Dog Spleen Hematoma

The dog’s spleen is located in the abdomen and is an elongated organ that performs important functions for your pet’s body. The spleen is responsible for filtering blood and participates in various immune functions in the dog’s body. The size and location of the spleen is dependent upon the size of surrounding organs like the stomach. It is a large, dark red organ and is supplied by several blood vessels. A normal spleen resembles a tongue and is covered by fibrous tissue. The spleen is internally divided into red pulp, white pulp and a marginal zone. The red pulp area is where blood cells are produced and stored and it is the area that traps immune proteins called antigens. The white pulp area is populated by special immune response cells like reticuloendothelial cells and lymphocytes. The marginal zone separates the red and the white pulp area and helps filter the blood in between. The spleen performs several important functions in your dog’s body. It is responsible for producing blood cells and functions as a storage space for these cells. In addition, the spleen houses platelets – elements in the blood that are important for clotting. In addition, the spleen is responsible for filtering blood by removing abnormal or old blood cells and by preventing bacteria, old cells and foreign particles from circulating in the blood stream.

There are several diseases and disorders of the spleen that may affect any dog. Dogs are most commonly prone to enlargement of the spleen, spleen tumors and spleen hematomas. An enlarged spleen in dogs can arise as a result of a number of factors. Some of the common causes for enlarged spleen in dogs include anemia, immune system disorders, massive production of red blood cells and some kinds of infections. In addition, dog spleen hematoma is another common disorder of the spleen in dogs. Dog spleen hematoma is the development of a hematoma, or a blood clot, as the result of blood accumulation in the spleen. These clots could arise as a result of trauma or injury, a bleeding disorder or even a bleeding tumor in the spleen. Dogs may also suffer from an enlarged spleen or a congested spleen on account of twisted blood vessels in the spleen. Another common disorder of the spleen that affects dogs is dog spleen tumor. These malignant tumors can be mast cell tumors, lymphosarcoma or multiple myeloma and should be treated immediately.