Helmut
Helmut is our senior Schnauzer who came into rescue very sick and had a very large mass/tumor on his spleen. He was so weak initally that the doctors did not think he was a candidate for surgery, but he has continued to surprise us got the OK for surgery. His resilience has earned him the nickname “Beast Mode” from his foster parents.
As Helmut was getting pre-op workups done before a surgery to remove the large tumor on his spleen (splenectomy), a new mass suddenly appeared on his chest, literally overnight. This caused enough concern to have it tested, and the news wasn’t good: it was confirmed to be a mast cell tumor, and the doctors were concerned that his spleen, liver, and GI tract were affected by the same cancer. Helmut’s splenectomy had to be postponed indefinitely so we could start him on steroids to try to control the spread of the cancer.
Over the course of a few weeks, Helmut’s liver became enlarged, and along with his already large spleen, his organs began to put pressure on his lungs. Poor little Helmut started having trouble breathing, and his activity had to be limited so that he wouldn’t overstrain his lungs and heart.
One night, his breathing suddenly worsened, and he was taken to the ER to get some relief. Upon examination, the news we got wasn’t what anyone expected. The change in his breathing was deemed due to his steroid medication, and remarkably, the mast cell tumor on his chest had disappeared!
We had Helmut reassessed by a surgeon specializing in tumor removal, and it was decided it was the perfect time to do the procedure. We had come to accept that all we could do for him was comfort care, yet he surprised all of us by beating the odds…again!
This resilient little guy sailed through his splenectomy procedure with no issues, and we are already seeing a significant improvement in his ability to breathe now that this large tumor is gone and no longer putting pressure on his lungs. He’s sleeping more soundly, with no grunting or wheezing. Success!
This little guy is so resilient, and is once again outperforming expectations. Helmut’s foster mom, Malathy, sends us this update:
He’s doing so much better! His little nub of a tail wiggles joyfully now, and he’s always trotting with a pep in his step down the halls or during our walks outdoors, only pausing long enough to look back to make sure I’m following. He’s so happy and inquisitive, and eager to meet new people and dogs. He definitely has some extra spunk and it’s still so early in his recovery.
Helmut is very fortunate to be fostered by Malathy and Evan, who are incredibly committed to giving dogs like Helmut the best possible life. Malathy is also a physician, and has been invaluable as we’ve made medical decisions about his care. While Worthy Dog will continue to support Helmut’s care, we consider him officially home and know he is in the best possible hands with Malathy and Even to live out his golden years.
