11 Dec Mammary Tumours in Dogs
As our canine friends are mammals, they are also predisposed to developing mammary tumours or breast cancer. Unfortunately, mammary tumors in dogs is a common occurrence in older un-desexed female dogs, with approximately 50% of these tumours being malignant.
Cats also develop mammary tumours, and although less common compared with dogs, they are around 90% malignant.
Dogs have on average around 8 mammary glands with 8 nipples associated. Tumours can develop in any one or all of these glands and clinically, may look like anything. Typical presentations of dog cancer lump or bumps, can also present as varying tissue consistencies, swellings, colour changes or painful areas, to name a few.
The risk of developing mammary tumours is greatly reduced by desexing / neutering your female dog or cat (this is called speying), before their first season/heat. Typically this occurs between 5 months and 12 months of age and depends on the breed of your dog.
In dogs, the risk of mammary tumour development in a dog speyed prior to their first heat is 0.05%.
This risk increases to 8% if speyed after their first heat, and to 26% if speyed after their second heat!
What an increase!!
Speying to prevent mammary tumours is a routine day surgery procedure at Southern Cross Vet Clinic. We offer this surgery using modern keyhole / laparoscopic surgery with multiple benefits of reduced general anaesthetic time, minimal bleeding, pain reduction and faster recovery time.
breast cancer in dogs is an increasing phenomenon. If you are concerned your beloved fur baby may have mammary abnormalities, please don’t hesitate to contact one of our awesome caring vets to discuss possible investigations and treatment options.
Click here to contact us, or book online to see one of our vets in St. Peters or Bellevue Hill vet clinic that’s just around the corner from Double Bay.