First of all thank you all very much for your comforting replies after I posted when I lost my GSD after surgery.  I received, by post mid May the PM results and have only recently been able to open the letter, not that I'm really any the wiser but thought it may be of interest to include.

The pathology report showed a mixed benign mammary tumour.
2 litres of blood were suctioned from the abdomen. 5 small clots in the sub lumbar area.
Right ovarian pedicle - single ligature in place, unable to dislodge.
Left ovarian pedicle (much longer) 2 ligatures in place, unable to dislodge.
Cervix - 4 ligatures in place.
Subcutaneous haemorrhage
Small 3cm mass in ventral surface of spleen.
The dog's prothrombin time (PT) & Activated partial thromboplastin time were both markedly elevated.

(From what I understand she slowly haemorrhaged from the small vessels between the fat layers)

The large quantity of non clotted blood within the abdomen & prolonged clotting times are consistent with a coagulopathy (delayed blood clotting). Pre GA liver blood tests normal/liver appearance normal. No history of rodenticide & sub clinical lungworm could not be proven.

The vets have paid for her individual cremation - i assume that they know the insurance will not cover it. The surgery bill is still to be paid, around £800 I believe.

I haven't been back to that vets since but have tried 2 other vets for minor issues. One is local, more expensive and VERY limited opening hours, not very good with a lot of dogs. The other is a satellite surgery and does have a 24/7 surgery elsewhere. I still like and trust the vet who did the PM and who was my vet of choice whenever I went there but no way could I see the other 2 involved. Apparently the vet who did the op. has been spoken to about the lack of communication with me the next day. The overnight vet said she was being kept informed of the dogs condition overnight and she can have been in no doubt how I would've felt as during a previous consultation I went into the consulting room in tears having witnessed her put a GSD to sleep in the car park and I didn't even know the dog.

I'm still very upset and my OH has taken it badly and has said some rather irrational hurtful things, like MY vet has murdered HIS dog, (he has throid & other health issues so affects his moods) and it seems such a big deal to try and find and build up a relationship with another vets after 20 years!

The mass on the spleen could well have been a contributory factor and caused some of the internal bleedinh.  Splenic tumours don't need to be large to cause an awful lot of bleeding, and hence contribute to death.

I don't really know what any of that means but surely the vet could go through this with you? I know you've just opened this but would it help you and your OH esp as he's taken it so badly?

Things do go wrong but if its one vet then if staying at this practice can you avoid him at all costs?
Things went wrong for me and a number of other friends at a certain surgery, we will left and took advice from other local people and are all now very happy esp as we have a breeder/exhibitor vet too..

Fancy a coffee and chat soon? X