Splenectomy

Splenectomy is recommended when the spleen poses an immediate or serious threat to your pet's health. The most common indications include:

• A large or growing splenic mass identified on abdominal ultrasound, especially in older large-breed dogs
• Acute hemoabdomen (internal bleeding) caused by a ruptured splenic mass — this is a surgical emergency
• Suspected malignant tumors such as hemangiosarcoma, where removal may extend survival time alongside chemotherapy
• Confirmed or strongly suspected benign lesions (hematoma, nodular hyperplasia) when bleeding risk is high
• Immune-mediated conditions in rare cases where the spleen is destroying too many blood cells

Dogs can live normally without a spleen — the liver and lymph nodes take over its filtering and immune functions. Cats are similarly resilient after splenectomy. The recommendation is always weighed against your individual pet's overall health and anesthetic risk.

Splenectomy is performed under general anesthesia with continuous monitoring of blood pressure, heart rate, oxygen, and temperature. The key steps are:

• An incision is made along the midline of the abdomen to access the spleen
• The blood vessels supplying the spleen — the splenic artery and its branches — are carefully ligated (tied off) and divided
• The spleen is removed in its entirety and sent to the pathology laboratory for tumor typing
• The abdomen is examined for additional masses, lymph node enlargement, or signs of spread before closure
• Any free abdominal blood is evacuated, and the incision is closed in layers

In stable, planned cases the procedure typically takes one to two hours. Emergency cases involving active hemorrhage require the fastest possible removal to stop blood loss, so the surgical team is ready to move quickly.

For planned splenectomies, preparation includes:

• Pre-surgical bloodwork and urinalysis to assess overall organ function and flag anemia
• Chest X-rays to screen for visible spread to the lungs before committing to surgery
• Abdominal ultrasound to confirm the mass characteristics and check nearby lymph nodes
• Withholding food the night before surgery (water is usually allowed until the morning)
• Review of any medications — blood thinners, steroids, or supplements may need to be paused

For emergency cases brought in with internal bleeding, stabilization with intravenous fluids and sometimes a blood transfusion takes priority before the patient goes to the operating room. The team will communicate with you at every step.

Most pets are hospitalized overnight or for up to 48 hours to monitor blood counts, blood pressure, and incision healing. Once home, recovery follows a predictable arc:

• Days 1–5: restricted activity, pain medications, and appetite monitoring — some nausea is normal after abdominal surgery
• Days 5–14: leash walks only; the abdominal incision should be kept dry and checked daily for swelling, redness, or discharge
• Week 2: sutures or staples are removed at a recheck appointment; activity is gradually expanded
• Weeks 2–4: full normal activity typically resumes if healing is uncomplicated

Pathology results usually return within a week and guide the next conversation about prognosis and whether additional oncology treatment (such as chemotherapy) is worthwhile. We will review those results with you in detail.

Splenectomy is a major abdominal surgery, and risks scale with the urgency and the pet's pre-operative condition. Possible complications include:

• Cardiac arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats) in the first 24–48 hours post-op, especially in dogs with splenic hemangiosarcoma — ECG monitoring helps detect these early
• Continued bleeding if additional vessels were involved
• Infection at the incision site or within the abdomen
• Anesthetic complications, particularly in older or debilitated patients

In emergency situations where a mass has ruptured, surgery carries higher risk but is often the only life-saving option — the risk of not operating is typically higher than the risk of proceeding. We discuss the specific risk-benefit picture for your pet openly before you consent, and our monitoring protocols minimize complications throughout.