Unfortunately, cancer is a disease that also affects our canine friends, in this Animal Expert article we will focus on the most common manifestations of the disease, that is, breast cancer that can appear in our dogs, we will discover the symptoms, how we can diagnose and, of course, the treatment that can be adopted, as well as preventive measures, because, as always, prevention is better than cure.
For more information about breast cancer in dogs, their symptoms and treatment, read on!
- Cancer is an abnormal.
- Continuous and rapid growth of the body’s cells; in the breast cancer of dogs.
- As the name suggests.
- This pathological development will occur in the mammary glands; almost all cells die and are replaced throughout the life of the individual.
- Occurs in the mechanisms that control this cell division.
- Very fast growth cells will form and masses capable of moving healthy cells will form.
In addition, cancer cells do not perform the functions of cells, if the cancer develops and invades the area or organ from which it originates, it will cause damage that, over time, will result in the death of the dog., its growth is generally faster, unlike older animals, due to the rate of cell regeneration itself.
There are genes that suppress cancer genes, but there are also genes that inhibit their function, all of this can be caused by external factors such as diet, stress or the environment, so cancer is a phenomenon in which genetics and the environment interact., carcinogens are known, which are influences that increase the risk of cancer.In humans, elements such as ultraviolet light, X-rays, nuclear radiation, certain chemicals, cigarettes, viruses or internal parasites are carcinogenic.
Cancer-resulting tumors are called neoplasms and can be benign or malignant.The former usually develop slowly, without invading or destroying surrounding tissues.They cannot spread to other parts of the body. When possible, they are removed by surgery.In contrast, malignant tumors invade adjacent tissues and develop without limits.These tumor cells can enter the circulatory system and move from the primary tumor to other parts of the body.This process is called metastasis.
Dogs have a dozen mammary glands, divided into two symmetrical chains on each side of the body, from the chest to the groin.The tumors of these glands are unfortunately very common and most occur in older than six years, with a higher incidence at ten years These tumors can be benign or malignant.
This type of cancer depends heavily on hormones, meaning that their onset and development are linked to hormones, mainly estrogen and progesterone, which are involved in the dog’s reproductive cycle and for which receptors exist in breast tissue.
The main symptom that, as caregivers, we will notice in the breast cancer of our bitch is the presence of a lump or painless mass in one or more breasts, that is, that a physical examination will suffice to detect it.breasts, are the most frequently affected, this mass will have a variable size and a more or less defined contour, attached to the hair or free, sometimes the skin is ulcerated and a sore can be identified, sometimes a bloody discharge from the nipple can also be noticed.
When detecting this first sign, the veterinarian should be contacted as soon as possible, which by palpation confirms the diagnosis by differentiating it from other possible causes such as mastitis; as we will see, the treatment adopted, in all cases, will be surgical removal.
The collected material should be sent for analysis (biopsy) and the specialized histopathological laboratory will be responsible for determining the types of cells present, in addition this study will tell us if the tumor is benign or malignant and, in the latter case, how virulent it is.These data are critical to prognosis, life expectancy or the possibility of recurrence (percentage of cancer recurrence in the same place or elsewhere).
The effectiveness of breast cancer treatment in dogs will depend on the early diagnosis, surgical removal, as we have said, will be the treatment of choice, except in cases of terminal illness or metastasis, so before entering an operating room, the veterinarian Will perform an x-ray that will distinguish the presence of masses in other parts of the body.
It is common to have metastases in the lungs (which can lead to breathing difficulties). Ultrasound and blood tests may also be done. In surgery, the adjacent tumor and healthy tissue will be removed. The extent of removal depends on the size and tumor location. In this way, only the lump, the entire breast, the entire mammary chain or even both chains can be removed. The larger the tumor and its aggressiveness, the worse the prognosis.
In addition, since it is a hormonodependent cancer, if the bitch is whole, an ovary can be performed an ovary, i.e. the removal of the uterus and ovaries.As we said, if your dog has metastasized surgery is not recommended, although in some cases it can be removed if it causes damage.Depending on the biopsy result, in addition to surgical removal, chemotherapy may also need to be administered (prevents and controls metastases).
On the other hand, the postoperative will be like that of any other surgery, in which we must be careful that our dog does not take out the stitches, as well as in the appearance of the wound, to control possible infections.Avoid sudden movements, violent games or heels that can cause the wound to be opened, it is certainly necessary to keep it clean and disinfected, according to the advice of the veterinarian, in the same way that we should administer the prescribed antibiotics and painkillers.Keep in mind that the incision can be quite large.
As we have seen, the cause of the onset of breast cancer in dogs is mainly hormonal, allowing us to take preventive measures such as early sterilization of our dog. With the removal of the uterus and ovaries, the dog stops coming into heat., and without the action of the hormones necessary for this process, the development of a tumor is not possible.
It should be noted that this protection is almost complete in dogs operated before the first heat, during the intervention after the first zeal the protection is about 90%, from the second zeal decreases the percentage of protection that provides sterilization.Therefore it is important to sterilize our dog before his first zeal, if we adopt him as an adult we must operate him as soon as possible, preferably when he is not in heat, since it increases the irrigation of the area during these weeks, which increases the risk of bleeding during surgery.
Preventive measures include early diagnosis, it is never too difficult to periodically control our dog’s breasts and quickly seek veterinary attention for any changes or presence of masses, stiffness, inflammation, discharge or pain.
From the age of six it is advisable to perform a monthly home check in non-sterile or late dogs, in the same way we must maintain routine veterinary examinations, dogs over 7 years must undergo an annual physical examination because, as we have seen, a simple physical examination can detect the presence of cancer.
Finally, it is important to know that the use of drugs to control the dog’s zeal (progestin) promotes the development of breast cancer, in addition, dogs that have suffered from pseudo-pregnancy (psychological pregnancy) are also more likely to suffer All the data presented reinforce the need for early sterilization to give your dog a better quality of life.
This article is for informational purposes only, in Animal Expert.com.br we cannot prescribe veterinary treatments or make any type of diagnosis, we suggest taking your pet to the veterinarian in case of any type of condition or discomfort.
If you would like to read articles similar to, we recommend that you visit our Other Health Problems section.