Overview:
There are two common lesions that are not cancerous namely ‘nodular hyperplasia’ and ‘splenic hematoma’. They are located in the spleen and make up 20-41% of splenic lesions. They are essentially blood clot masses and are benign (not lethal). The curative solution is surgical removal.
A malignant (harmful) tumour located in the spleen is the hemangiosarcoma. It is seen more in older dogs around the ages 8-10 years. There is an increased of this tumour if the dog is a larger breed.
Signs and Symptoms:
Signs of a splenic mass are usually inconspicuous. The pet may only show signs of being weak. However, in the case where a splenic mass ruptures, more severe signs may be present or even sudden death. Signs can include pale gums, increased respiratory and heart rates, loss of weight, abdominal bloating, lack of appetite or fainting.
Diagnostics:
You can expect several tests to be run for diagnosis and surgery. Some of the common tests are urinalysis, blood tests, obtaining abdominal fluid for examination, abdominal and chest radiographs and a clotting profile. An abdominal ultrasound may be done in order to have a clearer image of the mass. In some cases, the tumour may spread to the heart making an echocardiography necessary.
Treatment:
Splenic masses are treated through surgery. This entails the spleen to be removed. Removal is better than a biopsy as it can be used for both therapeutic and diagnostic reasons. It is essential that the patient is stabilized before surgery which may require a blood transfusion, fluid therapy or monitoring in intensive care.
Diagnosis is complete once the mass, post removal, is examined under a microscope. Benign diseases similar to a splenic hemangiosarcoma often appear similar, but must be differentiated. Almost 2/3 dogs have a malignant tumour if a splenic mass is present. The diagnosis of hemangiosarcoma is more likely if the mass ruptures resulting in a blood transfusion. A splenectomy effectively treats patients with benign tumours.
Aftercare and Outcome:
Activity should be restricted for at least two weeks after operation. The dog should be prevented from causing self-trauma to the site of surgery through an E-collar or T-shirt.
Dogs with hemangiosarcoma often only live for 2-3 month after surgery alone. It is less than 10% likely that they will live for a year. Often, the cause of death is metastasis (spreading). Chemotherapy may increase their life span up to 6-8 months.
After surgery, there are a few possible complications that may arise. This includes: cardiac arrhythmias, haemorrhage, or pancreatitis After surgery, an ECG may be necessary to determine if arrhythmias is present, however this can be resolved within 2 days, with treatment.
