10/09/2025
THIS IS A TOUGH ONE 💔😢
It has taken us some time to get on here to write about our beloved dog Zoe. We went through quite an emotional event that we are still in a shock about.
Around the end of August, Zoe stopped eating out of the blue. She was normally a bottomless pit when it came to food and treats, always on the lookout for something to snack on. Lord help you if you were at the park with food in your pocket with Zoe around.
She continued to drink tonnes of water, but eating was a real struggle. Initially her kibble was out and only treats worked, then treats slowly stopped working their magic too.
She was wasting away, getting weaker by the day and unstable on her feet. She only wanted to be outside in the yard or relax in the grass at the park and watch.
After a few weeks we went to another vet for a second opinion, but instead of walking away with our good girl and a new direction for treatment, we left without her. An ultrasound showed bleeding in her abdominal and a large mass on her spleen. She had something called hemangiosarcoma, an aggressive cancer and a "silent killer" as dogs often show no symptoms until it's too late. Blood vessels branch, fragment, become leaky, and ultimately rupture leading to a sudden and painful death. Currently it's unknown how and why HSA happens and there is no cure.
Zoe never had any health issues which made this even more upsetting. She was a hearty dog who refused to act old, and we thought she would have been with us for at least another 5-6 years. She would have been too weak for surgery, and even if she could have made it through a splenectomy, her quality of life would have been poor and likely would have metastases in her bones. And waiting around any longer could have led to a horrible death for her. So we had to say goodbye.
Zoe would have been 10 years old yesterday. We miss her more than anything at home and around the clinic.
We will always remember you Zoe. You were the best dog we could have ever asked for. You weren't perfect, but you were damn close to it.
Kisses, tummy rubs, and behind the ear scratches Zo Zo.
We love you forever ❤️🐕🫶
