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Splenic tumor in dogs: One of the most common tumor diseases

By Allison Lewis
Published on 01/28/2024
Reviewed by Dr. Monica Sanders

What is the function of the spleen?

The spleen is part of the lymphatic system and is located near the stomach. Among its most important tasks is the production of white blood cells, specifically lymphocytes. They support the body’s immune defense and facilitate the breakdown of aged red blood cells. Additionally, the spleen serves as a storage site for monocytes, the immune cells. Thus, the spleen is of great importance for the immune system and blood purification. It is located in the front half of the abdominal cavity and can reach a length of up to 25 centimeters in large dogs. However, the organ is not vital, as the liver can take over many tasks.

How common are splenic tumors in dogs?

Among organ diseases in dogs, splenic tumors are a fairly common occurrence. On average, splenic tumors account for around 40 percent of all abdominal tumors. Dog breeds with a genetic predisposition to splenic tumors are even more common.

If your furry friend is already in advanced age, they are particularly vulnerable. Splenic tumors in dogs typically occur from the age of eight onwards. Additionally, medium and large dog breeds generally seem to have a predisposition to splenic tumors. It has been observed that especially German Shepherds, all Retrievers, and Bernese Mountain Dogs have a predisposition to splenic tumors.

Note: Why do so many dogs get splenic tumors?

Splenic tumors occur much more frequently in dogs than in humans. The cause of this phenomenon is controversial and not conclusively clarified. Certain gene and enzyme receptor mutations may be the reason.

How does a splenic tumor manifest in dogs?

A splenic tumor in dogs can present various symptoms. In the early stages, a splenic tumor in dogs may not be noticeable at all, or the symptoms may remain nonspecific. If this disease manifests at all, the symptoms tend to be nonspecific. If you want to recognize a splenic tumor in your dog, you should keep an eye out for the following signs:

Apathy: Your dog appears unusually lethargic, with decreased endurance. Often, the four-legged friend retreats to their bed and does not show much enthusiasm for daily walks.
Increased thirst and urination: Even in cool weather, your dog drinks unusually much and eagerly, leading to frequent urination.
Decreased appetite: Your dog repeatedly leaves their food or does not finish their portion entirely.
Vomiting: Whether after a half-eaten meal or seemingly spontaneously, your dog vomits. You can tell that the animal feels uncomfortable during this.
Enlarged abdomen: A consequence of a splenic tumor in your dog may be a swollen belly.

In general, these symptoms can indicate several other diseases, including kidney and liver disorders or, for example, Cushing’s syndrome, where your pet also exhibits increased water intake, urination, and voracious appetite. Skin conditions such as hair loss also accompany Cushing’s.

What types of splenic tumors are there in dogs?

Many dog owners immediately think of cancer when they hear “splenic tumor,” but this assumption is not always correct. According to veterinary estimates, only every second splenic tumor is malignant, and most often, it is the dreaded hemangiosarcoma.

Hemangiosarcoma is a tumor of the blood vessels and is among the most aggressive types of tumors in dogs. What makes this growth particularly insidious is its rapid metastasis, so that at the time of diagnosis, tumors are often already discovered in the lungs, heart, or, for example, the liver.

Other malignant splenic tumors in dogs include mast cell tumors and lymphomas. In this case, there is no localized lump, but rather the splenic tissue is infiltrated by degenerate cells.

In other cases, it may also be a benign splenic tumor (hemangioma). Your dog will typically exhibit the same symptoms as with a malignant tumor. However, caution is also warranted here, as even a benign tumor can cause a splenic rupture or induce pain and pressure due to its size.

Additionally, a splenic tumor could also manifest as a hematoma, a bruise resulting from trauma. However, hemangiomas and hematomas can also rupture, causing life-threatening bleeding.

Note: How quickly does a splenic tumor metastasize in dogs?

The aggressive hemangiosarcoma grows rapidly and often spreads to surrounding tissues or other organs. Upon diagnosis, unfortunately, cancer cells have already metastasized in half of the cases.

When is a splenic tumor in dogs an emergency?

While in the initial stages, the disease manifests with nonspecific, sporadic symptoms, a splenic tumor can quickly become life-threatening in the late stages. Acute danger to life exists especially when the tumor ruptures, leading to bleeding in the abdominal cavity.

Most splenic tumors in dogs consist of multiple blood-filled, unstable chambers. In advanced stages, slight pressure is sufficient to rupture these chambers, causing blood to pour into the abdominal cavity. Due to massive blood loss, severe circulatory problems up to collapse threaten.

The following symptoms may indicate a bleeding tumor:

Unusually pale mucous membranes in your dog
Your dog is panting, sometimes intensely
Your four-legged friend is whimpering
Abdominal pain may occur

Not always does a splenic tumor rupture entirely; sometimes, only one of the chambers breaks open, causing minor bleeding. Then, your four-legged friend may feel uncomfortable for a while and then seem fine again. However, this is unfortunately just the calm before the storm.

Note: How to recognize abdominal pain in dogs

You can recognize abdominal pain in dogs, among other things, by a tense body posture and tense abdominal muscles, intense lip licking, and general restlessness. If the dog’s belly hurts, it will resist the otherwise welcome belly rubs.

How quickly does a splenic tumor grow in dogs?

It is not always possible to estimate how quickly a splenic tumor grows. Especially benign tumors can gain mass quite slowly and cause no worries for your four-legged friend for years. Malignant splenic tumors, on the other hand, are often aggressive and form metastases within a few months or even weeks.

Does a dog experience pain with a splenic tumor?

In the early, largely asymptomatic stage of the disease, your beloved pet does not experience or at least not have severe pain but may feel uncomfortable from time to time. If metastasis occurs later and, for example, a liver tumor develops, or if the splenic tumor in the dog metastasizes to the lungs, the occurrence of pain becomes more likely. If the tumor starts bleeding, the health condition deteriorates rapidly. The dog suffers from severe abdominal pain, dizziness, and vomiting.

How is a spleen tumor diagnosed in dogs?

Spleen tumors are often discovered during routine examinations of older dogs or during examinations for other illnesses. Due to the weak and nonspecific symptoms, diagnosis often occurs late when the spleen tumor in the dog has already metastasized or ruptured.

When there is suspicion of a ruptured tumor, the veterinarian, if possible, performs a blood test. The blood test can determine whether there is bleeding in the internal organs.

In the early stage, an enlargement of the spleen can be detected via X-rays. Possible internal organ bleeding can also be seen on the X-rays. To get the most detailed picture of the dog’s condition, the veterinarian takes X-rays not only of the abdomen but also at least of the lungs and the heart. This can reveal larger metastases. Changes in the spleen can also be detected using ultrasound. Furthermore, the sonograms show whether the tumor has already metastasized.

In the case of an acute emergency, there is no time for extensive examinations. The abdomen is examined using ultrasound, and then the dog must undergo immediate surgery.

Spleen tumor in dogs: Treatment

If the tumor has ruptured and is bleeding, every minute counts and it’s a matter of life and death. The veterinarian must operate immediately and remove not only the tumor during the surgery but also the entire spleen. Afterwards, a blood transfusion is often necessary, especially in cases of severe blood loss. After the operation, an EKG is also necessary, as acute circulatory problems can in turn cause arrhythmias.

Even with a coincidentally discovered, smaller tumor, the veterinarian will probably recommend prompt surgery. The reason is simple: due to a high proportion of malignant, aggressive neoplasms, the veterinarian wants to minimize the risk of metastasis. In such a planned operation, a splenectomy, i.e., surgical removal of the entire spleen, is also usually performed.

Note: Tissue examination for tumors

Although a spleen tumor in your dog can be detected with an X-ray, the images do not reveal whether it is a benign or malignant tumor. Even during surgery, the veterinarian cannot determine the type of tumor. Therefore, the tissue of the removed organ is histologically examined. This not only allows for the identification of degenerate tissue but also determines the stage of the disease.

If the result of the histological examination is favorable for your furry friend and there is no cancer, your dog does not require any further therapy.

If it is a malignant tumor, the veterinarian may recommend subsequent chemotherapy. Whether this is advisable or entails additional suffering for the severely affected four-legged friend can only be discussed in a personal conversation with the veterinarian based on the specific examination results.

Info: Therapy with Dendritic Cells

Therapy with dendritic cells, highly specialized defense forces, represents a promising approach in cancer treatment in general and, among other things, in the treatment of splenic tumors in dogs. Dendritic cells are specialized in recognizing cancer cells and activating the immune defense of the body’s own cells. However, malignant tumors inhibit the function of dendritic cells.

As part of the gentle immunotherapy, full-fledged dendritic cells are produced from your dog’s blood cells. These support the body’s own dendritic cells in fighting malignant growths.

What is the cost of a splenic tumor surgery for dogs?

A splenic tumor in your dog should be treated as soon as possible.

The cost of surgical intervention to remove the splenic tumor depends on numerous factors:

An emergency surgery incurs higher costs than a planned procedure.
A surgery on weekends or at night is more expensive.
Additional services such as preliminary examinations, blood transfusion, or EKG are additional cost factors.
The histological examination also adds to the expenses.
If the pet needs to stay overnight at the clinic, the costs further increase.

Depending on the extent of the procedure, you can expect to pay around $1,000 to $1,500. To avoid cost traps, it is advisable to take out pet health insurance in a timely manner.

Splenic tumor in dogs: Life Expectancy

If the examination reveals that it is a benign tumor, the chances of complete recovery are quite good. Unfortunately, it is a different story with a malignant tumor.

It is often said then to prepare for the worst and say goodbye. For tumors that have not metastasized yet, the median survival time is between five and ten months. If the dog had to undergo emergency surgery due to a ruptured hemangiosarcoma, the median survival time is shortened to about two months. In the case of already metastasized tumors, the four-legged patient usually has only three to four weeks left.

Splenic tumor in dogs: When to euthanize?

The decision whether to euthanize your beloved pet is not easy and should be carefully considered. Consult with your veterinarian for this and consider that performed or planned therapies usually do not worsen the dog’s lifespan. Therefore, euthanasia should be the last option even in the case of a splenic tumor.

Conclusion: Splenic tumor in dogs is a frequently life-threatening disease

Many older dogs as well as representatives of certain dog breeds suffer from splenic tumors. Initially, the disease often progresses almost symptom-free. If the tumor ruptures and starts bleeding, your dog becomes an emergency case. If a splenic tumor has been diagnosed in your dog, you quickly ask yourself: surgery, yes or no? The answer is yes, because most of the time, surgery is the only sensible treatment.

In the subsequent histological examination, it is determined whether it is a benign or malignant tumor. In the former case, there is the prospect of complete recovery, while malignant tumors radically reduce survival chances. To spare your furry companion greater suffering, annual health checks are advisable – especially for older dogs. The veterinarian knows you and your pet as well as possible pre-existing conditions and can react quickly in situations.