The spleen is an organ that goes unnoticed but has important functions. That is why any disorder that affects it will have notable consequences for the life of our dog. The spleen can become inflamed for many different reasons. In this article on our site we are going to expose the main reasons why our dog has a swollen spleen We will review the main causes to recognize them and know how treat them. As always, our trusted veterinarian will be in charge of evaluating and treating this problem.
What is the spleen and what is it for?
The spleen is an organ that is attached to the stomach and performs important functions, including the following:
- It acts as a reservoir for blood, red blood cells and platelets. This means that it can release them into the body when needed.
- It serves as a blood filter, eliminating waste.
- It has an important role in the immune system.
The enlarged spleen will retain more blood, which will make it harder for it to function and continue to increase in size. Thus, a vicious circle is established, since the more it increases, the more cells it will retain and, therefore, the more it will become inflamed. This cycle produces detectable variations in blood analysis. That a dog has a swollen spleen can be due to different causes, as we will see below. In the most serious cases it will be necessary to remove it, since it is possible to live without it.
Symptoms of an enlarged spleen in dogs
Our dog may have a swollen spleen as a result of various infections. This inflammation is known as splenomegaly and can go unnoticed, as it is often asymptomatic. If signs are present, the most common would be:
- Swelling of the abdomen due to enlarged spleen.
- Abdominal pain.
- Weakness even when eating large amounts or, conversely, anorexia.
- Digestive disorders such as vomiting or diarrhoea.
The specific symptoms will depend on the cause behind this inflammation, as we will see in the following sections. Generally, any pathology that affects organs adjacent to the spleen (liver, stomach, etc.) will cause its enlargement and the symptoms of disorders of these organs. An ultrasound and an X-ray can be used for diagnosis. The blood test will also provide valuable information.
Diseases causing inflammation of the spleen in dogs
And it is that infectious diseases such as hepatitis, metabolic or autoimmune, in addition to tumor processes, as we will see in another section, they are likely to cause our dog to have a swollen spleen. When it is caused by an infection, we can find clinical symptoms such as fever or anorexia. In these cases, antibiotic treatment and specific treatment for the primary disorder will be prescribed, and the evolution will be observed. In any case, it will always be the veterinarian who assesses the state of the spleen and decides whether it is necessary to remove it or not, depending on the risk/benefit of the two options. This removal, called splenectomy, will be explained in the last section.
Splenic torsion
Sometimes, especially in large, deep-chested dogs that have undergone intense exercise and then ingested large quantities of food or water, torsion/dilation occurs of the stomach In this process, the stomach dilates and rotates on itself, twisting its entrance and exit and preventing the dog from vomiting or passing gas. It is a veterinary emergency and, as the spleen is attached to the stomach, it is normal that, in these cases, its function is also compromised and its size increases. It is a situation that endangers the dog's life and should be evaluated by a veterinarian as soon as possible. He will be the one to determine the appropriate treatment. As we can see, the dog has a swollen spleen as a result of a pathology that, although it originates in another organ, directly compromises it.
Injuries
A strong blow, such as that produced by a fall from a considerable height, a kick or a run over can be responsible for our dog having a swollen spleen. In these cases, a hematoma is usually formed that is contained inside the spleen, with the risk of rupturing and releasing a large amount of blood to the abdomen, causing a vital emergency in our dog, requiring urgent veterinary intervention. In other cases the blow is so brutal that the spleen is directly ruptured. These massive hemorrhages are manifested by pale mucous membranes (we can see the whitish gums), cold, weakness or rapid breathing. Immediate veterinary attention is required, which may include a blood transfusion.
Cancer, another cause of a swollen spleen in dogs
Our dog may have a swollen spleen due to the presence of tumors. These may be benign or malignant, so the first thing to do is take a sample from the baz ofor a cytological study of the tumor, which is what will allow us to establish a treatment, as well as a prognosis on the life expectancy of our dog. If you decide to remove the tumor or the entire spleen, you must first make sure that there is no metastasis, that is, that the cancer has not caused tumors in other organs. If so, intervention is not advised.
To obtain this information, diagnostic tests such as ultrasound, X-rays and blood tests are used. It is not unusual for a tumor in the spleen to spread to the liver. Sometimes, after removal it is necessary to prescribe a chemotherapy treatment The life expectancy of our dog will depend, fundamentally, on whether the tumor is benign or malignant. Also, the larger the tumor, the more symptoms it will cause. A ruptured tumor will cause bleeding as described in the section on trauma.
The splenectomy
Splenectomy consists of the removal, in whole or in part, of the spleen It is reserved for cases in which keeping the organ is more harmful than removing it, since, although it is possible to live without a spleen, its absence causes harm to the dog, such as greater ease of contracting diseases and/or less resistance to them. For this reason, it is recommended to strictly maintain the vaccinations of these dogs without a spleen. As we have seen, the fact that our dog has a swollen spleen is not a minor issue and requires a quick and exhaustive veterinary assessment.
If the vet finally decides that the best option is to remove this organ, consult our article on "Care for a dog without a spleen".
