Understanding Harvey’s Surgery

Meet Harvey

Meet Chester, a nearly 11-year-old Golden Retriever. Gorgeous Harvey came in to see us recently as his owners were worried he was eating less and seemed a little lethargic.

The Diagnosis and Decision for Surgery

On examination, vet Nicola could feel a mass in his abdomen, so she advised running some blood tests to check for signs of anaemia (low red blood cells), inflammation, and to assess how well his liver and kidneys were functioning. Harvey’s blood results showed anaemia and inflammation, so we recommended an ultrasound scan of his abdomen. During the scan, vet Maddie discovered a large mass on his spleen. After discussing the options with his owners, they decided that Harvey should undergo a splenectomy (surgical removal of the spleen) to remove the mass.

The Healing Process

Harvey’s operation was a success, and once removed, the mass weighed an incredible 2.5 kg!

He has recovered brilliantly since his surgery, and we were thrilled to see him back recently — along with his companions Lili, Bryn, and Melyn — for their booster vaccinations. Harvey was looking fantastic and was super happy to see us, as always!

All four took turns enjoying plenty of fuss from vet Eve — what wonderful patients they are! ❤️