Where it all began

My little black dynamite was fine until about 23rd October when his appetite wasn't quite as it should have been. Nothing to worry about, just an off day (or so we thought). Days and nights followed when he was absolutely fine in himself, he threw up a bit, but nothing that we thought was an issue (dogs do sometimes) plus he was so happy and so lively in himself. Just eating a little less maybe. We'll keep an eye on him and see how he goes.......
28th October - he refused a piece of cheese - unheard of - definitely something wrong. So off to the vet with Yogi. He had been coughing a little so in the absence of any specific syptoms, (examined all over, lymph glands, tummy, temperature, heart etc) he was treated for kennel cough. Relieved that everything was going to be "OK", took him home.
The following day 29th October, still no appetite, more worried now as he looked OK, just not eating.
Back to the vets, saw regular vet, John, who wanted to keep him in for an xray. He thought that he would have a look at his gut (as he was a little sensitve there-but knowing Yogi, could just be babyish behaviour).
The xray showed a mass where his stomach "should be". Really worried now, the vet decided to open him up. He found that the spleen was folded (which was the mass) but not an issue. What was an issue though, was the enlarged lymph node at the pyloric sphincter (exit of the stomach)
Still not sure what was wrong as all the symptoms were atypical. Not as they should be for cancer, but still no explanation for anything else. An aspiration was taken of the lymph node and then we wait..............