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Breast Cancer Signs in Dogs: What to Look For and How to Think About Mammary Cancer

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Dr. Demian Dressler has a wealth of great info on his Blog. Also has a very good book out The Dog Cancer Survival Guide.

www.dogcancerblog.com


Breast Cancer Signs in Dogs: What to Look For and How to Think About Mammary Cancer
by Demian Dressler, DVM



Breast cancer … dogs? Can dogs even get breast cancer? Yes, they do. We don’t call it by the same name; in dogs, we call it mammary cancer, but the mammary gland is the bulk of the body part and the disease is very similar.

Thankfully, breast cancer in dogs is not as aggressive as breast cancer usually is in humans … but it’s serious, nonetheless. For a full discussion of breast cancer, including its warning signs, treatment, and special diet considerations, please see chapter 31, which starts on page 320 of The Dog Cancer Survival Guide.

Signs of Breast Cancer in Dogs
Signs of breast cancer in dogs include the following:

  • small nodules within the mammary tissue (they feel like little BBs)
  • larger nodules within the mammary tissue, but still under the skin
  • bloody discharge from the nipple
  • straw-colored discharge from the nipple
  • pus-like discharge from the nipple
  • larger, deeper growths in the mammary tissue that protrude visibly and can be seen as lumps
Spaying and Breast Cancer
Veterinarians often advocate early spay on females (before 6 months) because it can prevent breast cancer later on. And it’s true: female dogs who have been surgically sterilized before their first heat, which is usually around 6 months of age, are essentially free of breast (mammary) cancer. As the spay age increases, this protection drops.

(It should be noted that early spay and neuter is associated with increased risks of other types of cancer however, such as osteosarcoma and transitional cell carcinoma).

It is still debated as to whether spaying once mammary cancer has developed in dogs actually help the problem, and the evidence over the last couple of decades is mixed at this time.

Found a Lump on Your Dog’s Breast? Get It Checked.
The most critical thing to remember is that if you have a female dog who has a bump in the area around the teat (nipple), please get it checked.

Many of these growths are life-threatening. And if you have a female dog who is not spayed (intact), or was spayed later in life (at more than 6 months of age), examination of the mammary tissue of your dog may be a lifesaver.

How To Give Your Dog a Home Breast Exam
Breast exam in dogs? Yes, you heard it here first. You should absolutely examine your dog, especially if she is intact or was spayed late.

How do you do it?

Many dogs like to lay on their sides or back. If your dog “gives belly,” you can do her exam then … but even dogs who won’t roll over can be examined. Whether giving belly or standing up, here’s what you do.

First, find the mammary glands. Dogs normally have ten, two rows of 5 going down the length of the body, one on the left and one on the right. If your dog has an extra teat or a missing teat, or if they are not perfectly aligned from left to right, don’t worry. Variations are normal!

What’s not normal is a lump like what’s described above. So use your fingers to “see” as well as feel, as instructed below. There are two separate techniques to use — so don’t skip these steps.

  • To make sure your dog is comfortable, try doing this with two hands, one on the left chain and the other on the right chain.
  • Keep your fingers flat and use the pads of your fingertips to “fan” through the mammary tissue up and down the torso, from the head to tail. Start on the first teat on both sides and work down toward the last teat on both sides, feeling for “blips” or bumps under your fingertips.
  • Still keeping your fingers flat, fan your fingers left to right, from the first set of teats to the last. You are still looking for those little blips or bumps.
  • Next, use the second technique, which is to gently press the mammary tissue to look for deeper bumps or lumps. On each teat, gently gather the mammary tissue between your thumb on one side and your index and middle finger on the other. Keep in mind that this could be sensitive for your pup! Gently roll the tissue with your thumb as your fingers hold the other side. Move your thumb in a circular motion and feel for blips and bumps between your fingers.
  • Any area that is hard or different is worth having a veterinarian take a look at.
  • If you can see pus, blood, or any other abnormality on the mammary tissue, definitely get it looked at.
How often to do an examination like this on your dog? I would suggest every month or so for female dogs above the age of 7 years.

Even if your dog had an early spay, do a breast exam every once in a while for your piece of mind. It’s well worth the few minutes.

Treating Breast Cancer in Dogs
Breast cancer in dogs is best treated with a combination of different Full Spectrum steps. In my patients, I use surgery, dietary changes, Apocaps, deliberate efforts to increase life quality, reduction in body fat (a risk factor for mammary cancer), immune boosting and other supplements, touch therapies, and more. This cancer does not respond very well to chemotherapy as a rule.

Best,

Dr D



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About the Author: Demian Dressler, DVM
Dr. Demian Dressler is internationally recognized as “the dog cancer vet” because of his innovations in the field of dog cancer management, and the popularity of his blog here at Dog Cancer Blog. The owner of South Shore Veterinary Care, a full-service veterinary hospital in Maui, Hawaii, Dr. Dressler studied Animal Physiology and received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of California at Davis before earning his Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from Cornell University. After practicing at Killewald Animal Hospital in Amherst, New York, he returned to his home state, Hawaii, to practice at the East Honolulu Pet Hospital before heading home to Maui to open his own hospital. Dr. Dressler consults both dog lovers and veterinary professionals, and is sought after as a speaker on topics ranging from the links between lifestyle choices and disease, nutrition and cancer, and animal ethics. His television appearances include “Ask the Vet” segments on local news programs. He is the author of The Dog Cancer Survival Guide: Full Spectrum Treatments to Optimize Your Dog's Life Quality and Longevity. He is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, the Hawaii Veterinary Medical Association, the American Association of Avian Veterinarians, the National Animal Supplement Council and CORE (Comparative Orthopedic Research Evaluation). He is also an advisory board member for Pacific Primate Sanctuary.

 

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