As responsible dog owners, we do our best to provide a high quality food, regular exercise, consistent vet care, and lots of love.

Part of being a good, responsible dog owner is knowing the signs which signify a problem in your dog. Unfortunately, sometimes the problems go un-noticed because the underlying issue does not manifest with symptoms until the situation has become serious.

A mass on your dog's spleen is one such condition which you may not have any awareness of, until it is too late. The spleen circulates a huge quantity of blood through your dog's body. When a mass forms on this organ, the likelihood of an internal bleed increases dramatically.

Recognizing the symptoms of a splenic mass, and subsequent bleed, could possibly help to save your dog's life.

If a mass on the spleen ruptures, your dog may experience sudden weakness, become lethargic, refuse food, and develop pale (or even gray) gums. Your dog may feel cold to your touch as a result of the internal bleeding.

If you notice these symptoms in your dog, it is crucial to get to a veterinarian as soon as possible. If you are away from a vet clinic (perhaps camping, hunting, or at another remote location), you may be able to prevent fatal blood loss by applying a pressure wrap to your dog's abdominal area (such as an Ace wrap).

If the mass on your dog's spleen has ruptured, it will most likely happen again. If your dog's mass is not cancerous, you might be able to have the spleen removed (it is a non-vital organ) in order to prevent future bleeds. If you choose to not have the spleen surgically removed, the odds of the bleed happening again are almost guaranteed.

However, masses on the spleen are often cancerous. You will need to consult with your veterinarian about your dog's options if the mass is cancerous. If the cancer has spread to other organs, putting your dog through surgery may not be a viable option.

It is important for owners to realize that a splenic mass can often be fatal. Because the organ processes such vast quantities of blood, there is a substantial risk of bleeding out during surgery, especially if your dog is in the midst of an active bleed.

If your dog does survive the spleen removal surgery, he may have the mass attach to another organ, which may cause death within the coming year.

Middle aged to senior aged, large breed dogs are more prone to developing problems with the spleen. Your veterinarian may be able to detect a splenic mass during an exam, but not always. Many large dogs are too muscular for any type of mass on the spleen to be detected.

If you are interested in receiving future dog-related articles, including news, tips and advice, please click the Subscribe Icon. It's free. Thank you for reading!

Examiner Note: My father recently lost his own dog to this condition. He was advised by his veterinarian to humanely euthanize his dog, rather than to put him through surgery. It was the opinion of the veterinarian that the mass which caused the internal bleed would attach to other organs and cause his dog's ultimate death. Rest in Peace Doc - you were a good friend and an outstanding hunter who will be missed by all who knew you.