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On October 17th, the same day as Jack got diagnosed with a mass on his brain, his brother Nutty got diagnosed via an ultrasound, with a mass on his spleen. His mommy took him to the vet because he was suddenly showing signs of no energy and acting very listless. After discussing options with her vet and friends, she made the decision to have a splenectomy on October 25th. It was determined that the mass was indeed a Hemangiosarcoma and it had already metastasized to his liver so that mass was removed as well. After 2 days of observation at the vets office, she brought him home and followed all of the protocols listed below.
But on November 27th, after having a week of little to no movement and a significantly decreased appetite, his mommy also made the very difficult decision to let Nutty cross the rainbow bridge so that he could be happy again.
We asked our friend Juliette from All Pets Animal Hospital to explain this deadly form of cancer to you so that you could be informed……
In my twenty plus years working in the veterinary field, few diagnoses make me cringe more than our doctors finding a mass on the spleen. Objectively, I know the chances, the treatments and the prognoses, but after watching my own dog suffer with it I genuinely feel the owner’s pain.
Duncan our Rottie mix was our first dog, our only dog for his first 11 years, and our best friend. The morning he woke up without his usual humor and good appetite, I knew something was desperately wrong and whisked him to work. A cursory ultrasound quickly found a large mass in his abdomen. I knew what my options were and I knew his chances. Without hesitation I asked the my wonderful doctors (one of whom had known Duncan his entire life) to prepare for emergency surgery.
The spleen is a blood storing organ. Masses growing on the spleen may break open and if they do, the dog can suffer massive internal bleeding. This loss of blood into the abdomen causes a decrease in red blood cell count (a condition called anemia) which results in mild to significant weakness. Dogs who suffer from a bleeding splenic mass often present to the veterinarian with sudden weakness or inability to walk when they “seemed fine” the day before. Blood tests are often relatively normal with the possible exception of a low red blood cell count. Radiology, including xrays and ultrasound, usually give us our diagnosis.
Masses on the spleen , especially when diagnosed due to anemia, are often considered an emergency situation. The only way to permanently stop the bleeding is to remove the spleen meaning an emergency splenectomy is often the only way to ensure the dog’s immediate survival. Additionally, if the anemia is severe enough, a blood transfusion could be necessary to even ensure that the dog is strong enough to withstand surgery. This means that the owner must often decide that day if they want to put their dog through a major surgery.
Complicating this decision further is the source of the splenic mass. In 20-30% of cases, the mass is a benign tumor called a hematoma. Hematomas are something like a giant blood blister. If the spleen is left in, these can break open and the dog could basically bleed to death; however since these masses are benign, removal of the spleen is curative. Sadly, in the majority of cases (70-80%) the mass is caused by a highly aggressive cancer known as a Hemangiosarcoma.
Hemangiosarcomas are one of the most frustrating and heartbreaking cancers that we see. This cancer of the blood vessels is highly aggressive, spreads quickly, and treatment options are few. Even with the spleen removed, the disease quickly spreads to blood vessels in other organs, most often the liver, lungs or heart. Following surgery, patients usually only live 1-3 months.
Chemotherapy is an option, but it doesn’t offer the dog or the owner much extra time, with the average lifespan being a mere 3-6 months. Because chemo being expensive and potentially hard on the patient, many owners do not feel this is an option.
Our sweet Duncan’s mass was sadly hemangiosarcoma. Knowing the prognosis, we opted against chemotherapy and chose instead to keep him happy and comfortable with the help of herbal medications and supplements.
With chemotherapy being so ineffective for this cancer, many owners and veterinarians turn to herbal medications and nutritional supplements. One of the commonly recommended of these is a Chinese herbal supplement called Yunnan Baiyao. This supplement is said to help slow or stop bleeding and some claim it may even slow the growth of hemangiosarcoma. While there are no true scientific studies on the product, many even non-holistic veterinarians recommend it.
Another supplement gaining notoriety is Turkey Tail Mushroom. This product is actually being studied for its ability to help the body fight against certain cancers. The University of Pennsylvania has been studying a product called I’m-Yunnity specifically for its ability to slow the spread of Hemangiosarcoma in dogs. I’m-Yunnity is a purified form of the effective component of Turkey Tail Mushroom. Neither supplement appears to have any side effects, and can be given with other meds or even with chemotherapy.
Most dogs with cancer can also benefit from certain dietary changes (consult your veterinarian). Because cancer derives nutrition from what the dog eats, most cancer diets involve attempting to “starve” the cancer while feeding the pet. Cancer loves carbohydrates most of all, so a diet low in simple carbs is ideal. Grain-free diets may be the easiest way to accomplish this.
Omega 3 fatty acids can also be a helpful dietary supplement due to their anti-inflammatory properties, and cancer is no exception. High quality Omega 3 supplements derived from marine sources are considered best. As a side note, please do not change your dog’s diet if they have other disease processes that are effected by diet, and always make sure your dog’s diet is nutritionally complete!
Finally, remember regardless of your pet’s condition, you ultimately want them to be happy. Do not neglect any other conditions that may be making them uncomfortable or unhappy. Make sure to keep your pet on any recommended pain medication, etc., so that they stay happy and comfortable for as long as possible!
Ultimately, Duncan survived an amazing 5 ½ months following surgery, remaining happy and sweet up until the end. We still miss him every day, but feel comfortable that we did right by him. I now hope that my knowledge and the lessons he taught me will allow me to help other pet owners.
I also choose to raise money and walk for the Morris Animal Foundation, as they fund vital animal cancer research. In fact, because hemangiosarcoma is so strongly tied to a dog’s genetics, it is one of the specific cancers they are studying in a hope that one day we will have a better diagnosis and treatment for this disease.
–Juliette Walters is has worked in the veterinary industry as a Veterinary Assistant, Registered Veterinary Technician and Practice Manager for over 25 years. She has worked in clinics ranging from Avian & Exotic exclusive facilities, Emergency & Specialty Practice, Holistic Medicine, Low-Cost Spay/Neuter, and High Quality General Practice. Since 2001 she has been a Vet Tech, Practice Manager and sometimes tech guru for All Pets Animal Hospital in Encinitas. She currently lives with with 3 dogs (Faye, Oswyn and Finley) and 4 cats (Bruce, Leo, Pixel and Minion Miro) but her heart will always be with Duncan.
