What would you do?

[Recluso]

Hi folks,

Before I start, I will say now that Merlin is going back to the vets on Thursday to discuss this sudden loss of his appetite and our next steps.

I have a 13.5 year old ESS who has just been diagnosed with a mass attached to his spleen after displaying a sudden decline in his general wellness. At his age I have decided against a splenectomy (I just can't justify that sort of trauma at his age). We have been treating for osteoarthritis in his joints with flexi-dose Metacam for the last few months and unfortunately about 10 days ago, he started displaying appetite loss, general flatness and fatigue. This quite literally occurred over a few days and was drastic enough for us to take him to the vets where after tests the splenic mass was detected.

Currently it is believed NOT cancerous and he is home. However, over the last few days he has remained very flat and quiet and his appetite has continued to decline with limited success. For example, whilst on Sunday he voraciously ate some Pedigree tinned meat, that same meat was refused yesterday and today. I have offered various temptations such as tuna, cooked chicken, ham etc. All of which have been refused. His normal dry mix (Burns adult weight control) has been repeatedly refused as has other normal favourites (such as toast, scrambled eggs etc) but today he hoofed down some cooked liver. He WILL take snacky treats like denta-stix, jumbone type chews etc, but I'm loathe to keep plying him with these for fear of having a knock-on effect of an upset stomach after too many.

He has only been sick twice and brought up nothing but bile. He hasn't been retching and his faeces are more or less normal (a little loose but possibly caused by his Metacam being administered on an empty stomach lately).

I'm starting to get to the point where I'm at a loss as to what to do next. Do I keep offering him food, or do I just leave him to it? Seeing him turn his nose up at what is normally so well received is distressing to say the least, especially when coupled with his general demeanour right now and the fact he's gone downhill so quickly (he was literally bouncing around the other week). I do realise that given his current diagnosis we well may be fast approaching 'that day' but I'm trying to make his life as comfortable as I can until we see the vets on Thursday.

[Nonehpets]

That is a tough one ... but I think if was in your position I would continue to tempt him with his favourite things between now and Thursday's vet visit (along with lots of TLC and love); taking the pragmatic view that if his appetite hadn't picked up by Thursday then "that day" might be sooner than you would like it to be. I think that to make it less distressing and confrontational I would break my usual rules and if it wasn't a quick spoiling food would leave it down and allow him to pick at it if he chose (may not be easy if you have other animals).

I don't envy you the next few days and will keep you all in my thoughts

Cathy

[Bruneval3]

Horrible position to find yourself in, look outside the box and solely on you're boy. I think you know deep down that the unfortunate day looms. I know it's hard, but you owe it to him, don't let him suffer! Only this last few ays I have noticed my old female starting to show the early signs of age. I guarantee to never let mine be kept hanging on for "my sake".

Good luck.

[LJR]

I agree that you should of course keep trying to tempt him until you speak to or see your Vet.

If he hadn't picked up by the weekend and he were mine I would pts, sorry.

[vicky payne]

As everyone else has said; try his favourites. But don't be too obsessed with food...or they think something is up! Sometimes dropping some food 'accidentally on purpose helps! The big problem for him is going to be the spleen/mass taking up room in his abdomen (so he doesn't feel hungry) and the spleen/mass pulling on internal ligaments (quite painful). Your options are limited but perhaps ask your vet is they think 'buscopan' would help. It's used in human and animal medicine for spasms and cramps. Usually best for hollow organs but it may help on top of the metacam.

[Rookie]

Pedigree chum pouches worked for me with a dog that was never all that fussed about food generally, even as a youngster, when he became unwell and refused most foods I could think of trying.

Another thing I have found to work really well is the pre-cooked cocktail sausages available in supermarkets, I've got countless dogs eating by using those. Might also be worth trying cat food, it smells more appealing than dog food.

Best wishes to you.

[liveseyd]

Sad days...
My old bitch Sausage was a similar age and displayed similar sudden decline. Internal growths, too old to operate, didn't want her spending too much time at the vets.
So, we spoiled her rotten for a month, the vet came to the house and gave her the injection lying in her own bed in the kitchen with me sat with her and she had the most peaceful end you could wish for. I carried her to the car, drove her up the field and laid her down in the hole I had dug. We still walk the dogs up to see Sausage every now and then.
Now I'm blubbing again...

[Recluso]

Thanks for all the thoughts and well-wishes folks. It really does help getting input from people.

The vet was able to see us last night instead of today. Turns out the original vet he had seen was in last night and I felt he would have a good idea of the change in him, having seen him before.

Whilst the biopsy DID come back as clear, the vets have said that the size of it is borderline to what they would accept as benign but the only way to know for sure is to get it out and have a look at it. Luckily the head vet was a star and accepted that I just couldn't justify putting Merlin through such intensive surgery and recovery when we couldn't even guarantee he'd get off the table again, especially when he's so not himself at the moment. Apparently the mass itself is in between his stomach and spleen and although his liver and kidney function came back as normal, chances are the mass IS having an effect on the stomach and spleen area as they think it's very likely attached to the spleen.

We're trying him on Zantac for a few days to see whether this appetite loss has been caused by nausea but to be honest, 12 hours after Cerenia and Zantac jabs PLUS tablets, he's still miserable. Unfortunately he has also lost more weight, over 2kg in a week which doesn't really bode well. We're to see how things look over the weekend, but I suspect Monday might be 'decision day'.

[Tarimoor]

Sorry to hear about your old boy, the stuff I have in in case of upset tummies is tinned chappie, and it's also what my vets use post op.

[Recluso]

Thanks folks. Sadly Merlin's appetite has only continued to decline and he has started to vomit on a couple of occasions too which has the vet concerned that the tumour is now starting to press on organs or may be interfering with things. So I've decided to do the right thing and the vet is coming over tomorrow afternoon whilst he still has some dignity left.