Why did our dog have to be put down?

Our vet works his magic on your furry friends

QMy nine-year-old German shepherd had a splenic tumour removed as an emergency. She made a good recovery but it only lasted six weeks before she had to be put down. Our vet did warn us that this would be likely. Do you know why this is the case?

A

In spite of huge advances in the treatment of cancer in dogs in the past 10 years, splenic tumours have a disappointingly poor outlook. An article in a veterinary journal reviewed over 500 dogs that had undergone surgery to remove splenic tumours over a period from 1985 to 2007.

In that time interval there had been no increase in the survival time following spleen removal – it remained at six weeks. There has been minimal improvement since. Adding chemotherapy has increased life expectancy by a month or two, but no more.

These tumours are malignant haemangiosarcomas and they spread elsewhere in the body very early on. By the time the diagnosis is made, spread has already occurred, most commonly to the liver.

Nearly all the dogs involved are large breeds, particularly German shepherds, and there will not normally be symptoms alerting the owner until there has been some internal bleeding.

The combination of no early signs, very quick spread and poor response to chemotherapy accounts for the disappointing prognosis.

The operation itself is usually straightforward and well over 90 per cent of dogs are able to go home.

Most of these bounce back quickly with a very good, albeit short, quality of life, and many owners are grateful for having this additional quality time together with their pet.

QWe have six cats and also look after feral cats. One is microchipped but he spends all his time with us. His owners have been contacted but he prefers to be with us. Can the details on the microchip be changed?

A

The microchip details can be changed but you would need the agreement and help with form filling from the registered owner.

From what you have told me this is unlikely to happen.

A cat charity has advised the actual owner to keep the cat in for a month to stop him visiting you. However, children in the family have let him out.

It is not unusual for an outdoor cat to have several feeding stations and this often results in disputes over ownership, the responsibility for vet fees and so on.

Microchipping is not yet mandatory for cats in the UK, although this cat has been done, and likely neutered. On this basis he has been well looked after but perhaps was left alone during the day, which encouraged him to spend increasingly more time with you.

Although perhaps not easy, agreement with the cat’s owner on how to proceed is necessary. This involves educating the children, keeping the cat in for a while and importantly not feeding him if he does turn up.

There is a risk too of the feral cats introducing potentially serious infections into your cats, including the one trying to adopt you.

Keeping a lid on numbers is very important because it can be difficult and expensive when you’re faced with treating multiple sick cats.

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Keep an eye out for the news tomorrow as the Prime Minister is due to reveal the first details of how and when overseas travel can restart.

Millions of us are desperate for a foreign sunshine break this year and the beleaguered UK getaway industry urgently needs our custom after a year with few holidays possible. But what will Boris Johnson say?

I expect a slow and measured resumption, starting perhaps in late June or early July to key ‘Covid-safe’ destinations, using some sort of traffic light criteria for quarantines and tests.

Where to? Initially to the likes of Greece, Cyprus, Israel, Portugal and her islands, the Balearics and the Canaries as we follow the Government’s cautious roadmap out of the pandemic.

Long haul remains unclear, but I would expect the USA to be back on stream in late summer.

Obviously a key question is whether we will need a vaccination certificate and/or negative test? My best guess is yes to both and the next question is, who pays for the test? As ever, it’s likely to be the good old consumer.

Whatever your plans, if you book go for an Atol-protected package.

Happy Monday... hopefully!