Hepatic carcinoma (hepatocellular carcinoma; HCC) is an aggressive neoplastic carcinoma of the canine liver. It is a tumor of the epithelial tissues of the liver, that lines the surfaces and the cavities of dogs' body structure. It is one of the most dangerous forms of the disease and is a silent killer because the dogs show no or very subtle signs associated with this condition until it is too late.
Extrahepatic (outside of the liver) forms occur very rarely in dogs. There are no breed predispositions, but affected dogs are on average older than ten years of age and tend to be male.
The following symptoms are typically absent until the disease reaches an advanced stage:
Lethargy
Weakness
Loss of appetite (anorexia)
Weight loss
Polydipsia (excessive thirst)
Diarrhea
Vomiting
Hepatomegaly (enlarged liver with uneven size); precedes development of overt clinical signs
Abdominal hemorrhage
