Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Nodular spleen lumps in small-breed dogs under 15 kg explained
By Fernandez, Steven et al.·Published in Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association·2019·From MedVet Medical and Cancer Centers for Pets-New Orleans, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Evaluation of Nodular Splenic Lesions in 370 Small-Breed Dogs (<15 kg).
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of small-breed dogs, including miniature schnauzers, dachshunds, and beagles, were found to have nodular growths on their spleens during surgery. Out of 370 dogs, over half had cancerous lesions, with hemangiosarcoma being the most common type. Many of these dogs also had bleeding in their abdomen, which was linked to a higher chance of having malignant tumors. The study highlighted that beagles and small-breed terriers were particularly at risk for serious splenic issues. Treatment often involved splenectomy (surgery to remove the spleen), and the outcomes varied based on the type of lesion found.
People also search for: small dog spleen surgery · beagle splenic tumor · hemangiosarcoma in dogs · dog abdominal bleeding causes · miniature schnauzer health issues
Abstract
Three hundred seventy small-breed dogs (<15 kg) undergoing splenectomy for the presence of nodular splenic lesions were evaluated in a retrospective study to assess associations with breeds, malignancy, hemoperitoneum, and median survival time compared with previous studies. Data analyzed included signalment, histopathologic diagnosis, presence or absence of hemoperitoneum, breed associations, and survival times. In the current study, 44% (163/370) of dogs had nonneoplastic splenic lesions and 56% (207/370) had neoplastic lesions. Hemangiosarcoma was present in 27% (100/370) of splenic lesions. Hemoperitoneum was present in 31% (115/370) of dogs, and of this population, 66% (76/115) had malignant splenic lesions. The most common breeds were miniature schnauzers, dachshunds, and beagles, with beagles exhibiting a positive association with malignancy. The presence of hemoperitoneum was associated with malignancy. Distribution for nodular splenic lesions, correlation of hemoperitoneum to malignancy, and median survival time were similar to previous reports in large-breed dogs. Small-breed dogs who present with hemoperitoneum are 2.6 times more likely to have a diagnosis of a malignant splenic lesion. The most common small-breed dogs with nodular splenic lesions were miniature schnauzers, dachshunds, and beagles. Beagles and small-breed terriers were more likely to have malignant splenic lesions, and small-breed terriers were more likely to present with hemoperitoneum.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31099604/