Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Splenic mass causes in small and large breed dogs
By O'Byrne, Kadie & Hosgood, Giselle·Published in The Veterinary record·2019·School Of Veterinary Medicine, Australia·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Splenic mass diagnosis in dogs undergoing splenectomy according to breed size.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A study looked at dogs with splenic masses, which are abnormal growths on the spleen that can be serious. The researchers found that out of 234 dogs, about half had malignant (cancerous) diseases while the other half had benign (non-cancerous) conditions. Interestingly, small-breed dogs were more likely to have benign issues compared to large-breed dogs, and when small dogs did have cancer, they were less likely to have a specific type called hemangiosarcoma. This information can help pet owners understand the risks associated with splenic masses in their dogs based on their breed size.
People also search for: dog splenic mass treatment · small dog cancer symptoms · large breed dog spleen problems
Abstract
Various splenic diseases can result in a splenic mass and necessitate splenectomy. The objective of this study was to compare the prevalence of malignant and benign splenic diseases, and type of malignant disease, in dogs categorised by breed size. It was hypothesised that the prevalence of splenic disease would be significantly different in small versus large-breed dogs. All dogs had a splenic mass identified with ultrasonography or CT, and had a confirmed diagnosis. Dogs were categorised as small, medium and large breeds according to breed standards. There were 54 small, 139 medium and 41 large-breed dogs; 129/234, 55% (95% CI 49% to 61%) had malignant disease versus 105/234, 45% (95% CI 39% to 51%) with benign disease (P=0.117). The prevalence of malignant versus benign disease was not significantly different for small (P=0.276), medium (P=0.074) or large-breed dogs (P=0.080). Small-breed dogs were 2.3 times more likely than large-breed dogs to have benign disease. Small-breed dogs with malignant disease were one-third as likely as large-breed dogs to have haemangiosarcoma. In conclusion, the overall prevalence of malignant and benign diseases was 50:50; however, compared with large-breed dogs, small-breed dogs are more likely to have benign disease. When small dogs do have malignant disease, they are, however, less likely to have haemangiosarcoma. This information is important to consider in early discussions with owners of dogs of various breed sizes.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31040215/