Does anyone have any experience with this disease? I am waiting for a cytology report on a growth that my vet aspirated today. He was expecting a fatty tumor (normal with aging) like two others he had checked before it. However; third ones the charm it was filled with blood and he was unable to determine what it was and sent the sample out to be diagnosed.

Before I went into avoidance he mentioned the possibility of a subcutaneous hemangiosarcoma after that everything else sounded like the parents in the Charlie Brown series.....Womp, Womp, Womp.

I'll give some background and maybe someone here can shed a little light on the subject.

Thor is 9.5 years old. He developed itching and hot spots about 6 weeks ago. He never had allergy or skin issues prior to this. Skin scraping was done no parasites found so a round of prednisone and Hydroxazine for a suspected inhalent or food allergy. Everything went well but about a week after he finished the course of medication he started to chew his paws and tear at his ears. Back to the vet last Saturday, with the renewed scratching, he had a terrible odor (yeast infection in his ears and on paws).

Though an inhalent allergy was suspected, to rule out food she suggested an elimination diet with a novel protein. I feed him raw and he has never had duck so he is now on duck. She suggested one more round of meds since his skin looked terrific and to give time for the yeast to resolve and a little time for the diet to do its thing if it happened to be a food allergy. Since he was so uncomfortable with the itching and had become quite lethargic (was having difficulty sleeping) I agreed.

The lethargy has gotten worse, he enjoys the duck but never looks to be fed where as before if he was not fed by 7PM he was following me and giving the stare down and little "grmph" sounds as a reminder. I had him out for a walk yesterday (he can't hike anymore he's winded in about 15 minutes) and his collar literally slid off his head. It is huge on him.

Back to the vet this morning; he had lost 3.4 lbs in 6 days. The vet suggested I leave him for the day so he could do a thorough work up. I said he was too out of sorts and I would rather take him home until I had a day off(avoidance began early) but he insisted leaving him now was a better idea.

He called around 3PM to say Thor was dehydrated(always has water available) and he was going to give him subcutaneous fluids. He said it was a weird finding since prednisone usually increases thirst and appetite. He did a full work up which included blood, xrays and aspirating the fatty tumors one of which is not a fatty tumor.

I did go through his pedigree which is current from 1997 to 2008 for diseases. He had a great uncle who died of hemangiosarcoma when he was 8. That actually made me feel better because that isn't a close genetic relative. Are there any other kinds of growths that aspirate blood?

Yes, a hematoma can be blood-filled.



Lethargy, weight loss, itchiness, and dehydration are all listed symptoms in the vet manual for hypodermal hemangiosarcoma.

Are chest x-rays planned? Ultrasounds?

I don't know a lot about this. I can read up.

I will.

(I'm not a health professional.)

The xrays were done and all is clear. His blood work was really good too. Some borderline readings but nothing to indicate an advanced case of cancer or really even a suspicion since the results could be skewed by the prednisone and dehydration. I am so grateful the vet pursued each and every lump on his body. I don't like the results but it might have bought Thor the time he needs to be saved if it isn't a hematoma which I am embracing.

I need to change my mood around my pup and this will help because that is what I will focus on. Thank you so much for a different path to allow my brain to travel down.

We just played a game of find it and he seems a little perkier not to mention quite massive with his subcutaneous fluids.....kind of like a padded bra

Read away. I have been and it is a very allusive disease. It is known as the silent killer. If Thor ends up having this; I think I will see if sudden onset allergies is a common denominator in any other patients. If so maybe there is a connection and possibly an early symptom that has been overlooked.

The more reading I am doing the more I am wondering why a tumor that throws histamines wasn't looked for with sudden onset allergies in an older dog. I'm not blaming my vet in any way since Thor presented at classic allergy season but I think it is a little suspicious that the breeds more prone to Hemangiosarcoma are also allergy sufferers......but perhaps that is the bottle of wine I just opened talking......

As far as ultrasounds, in between Charlie Brown's mother's womp, womp, womp the vet mentioned ultrasound after the tumor was completely removed to check if it had metastasized.

No knowledge, just wanted to say I'm thinking of you guys and sending Thor lots of 'get well' vibes.

Maybe I didn't see it, but how are his organs (kidney/liver)?

I'm no help either Sheila, but hoping for the best for Thor.

 Quote: jennifer mullen

Maybe I didn't see it, but how are his organs (kidney/liver)?

Liver is a little off but normal for prednisone use. And thanks the vibes may be working he just perked up and is staring at me with the "come on" look but it is going on 1AM so he can go back to less perky

Oh Sheila, I hope the vet comes back with good news. I know how hard it is to be worried about your furry friend. Get well, Thor!

 Quote: steve strom

I'm no help either Sheila, but hoping for the best for Thor.

Of course you are helpful in his current lethargic state he would be perfectly well behaved on the one of those hour cruises through Boston Harbor....I forgot I was supposed to be working on that

8 years ago he was a CGC flunky....I don't know why anyone thought it was inappropriate to go up the leash at the handler when she won't drop the damn leash so you can get the squirrel...

He would definitely pass now.....wonder if I can find a test before he gets the fluids back in his system???

 Quote: Angela Burrell

Oh Sheila, I hope the vet comes back with good news. I know how hard it is to be worried about your furry friend. Get well, Thor!

Thanks Angela,

I'm just happy to see some oomph in him in the past couple of hours. The lethargy, non responsive dog he has been over the past few days is heart breaking. He was almost unrecognizeable.

 Quote: Sheila Buckley

I don't know why anyone thought it was inappropriate to go up the leash at the handler when she won't drop the damn leash so you can get the squirrel...

Teagan says Thor sounds like her kind of guy and sends him some kisses.

(And if Teagan likes Thor, well then! Get well Thor!)