In a previous post (that was lost due to a spam attack when this blog was being run by MoveableType), I mentioned that Daisy Mae, a retired Helping Paws service dog that my wife trained 10 years ago, came to live with us again in July of this year. It was in late September that Daisy was diagnosed with hemangiosarcoma, a type of cancer that in Daisy’s case was produced a tumor in her spleen. While it is sometimes possible to prolong the dog’s life by removing the spleen, it was discovered that this wasn’t an option for Daisy since the disease was already depressing her liver function.

The death that is typical of this disease is that the tumor will rupture, and the dog will bleed to death internally in a matter of minutes or hours. On November 26 of 2004, Daisy’s tumor ruptured for the first time. She went from being a happy energetic dog, to a dog that could barely get up. She refused to drink or eat. Amazingly, with in a day, she began to get better and within four days she was back to normal. Our vet told us that occasionally when the tumors rupture, they only rupture partially and then heal up again, sparing the dogs life. That is what apparently happened in that case. He warned us that it would happen again.

This morning it looks like it has happened again. When I got out of bed the dogs raced downstairs to be let out and to be fed. I noticed as the dogs were going out that Daisy wasn’t with them. I knew when I got up that she had been laying on the bed next to me, so I was afraid I was going to go up and find her dead on my bed. Thankfully, she wasn’t dead, but it is clear that she isn’t well. While I was downstairs, she moved from the bed to top of the stairs. When I invited her to come with me downstairs she wagged her tail, but refused to get up, or even lift her head. I brought her some food, which she ate. After she ate, I watched her struggle to her feet and stagger into the bedroom again where she collapsed next to the bed. Using a towel, my wife and I picked her up and placed her back on our bed. She is laying there now.

I’ve already talked to my vet. He thinks she probably ruptured the tumor again and is bleeding internally. For now, we’re going to watch and see if she gets any better, like she did last time. Pray for Daisy. I think she’ll be with God soon.

–Pete