The Mortality of Canine Spleen Cancer

Canine spleen cancer, called splenic hemangiosarcoma, typically affects dogs between eight and 13 years old, though it can occur at any age. Large dogs carry the most risk, with German shepherds the most commonly affected, followed by golden retrievers and labradors.

  1. Definition

    • Hemangiosarcoma is a tumor of the blood vessels. When these tumors form on the spleen, they have a high probability of rupturing. Hemangiosarcoma is aggressive and spreads rapidly throughout the body; in approximately 25 percent of dogs, the cancer spreads to the heart.

    Symptoms

    • Symptoms of canine spleen cancer include abdominal distention, weakness, collapse, rapid heart rate, rapid breathing, pale gums and weight loss. Diagnosis is often not made until after the tumor erupts.

    Treatment

    • Treatment for canine spleen cancer involves a splenectomy (removal of the spleen) followed by chemotherapy. However, if the cancer has spread to other internal organs, surgery may be deemed impractical. In these cases, treatment consists solely of an intensive chemotherapy regimen.

    Mortality

    • The prognosis is poor for dogs diagnosed with spleen cancer. The average survival time after surgery ranges between 19 to 65 days. Surgery combined with chemotherapy increases the survival time to approximately six months.