Many types of cancer pose a threat to the health of dogs everywhere, and hemangiosarcoma is one of them. As a deadly form of canine cancer, hemangiosarcoma often starts in one part of the body and makes its way to other parts rather quickly. This is known as metastasizing. All forms of malignant cancer, including hemangiosarcoma, are known for moving from the origin to other areas.
As a blood vessel cancer, hemangiosarcoma cancer cells grow from the cells that line the blood vessels of canines. These cells are known as endothelial cells. From there, these cells of hemangiosarcoma often start to make their way into the surrounding organs, most notably the heart and lungs of dogs.
Canine hemangiosarcoma originates in the tissue of organs in your dog’s body, hence the reason it is known as a blood vessel cancer. However, dogs’ hemangiosarcoma doesn’t usually come to life in just any organ. Most often, a dog with hemangiosarcoma will have a more specific form of the cancer. This is known as splenic hemangiosarcoma. If a dog has splenic hemangiosarcoma, it means the cancerous blood vessels are located in the tissue of your dog’s spleen.
Before dogs can receive a diagnosis clearly stating that they have hemangiosarcoma of an organ in general, they must present with symptoms of hemangiosarcoma. So, what are the symptoms of hemangiosarcoma in dogs?
Symptoms of Hemangiosarcoma in Dogs
Pet owners cannot predict the future, so it’s not possible to know that your dog has hemangiosarcoma the moment the cells start multiplying. However, when you know what the clinical signs of hemangiosarcoma in dogs are, you have a better chance of successfully detecting it. The earlier, the better. However, some pet owners don’t know what to look for.
Sometimes, the first tumor is not noticeable in dogs, so it doesn’t always help to keep an eye out for a visible lump on your dog’s coat. Instead, if you suspect that something is going on, keep an eye out for these clinical signs of hemangiosarcoma.
These include things like:
- Swollen stomach
- Hard time breathing
- Asthma-like symptoms
- Dry cough and mucous
- The occasional nosebleed
- Extreme exhaustion
- Constantly tired
- More naps than usual
- Little to no desire to play
- No interest in walks
- Pale mucous membranes in the eyes
- Pale mucous membranes in the mouth
- Very weak and slow-moving
- Depressive symptoms
- Anxious and stressed out
- Hiding away from company
- Preferring to be alone
- Adverse to being pet by loved ones
How Is Hemangiosarcoma Diagnosed
Dogs with hemangiosarcoma show symptoms in similar ways, but not all signs have to be present for a diagnosis. Some examples of the tests that vets perform on dogs when diagnosing them with hemangiosarcoma include: There are numerous ways of testing dogs for hemangiosarcoma. To start with, dogs often undergo necessary diagnostic testing, which is a conventional way of checking for symptoms and ruling out other potential diagnoses based on the visible side effects. If more advanced and specific tests are necessary to pinpoint the cause of the symptoms, then your dog will undergo a combination of tests that enable the professionals to diagnose your dog correctly.
