Canine Splenectomy and Associated Diseases

A splenectomy is a surgical procedure to remove a dog’s spleen, an organ located in the abdomen near the stomach. The spleen plays various important roles, including filtering blood, storing red blood cells, and aiding in the immune response. In certain situations, however, the removal of the spleen is necessary to protect the dog’s health. Fortunately, dogs can live a good quality of life even without a spleen, as other organs can compensate for its removal.

When Might My Dog Need a Splenectomy?

Several medical conditions or traumatic injuries may require a splenectomy, including:

• Splenic masses or tumors: The most common reason for splenectomy, especially in older dogs, masses can be benign (non-cancerous) like hemangiomas, or they can be malignant (cancerous) like hemangiosarcomas. Malignant tumors can be aggressive and may spread to other organs. Ruptured masses, whether benign or malignant, can cause life-threatening internal bleeding, requiring emergency surgery.
• Splenic torsion: This occurs when the spleen twists on itself, cutting off its blood supply, which is a rare but severe emergency causing pain, lethargy, and potential rupture. Splenic torsion often requires emergency splenectomy.
• Splenic rupture: Trauma, such as being hit by a car or other accidents, can damage or rupture the spleen, leading to dangerous internal bleeding. If the bleeding is severe, splenectomy may be the only way to manage it and save the dog’s life.
• Immune-mediated diseases: In some cases, conditions like immune-mediated hemolytic anemia (IMHA) or immune-mediated thrombocytopenia (ITP), where the body attacks its own blood cells or platelets, can necessitate spleen removal if medical treatment is unsuccessful.
• Splenomegaly (enlarged spleen): An enlarged spleen can result from various causes like infections, inflammation, or tumors. If the enlargement significantly impacts the dog’s health or is caused by a serious condition, splenectomy might be considered.

What to Expect During Your Dog’s Splenectomy

Splenectomies are performed under general anesthesia. The surgeon makes an incision in the abdomen to remove the spleen. Blood vessels are tied off to prevent bleeding. The incision is closed with sutures or staples. The spleen is often sent off for pathologic analysis, especially if there was a mass present.

Recovery time varies based on the dog’s health, age, and reason for surgery, and typically takes 10 to 14 days. Activity must be restricted for about two weeks. Post-operative care includes pain medication, antibiotics, and incision monitoring.

Risks and complications include, but are not limited to, excessive bleeding due to the spleen’s vascular nature, infection, and standard anesthetic risks. Sometimes a blood transfusion may be necessary during or after surgery.

If a tumor is malignant, cancer may have spread. Surgery helps control bleeding, and further treatment like chemotherapy may be needed.

In some large breed dogs, it is theorized that the removal of the spleen creates some empty space in the abdomen, potentially increasing the chance that the stomach might flip on itself. Therefore, if a splenectomy is performed on a large breed dog, a prophylactic gastropexy may be indicated. A gastropexy is where the stomach is tacked to the body wall to reduce the risk of it rotating on itself and dilating, a condition known as gastric dilatation and volvulus (GDV). This is a fatal condition if left untreated.

Prognosis for Dogs After a Splenectomy

Most dogs adapt well to life without a spleen and have a good quality of life. Regular vet checkups are important for monitoring, further work-ups, and care, depending what the cause of the dog’s splenectomy was.