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Liver Cancer in Dogs

By the Dog Health Handbook team · Updated · Fact-checked against current veterinary references (see sources)

Key takeaways

  • Tumors spreading to the liver are more common than tumors starting there.
  • Hepatocellular carcinoma is the most common primary liver cancer and rarely spreads.
  • A single large tumor can often be removed, with survival commonly over 3 years.
  • Not every liver mass is cancer; some are benign.
  • Hemangiosarcoma in the liver has a much shorter outlook.

Table of Contents

Research Types Signs Diagnosis Treatment Life expectancy Final stages FAQ Sources

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Liver cancer in dogs is either primary, starting in the liver, or metastatic, spreading there from elsewhere in the body. Metastatic tumors are more common.1,2 The most common primary tumor is hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and about 61% of HCCs are a single large ("massive") mass that can often be removed surgically.1,2 Signs are usually vague, such as a poor appetite, weight loss, lethargy, vomiting, drinking more and a swollen belly, and some dogs show no signs until the tumor is large.2,1 Diagnosis uses ultrasound or CT plus a needle sample or biopsy.1,2 Dogs whose single HCC is completely removed often live for years, while tumors that have spread, such as hemangiosarcoma, carry a much shorter outlook.2,3,1

Go to a vet or emergency clinic now if your dog has:

  • Sudden weakness, collapse or a rapidly swelling belly1,2
  • Seizures or extreme weakness, which can be caused by low blood sugar from a large liver tumor1,2
  • Yellow gums or eyes2,4

What the Research and Guidelines Say

  • Complete removal matters. In a 2022 study of 104 dogs having liver masses removed, dogs with HCC lived a median of 914 days after complete removal, compared with 254 days when some tumor was left.3
  • Not every mass is cancer. In the same study, 28 of 122 removed masses were benign adenomas or nodular hyperplasia.3
  • HCC rarely spreads. ACVS reports spread in fewer than 5% of pets with HCC, and survival after surgery "commonly exceeding 3.8 years."2
  • Surgery has real risks. In a 2025 study of 70 dogs having right-sided liver lobes removed, 54% had problems during surgery and 21% needed a blood transfusion, but only 2.9% died around the time of surgery and 12% within 30 days.5

Types of Liver Tumors

  • Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC): the most common primary liver cancer. It can be massive (one large mass, 61%), nodular (several lobes, 29%) or diffuse (10%).1,2
  • Bile duct carcinoma: the second most common liver tumor in dogs, with short survival even after surgery.2
  • Neuroendocrine (carcinoid) tumors and sarcomas: uncommon, and usually spread by the time they're found.2,1
  • Metastatic tumors: cancers that spread to the liver from elsewhere, such as hemangiosarcoma, lymphoma or pancreatic tumors.1,6 See hemangiosarcoma and lymphoma.
  • Benign masses: hepatocellular adenomas, which can be cured by removal, and nodular hyperplasia.1,3

Signs of Liver Cancer

About 75% of dogs with liver tumors show signs of illness. Common signs include:2

  • Poor appetite, weight loss and lethargy2,1
  • Vomiting, and drinking and urinating more2
  • A swollen belly from the mass or from fluid2,1
  • Seizures, sometimes from low blood sugar2,1
  • Fever, and sometimes jaundice1,2

Diagnosis

Blood tests often show anemia, high platelets and raised liver enzymes such as ALP and AST.1 Ultrasound is more sensitive than x-rays for finding liver masses, and CT or MRI helps plan surgery. Chest x-rays check for spread.1,2 A needle sample (aspirate) or biopsy is needed for a definite diagnosis.1 Before a liver biopsy, vets check a dog's ability to clot, including the platelet count, fibrinogen, red cell count (PCV) and clotting times.7

Treatment

Surgical removal is the treatment of choice for primary liver tumors.2 Massive HCC and adenomas can often be cured by removing the affected liver lobe. Up to 70% of a healthy dog's liver can be removed, and it regrows.1,8 Tumors in the left liver lobes carry the best prognosis, and right-sided tumors were linked to a poorer outlook in one study.1,9 Untreated dogs with massive HCC were 15 times more likely to die of tumor-related complications than dogs that had surgery.2

Nodular and diffuse tumors involve several lobes and usually can't be removed.1 For hemangiosarcoma in the liver, surgery and chemotherapy rarely give long-term survival, and median survival with spread ranges from about 2 to 4.5 months (68 to 136 days).1

How Long Can a Dog Live With Liver Cancer?

  • Massive HCC removed completely: often several years. In a 2004 study of 48 dogs, median survival after surgery was over 1,460 days, compared with 270 days for the 6 dogs that didn't have surgery.9,2
  • HCC removed incompletely: a median of 254 days in one study3
  • Nodular or diffuse HCC, bile duct carcinoma and sarcomas: a poorer outlook1,2
  • Metastatic hemangiosarcoma: usually weeks to months1,10

Final Stages and Quality of Life

In the final stages, dogs may stop eating, lose weight, develop a fluid-filled belly, become jaundiced or have seizures.2,1 A quality-of-life scale such as the HHHHHMM scale can help you and your vet decide when it's time to say goodbye. Adequate pain control and comfortable breathing are the most important factors.11,12

Frequently Asked Questions

Can liver cancer in dogs be cured?

Often, if it's a single HCC that can be completely removed.

Does liver cancer spread quickly in dogs?

HCC rarely spreads. Tumors that spread to the liver from elsewhere, such as hemangiosarcoma, are more aggressive.

Are dogs in pain with liver cancer?

Large tumors and belly fluid can cause discomfort. Ask your vet about pain relief.

Is every liver mass cancer?

No. Some are benign adenomas or nodular hyperplasia.

What tests confirm liver cancer?

Imaging plus a needle sample or biopsy.

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Sources and further reading

This article was rewritten and fact-checked on October 23, 2026 against current veterinary references and specialist guidelines:

  1. Center SA. Hepatic Neoplasia in Small Animals. MSD Veterinary Manual, updated July 2026.
  2. American College of Veterinary Surgeons. Liver Tumors. ACVS, updated April 2026.
  3. Sakurai N, Ishigaki K, Terai K, et al. Clinical impact of near-infrared fluorescence imaging on surgical treatment for hepatic masses in dogs (title paraphrased). BMC Veterinary Research, 2022.
  4. Center SA. Disorders of the Liver and Gallbladder in Dogs. Merck Veterinary Manual (pet owner version), updated June 2026.
  5. Foster HD, Matz BM, Grimes JA, et al. Outcomes and prognostic variables associated with right divisional hepatic lobectomies in 70 dogs. Veterinary Surgery, 2025.
  6. Andrade MC, Oliveira LB, Santos AF, Moreira MVL, Pierezan F, Ecco R. Differential diagnoses in 83 dogs with icterus. Pesquisa Veterinária Brasileira, 2020.
  7. Webster CRL, Center SA, Cullen JM, et al. ACVIM consensus statement on the diagnosis and treatment of chronic hepatitis in dogs. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, 2019.
  8. Amsellem PM, Twedt DC. Pathophysiology of Hepatocellular Diseases. In: Mechanisms of Disease in Small Animal Surgery, 3rd ed., 2013 (IVIS).
  9. Liptak JM, Dernell WS, Monnet E, et al. Massive hepatocellular carcinoma in dogs: 48 cases (1992-2002) (summary: Is surgery best for massive hepatocellular carcinoma in dogs?). Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 2004 (dvm360 summary, 2006).
  10. Furukawa T, Shiotsuki A, Okada Y, et al. Prognostic value of tumour-related factors associated with canine retroperitoneal hemangiosarcoma in comparison with other anatomic presentations. Veterinary Medicine and Science, 2024.
  11. Merck Veterinary Manual. The HHHHHMM Scale. Merck Veterinary Manual (after Villalobos AE, 2004).
  12. Hunter T, Downing R. Quality of Life at the End of Life for Your Dog. VCA Animal Hospitals, updated August 2024.

About this article

Last updated : fully rewritten using the Merck Veterinary Manual, the American College of Veterinary Surgeons and surgical outcome studies published 2004 to 2025, plus International Veterinary Information Service (IVIS) proceedings and research published 2022 to 2026.

This page is for general information and is not a substitute for an exam by your veterinarian.