Gino

Our English show cocker spaniel developed HSA in 2025.
We noticed very early on that he was seeking cooler areas in the garden more so than normal during the summer, unusual for him as he loved sitting in the Sun.
He also hid more when he was inside with us, sat facing walls as if he was trying to tell us there was something not right with him. He had an ability to detect illness and ailments such as people with arteritis.
This was followed by gastrointestinal issues, for some weeks. Visits to the vets and many blood tests did not provide a diagnosis. Our concern was that he may have ingested something that was causing
his gastro issues and insisted on an ultrasound, which sowed a lump on the spleen that turned out to be stage 2/3 splenic HSA. We lost many weeks for not getting a diagnosis, an earlier diagnosis may have given him a chance of life.
This was followed by a referral to an oncology vets, we opted for cyclophosphamide and did not opt for doxorubicin due to its cytotoxicity to preserve quality of life. However, cyclophosphamide eventually gave him blood in the urine around December 2025 and the chemo was stopped. He survived for 5 weeks after stopping the cyclophosphamide protocol and passed away on the 31 Jan 2026 at 2103 hrs at 9 years and 4 months. We looked after him like our child and was very fit, no other illnesses until the HSA.
There are no clinical trials for immunotherapies or any alternative options in the UK for HSA.
We are devastated by his loss. HSA is just devastating, a cure and early diagnostic test desperately needed for dog parents across the world.