Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving to all dog owners out there.

Had sat down and enjoyed chit-chat with relatives after our supper today. Our conversation turned to the dogs, and particularly the precious dogs we have lost.

This past April (2009), we lost our Danny (Chien d'or Ramboln Gamboln Dan) to splenic cancer. It was one of those things when the week of Easter he was well and healthy, and then the week after he stopped eating. Fortunately with him, we already recognized the warning signs of the cancer going haywire, so he did not suffer for two weeks like his 'brother' had.

Thanksgiving 2007, we lost Sam (Starchaser Sam I Am) to the same splenic cancer. In his case we had no clue what was going on with him, and the vets were hardly wiser. He was sick from Thanksgiving week through mid-December, when he almost died at home.

I'll be honest here - splenic cancer is horrible, but it thankfully usually comes at the end after the dog has lived a full and complete life, as those two wonderful old men did.

The warning signs usually are sudden stomach problems. Your dog will be less inclined to eat his food, and he may throw up anything he does eat (though not always). He will be quieter and distracted, like something is bothering him. And he will not want any exercise or play time.

At this point, the symptons are similar to a LOT of other diseases and conditions a dog might have. Most particularly pancreatitis, which might be related to handouts at this time of the year*.

The extreme signs are lethargy and trembling - at which point it means the dog is likely past the point of no return. The tumor has not burst yet, but is pushing on other organs and causing a lot of pain for the dog.

The end point the dog will be throwing up and defecating at the same time. Could be normal colored bile and poop, or it could be black from blood. This is a sign that the tumor has burst, his body is filling with toxins, and his organs are shutting down.

This cancer is a common one, particularly for golden retrievers. With my Jacket, I'm resigned to the fact that he is likely to develop the same cancer when he grows old. He shares many bloodlines with the two dogs mentioned above.

This cancer while common is usually fatal in dogs - this because by the time the dogs are exhibiting symptoms, it is already too late and the tumor has already spread throughout the body. If the tumor hasn't burst, the vets can go in and remove the affected spleen, but it just buys the owners time - usually only six months.

With Danny, they performed an autopsy on his body per our request, as he had been experiencing other problems late in his life. The vets found tumors attached to his lungs and his heart. Had he survived the surgery (we had the spleen removed), he would not have lasted very long.

As I said - make sure you know your dogs, and be sure that when they die, you have no regrets. Give them the love and care that you would your children. When the time comes, they are usually taken away very fast.

On a more positive note, I am very thankful this year for my dogs, particularly Jacket (Jumping Jack Flash). He has been my comfort and joy since I lost my golden angel (Danny).

#Thanksgiving Note -

Per my experience with the dogs, be sure to go easy on the turkey handouts. Too much turkey causes colitis and even pancreatitis (severe inflamation of the pancreas).

Danny had two bouts with pancreatitis in his long life. Fortunately, our vets reacted quickly and cleared up his problems without it causing too much health problems, but I know of other people who have lost their dogs to this digestive disorder.