Editor’s Note: There are times when the Hixson-Lied Small Animal Hospital Emergency and Critical Care must turn away patients because it has reached capacity with critical cases. Chance is one case that required a long-term stay.
When Chance, an 11-year-old Boxer, was recently brought into the Hixson-Lied Small Animal’s Emergency and Critical Care unit, he was diagnosed with a large splenic mass.
“This is unfortunately a rather common condition, typically in middle aged to older large breed dogs and can result in internal bleeding if the mass ruptures,” said Dr. Erica Rehnblom Fischer, a surgical resident in the small animal hospital.
Chance’s condition is commonly caused by cancer (hemangiosarcoma), which is what Fischer and the Hixson-Lied Small Animal medical team concluded.
“Fortunately, the spleen can be easily removed which was the case for Chance,” Fischer said. “Our goal of emergency surgery is to stop the internal bleeding so that we can give pets like Chance a bit more of good quality time with their owners.”
If you and your animal need assistance, don’t hesitate to reach out to the Lloyd Veterinary Medical Center at 515.294.4900.