Why Dog Spleen Cancer Breaks My Heart
What could be more devastating than the following:
You come home from work, find your dog extremely ill, rush to the vet, and learn that you have to make a decision either to operate now or wait while your dog suffers.
Unfortunately, stressful situations like the above occur daily when unlucky dog owners encounter the dreaded disease of splenic hemangiosarcoma (dog spleen cancer).
What is the Spleen?
Located adjacent to the outside portion of the stomach, the spleen is responsible for the storage of red blood cells.
When the spleen is affected by a tumor such as a hemangiosarcoma, the risk of abdominal bleeding and subsequent death is likely.
Unfortunately, dogs suffering a hemangiosarcoma are highly susceptible to the acute effects of a splenic rupture.
What Happens When a Dog Suffers Splenic Hemangiosarcoma (Spleen Cancer)?
Dogs most likely to suffer dog spleen cancer are:
- Labrador retrievers
- Golden retrievers
- Large mixed breeds
Unless you are proactive in your approach to your dog’s health, then the following is the most likely scenario of a splenic hemangiosarcoma.
You have an older large breed dog that apparently appears very healthy.
For some unknown reason, your dog quits eating and/or becomes extremely lethargic.
If you look closely at the gums, they are pale.
Your dog seems very non-responsive and lethargic.
You rush to the veterinarian.
The vet tells you that your dog has cancer of the spleen and the spleen has ruptured.
The rupture has led to substantial blood loss, the cause of your dog’s weak, tired, and non-responsive demeanor.
Your Options for Splenic Hemangiosarcoma
If the above describes your dog’s situation, then the immediate option is surgery.
Surgery to remove the spleen will remove the entire tumor.
However, surgery is somewhat complex.
Complexity occurs mainly because of the acute blood loss your dog has already suffered.
Blood transfusions during, before, or even after surgery are often needed.
After the surgery is over and your dog wakes up, he may still be very lethargic and tired.
Lethargy will last approximately 7 to 10 days, and then most likely resolve.
After 10 to 14 days, sutures can be removed and your dog should feel much better.
The Reason I Hate Spleen Cancer (Splenic Hemangiosarcoma)
The most unfortunate fact about hemangiosarcoma is the disease metastasizes rapidly.
Unfortunately, the best prognosis is usually only another two to three months, even with the best of treatment and best of care.
I hate telling you these facts!
But, I have used almost every treatment imaginable including herbal medicine, chemotherapy, surgery, and vitamin C treatment.
No treatment I’ve tried prolongs life expectancy more than three months.
How to Maintain Your Dog’s Quality of Life
I’m sure you don’t want to give up on your dog.
And, I applaud your effort!
But, just know that spleen cancer is what I consider to be one of the “bad boys” in veterinary medicine.
However, you can take some steps to improve your dog’s well-being and quality of life as the disease, unfortunately, progresses.
Diet
Start with:
- 40% protein
- 40% carbohydrates
- 20% fat.
The more fat you add to the diet, the more likely your dog will eat the food.
Feed your dog as much as he wants.
Mushrooms
Mushrooms slow the growth of cancer.
Also, from an Eastern standpoint, mushrooms help to resolve phlegm and help your dog feel better despite declining health.
Anabolic Steroids
Lastly, I always put all of my hemangiosarcoma patients on anabolic steroids.
Anabolic steroids help dogs feel better from an emotional standpoint.
Anabolic steroids also increase appetite, maintain muscle mass, and maintain red blood cell function.
As you know, many dogs are neutered or spayed and are therefore devoid of any type of sex hormone.
I believe an alternative source of sex hormones help dogs feel better in the latter days of their life.
Unfortunately, though, the bottom line is hemangiosarcoma is “one of the bad boys.”
Our options are very few, and hemangiosarcoma proves 100% fatal.
Often, hemangiosarcoma comes on very unexpectedly and is a shock to the distraught pet owner.
If you have any other questions about how we can help your dog struggling with spleen cancer, download my dog cancer ebook.
In my dog cancer ebook, you will find tips to help you understand the disease process. You will be able to institute remedies to make your dog feel comfortable in the latter days of his life.
More Powerful Tools for Overcoming Dog Cancer
You might not be aware, but many cancer-fighting tools are easy to get and use at home.
To realize your true cancer-fighting potential:
- Learn more about dog cancer.
- Ease your dog’s discomfort naturally. PET | TAO’s Comfort is a blend of Eastern herbs and Western supplements to soothe your dog’s arthritic challenges to make him/her more comfortable.
- Boost your dog’s immune system with medicinal mushrooms. PET | TAO’s Complement Immune Mushroom Blend blends together the most powerful immune-boosting medicinal mushrooms on the market in a single product.
- Ease your dog’s stomach upset naturally. Many dogs with cancer suffer stomach upset as well. PET | TAO’s Harmonize GI naturally provides all the digestive enzymes and probiotics your dog needs for optimum gut health.
- Try PET | TAO Freeze Dried Beef Spleen Treats. According to TCVM theory, feeding your dog spleen tonifys and helps restore the spleen meridian. As few as 5-6 daily treats can help our dog feel better.
- Try a Blood-building TCVM Diet. According to TCVM theory, dogs suffering from cancer also often suffer from Blood deficiency. Blood deficiency may be caused by chemotherapy or by cancer itself. PET | TAO Zing dog food builds Blood.
- Learn more about TCVM Herbal Remedies. Chinese medicine offers many amazing natural solutions for dog cancer challenges and palliative care. Some good examples are:
