Anim Graphic ©1997 Kitty Roach

THE EMERGENCY SPLENECTOMY
On Thursday, 9 October 1997, about an hour after Misha ate her dinner as usual, she went outside and refused to come back in, even with the enticement of a treat. When we finally got her inside and she literally spit another treat half-way across the room, we knew something was the matter. When I barely touched her side and she screamed, we knew something was really the matter! After an inconclusive trip to the Emergency Veterinary Clinic, where x-rays were taken and we were told that "Something doesn't look right by the spleen", we took Misha back home to wait for her regular Veterinarian to be in his office. She (and we) survived the night, and we were at the Veterinarian's office before it opened on Friday morning. We got her inside; Dr. Pisarik looked at the x-rays. We discussed doing more x-rays and ultrascans, but the end result would be the same: exploratory surgery. We chose to have it done immediately, left her there, and went home to wait. At 10:30 a.m., Dr. Pisarik called us and said we had made the right decision: A growth of some kind had developed inside the spleen and had ruptured, probably at the time that I touched her side and she screamed. She had been slowly bleeding to death internally since the night before! Misha came home at 4:30 p.m. that same day, and has been acting like a puppy since. MORAL: Be attuned to your Canine Companion(s). If anything is unusual in his/her behavior, pay attention to it AND ACT UPON IT. In the words of Antoine de St.-Exupéry: "You become responsible for what you have tamed."
Here is what her scar looked like when she came home (notice that she was able to climb up on the couch almost as soon as she came home!):
Bonnie-the-Scottie was slated for a sleep-over; this time, we explained to her that Misha had just had surgery and could not take the stress of being challenged for her spot in the pack. Bonnie walked in the house, took a look at Misha's scar, and never growled at her or bothered her for the entire week!
Misha the Spleenless was soon well enough to come over and investigate the new Booda toy Bonnie brought along as a "Hostess Gift".

On 25 July 1996, Misha had her knee replaced
by cruciate ligament surgery.
Read all about it at
MISHA'S SURGERY: OUR BIONIC DOG

In July 1999, Misha had cancer surgery.
Read all about it at
MISHA'S SURGERY TWO: CANCER!

In Summer 2001, Misha had another
bout with cancer, this time incurable.
Read all about it at
MISHA IN MEMORIAM

Bonnie shown with the kind permission of Marilyn & Ken Oliak