How to Help Your Dog After Spleen Removal

Helping your dog after spleen removal can feel overwhelming. The most common reasons dogs need their spleen removed are a ruptured spleen or a tumor.

In this article, we’ll explain what your dog’s spleen does and explore food therapy, treats, TCVM herbs, and vitamin C approaches discussed by our veterinarians to support your dog after surgery. Coordinate these options with your dog’s surgical and veterinary care team.

Key Takeaways

• Western medicine: The spleen stores blood, supports infection defense, filters old blood cells, and can contribute to red blood cell production.
• TCVM perspective: The Spleen functional system is associated with digestion, fluid metabolism, Blood, and the nourishment of muscles and legs.
• Food therapy: The original recommendations include a blood-building diet and spleen treats.
• Herbal support: Max’s Formula and Stasis Breaker are discussed for veterinarian-selected TCVM tumor support.
• Vitamin C: The article describes IV and oral approaches to review with your veterinarian.

The Spleen in Western Medicine

From a Western medical perspective, your dog’s spleen has several important functions:

• Blood storage: Acts as a blood storage reservoir.
• Immune defense: Fights infection.
• Blood filtration: Filters and removes old blood cells.
• Blood cell production: Can contribute to making red blood cells.

Fortunately, other parts of your dog’s body can perform these functions if the spleen must be removed.

The Spleen in Chinese Medicine

In Chinese medicine, the Spleen is associated with your dog’s blood coagulation, digestion, and fluid metabolism. This traditional functional system is broader than the anatomical organ described in Western medicine.

The Spleen maintains effective transportation and transformation functions, providing nutritive essence for Qi and Blood. It transforms nutritive essence and sends it upward to the Lungs and Heart.

The Lungs and Heart, in turn, transform this nutritive essence into Qi and Blood to nourish your dog’s entire body.

In addition, the Spleen governs the movement of Blood, keeping it flowing in its proper pathways.

According to Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine, or TCVM, the movements of the muscles and legs depend on the power of the Spleen. Healthy muscles and legs need Spleen Qi because they are nourished by Blood and Qi.

How to Help Your Dog Feel Better After Spleen Removal

A splenectomy can help your dog feel better and improve quality of life, depending on the reason for surgery and recovery. There are also several supportive approaches to discuss with your veterinarian to help your dog regain strength and vitality.

Feed a Blood-Building Diet

The original food therapy recommendation is a blood-building diet to support dogs with anemia and help rebuild and tonify Blood. Follow your veterinarian’s care plan for any diagnosed anemia.

Our veterinarians recommend PET | TAO Solution Zing Canned Formula if you are interested in a premade product.

If you prefer to home-cook, try PET | TAO’s Blood Building Dog Food Recipe. The recipe page includes complete slow-cooker instructions and food lists.

Feed Spleen

Feeding spleen is based on TCVM Five-Element theory and the “like treats like” approach, traditionally used to strengthen and tonify the body after spleen removal. It is a food therapy approach, not a replacement for the removed organ.

Spleen treats also help dogs experiencing:

•  Diarrhea. 
• Digestion problems.
• Muscle atrophy.
• A sensitive stomach.
• Weight loss.

Many people find spleen difficult to find and prepare, so our veterinarians recommend PET | TAO Freeze-Dried Raw Beef Spleen Dog and Cat Treats.

The original recommendation is several spleen treats per day, or as directed by your veterinarian.

TCVM Herbal Formulas

TCVM offers several herbal formulas for helping dogs after a splenectomy, if the removal was due to hemangiosarcoma. The formulas our founding veterinarians use most often are Max’s Formula and Stasis Breaker.

Max’s Formula is discussed in the original article for tumor treatment and prevention within a TCVM approach. In Eastern medicine terms, its main effects are to “soften the hardness and clear nodules.”

You can learn more about Max’s Formula on Dr. Marc Smith’s website.

Stasis Breaker is another formula discussed for tumor treatment and prevention within TCVM. Its traditional actions are to “break Blood stasis, soften the hardness, and clear enlargement.”

You can also learn more about Stasis Breaker on Dr. Marc Smith’s website.

Our founding veterinarians also often use the two formulas together as a powerful tool for helping dogs after spleen removal due to hemangiosarcoma. Your veterinarian should determine whether either formula or their combination fits your dog’s diagnosis and care plan. These traditional uses are not guarantees of tumor treatment or prevention.

TCVM herbal formulas discussed here require veterinary authorization to purchase.

Interested in trying a TCVM herbal formula? Submit Your Authorization Request or Request a TCVM Telemedicine Consultation

High-Dose Vitamin C Therapy

The original article describes two methods of high-dose vitamin C therapy: intravenous, or IV, and oral. Discuss either approach with your veterinarian before starting.

High-Dose IV Vitamin C Therapy

IV vitamin C therapy must be performed in a veterinary clinic. A catheter is inserted in your dog’s leg, and vitamin C is delivered by intravenous drip.

When vitamin C is given intravenously, it is 100% bioavailable because it is delivered directly into the bloodstream.

The original article lists the following intended support goals:

• Adrenal glands: Supporting your dog’s adrenal glands.
• Energy: Maintaining energy levels.
• Skin: Improving and protecting skin.
• Connective tissues: Strengthening tendons and bones.
• Immunity: Supporting the immune system.
• Treatment support: Helping address chemotherapy or surgery side effects.

These goals should be reviewed with your veterinarian for your dog’s individual situation.

Our veterinarians’ original recommendation is IV vitamin C once weekly, or as directed by your veterinarian, for a series of six treatments, followed by reassessment of the patient’s status.

You can learn more about IV vitamin C treatments on Dr. Marc Smith’s website.

High-Dose Oral Vitamin C Therapy

The original article presents oral high-dose vitamin C, titrated to bowel tolerance, as a slower approach toward the same support goals as IV therapy. Oral and IV administration produce different blood concentrations, so your veterinarian should determine the appropriate route and expectations for your dog.

The original recommendation is to use the sodium ascorbate form of vitamin C when giving a high dose to your dog, or as directed by your veterinarian.

Unlike ascorbic acid, a common form of vitamin C supplement, sodium ascorbate is pH neutral. This makes it gentler on the digestive tract; tolerance still depends on the amount and the individual dog.

For the original instructions on high-dose oral vitamin C and titrating to bowel tolerance, see our article How to Use High-Dose Vitamin C for Dogs and Cats.

For maximum response, our veterinarians recommend oral high-dose vitamin C on the days between IV vitamin C treatments, or as directed by your veterinarian.

Some clients use oral high-dose vitamin C instead of IV therapy when IV treatments are too impractical or costly for their dog’s situation.

The original article describes oral high-dose vitamin C as an inexpensive immune-support option our veterinarians recommend for pets with immune system challenges. Your veterinarian can help decide whether it is appropriate for your dog.

Personalized TCVM Guidance

If you ever feel like you need extra help supporting your dog after spleen removal or managing digestive problems naturally or with TCVM herbal blends, we can help.

TCVM Pet Supply co-founding veterinarians Dr. Marc Smith and Dr. Casey Damron offer TCVM telemedicine consultations.

A consultation provides personalized recommendations specific to your dog, including:

• Evaluation: TCVM evaluation.
• Nutrition: Food therapy recommendations.
• Herbal support: TCVM herb recommendations and veterinary authorization.
• Supplements: Supplement recommendations.
• Additional care: Alternative medicine recommendations.

If you reside in the Middle Tennessee area or would like to commute, you may choose an in-clinic appointment instead.

You can learn more about each veterinarian and contact the clinic you prefer directly:

• Marc Smith, DVM, MS - Natchez Trace Veterinary Services
• Casey Damron, DVM, CVA - White Oak Animal Hospital

We hope this information helps you and wish you the best in helping your dog feel better! If you have any questions or if we can help you in any way, just let us know.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a dog live without a spleen?

Yes. Other parts of the body can take over the spleen’s functions after removal. Your dog’s recovery and outlook depend on the reason for surgery and overall health, so follow the surgical team’s care and monitoring plan.

What food therapy options are discussed after spleen removal?

The article recommends a blood-building diet, including PET | TAO Solution Zing Canned Formula or the linked Blood Building Dog Food Recipe. It also discusses spleen treats through the TCVM “like treats like” approach. Confirm food choices and amounts with your veterinarian.

Why are Max’s Formula and Stasis Breaker included?

They are included for their traditional TCVM roles in softening hardness, addressing nodules or enlargement, and, for Stasis Breaker, breaking Blood stasis. The original article discusses their use in dogs whose spleen removal relates to tumors, usually hemangiosarcoma. A veterinarian must select and authorize an appropriate formula.

How do IV and oral vitamin C approaches differ?

IV vitamin C is administered in a veterinary clinic and enters the bloodstream directly. Oral sodium ascorbate is taken through the digestive tract and is discussed in the original article as a slower, less costly option. The routes produce different blood concentrations; your veterinarian should guide selection, amounts, timing, and monitoring.

The Bottom Line

Helping your dog after spleen removal starts with the veterinary recovery plan. Blood-building food therapy, spleen treats, individualized TCVM formulas, and the vitamin C approaches discussed here offer supportive options to review with your veterinarian based on your dog’s diagnosis and needs.