My dog has hemangiosarcoma but shows no symptoms. Is this normal?

I'm so sorry to hear about Luigi's passing! How awful. Hemangiosarcoma is unfortunately a common type of cancer in older, large-breed dogs, and the scenario you described with Luigi is also common - many dogs with this problem show no signs at all of illness until their abdominal tumor suddenly begins to bleed, at which point they become very weak and collapse, and may die within hours. Even with regular veterinary visits, there is often no way that the tumor could have been detected - most of the time, abdominal x-rays and ultrasound are required to diagnose this problem in its early stages, and unfortunately many dogs are not showing any symptoms at all to indicate a need for these tests. If the cancer was in his liver, then it's likely that this would not have been a treatable problem no matter how early it was found - surgery on the liver is extremely difficult and high-risk, even when performed by a specialist at a referral center. So try not to feel guilty - this is a terrible disease, but there's no way you could have known that Luigi had it, and very likely there is nothing that anyone could have done differently even if you had known. Again, I'm very sorry for your loss.

I'm so sorry to hear about your dog's passing! Hemangiosarcoma is a nasty disease. Please don't blame yourself, as there is no way you could have known she had it - many dogs are acting completely normal and have normal physical exam findings, right up until the tumor ruptures and bleeds. Her heart murmur was entirely unrelated to the hemangiosarcoma, so even if you had taken her back in for her recheck visit, it's very unlikely that the tumor would have been found at that time. Abdominal x-rays and ultrasound is usually needed to diagnose it, and neither of these tests would have been indicated for her heart murmur. So rest assured, this was not your fault in any way. Again, I'm very sorry for your loss.

Poor Angel! Weakness and pale gums are common signs of anemia (low red blood cell counts). This can be caused by a large mass and internal bleeding. I recommend having Angel seen by a vet right away as this can be life threatening and requires immediate treatment and stabilization. I hope all is well!

Absolutely, you are correct in thinking that there could be an internal bleed causing these episodes of pale discoloration to the gums. An abdominal ultrasound and chest x-rays would be helpful right now to see what is going on internally. There could be a catastrophic event at home if a major blood vessel bursts or a large vessel bursts / ruptures on a tumor in the abdomen causing severe hemorrhage in the abdomen. If you notice the belly getting larger, there may be a slow bleed inside the abdomen. I would have Kayah rechecked as soon as possible so that you can get more information. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

I'm so sorry that Gunner had a hemagiosarcoma! It's unfortunately a very aggressive cancer, and the overall prognosis is typically poor as it's rarely curable. It's been found that dogs who do not have identifiable metastasis at the time of surgery and receive chemo have a life expectancy of 6-10 months. It is good that his tumor hasn't ruptured the spleen have a better prognosis, and the combination of a spleenectomy and chemo can increase survival time. Fewer than 10% of dogs survive more than 1 year. I hope this helps!

I'm sorry to hear that Macey is going through this. Lethargy and pale gums certainly make me suspicious that she may have been bleeding into her abdomen for the past week. The most common causes of bleeding into the abdomen are due to cancer (hemangiosarcoma is most probably on the spleen and/or liver), a hematoma (essentially a bruise that ruptures), clotting disorders, or a benign mass (these are relatively uncommon). The only definitive way to differentiate between these issues is through a surgical biopsy of the affected organ, but abdominal ultrasound can certainly raise or lower suspicions of cancer. Unfortunately, without examining Macey and seeing a pathologist review of the aspirates, I can't offer a conclusive opinion as to whether or not she may have cancer. However, odds are good that cancer is likely since she was bleeding into her abdomen. If you are questioning your vet's conclusions, I would recommend seeking a second opinion from a vet at a practice with capability for abdominal ultrasound to provide more clarity. I hope this helps and I'm sorry that you're going this.

Hello, I am incredibly sorry to hear about your loss of Daisy. Based on the information you provided it sounds like the veterinarian's primary concern was a cancer called hemangiosarcoma. This is a very aggressive form of cancer that causes bleeding tumors in the spleen and liver. Surgery and follow-up chemotherapy is the recommended treatment. You are correct in that the tumor is submitted for biopsy after removal to reach a definitive diagnosis. Prior to moving forward with surgery, your veterinarian performed chest x-rays to look for evidence of metastasis, or travel of the cancer to the lungs. Hemangiosarcoma almost always leads to metastasis. Based on what you say, I suspect that your veterinarian saw evidence of cancer within Daisy's lungs. This essentially proves (without biopsy of the tumor) that Daisy has cancer. Even if you moved forward with surgery,, she would likely only live a few weeks before the cancer in her lungs/body would cause her to become ill again. These situations are incredibly challenging and unexpected. I hope that my explanation can provide some clarity and help you to realize that you did the right thing for Daisy. Again, I am incredibly sorry for your loss.