What is the most common cause of an enlarged spleen?
Infections, such as mononucleosis, are among the most common causes of splenomegaly. Problems with your liver, such as cirrhosisand cystic fibrosis, can also cause an enlarged spleen. Another possible cause of splenomegaly is juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. This condition can cause inflammation of the lymph system.
What causes sudden enlarged spleen?
An enlarged spleen is the result of damage or trauma to the spleen from any of several different medical conditions, diseases, or types of physical trauma. Infections, liver problems, blood cancers, and metabolic disorders can all cause your spleen to become enlarged, a condition called splenomegaly.
What does the spleen do for cats?
Your cat’s spleen acts as a giant filter that traps and removes old or abnormal blood cells from the circulation. The spleen also acts to trap and remove bacteria, foreign proteins and old cells through a process called phagocytosis, in which cells of the immune system within the spleen engulf the offending particles.
Can an xray show an enlarged spleen?
Usually, doctors can feel an enlarged spleen during a physical examination. An x-ray of the abdomen done for other reasons may also show that the spleen is enlarged. Ultrasonography or computed tomography (CT) is usually needed to determine how large the spleen is and whether it is pressing on other organs.
How do you heal an enlarged spleen naturally?
There are no natural treatments for an enlarged spleen.
Is it possible for a cat to have an enlarged spleen?
This medical condition can occur in all breeds and genders, and is not usually directly related to the spleen, but rather a symptom of another disease or condition. Treatment options will be recommended based upon the cause of the splenomegaly. An enlarged spleen may lead to such symptoms as:
What causes an enlarged spleen and how to treat it?
Treatment options will be recommended based upon the cause of the splenomegaly. An enlarged spleen may lead to such symptoms as: A variety of conditions are known to cause an enlarged spleen including an abdominal injury, infectious disorders, inflammatory bowel disease, bacterial infection, cell tumors of the spleen, and other immune disorders.
Where is the spleen located in a cat?
The spleen is an elongated organ that is on the left side of the stomach in cats. Though the organ isn’t essential for living, an enlarged spleen may be a symptom of a more serious or chronic disease that will need veterinary care.
Which is more common a dog or a spleen?
Disorders of the spleen are much more common in dogs than in cats. Splenic disorders can be generally categorized as either primary or secondary. A primary splenic disorder is one in which the spleen itself is the site of the illness. The spleen can also be affected secondarily by a systemic disease that is occurring somewhere else in the body.
What does an enlarged spleen feel like?
A common symptom of an enlarged spleen is a feeling of pain or discomfort in the upper left side of abdomen, where the spleen is located. You might also experience a feeling of fullness after only eating a small amount. This usually happens when the spleen becomes enlarged to the point that it presses on the stomach.
What does enlarged spleen mean?
An enlarged spleen, known formally as splenomegaly, is a medical condition in which a person or animal’s spleen increases in size due to some sort of inflammation or other problem. The swelling doesn’t usually cause any immediate symptoms or pain, and as such people aren’t usually aware of what’s going on.
Is splenomegaly cancer?
Splenomegaly is a medical condition in which the spleen becomes enlarged. Causes for splenomegaly may include infections, blood cancers, liver diseases, and metabolic disorders, or even undue pressure on the liver and spleen’s veins or blood clots in those veins. Specific diseases that may cause the condition include…
What is enlargement of the spleen?
Splenomegaly is a condition that occurs when your spleen becomes enlarged. It’s also commonly referred to as enlarged spleen or spleen enlargement. The spleen is a part of your lymphatic system.