b'Splenic TumorsWhat Every Pet Parent Should Knowby Austin Plummer, DVMOver the past few decades, veterinary medicine has advancedgrowth. When tumors form, whether benign or malignant, the dramatically to keep pace with the increasingly important rolespleens vast blood supply can fuel their expansionsometimes pets play in our lives. With more families prioritizing preventiveto extreme sizes. I personally have removed a splenic tumor care, our dogs and cats are living longer, healthier lives. Butnearly the size of a basketball!longer lifespans bring new challengesand among the most Understanding Splenic Tumors alarming are splenic tumors, which we are seeing with growingSplenic tumors can be benign (non-cancerous) or malig-frequency in veterinary hospitals.nant (cancerous). Among the most concerning is hemangiosar-coma,anaggressiveandfast-growingcanceroriginatingin bloodvessels.Hemangiosarcomasareespeciallydangerous because they tend to spread rapidly and are prone to rupture, leadingtointernalbleedingalife-threateningemergency known as hemoabdomen. Historically,manysplenictumorswereonlydiscovered aftersuchemergencies.However,withimprovedaccessto advanced imaging like ultrasound, we are increasingly identify-ing these tumors during routine examsoften before symptoms escalate.Common signs of splenic tumors include:Lethargy or weakness Vomiting or diarrhea Abdominal bloating or pain Sudden collapse Pale gums Decreased appetiteUnfortunately, many signs can be subtle or mistaken for just getting older. It is critical to pay close attention to our pets minor changes and be proactive about their care. Who is at Risk?Splenic tumors are most common in older dogs, particular-ly in large breeds. Certain breeds are genetically predisposed, Photograph by Anna Cookeincluding: German Shepherds Golden Retrievers Labrador RetrieversBoxers Brewski and Donna ODonnell share a quiet moment. Past data estimated that about two-thirds of splenic tumors Thesetumorscanbeserious,evenlife-threatening,butare malignant, but new research is shifting that perspective. A with awareness, early detection, and timely treatment, outcomesrecent study found that 57.1% of splenic tumors were benign, can be improved. Here is what every pet parent needs to know.and over 90% of tumors found incidentally (without symptoms) What is the spleen?werenon-cancerous.ThisgiveshopeandemphasizestheThe spleen is a vital abdominal organ that helps filter blood,importance of early detection. store and recycle red blood cells, and support the immune sys-Why Are We Seeing More Splenic Tumors? tem by producing lymphocytes. To carry out these tasks, the It is a common and important question: why the increase spleen is richly supplied with blood vesselsmaking it a highlyin cases? The answer likely lies in several factors: vascular organ.1) Pets are living longer, increasing the likelihood of Unfortunately,thisalsomeansitisvulnerabletotumorage-related conditions. 56THE NEW BARKERwww.TheNewBarker.com'