSDs are recommended to get an ultrasound in their
old age, just in case, right? Khan gets so stressed at the vet, and I'd
really like to spare him if I could.



Suja

In article ,
"Suja" wrote:


I am confused at the rationale. Mostly because the IM vet basically told me
that the spleen looked normal, but now they want to check it again, just in
case. It's not like all GSDs are recommended to get an ultrasound in their
old age, just in case, right? Khan gets so stressed at the vet, and I'd
really like to spare him if I could.

It sounds as if they are questioning the "GSD spleens are 33% larger"
and want to make sure they didn't miss something else and that there
haven't been changes in the spleen.

I understand stress and cost factors, but I'd probably do it, while
asking if this is the reason.

--
Janet Boss
www.bestfriendsdogobedience.com

"Janet Boss" wrote in message:

It sounds as if they are questioning the "GSD spleens are 33% larger"
and want to make sure they didn't miss something else and that there
haven't been changes in the spleen.

I guess there is more to it than that. I have confirmed that the GSD
spleens are in fact larger, on average. I can understand that GSDs are
prone to hemangio and therefore you want to be careful when you find a
potential anomaly. My question is about what exactly has changed between
now and when the test was done (April 30, 2007), that has now made this a
priority. If it was suspicious, and given that this is a highly aggressive
cancer, shouldn't we have retested or biopsied or something in a more
reasonable time frame? Given that he's still alive and mostly well (knock
on wood) after all this time, doesn't that mean that there is nothing is
going on? More importantly, there is the question of what we'd do if he
does in fact have Hemangiosarcoma. The prognosis is pretty grim, and I
don't know that I'd want to put him through surgery.

I understand stress and cost factors, but I'd probably do it, while
asking if this is the reason.

That's what will likely happen. Rajesh already thinks that the dog is being
over treated. He'll blow a gasket when he hears that she wants this done
too. I am hoping to find a rational basis for it.

Suja

In article ,
"Suja" wrote:

If it was suspicious, and given that this is a highly aggressive
cancer, shouldn't we have retested or biopsied or something in a more
reasonable time frame? Given that he's still alive and mostly well (knock
on wood) after all this time, doesn't that mean that there is nothing is
going on? More importantly, there is the question of what we'd do if he
does in fact have Hemangiosarcoma. The prognosis is pretty grim, and I
don't know that I'd want to put him through surgery.

I am in total agreement with all of the above.

I understand stress and cost factors, but I'd probably do it, while
asking if this is the reason.

That's what will likely happen. Rajesh already thinks that the dog is being
over treated. He'll blow a gasket when he hears that she wants this done
too. I am hoping to find a rational basis for it.

I agree with that too!

--
Janet Boss
www.bestfriendsdogobedience.com

That's the key question. It doesn't matter what they are testing for,
the question is: Would you do anything about a sad diagnosis? Or would
you just allow your friend to go naturally, in peace?

Personally I've already made this decision with our older dog. She's
approaching 14 and I know she's got some problems. But there's no point
in subjecting her to a lot of testing or subjecting me to a financial
burden, because I know that I'm simply going to allow her to follow the
natural course of things undisturbed. Only if whatever ails her gets to
a point of causing her great pain or misery or inability to function
will I intervene.

Our younger dog is a different story. She's got a lifetime ahead of her
hopefully, so I'd be more likely to look for a solution for her.

More importantly, there is the question of what we'd do if he
does in fact have Hemangiosarcoma. The prognosis is pretty grim, and I
don't know that I'd want to put him through surgery.

--
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