10 natural ways to help your dog diagnosed with Splenic Hemangiosarcoma
What is Splenic Hemangiosarcoma?
Splenic Hemangiosarcoma is a malignant tumor of the blood vessels in the spleen. It occurs in dogs more frequently than any other living being including humans. It typically occurs in older, large breed dogs. Dogs with splenic hemangiosarcoma can have vague symptoms such as lethargy, weight loss, lack of appetite, intermittent weakness, vomiting, bruising, or a distended abdomen. Some dogs will have no symptoms at all and the mass is found on a routine veterinary examination. Other dogs without symptoms may suddenly collapse and die from blood loss secondary to tumor rupture.
What causes Hemangiosarcoma?
A hereditary cause is suspected due to the predisposition to hemangiosarcoma of large breed dogs such as Golden Retrievers, German Shepherds, Labrador Retrievers, Boxers and Doberman Pinschers. Exposure to chemicals such as arsenic has been implicated in the development of hemangiosarcoma in humans. In a Case-Control Study in 2020, neutering was shown to increase both male and female dog’s risk of developing hemangiosarcoma.
Conventional Treatment
The most important conventional treatment for splenic hemangiosarcoma is surgical removal of the cancerous spleen (splenectomy). Chemotherapy is available, but only minimally extends an affected dog’s survival time compared to surgery alone.
A different spin on Hemangiosarcoma
Hemangiosarcoma is considered Blood Stasis in Traditional Chinese Medicine. In modern terminology, Blood Stasis is obstructed blood flow. Modern allopathic medicine is just starting to address causes of cancer that have been recognized in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for thousands of years, namely diet, lifestyle and emotional imbalance. Circulation of blood can be impeded by physical or psychological disturbances. Physical disturbances include trauma, infections (viral, bacterial, fungal), and exposure to toxins due to pollution, pharmaceuticals, pesticides, and chemicals in food, for example. Unrelenting psychological disturbances such as ptsd, prolonged grief, anxiety, anger, frustration, fear, and worry can also lead to reduced circulation and slowed metabolism. These areas of poor circulation and reduced oxygenation can become cancerous growths or Blood Stasis.
How can holistic care help a dog diagnosed with Hemangiosarcoma?
Holistic care can extend life while maintaining quality of life of a dog diagnosed with hemangiosarcoma. Specific herbs, herbal formulas, supplements and acupuncture protocols have been scientifically proven to stimulate the immune system, induce cancer cell death, suppress metastasis, and improve cancer cell sensitivity to chemotherapy while decreasing chemotherapy side effects. Recently, Board Certified Veterinary Oncologist, Dr. Erin Bannink, DVM published clinical trials using holistic protocols documenting marked improvement in quality of life and extended survival time in dogs with splenic hemangiosarcoma post-splenectomy.
10 natural ways to help a dog diagnosed with Hemangiosarcoma
Feed a balanced, fresh, real food diet
Give Yunnan Baiyao
Add Bilberry Extract
Add Turmeric or Curcumin
Consider IV Vitamin C Therapy at a veterinary hospital.
Supplement Vitamin D3
Give Milk Thistle
Choose herbal formulas such as modified Xiao Chai Hu Tang, Si Wu Tang, and/or Xue Fu Zhu Yu Tang with the help of a veterinary herbalist or holistic veterinarian.
Seek out acupuncture by a certified veterinary acupuncturist
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