Diagnose for hemangiosarcoma

[Michaela824]

We found our dog lying on the floor not breathing we took him to vet hospital.
They told us he died from hemangiosarcoma he had a tumor in his heart she said.
     We were so upset when she told us I forgot to ask how they knew thats what he died from.
I'm wondering did they take an x-ray or draw blood.  Would you know how they may have dignosed this.

Thank You
Michaela

[Michaela824]

Thank You so Much for responding to me. Sometimes I wish I would have done a biopsy to be sure. But we were so upset the thought never even occured to me. Because now I have been wondering if they were right.
       Mainly because he was only 7 he would have been 8 in 3 months. And he has always been so healthy he was a perfect weight too.
        I did find out that this cancer is very common in Goldens so that probably is what he died from.
        Thank YOu,
Michaela

[Aleda M Cheng, D.V.M., C.V.A]

I am terribly sorry about your dog.

Hemangiosarcoma would be suspected by your dog's blood count (which would be very low), the color of his gums (which would be white or very pale pink), and a mass, which is usually found in the abdomen or chest.  The mass or masses can occur anywhere in the body but the most common spots are the speen, liver or heart.  The vet may have discovered the mass in the heart by X-Rays, or echocardiogram.  But, to be definitive a biopsy would have had to be performed.