Went to France last Friday for a weeks fishing and took the dogs for a quick 30min walk before I was due to be picked up, one dog collapsed after 5 mins and had to be carried home. My partner took her to the vets as I was picked up by the rest of the lads. We had been given tablets by the Vets the previous day for a persistant diarrhea that had been around for a couple of weeks with her and another dog so we thought she had some sort of adverse reaction to the new stronger medication? Turned out it was a mistake and the diarrhea and bits of blood where masking a much more serious problem.

Anyway to cut a long story short it turned out she was bleeding massivly internally and had a huge cancerous growth in her spleen which was happily successfully removed, no signs of cancer anywhere else.
Which was a huge relief because on my way over to France I received a phone call from my girlfriend to say the vet suspected it may have spread to her liver and would make the decision to revive her or not when he operated the next morning. It was three days before anyone managed to get a message through to me she was OK.

Have just this minute picked her up and everything is fine red blood cell levels at 24% and climbing, she is lively and hungry!

To boost her immune system long term has anyone had any experience of spleen removal and a (preferably homeopathic) diet or supplement that would help?

Yes I  have and the dog did very well without it, seems to be one of those organs you can manage without.

Yes I have.  Operation done in Febuary this year and have carried on with normal diet and exercise after the recovery period.  Would add that the spleen was twisted and was not have a splenic tumour.

Sue

Sorry to hear about your dog, but glad she`s on the mend now. No experience of it myself but have a couple of links you might find helpful for diet/supplement helping immune system.

http://www.naturalrearing.com/J_In_Learning/Immunization/Immunesystem/IMMUNESYSTEM2.htm
http://www.naturalrearing.com/J_In_Learning/Immunization/Immunesystem/IMMUNESYSTEM3.htm

Here`s part 1 as well :)
http://www.naturalrearing.com/J_In_Learning/Immunization/Immunesystem/IMMUNESYSTEM1.htm

Christine, Spain.

Hi HappyStaffy

I too have 10 year old staffy who last July collapsed due to internal bleeding from his spleen.  It was successfully removed and he's now made a full recovery.  One thing I would look out for though, is possible problems with his digestion.  About 4 months after having his spleen removed I started seeing blood in his stools.  After tests, we found out his liver was not functioning as well as it should, so he was put hills l/d prescription diet, which helped with the liver complaint, but did nothing for the blood in his stools.  After 6-8 weeeks his liver count was getting better, but the blood still remained so I decided with the vets advice to try and find a food which helped.  It was after reading the messages on here that I discoved Nature Diet Lite, which he has now been on for two months and for the last 2 1/2 weeks his stools are back to normal with no blood. 

Don't want to alarm you after all, you have been through enough with all the worry, but forewarned is forarmed - just wish I had know this might happen might have saved me a bit less worry at the time.

Thanks for the replies folks. Julie it's OK :) not too alarmed. At the moment just supplementing with Sanatogen 1 a day with Iron to help with the aneamia (sp?) My lot have been fed on Naturediet for a good while now, and lazy bones in particular is on the Lite version, so fingers crossed, watching her like a hawk and quality grub everything will be fine, thanks again!

Ged

I decided to spoil Fagin after his op (since he wouldn't eat his normal food)  and since he absolutely loves liver and its high in iron I spent a week cooking it for him.  It was a little tricky trying to keep him calm, as you will know staffys are a bit barmy and he fainted a couple of times due to his anemia when he tried to carry on as normal, rushing to the door like a lunatic when the postman arrived!!! 

I still wrap him in cotton wool now even though he's fully recovered, but I was heartbroken when I thought I might loose him so I cherish every day we have now.

Julie