Health

gerbie · Post by **gerbie** » Mon Aug 28, 2006 4:22 am

Hi! Took my 16.5 year old Chow, Gerbie to the vet today as he has not been eating for the past 3 days. He had thrown up a couple of times too. Vet took his blood sample for a test, and Gerbie is due to go in again tomorrow for a scan. Diagnosis? Vet thinks it is a tumor somewhere in the abdomen - perhaps the spleen. Not sure if anyone has had such an experience and have any suggestions. Other than this, Gerbie is pretty healthy for a 16.5 year old Chow - walks ok, altho he can't see or hear.

Judy Fox · Post by **Judy Fox** » Mon Aug 28, 2006 4:40 am

Well, I am sorry he is not well but 16.5yrs. is a great age, even for a chow. I hope you get a good result with the scan and that something can be done. If not, I think you must have given him a wonderful life to live so long and remain so fit.

gerbie · Post by **gerbie** » Mon Aug 28, 2006 5:14 am

Hi Judy

Thanks for the kind words. It is just that I have not had experience in this, it is difficult to think that Gerbie would not just pass on in his sleep instead of having to endure this. Will wait and see the results tomorrow.

kiwani · Post by **kiwani** » Mon Aug 28, 2006 6:08 am

Re: "it is difficult to think that Gerbie would not just pass on in his sleep instead of having to endure this."

If it is indeed the type of splenic mass which ruptures, the patient would lose conciousness and pass on. Here is a link explaining types of splenic masses:

http://www.marvistavet.com/html/splenic_masses.html

gerbie · Post by **gerbie** » Mon Aug 28, 2006 6:49 am

Thanks for the link to the splenic masses - sounds pretty scary. Will have to see what the diagnosis and the blood test comes up with. I had always thought Gerbie would just pass on in his sleep due to old age....thought I'd share one of his recent pics.

Post by **chris** » Mon Aug 28, 2006 7:08 am

Ohhh, he is precious (sp?). WOW, 16.5 years. Thats awsome. He must be the Oldest chow I have heard of. Good job!

I hope all is well with him.

Post by **Auddymay** » Mon Aug 28, 2006 11:10 am

please go back and make your photo 50% smaller. It will greatly improve the quality and we will be able to see his whole photo in one screen.

Yvonne · Post by **Yvonne** » Mon Aug 28, 2006 5:53 pm

He's beautiful!

Congratulations on having a chow that got to that ripe old age!

I understand your wish that when the time comes he would pass peacefully.

Let us know what you find out tomorrow.

Many on here have medical knowledge and advice, the rest of us would like to empathize with you if the news isn't good.

Post by **kingalls** » Mon Aug 28, 2006 7:50 pm

Oh, what a senior Chow Chow he is...he's beautiful

Lyn · Post by **Lyn** » Mon Aug 28, 2006 8:05 pm

He is a beauty. I wish you all the best of luck!

gerbie · Post by **gerbie** » Mon Aug 28, 2006 9:58 pm

Thank you all for the kind words and support. The vet said the tumor is around 10cm and thinks that it is indeed the spleen, and we are awaiting for the blood result before we make a decision. Will try reducing the size of his pic to share with you.

gerbie · Post by **gerbie** » Tue Aug 29, 2006 6:02 am

Hi, all thanks for the show of support. The blood test shows that the dog is normal except for the low red blood cell count. The vet is suggesting surgery as early as possible as he is telling me that if I wait for a week or two, the dog may die as the spleen may bleed. So, am considering surgery perhaps tomorrow afternoon. Hopefully, Gerbie will be able to take the trauma of the surgery and survive. The vet is also recommending that if, during the surgery, the tumor has spread, to just let the dog go, which I have conceded. The vet also said that this is pretty common with older dogs. Any views on this?

Well, Gerbie has come a long way from the day I got him in Palmdale, CA the Summer of 1990.

Tried to get the photo smaller with no luck. Sorry.

Post by **chris** » Tue Aug 29, 2006 6:08 am

ahhh Gerbie... I wish you all the luck in the world. Thor had a mass the size of a soft ball in his stomach, he was 14 and had arthritus as well. I have mentioned all this before in other posts. He was the best, but he told us in his own way it was his time and we let him go. We miss him so much.

Again, best of luck, and we will be praying for you.

Yoshimom · Post by **Yoshimom** » Tue Aug 29, 2006 8:45 am

Gerbie, We are praying and sending out positive CHI to the universe for your quick surgery and speedy recovery. Hang in there.

Yoshimom, Yoshidad, Sumo, Keiko

Judy Fox · Post by **Judy Fox** » Tue Aug 29, 2006 9:23 am

Gerbie, just know that you are giving him a chance and if he does not make it - you have obviously given him a wonderful life and let him go with gratefulness for that life. I hope my Milly and Mabel have the chance to live that long - you are very lucky and so is your chow boy.

Jeff&Peks · Post by **Jeff&Peks** » Tue Aug 29, 2006 1:05 pm

Gerbe, You raised a Chow to 16 1/2 and your still hanging in there with him, No one could ask any more of you, you gave him all you could and then more. to me your the perfect Chow owner, I wish every Chow owner could be like you. I hope it all works out tomorrow.

Rogansmommy · Post by **Rogansmommy** » Tue Aug 29, 2006 1:55 pm

I wish all chows could have you for a partner. You have obviously given Gerbie an incredible life - 16 1/2 years, wow! My thoughts are with you and Gerbie as he goes to surgery. Good luck.

Victory · Post by **Victory** » Tue Aug 29, 2006 3:03 pm

Best wishes and many prayers for Gerbie, may he come through the surgery and make it to 20!

Yvonne · Post by **Yvonne** » Tue Aug 29, 2006 3:19 pm

Best of luck with the surgery. Let us know how it goes - I'll check the board right after work to see what happened.

You've been a wonderful parent to Gerbie, no matter what happens tomorrow.

Will be thinking of you tomorrow,

Yvonne and Brandon

Mandy · Post by **Mandy** » Tue Aug 29, 2006 7:56 pm

our thoughts are all with you

all our love

gerbie · Post by **gerbie** » Wed Aug 30, 2006 3:11 am

Well, it has been a busy day for me. Had confronted my vet last night when I took Gerbie back as the vet was not his usual self. I then learned that he is moving on, so, I went back to the clinic to have a chat with him. Told him that I am a little concerned as I felt that he is not as engaged as he used to be, and that I wanted to feel comfortable before he does the surgery. I was thinking of deferring the surgery, but he said that if I did, Gerbie would probably go in a couple of months and that I should make a decision asap.

I asked what we needed to prepare, and he had told me nothing. They will need to have blood in stock for transfusion in the event there is too much bleeding during the surgery. However, I will be able to pick him up in the evening. Other than that, nothing to it - just one more visit to make sure all is a-ok, but the dog should be up and running in 24 hours!

This morning, my husband calls the clinic to schedule the appointment, they do not have any blood in stock and that we have to go find our own blood (400cc). They suggested that we call SPCA or any other vets for the blood or, we could find our own donors! I was pretty appalled as I thought this is part of their work.

We then decided to go to another vet recommended by a colleague, who seems pretty thorough. Gerbie is there, and will be there for the next few days. The vet gave him a blood match, and a blood transfusion later today as he is now anemic. After 48 hours of observation to make sure that his system is accepting the transfusion, he will be ready for the surgery. If all goes well with the surgery, he will be out early next week. He will, however, need to go for chemotherapy for sometime.

I think it was a good move to send the dog here - the vet gave me the options. If I did not go ahead with the surgery (apparently this is a pretty routine one), Gerbie will go anyways in about 2 months as there will be internal bleeding. This jives with the website that kiwani sent (by the way, I never did get to thank you - the website is excellenT). I just don't think Gerbie should suffer for the next 2 months and then we put him down. That's too much pain for him. He has been pretty good, and taking all this discomfort in silence (bless him). I prefer we take the chance, and give him at least another year or two to live (my, he will be almost 19 by then!!).

Sorry I've been blabbling...just a busy day....

Judy Fox · Post by **Judy Fox** » Wed Aug 30, 2006 3:27 am

Don't be sorry - you are not babbling.

We are most willing to sit and read your worries and your conclusions and please know that we are with you. I would do the same in the same circumstances - our precious chows have to have the chance when there is a chance.
Good look and I will be thinking of you.

Post by **chris** » Wed Aug 30, 2006 4:27 am

Good move on seeing another vet. If your gut tells you something isn't right... move on.

Sounds like the second vet is VERY thurough (sp?) as you said. I would be much more comfortable with this new one.

We will be thinking and praying for you guys.

ngraham · Post by **ngraham** » Wed Aug 30, 2006 5:08 am

Gerbie,
16.5 years? WOW... what a great life Gerbie must have had to live so long and what a great chow parent you are to have brought him this far and to still do what you can to prolong his life. It's stories like yours and Jeff's with HRH Pekoe, that give me a small amount of faith in the goodness of some people.
Going through this is definitely not easy, but at 16.5 years, you know you have done a great job with your chow. We have to follow our gut instincts in these siutations. Sounds like the new vet is really alot more thorough than the first. Good luck to both of you.

Mandy · Post by **Mandy** » Wed Aug 30, 2006 5:39 am

You are both amazing Chow parents. I am so thankful that you are going through all of this for Gerbie. What a lucky boy to have lived this long and with such a wonderful family. Keep us updated and let us know what is going on. AND NO YOU AREN'T babbling. Frankly, I've been waiting to see how he was doing so it's good to have you vent on here. Glad you found a vet that you like. I totally agree that it is weird that they wanted you to find your own blood.

Good luck to Gerbie and we will all be thinking of you!