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Vetdle Archive

Archive Case #103: Canine Splenic Hemangiosarcoma

Dog veterinary case - Medium - June 14, 2026

Clinical Clues

  1. An older large-breed dog is rushed in after collapsing suddenly at home.
  2. The owner reports the dog briefly improved and stood up again before becoming weak once more.
  3. On examination the mucous membranes are pale and the abdomen is distended.
  4. Ultrasound reveals free abdominal fluid and a splenic mass.
  5. Abdominocentesis confirms hemoabdomen.
  6. A malignant vascular tumour of the spleen commonly causes episodic collapse from internal bleeding in dogs.

Diagnosis

Canine Splenic Hemangiosarcoma

This case is most consistent with Canine Splenic Hemangiosarcoma because the dog has a splenic mass with hemoabdomen and waxing and waning collapse. The most important clues are the large-breed signalment and internal hemorrhage, which make a simple splenic hematoma less likely.

Learning review

Review the case evidence

Use the paired clues to explain how the evidence in this dog case supports the provided diagnosis, Canine Splenic Hemangiosarcoma, then compare your reasoning with the case explanation.

Evidence checkpoints

Clues 1-2

  1. Clue 1: An older large-breed dog is rushed in after collapsing suddenly at home.
  2. Clue 2: The owner reports the dog briefly improved and stood up again before becoming weak once more.

Clues 3-4

  1. Clue 3: On examination the mucous membranes are pale and the abdomen is distended.
  2. Clue 4: Ultrasound reveals free abdominal fluid and a splenic mass.

Clues 5-6

  1. Clue 5: Abdominocentesis confirms hemoabdomen.
  2. Clue 6: A malignant vascular tumour of the spleen commonly causes episodic collapse from internal bleeding in dogs.

Self-review prompts

  1. After clues 1-2, what evidence from this dog case shaped your initial interpretation?
  2. When you compare clues 3-4 with clues 1-2, what changed in your reasoning about Canine Splenic Hemangiosarcoma?
  3. How do clues 5-6 align with the case explanation for Canine Splenic Hemangiosarcoma?

Educational Use

Vetdle archive cases are educational veterinary games for diagnostic reasoning practice. They do not provide veterinary advice, diagnosis, treatment, or professional medical guidance.