Submitted by Lance Risser, Grants Pass, Ore.

I discovered that one of my dogs, Daisy Mae, a 7-year-old, 35-lb (16-kg) Queensland heeler, had a softball-sized mass in her abdomen. Although she was active and exhibited no clinical signs of discomfort, I took her for evaluation to Pacific Veterinary Clinic in Grants Pass, Ore., where I was working at the time.

The results of a complete blood count and chemistry profile were unremarkable; however, radiographs revealed a large abdominal mass. Hemangiosarcoma was suspected, and surgery was scheduled for the next day. During surgery, it was discovered that the mass was attached to the tip of the spleen and appeared to have spread to the lymph nodes, which were pressing on some of the main blood supplies to the stomach.

After removal, the mass was weighed. It was 6.2 lb (2.8 kg) — more than one-sixth of Daisy Mae's body weight!

The mass was submitted to a laboratory for histopathologic evaluation. If it had been a hemangiosarcoma, Daisy Mae's prognosis would have been poor, and she would likely have lived 2 weeks to 6 months. Fortunately, the evaluation revealed that the mass was a splenic hematoma. One year later, Daisy Mae continues to be active and hematoma-free.