Konig was obviously not well on Sunday, so I took him to the local vet. The vet here took some films and bloodwork-white cell count up, and spleen was huge and displacing other internals. She recommended taking him to Veterinary Surgical Hospital in Cary, about three hours away, which I did. They have had him on antibiotics and fluids since about 1 a.m. Monday. Fever slightly down (to 103.5), but no significant improvement.

Emergency ultrasound Sunday night showed no significant changes in density of tissue in liver or spleen (seems to suggest not cancer), and vet didn't think there was torsion of the spleen or liver. She thought maybe tick-borne illness (Titers and other bloodwork due back today, in addition to a formal ultrasound). Mild rash on flank area-could be anything, including sensitivity to the dog shampoo I used to bathe/groom him on Saturday.

Konig isn't in much pain (they say he's not over-sensitive to touching in abdominal region). Little interest in food (probably because feels bad and stomach is compacted by spleen). Wouldn't even eat a small piece of bacon Sunday.

I'm posting here to tap the experience of other members so I can more intelligently discuss this case with the vet. I do feel like he's getting great care-nice facility with specialists, etc. We've talked about a range of options, including splenectomy and possibility of cancer. Does anyone have any other ideas? Have you seen this before? Thanks in advance for any help you might offer.

So sorry to hear your dog is having a difficult time.

At the vet hospital where I worked we did have a few cases of dogs with a grossly enlarged spleen. In those cases a splenectomy was performed and a biopsy done with NO cancer found. It's a big surgery but in every case the dogs recovered with no complications and were perfectly fine after. So that's been my experience, based on observation ONLY, with this kind of problem.

Our DVM's GSD recently had a splenetic(sp?)torsion not involving the stomach. This was an emergency situation but again, surgery was done and she's running around and just fine.

I'm not at all suggesting your dog will need surgery but, if it comes to that, I wanted to share what I've witnessed...a good outcome

I'm glad she's in a good hospital with specialists available and I really hope she feels better soon!

This very succinct vet Q&A page I had saved backs up what Sarah posts.

http://en.allexperts.com/q/Ask-Veterinarian-700/Enlarged-Spleen.htm

Thanks for the advice-update is that it appears that the initial diagnosis of enlarged spleen was perhaps due to a misread on the xray, although all the vets who looked at it said that the angle made the spleen look big. Tons of bloodwork that ruled out tick-borne illness; ultrasound ruled out spleen issues, including torsion. Slight darkening of the liver, but no metastatic growth or tumors. The specialists at Veterinary Surgical Hospital in Raleigh think it's an immune mediated disorder. (P.S.-this is a first-rate facility in every way. I've been treated in human hospitals with lower standards of patient care-excellent communication, and highly competent professionals who listen as much as they talk.)

Prednisone and a very aggressive course of antibiotics have him back with us; appetite is huge, fever gone (along with about three thou of my very favorite US dollars, but hey-what's money for?).

Close call on that one-thought I might not see my hound again. Thanks again.

I wondered what happened...I'm so glad to hear Konig is on the mend.