Just like humans, dogs and all domestic animals in general can suffer from various diseases, including cancer. One of the types of cancer that affects dogs is spleen cancer, a serious disease that affects this organ, which has important functions within the immune system and blood circulation. There are several factors that can trigger this type of cancer, as well as multiple ways to treat it, depending on whether the diagnosis is early or advanced.
In this article we will delve into everything related to spleen cancer in dogs, from what the spleen is and its functions, to the symptoms and treatment of cancer in this organ. The goal is for dog owners to be able to identify the signs in time and go to a veterinarian as soon as possible to give their pets the necessary care.
What is the spleen and what is its importance in dogs?
The spleen is a key organ in the immune system of dogs. It is located in the abdomen, near the stomach and performs multiple essential functions. Among its main activities is the blood filtration, removal of aged or damaged blood cells and the immune response, as it stores lymphocytes, cells that are essential in the fight against infectious diseases. In addition, the spleen has the function of storing blood for emergency situations, such as when a hemorrhage occurs.
Although dogs can live without a spleen because other organs can compensate for its functions, its absence leaves the body more vulnerable to infections and other health problems.
What is spleen cancer in dogs?
Spleen cancer in dogs refers to the appearance of malignant tumors within this organ. The most common type of cancer in the canine spleen is hemangiosarcoma, a highly aggressive type of tumor that mostly affects older, large breed dogs. This cancer originates in the cells of blood vessels and can cause internal bleeding when the tumor ruptures, making this disease a medical emergency in many cases.
Other types of tumors that can appear in the spleen of dogs include fibrosarcomas and lymphomas, although these are significantly less common than hemangiosarcoma.
Risk factors for spleen cancer in dogs
There are several factors that make some dogs more prone than others to develop spleen cancer. Among the most relevant are:
- AgeHemangiosarcoma is most common in older dogs, usually older than 8 or 10 years.
- Bending radius on the inner side: Some breeds are more prone to developing hemangiosarcoma. These include: German Shepherds, Golden Retrievers and Labradors.
- Gender:It has also been observed that males have a greater predisposition to develop this type of cancer compared to females.
Symptoms of spleen cancer in dogs
El early diagnosis Identifying a tumor on the spleen in dogs is key to improving the odds of successful treatment. However, due to the insidious nature of hemangiosarcoma, many dogs show no obvious signs in the early stages of the disease, making it even more important to pay attention to any changes in their health.
common symptoms that may indicate the presence of a tumor in the spleen include:
- Pale gums, which is a sign of anemia due to internal blood loss.
- Sudden loss of energy or lethargy.
- Visible abdominal swelling, caused by the accumulation of blood in the abdomen if the tumor ruptures.
- Loss of appetite and weight loss.
- Sudden collapse.
- Vomiting or diarrhea.
Some dogs may collapse due to severe internal bleeding caused by bleeding from the tumor. In these cases, the condition can be life-threatening if immediate veterinary attention is not provided.
Diagnosis of spleen cancer in dogs
El diagnosis A diagnosis of a tumor on the spleen is usually made through a combination of physical exams, blood tests, and imaging studies. The veterinarian may start by palpating the dog's abdomen for signs of abdominal distension or visible masses. However, to confirm a diagnosis, additional tests are needed such as:
- Ultrasounds and X-raysThese tests allow the state of the spleen to be visualized and determine if there are masses or fluid accumulation in the abdomen.
- Blood Tests: These can detect anemia or clotting problems, which are common signs in dogs with hemangiosarcoma.
- Biopsy or aspiration: In some cases, your veterinarian may take a sample of the mass for cytological analysis (biopsy).
While imaging can provide a clear view of the state of the spleen, a biopsy is crucial to determine whether a tumor is malignant or benign. It is important to note that a biopsy can be risky due to the risk of bleeding.
Treatment of spleen cancer in dogs
El standard treatment For splenic tumors it is usually the surgical removal of the spleen, known as splenectomy. This procedure is usually followed by chemotherapy, especially if the tumor is malignant or if there is a risk of metastasis.
Splenectomy surgery can be life-saving, although in the case of malignant tumors, such as hemangiosarcoma, the cancer cells may have already metastasized to other organs. Therefore, post-surgery chemotherapy is recommended as an adjunctive treatment. drugs used in dogs They usually include doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, and sometimes vincristine.
El Palliative treatment It is also an option for those dogs in which the cancer is too advanced or they cannot undergo surgery. This approach involves the use of medications to control pain, inflammation and ensure the best possible comfort in the dog's final days.
Life expectancy of a dog with spleen cancer
El forecast The outcome for a dog with splenic cancer depends largely on whether the tumor is benign or malignant. If the tumor is benign and a splenectomy is performed, many dogs can continue to lead relatively normal lives. However, in the case of hemangiosarcoma, even with successful removal of the spleen, the prognosis remains poor.
The life expectancy of a dog with hemangiosarcoma is quite low. Without additional treatment (chemotherapy), most dogs survive only a few months after surgery. With chemotherapy, some dogs can live up to six months or a year. However, metastasis remains a significant risk.
Postoperative and palliative care
El postoperative care after a splenectomy is crucial to a dog's recovery. This includes:
- Complete rest during the first weeks of recovery.
- Use of elizabethan necklace to prevent the dog from touching the sutures.
- Management antibiotics and pain relievers.
- Regular check-ups with your veterinarian to monitor for possible post-operative complications or infections.
In cases of advanced cancer, where curative treatment is not feasible, palliative care aims to provide quality of life for the dog. This includes pain control through strong analgesic medications, appetite management, and ensuring a calm and comfortable environment.
Detecting and treating splenic cancer in dogs is challenging due to the silent nature of the disease in its early stages. However, being aware of the symptoms and immediately going to a veterinarian when a problem is suspected can make all the difference in the lives of dogs. Although the prognosis for some tumors, such as hemangiosarcoma, is not encouraging, the main goal will always be to ensure the well-being and comfort of our pets, whether with curative or palliative treatments.
Hello, I have an eight-and-a-half-year-old mini schnauzer dog and she has undergone a splenectomy, while waiting for a biopsy, my question is the following, what possibilities of life it can have in case the tumor is bad.
Waiting for an answer A CORDIAL GREETING.
Andres I am in a similar situation with a sheepdog, I am sorry that no one answered you
the spleen is linked to the dog's lymphatic system they should remove it and undergo steroid chemotherapy to see if its marrow produces red blood cells again, otherwise hemolytic anemia occurs my dog with all the treatments 3 transfusions surgery died in a month after the disease began and there was no case since the cancer was already circulating through his little body detected in time, perhaps it has a solution but it is a cruel and serious disease
Look friends looking, I got to this blog, but I'm still like you, I have a 12-year-old shitzu dog and she had an abdominal ultrasound and she has a large tumor near the spleen, but she also has low platelets and the vet tells me that she barely the platelets normalize, you can strain it to find out if you have cancer or not, but because of the old lady you don't assure me anything. So we don't know what to do with the dog.
My dog, a Spanish Breton, died a month ago from spleen cancer .. it is lethal, and the survival rate is very low .. we did an ultrasound and she had tumors in her spleen, she underwent surgery and the spleen was removed together with the mesentereum that she had small mestatized tumors .. and after operating her she gave us 15 more days of happiness… (in relative good condition) .. and then we sacrificed her because she was already very badly dying and suffering ..
I think that if I could go back in time, I would have had her sacrificed when operating her and see that the animal's condition was already irreversible ... it didn't make much sense to extend the entire postoperative period and pain for only 15 days ...
The lifespan is very low and as the spleen is an organ through which all the blood of the body passes to be filtered .. metastasis always occurs practically ..
A dog with spleen cancer is a dead dog.
I'm sorry to be pessimistic, but this is how it happened to me, and it was fulfilled as the vet said it was going to happen
Hello everybody! Dogs with a mass in the spleen, if it is malignant, do not need to be operated on. They live between 3 weeks and 3 months. After that time it is benign. Depending on the age, it will grow more or less fast and that may or may not be its end. My dog was detected in May 2017. It is September. He is growing, but he is not. Here we go! With a good quality of life for him. Be careful not for me but it does not matter. If you walk, eat and be attentive that is that everything is in order ... even if the tumor or mass progresses. Greetings to all. Many moods.
Hello, Martha
I am in exactly the same situation as you, in May my little Alex, a beautiful 8-year-old Shih Tzu, was diagnosed with spleen cancer.
Since then, like us, he has eaten meat, fish, vegetables, rice and special feed rich in protein. He has gained a little weight and of course he is better than before the diagnosis, although it is true that he is more listless, like sad and down ... there are days that he does not want to eat and trying different things in the end we get him to eat, it is the main thing he told us the vet
He advised me against the operation, since, as many say, it only lengthens their lives for a very short time and can even get worse if they are relatively well, as is the case with mine.
It is true that he has a swollen belly and that in his poops there is sometimes some blood ... my poor thing, he behaves like a champion. Sometimes he does not want to climb the stairs, but encouraging him and rewarding him in the end he succeeds ... the vet told me to make him move, not to carry him in our arms, to give him activity and play with him ... not to treat him like a patient if not that we pamper him a lot ..
We are in October and the animal continues to fight, there are some days when it is worse and I think that is where its end begins, but suddenly it surprises us and the next day it improves a little ... it is a fighter and deserves all my respect. I can't imagine the day I have to put him to sleep…. how do you do that? when is that decision made? what do you do with it?
From here I send all my love to my precious animal that shows me every day a value that many people would already like.
I finish by saying that I have two more dogs, Alex's brother named Leo, a very special, different being…. and an enormous wonderful animal that crosses the Presa Canario with a shepherd who protects us and takes care of us with his own life. They know that my Alex is ill, I can see it in the delicate way they play with him or when he is snuggled up or does not want to move, they stand by his side, they do not move and they respect his space ... that they will miss him in a cruel way when he is not
People who do not have dogs, they lose that special affection that is felt for them but above all the one that is received ... unconditional love and maximum respect ...
My most sincere tribute from here to all of them.
My beloved Jerry, died yesterday, of a tumor in the spleen that possibly caused pancreatitis, he had surgery last Saturday and I left yesterday Sunday with a "fulminant" heart attack that's what they told me; I spoke with the doctor on Sunday at 10 o'clock, to find out how the night had passed, he told me that Jerry was fine, that I could take him home, and halfway there, he calls me and says »his Jerry suffered a sudden heart attack ». I am devastated, for me he was my son! I can't find consolation, he was my best friend for 10 years, I took him everywhere with me, he was very happy and so was I, his unconditional and pure love made me feel it at all times! I feel sooo guilty having operated on it.
It is a lethal disease in our beloved furry ones, surgery does not save them and only hasten their death. (But I also think to what extent the disease would have made him suffer ... I think that thinking like this gives me some comfort)
I love animals with all my soul, especially dogs, and their suffering hurts my heart; Only those of us who have had the honor of sharing life with them know how great they are, because they teach us values that humans do not have and do not mind having!
Goodbye my beloved Jerry, I love you and I will love you all my life and if death unites me again with you, I will be very happy !!
Hello Ana, I would like very much to know what meals and how you prepare them to give to my dog because she is not eating I think and she accepts chicken and lean beef, could you help me please?
On August 2017, 13, my little poodle, XNUMX and a half years old, died, he was detected cancer of the spleen and metastases in the liver, he had anemia and he looked ill, he resisted a week quite badly and in the end, with all our grief, we had He had to sacrifice him for fear that the tumor would burst, his belly was very swollen, the vet advised us for fear that it would burst and cause him great suffering.His death has left us a great emptiness and a lot of sadness, he was a brave man We love you Nevat.
I have my 14-year-old dog who has detected tumors in the spleen and mammary tumors, the vet advised me not to operate on her because of her age, she is only being given quality of life for some days she is fine and other days she declines so much that she cannot maintain standing, and that is where I think that perhaps the best thing for her is to sleep, it makes me very sad but her case is irreversible, and I know that at any moment it will come to an end, it makes me very sad that she is no longer in my life, i love you my winnie
My 15-year-old dog has a tumor in her spleen, compromised grade 2 kidneys and nodules in her liver. I wanted to know if someone has been told by the vet, when to make the decision to put your baby to sleep?
My Chloé, a 9 year and 8 month old toy poodle, left three weeks ago; She had a tumor in her spleen, high white blood cells, pale gums, everything was very fast, in two days it was gone ... It was terrible, surprising, we did not expect something like that, because she was fine, suddenly she fell ill, we managed to take her to the veterinarian for examinations, and when a specialist saw her, we were looking at possibilities, there in the clinic he gave her a stoppage. It consoles me only that she did not suffer so much, it was a day and a half that she was very down eating very little, but I took care of her at all times, somehow we sought to alleviate her pain with a lot of love.
That is our experience with this cancer, silent and incredibly invasive ... I took care of her until her last second, I had her back paw taken, caressing her, talking to her. We were able to cremate her remains in a pet crematorium and we have her with us; every day I light a candle for him and talk to him.
My exceptional Chloé Antonella, I love you, I adore you to infinity.
Hello to my dog his gums turned white and he had not eaten for two days I took him to the vet and they did echo blood tests, and x-ray what they told me is that he had cancer in the spleen and because of his age (12 years) and advanced anemia had 80% of not surviving the operation and we made the hard decision to put him to sleep so that he would not suffer more, the issue is that looking for information I left with the doubt if it was cancer or not and that has me very bad