Dana picked me at a shelter in Dec 2001, and her friend Scully came to live with us too. In Sept 2008, Dana had pancreatitis which I have since been told can be caused by a disfunctioning auto immune system. Then on 21st May 09, she collapsed and had an ultrasound and was diagnosed with HSA on her heart, spleen and kidney. She had her heart drained and came home like nothing had happened. I couldn't believe that there was anything wrong with her! There were no signs that anything was wrong except she had slowed down a little. We thought this was due to a sore shoulder that she had strained when she had a TPLO and would put her weight forward onto the shoulder. She was having physio and acupuncture treatment for that. We arrranged for another specialist to see her with a different type of ultrasound to confrim that it was definitely HSA. It was confirmed. We were told to take her home, see how she goes and come back in 2 weeks if necessary. We were told there were no medications or procedures that could help her. She had been on various different diets, but leading up to this had been on a low fat diet, with veg, eggs, meat and a good quality kibble. I immediately changed her diet to free range organic chicken with veggies, eggs (twice a week), fish oil, milk thistle, yunnan baiyo and K9 transfer factor, co onzymes and one other that I can't remember the name of now. She collapsed with a second bleed within 5 days and went back in for another drain. I wanted her to have a peri cardial removal to allow the blood to disperse through her lungs, but the specialist said she would more than likely bleed out and die on the operating table. He said as her tumors were so large on her heart, there was nothing they could do for her. We took her home again and decided that if she lasted another week without another bleed, she would have another drain. Dana collapsed with a third bleed 2 days later and we decided to help her to the Bridge. My heart shattered into a million peices on that day and still has not healed, I don't think it ever will. An animal communicator told me that Dana was happy to go to the bridge as she had not been feeling great for about 3 years. She had a series of other illnesses before getting cancer. I never thought that she would get cancer, but I guess none of us do. The communicator also told me things that only Dana could have known, so had to I believe her when she said that Dana is happy where she is now, at the Rainbow Bridge.

Stay positive, don't let your dog pick up that you are distraught. Join a support group online. Ask lots of questions.