disease • canine lymphoma • brain tumor • congestive heart failure • feline lymphoma • primary lung tumor • mast cell tumor • kidney disease • transitional cell carcinoma • degenerative myelopathy • cognitive dysfunction syndrome • liver disease • seizures • osteosarcoma • hemangiosarcoma • nasal tumorsdiabetes • Common Signs of Pain • hyperadrenocorticism • hyperthyroidism • osteoarthritis • vestibular disease • canine lymphoma • brain tumor • congestive heart failure • feline lymphoma • Panting • Licking sore spot • primary lung tumor • mast cell tumor • kidney disease • transitional cell • Lameness • Muscle atrophy carcinoma • degenerative myelopathy • cognitive dysfunction syndrome • liver • Difficulty sleeping • Decreased appetite disease • seizures • osteosarcoma • hemangiosarcoma • nasal tumorsdiabetes • • Pacing • Vocalizing/yowling • hyperadrenocorticism • hyperthyroidism • osteoarthritis • vestibular disease • canine lymphoma • brain tumor • congestive heart failure • feline lymphoma • Abnormal posture • Reclusive Behavior • primary lung tumor • mast cell tumor • kidney disease • transitional cell • Body tensing • Aggressive Behavior carcinoma • degenerative myelopathy • cognitive dysfunction syndrome • liver • Poor grooming habits • Avoiding stairs/jumping disease • seizures • osteosarcoma • hemangiosarcoma • nasal tumorsdiabetes • • Tucked tail • Depressed • hyperadrenocorticism • hyperthyroidism • osteoarthritis • vestibular disease • Dilated Pupils • Unable to stand • canine lymphoma • brain tumor • congestive heart failure • feline lymphoma • primaryHe lung tumorm a• mastn giocell tumors •a kidneyrco diseasem • atransitional cell Before your pet’s condition becomes unmanageable or carcinoma • degenerative myelopathy • cognitive dysfunction syndrome • liver disease • seizuresin • osteosarcoma Cats and • hemangiosarcoma Dogs • nasal tumorsdiabetes • they are losing quality of life, it is important to begin • hyperadrenocorticism • hyperthyroidism • osteoarthritis • vestibular disease end-of-life care discussions. Learn about pet hospice • canine lymphoma • brain tumor • congestive heart failure • feline lymphoma care and/or euthanasia services in your area so you are • primary lung tumor • mast cell tumor • kidney disease • transitional cell prepared for what lies ahead. carcinoma • degenerative myelopathy • cognitive dysfunction syndrome • liver disease • seizures • osteosarcoma • hemangiosarcoma • nasal tumorsdiabetes • • hyperadrenocorticism • hyperthyroidism • osteoarthritis • vestibular disease • canine lymphoma • brain tumor • congestive heart failure • feline lymphoma For more information on pet hospice, euthanasia • primary lung tumor • mast cell tumor • kidney disease • transitional cell services, or emergency care in your area, contact: carcinoma • degenerative myelopathy • cognitive dysfunction syndrome • liver disease • seizures • osteosarcoma • hemangiosarcoma • nasal tumorsdiabetes • • hyperadrenocorticism • hyperthyroidism • osteoarthritis • vestibular disease • canine lymphoma • brain tumor • congestive heart failure • feline lymphoma • primary lung tumor • mast cell tumor • kidney disease • transitional cell carcinoma • degenerative myelopathy • cognitive dysfunction syndrome • liver disease • seizures • osteosarcoma • hemangiosarcoma • nasal tumorsdiabetes • • hyperadrenocorticismA brief guide • hyperthyroidism on disease • osteoarthritis progression • vestibular disease • canine lymphomaincluding • brain tumor end-of-life • congestive symptoms heart failure • feline lymphoma • primary lung tumor • mast cell tumor • kidney disease • transitional cell carcinoma • degenerative myelopathy • cognitive dysfunction syndrome • liver disease • seizures • osteosarcoma • hemangiosarcoma • nasal tumorsdiabetes • • hyperadrenocorticism • hyperthyroidism • osteoarthritis • vestibular disease • canine lymphoma • brain tumor • congestive heart failure • feline lymphoma • primary lung tumor • mast cell tumor • kidney disease • transitional cell carcinoma • degenerative myelopathy • cognitive dysfunction syndrome • liver disease • seizures • osteosarcoma • hemangiosarcoma • nasal tumorsdiabetes • • hyperadrenocorticism • hyperthyroidism • osteoarthritis • vestibular disease • canine lymphoma • brain tumor • congestive heart failure • feline lymphoma • primary lung tumor • mast cell tumor • kidney disease • transitional cell carcinoma • degenerative myelopathy • cognitive dysfunction syndrome • liver disease • seizures • osteosarcoma • hemangiosarcoma • nasal tumorsdiabetes • • hyperadrenocorticism • hyperthyroidism • osteoarthritis • vestibular disease • canine lymphoma • brain tumor • congestive heart failure • feline lymphoma • primary lung tumor • mast cell tumor • kidney disease • transitional cell carcinoma • degenerative myelopathy • cognitive dysfunction syndrome • liver disease • seizures • osteosarcoma • hemangiosarcoma • nasal tumorsdiabetes • Produced by Home to Heaven, P.C. • hyperadrenocorticism • hyperthyroidism • osteoarthritis • vestibular disease Kathleen Cooney, DVM, MS • canine lymphoma • brain tumor • congestive heart failure • feline lymphoma 970-412-6212 • primary lung tumor • mast cell tumor • kidney disease • transitional cell Loveland, Colorado carcinoma • degenerative myelopathy • cognitive dysfunction syndrome • liver www.hometoheaven.net Educational Pet Disease Series disease • seizures • osteosarcoma • hemangiosarcoma • nasal tumorsdiabetes • @2011 Home to Heaven, P.C. Content may not be reproduced without written • hyperadrenocorticism • hyperthyroidism • osteoarthritis • vestibular disease consent from Home to Heaven P.C. • canine lymphoma • brain tumor • congestive heart failure • feline lymphoma Designed by White Space Graphics, LLC • www.whitespacegraphics.com • primary lung tumor • mast cell tumor • kidney disease • transitional cell carcinoma • degenerative myelopathy • cognitive dysfunction syndrome • liver Hemangiosarcoma (HSA)

What is it? What symptoms can present as the disease

Hemangiosarcoma (HSA) is an aggressive, malignant cancer of progresses? blood vessels that often grows as a mass in the spleen, liver, or Early Stages heart, but can also be found growing in other places in the body. Animals usually present to their veterinarian for sudden collapse • loss of appetite due to internal bleeding from the mass. In most cases, by the • weight loss time the animal is showing clinical signs, the cancer has spread • lethargy to other areas of the body, such as the lungs. Diagnosis of • exercise intolerance HSA is suggested by chest and abdominal radiographs (x-rays), • vomiting/diarrhea abdominal ultrasound and aspiration of abdominal fluid, and • pale gums biopsy of the mass via exploratory surgery. • possible distended abdomen Late Stages How is it treated? • persistent early stages Unfortunately, while there are treatment options available, there • reclusive behavior are no cures for this disease. While surgery may be an eective • distended abdomen option for removing the primary tumor and temporarily stopping • dull mentation bleeding, it is not capable of removing all of the metastatic • difficulty breathing disease, which is usually microscopic at the time of diagnosis. • panting, gasping for breath Chemotherapy is often used in conjunction with surgery to help • possible black, tarry stool combat the microscopic cancer cells. • sudden collapse • unable to rise

What is the prognosis for Crisis – Immediate veterinary assistance needed hemangiosarcoma (HSA)? regardless of the disease • Difficulty breathing A diagnosis of HSA almost always carries a poor prognosis, • Prolonged seizures the only exception being dermal HSA originating from the • Uncontrollable vomiting/diarrhea skin with no internal involvement. If treatment is not an • Sudden collapse option, euthanasia should be considered to prevent suering • Profuse bleeding – internal or external from internal bleeding. Surgery alone to remove the primary • Crying/whining from pain* tumor carries a median survival time of 1-4 months, while chemotherapy in addition to surgery carries a median survival time of 6-8 months. Even with surgery and chemotherapy, the disease will progress and the cancer cells with continue to metastasize, creating masses throughout the entire body. Hemorrhages may occur from each cancer site, which may cause transient weakness until the bleeding stops. If the bleeding does not stop, the patient will start to show signs of shock and collapse. A personalized treatment plan is important to slow the progression of HSA. Talk to your veterinarian regarding the best treatment protocol for your pet. *It should be noted that most animals will instinctually hide their pain. Vocalization of any sort that is out of the ordinary for your pet may indicate that their pain and anxiety has become too much for them to bear. If your pet vocalizes due to pain or anxiety, please consult with your tending veterinarian immediately.