HONOLULU (HI Now) - Ace is a Shih Tzu with a big personality — the kind of dog who isn’t afraid of the vet or the groomer, who loves car rides and shopping trips, and who’s earned the nickname “Mr. Aloha” from the neighbors at his Honolulu condo. As his owner Charleen Bueno’s service animal, Ace goes everywhere with her. But behind his easygoing nature, Ace began experiencing symptoms that were difficult to pinpoint. His primary veterinarian referred him to VERC’s Internal Medicine team for further evaluation.
When Dr. Tan first saw Ace in 2020, his symptoms were vague and included decreased energy, drooling, and sneezing. Bloodwork performed by his primary veterinarian was normal. Ace’s evaluation included abdominal ultrasound, medication trials, nutrition changes, and eventually endoscopy with biopsies. Through this step-by-step approach, Dr. Tan was able to uncover that Ace was suffering from inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), a chronic condition affecting the gastrointestinal tract.
Under Dr. Tan’s care for more than five years, Ace has received ongoing management through medication adjustments, nutrition changes, and routine rechecks every three to four months, including bloodwork and ultrasounds.
It was during one of those routine checkups earlier this year that Dr. Tan spotted something new: a mass on Ace’s spleen. Spleen masses can be unpredictable, and cancerous or not, they carry a real risk of rupturing and causing life-threatening internal bleeding. Rather than waiting to see what might happen, Charleen chose to move forward with surgery, and board-certified veterinary surgeon Dr. Chi-Ya Chen performed a splenectomy to remove the spleen before it could become an emergency. The mass turned out to be benign, and Ace is doing great.
“Dr. Tan has been a blessing,” says Charleen. “She is very kind, knowledgeable and very thorough. I love that she explains diagnoses and treatment plans that I can understand.”
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Ace’s story is a reminder of the value of specialty medicine — not only in finding answers when symptoms are complex, but also in providing ongoing care that helps pets maintain a great quality of life.
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When your pet’s symptoms are complex, ongoing, or difficult to diagnose, VERC’s Internal Medicine team is here to help. Through advanced diagnostics, specialized expertise, and dedicated ongoing care, we partner with your primary veterinarian and your family to uncover answers and create personalized treatment plans.
When your pet’s health concerns require answers beyond routine care, VERC’s experienced teams provide advanced diagnostics and specialized treatment options. Our Emergency Department is open 24/7, including holidays, to provide care when your pet needs it most. Visit verchawaii.com or call us anytime at (808) 735-7735. Follow us on Instagram @verc.hawaii and Facebook @VERCHawaii.
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