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Canine Breast Cancer is the most common type of cancer in female dogs. Female dogs have five pairs of mammary glands with the possibility of tumors in any one of the glands. Breast cancer can spread from one glad to another. Spaying a female dog dramatically reduces the odds of getting breast cancer if done early in the dog’s life.Canine breast cancer occurs 52% of tumors in female dogs and are seen in dogs that are between the age of 10 and 11. Half of the dogs with mammary gland tumors will have multiple tumors. Most dogs with a tumor will see the cancer stpread to the lungs in 1 to 2 years. Breeds that are Susceptible to Canine Breast or Mammary CancerSpanielsTerriers German Shepherds Toy and Miniature Poodles Diagnosis of Canine Breast or Mammary CancerYour veterinarian will look for visible signs of breast or mammary cancer tumors. Signs can include swelling, or soft or hard lumps near the mammary glands. If tumors are not visible, diagnosis is made when other symptoms are investigated and a tumor is found to be the cause.A Fine Needle Aspiration (FSA) test is used to take a tissue sample for testing prior to the recommendation of surgery. Though rare, a tumor may look like cancer when in fact it is a benign cyst. The FSA test will allow for a definitive diagnosis. Treatment of Canine Breast or Mammary CancerSurgery is the most common form of treatment for breast cancer that has not spread (lumpectomy, mammectomy, mastectomy). Localized cases use surgery as a complete cure. Chemotherapy is used in more advanced cases.Consult your veterinarian if you see any lumps near the mammary glands. It is possible that tumors are benign (non cancerous). If this is the case, most will remove the tumor and then send to a lab for definitive evaluation. In addition to surgery, your veterinarian may recommend chemotherapy treatment to make sure that malignant cells (cancer cells that spread quickly) do not spread to the lungs. Chemotherapy drugs such as Adriamycin and oral Cytoxan are used. Recently other drugs such as mitoxantron (Novantrone™) and Adriamycin or Carboplatin (if other drugs are proving to be ineffective) have been used. Chemotherapy usually lasts for a span of 6 months with the number of treatments dependant on the severity of the disease (possibly 4 to 6 per week). Common supplements that reduce the risk of breast cancer include Inositol hexaphosphate, 1-3-beta glucan and ambrotose®. From Canine Breast Cancer to Canine Cancer Index Page To Dog Health Guide Home SourcesGiffin, James M and Carlson, Liisa D.; Dog Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook - 3rd EditionWorld Small Animal Veterinary Association World Congress - 2001 CanineCancerAwareness.org
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