Mammary Tumours
Mammary tumours occur in as many as 25% of intact female dogs who are middle- to old-aged. This statistic decreases significantly if the female is spayed before her second season. Mammary tumours also occur, more rarely, in male dogs. Over 50% are benign – so don’t panic if you see a lump near your dog’s nipples. However, malignant mammary tumours can be life threatening, so all lumps should be seen by your vet.
Both malignant and benign mammary tumours, if left untreated, can grow and become infected and painful. They can appear on their own, or you may see several. The malignant ones can grow quickly and spread to other parts of the body.
Small tumours can be removed surgically. To reduce the chance of spread, vets will also remove some of the surrounding healthy tissue. If caught early, the prognosis is good for the majority of dogs. Larger malignant tumours do not give such a positive prognosis, especially if secondary cancer has already occurred.
Mammary tumours occur in as many as 25% of intact female dogs who are middle- to old-aged. This statistic decreases significantly if the female is spayed before her second season. Mammary tumours also occur, more rarely, in male dogs. Over 50% are benign – so don’t panic if you see a lump near your dog’s nipples. However, malignant mammary tumours can be life threatening, so all lumps should be seen by your vet.
Both malignant and benign mammary tumours, if left untreated, can grow and become infected and painful. They can appear on their own, or you may see several. The malignant ones can grow quickly and spread to other parts of the body.
Small tumours can be removed surgically. To reduce the chance of spread, vets will also remove some of the surrounding healthy tissue. If caught early, the prognosis is good for the majority of dogs. Larger malignant tumours do not give such a positive prognosis, especially if secondary cancer has already occurred.
One of my girls, Sophie, had mammary tumours removed when she was around eight years old. She was also spayed at the same time. She lived until she was 17.
Back to:
Ill-Health & Disease
Cancer
A to Z