In honor of National Pet Cancer Awareness Month, Mount Carmel Animal Hospital shares more details regarding hemangiosarcoma in pets.
Cancer is always a scary diagnosis to hear when talking about your beloved pet. Hemangiosarcoma can be especially scary, given that it is highly malignant and the cause is usually unknown. In honor of National Pet Cancer Awareness Month, Mount Carmel Animal Hospital shares more details regarding hemangiosarcoma in pets.
What is Hemangiosarcoma?
Hemangiosarcoma is an aggressive form of cancer that occurs in blood vessels in pets. It may occur anywhere in the body but primarily affects an animal’s spleen, liver, heart, or skin. Hemangiosarcoma tumors are made of abnormal blood and blood vessels that are invasive, fragile, and easily ruptured.
Signs and Symptoms
The clinical signs vary on the location of the disease. For internal tumors, signs typically relate to the severity of internal bleeding that happens secondary to tumor rupture.
- Intermittent lethargy
- Weakness with decreased interest in activities/exercise and appetite
- Collapse (with or without a distended abdomen)
- Severe respiratory signs
- Pale gums
For superficial skin tumors:
- Red to purple colored portion of the skin or bump that might bruise or bleed spontaneously
- Soft or firm swelling when tumors occur under the skin
Diagnosis
Regardless of the location, hemangiosarcoma in pets is most often diagnosed through biopsy. It’s typically difficult to analyze using fine needle aspirate cytology because tumors are fragile and susceptible to bleeding, leading to non-diagnostic samples. Abdominal ultrasound, CT scan, x-rays, and surgery are also significant tools in providing a definitive diagnosis and evaluating the extent of the disease within the body. If surgery is performed, histopathology is required to confirm the diagnosis. Other biopsies of other tissue can be done to assess the presence of metastasis.
Treatment
Complete surgical excision is the best treatment for hemangiosarcoma in pets. This might be the only necessary treatment option for certain tumors. Chemotherapy to delay the spread of the metastatic disease is recommended for tumors with high rates of spread, seen mainly in the liver, bone, spleen, heart, and tumors located below the skin or within the muscle.
Prognosis
Chemotherapy might be an option to slow the spread of metastatic disease and maintain a good quality of life, though prognosis is guarded. When surgical removal is not ideal, palliative radiation therapy might be considered. Incompletely excised skin tumors are treatable with definitive radiation to prevent or delay recurrence.
At Mount Carmel Animal Hospital, we understand how difficult a cancer diagnosis can be, and our team is here to support you and your furry companion by providing the necessary options and care. Call us today at 410-343-0200 to schedule an appointment!
HERE AT MOUNT CARMEL ANIMAL HOSPITAL, WE’LL TREAT YOUR PETS LIKE FAMILY!
Mount Carmel Animal Hospital has been serving the Northern Baltimore/Southern York community for over 30 years and is proud to be an independently operated, small animal practice committed to excellence in veterinary medicine and client service. From grooming to wellness services, along with Canine Life Skills Training Courses, and surgical procedures, we have the expertise that will best serve the needs of you and your pet. Contact us at 410-343-0200 and follow us on Facebook.