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Overview
Dogs are not only "man's best friend," but they are a member of our families as well. Dogs offer companionship and loyalty, and they are always ecstatic when you walk in the door. Research shows that breast cancer rates in dogs are increasing, but with a little knowledge, our dogs can get the help they deserve.
Time Frame
Believe it or not, the best time to prevent breast cancer in our canine friends, especially females, is before they go into heat. Mammary tumors are more common in dogs that are not fixed and are middle-aged, meaning between 5 and 10 years old. On rare occasions, breast cancer can be found in dogs that are 2 years old or younger.
Types
The two types of tumors found in dogs, and in all of nature, are benign and malignant. Both of these types need to be diagnosed by a doctor through a biopsy. The benign tumors are usually a mixture of different cells bundled together, and sometimes one of those cells happens to be cancerous. Other benign tumors include simple adenomas, complex adenomas, duct papillomas, and fibroadenomas. Malignant mammary tumors -- the ones to really worry about -- include papillary cystic adenocarcinomas, tubular adenocarcinomas, papillary adenocarcinomas, anaplastic carcinomas, osteosarcomas, solid carcinomas, fibrosarcomas as well as malignant mixed tumors.
Identification
The top 10 signs of breast cancer in dogs are abnormal swellings that persist or continue to grow, sores that do not heal, weight loss, loss of appetite, bleeding or discharge from any body opening, offensive odor, difficulty eating or swallowing, hesitation to exercise or loss of stamina, persistent lameness or stiffness, and/or difficulty breathing, urinating or defecating.
Sometimes these tumors can be found just by gently feeling for them on the dog. The tumor will feel like a piece of gravel that is stuck under the skin; that is, when you need to go to the vet.
Prevention
Most of the time, when it comes to cancer, there is not much that can be done to prevent it. However, breast cancer happens to be the exception. The best known prevention is to have your dog spayed at an early age. There is research that directly links early spaying to preventing canine breast cancer, and yet veterinarians still deal with this problem too often. Early spaying is the best way to improve your dog's health and chances of a long life.
Treatment
Unless your dog is very old, surgery is the most recommended way to treat breast cancer. If the surgery is done early enough, the cancer can be totally eliminated in more than 50 percent of the cases. There are also herbal and natural remedies being explored, but so far science is trusted as the primary treatment.
