Tumour on the spleen

[annclare]

I lost my darling boy on 30/12/24 and am still in pieces. He was 12 1/2 and had been given a clean bill of health at his MOT just 3 wks before. Absolutely fine until the morning of 30th, noticed bloating of his tummy which didn't look right and got a vet appt for the afternoon. Because of the timing I guess (new year) my regular vet and his wife were not there so it was a very young female I saw. She had little 'bedside manner' and eventually announced his spleen had ruptured and he needed to be pts. She said he would last only hours and whilst I wanted to take him home she pressurised me into immediate pts action. I have lost 10 cockers over many years but never a death like that. My last memory is of her pumping a huge syringe into him, not once but twice before it took effect. Truly I think the worst day of my life, such a shock. One of my early cockers was diagnosed with it, operated on and lived a happy 18 months thereafter. Why are vets not picking up on this earlier??I feel I failed Matte. Sorry. x
 

[bizzylizzy]

Please don’t apologise, sometimes its just a helpful way of relieving the frustration by sharing it with people who understand, I‘m  so sorry to read this, what an awful shock!! My previous dog had a spleen tumour and I was staggered as to how quickly his stomach swelled up, which was really the only symptom he showed.
It‘s a great pity that the young vet didn‘t display a little more sympathy but perhaps her aloofness was just  her way of managing the awful task of having to put an animal to sleep ? but nevertheless I can fully understand why you feel so let down, it was very inconsiderate on her part.
The main thing is that you were there with Matte and although the second syringe must have been distressful for you, Matte probably wouldn’t have been fully aware of it.
I do hope you can soon put that awful memory behind you and instead concentrate on all the wonderful times you and Matte had together, she knew she was loved and also knew her time had come and having you there would have  been all that she wanted, there‘s no way that you let her down.
Do be kind to yourself x
Run free dear Matte 

[annclare]

Thank you BizzyLizzy for your kind words. Another problem I have is my age and health - I will be 84 in June coming and my mobility is not 100% following a broken hip op; I still have a female cocker who was 10 last Friday and would dearly love another (to make my round dozen). But is this selfish of me? I should add that I do have folk from the Cinnamon Trust walking my 2 (previously) for me, along with my grandson at weekends. I live alone; one of my sons lives locally, the other in Cumbria, my dogs are my comfort and my constants. x
 

[Mudmagnets]

So sorry to read your post.

Maybe the enormity of putting Matte to sleep put too much pressure on the young vet and she would have been better to ask for more experienced help. It seems to be the thing these days to tell an owner that the dog won't last long and better to do the duty immediately, this we know is not always the case and I feel there sometimes should be more discussion of choices.

Look after yourself and know that you did what you could for Matte. 

[annclare]

Thank you Mudmagnets. I agree vets these days do rush to pts, perhaps that is the way they are taught in vet school; when I said I wanted to take him home, she pressurised me into agreeing (no other vet on the premises to lend support to either her or me). I just feel I didn't do my best for Matte at that point. xx