Read more about the spleen: Cancer in the Spleen of Dogs. At that point, the dog might go into shock, collapse and die. Your dog can live without his spleen, however. Spleen tumors in dogs can be either benign or malignant, though both types of tumors are dangerous, because they could rupture at a moment's notice. Can Vet J 2016;57:842-846. The life expectancy of course depends on whether the cancer has spread and if … A ruptured spleen is typically caused by a blow to the left upper abdomen or the left lower chest, such as might happen during sporting mishaps, fistfights and car crashes. Spleen Cancer in Dogs. Treatment involves removing the spleen, but even with treatment affected dogs rarely live more than a few months. Dogs with benign tumors have a very good prognosis. Ruptured tumors can cause excessive bleeding in the abdomen and some cases, acute death can occur. Survival with the intestinal form averages only eight weeks. There are only limited treatment options. Life Expectancy of Dogs with Spleen Cancer. Ruptured spleen tumors typically cause severe bleeding and rapid death, due to blood-filled nature of the spleen itself. Hemangiosarcoma is an invasive and fast-growing cancer that affects a dog’s spleen, liver, and interior lining of the blood vessels. Symptoms of a Ruptured Spleen in Dogs Spleen ruptures in dogs may be spontaneous due to trauma from being hit by a car or from a penetrating wound. Deadly spleen cancer in dogs. Tumors on the spleen can be benign or cancerous. It may also be a very slow process were the owner notices symptoms of spleen rupture in dogs under the form of lethargy, inappetence, weakness and an abdomen that appears to be distended . This tumor can occur from any site of the body that’s vascular but the most frequent locations in dogs are the spleen (40-50%), right atrium/heart (10-25%), and the skin (15%). The Chances of rupture of a malignant tumor are high due to the fragile nature of the spleen. These tumors are at risk for rupture and leakage of blood into the abdomen. If the splenic tumor has not ruptured then surgical removal of the spleen is needed in most cases to determine whether the tumor is benign or malignant. Sometimes, dog owners don’t realize their pets have the cancer until they suddenly pass away without warning. This benign, slow growing tumor on dogs is cured by surgery. A spleen can rupture due to: Injury to the left side of the body. Without treatment, dogs with lymphoid tumors have a life expectancy averaging ten weeks but a few live for six to twelve months. Unfortunately, spleen cancer in dogs has a very poor prognosis, with many dogs only being able to live for a few months after being diagnosed. Unfortunately, a more rare diagnosis of Hemangioma is made by biopsy in less than 1/3 of these cases. If the tumor hasn't ruptured, the dog's abdomen might appear distended and he appears lethargic. 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