![]() ![]() Pet parents should regularly check their fur babies for skin masses.Īny skin mass larger than a pea (1 cm) and/or any that has been present for more than one month should be evaluated by a veterinarian. Visceral hemangiosarcoma if often life-threatening since tumors tend to rupture and bleed profusely. The most commonly affected organs are the spleen, heart, and liver. Visceral – Hemangiosarcoma affecting internal organs or viscera is the most common manifestation of this aggressive cancer. Almost two thirds of subcutaneous hemangiosarcoma spreads internally. Pet parents simply feel a lump beneath the skin. Subcutaneous – The layer immediately beneath the skin – called the subcutaneous tissue or hypodermis – can develop dark red to black growths even though the overlying skin looks completely normal. Approximately 33% of these tumors will spread to internal organs, so early identification and removal are key.Ĭlassic appearance of dermal hemangiosarcoma in a dog. These masses can become ulcerated and bleed. Dermal – The skin form typically appears as red or black skin growths. This cancer is often classified as follows: Hemangiosarcoma can develop anywhere in the body where there are blood vessels. Certain breeds are over-represented, including: Hemangiosarcoma usually occurs in middle-aged and geriatric dogs. Abnormal development of new blood vessels Ultraviolet light exposure – long-term exposure in lightly pigmented short-haired breeds increases risk Heritability – certain breeds are over-represented for developing this cancer Multiple studies have tried to shed more light on this topic. We don’t currently know what causes some dogs to develop this cancer. Hemangiosarcoma is a cancer of endothelial cells, the cells that line blood vessels. I wanted to dedicate some time explaining this cancer, as some encouraging news about a novel treatment was recently released. As a board-certified critical care specialist, one of the most common cancers I diagnose and treat is called hemangiosarcoma. Cancer strikes fear in the hearts and minds of pet-owning families. Every pet parent dreads “The Big C” for their fur babies. ![]()
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