Hemangiosarcoma is an aggressive tumor and metastases are often present at the time of initial diagnosis. A biopsy or positive identification of a removed tumor by a veterinary pathologist is usually recommended. Hemangiosarcoma is primarily treated with a combination of surgery and chemotherapy. Surgical removal alone is often not very rewarding. With surgical removal and accompanying chemotherapy, the average survival time increases to 5 to 7 months.
Success rates can improve depending on location and early intervention.
Skin-based hemangiosarcomas appear less likely to be metastatic when initially diagnosed and treatment is more often successful. Surgical removal of the skin-based tumors can be curative, however chemotherapy is often recommended in addition to surgery. Because of the aggressive nature of hemangiosarcomas and the rapidly changing chemotherapy drugs, I recommend that all owners of dogs with hemangiosarcomas seek out treatment or advice from a veterinary oncologist. In summary, hemangiosarcoma is a somewhat common tumor in dogs. It can be found in any dog but has some definite breed predilections.