What is Mammary Gland Tumor?
Female dogs have ten teats. A mammary gland tumor is a growth in the area of any or several of the teats. It could appear as a hard or soft lump in the mammary gland area. At first, it will be covered with skin and hair. If advanced it could burst and look like an abscess . It is important for every owner of a female dog check out mammary area for lumps regularly since this is a frequently occurring cancer in canines.
Mammary gland tumors and cancer is a very common issue in female canine. Early prevention commonly results in successful treatment efforts. Global elimination is possible, should non-breeding dogs and cats receive spay before their first head. If you find a growth or lump in the mammary tissue, schedule an veterinarian visit immediately, do not take a "wait and see" what happens stance.
Mammary Gland Tumor Average Cost
From 5 quotes ranging from $900 - $15,000
Average Cost
$5,500
Get a free pet insurance quote in less than 60 seconds!
Easily compare quotes from the most trusted pet insurance companies in the United States.
Symptoms of Mammary Gland Tumor in Dogs
The symptoms of a mammary tumor is a solid mass or multiple swellings. The tumors are easy to detect by palpitating the mammary glands. An early tumor feels like small pieces of pea gravel. If you number a dog’s teats from 1-5, with 1 being the teat closest to the head and 5 being the teat closest to the tail. Mammary tumors occur most frequently occur near teats 4 and 5. The masses can be red, purple or fleshy in color and also can be rather soft, or hard. If you find bleeding or ulceration near the teats, it is an indication of advanced cancer and seeing the veterinarian becomes more urgent. Other signs of advanced cancer are loss of weight, appetite and lethargy.
Types
Mammary gland tumors can be benign or malignant. According to Rave Foster DVM, benign tumors are often small smooth and slow growing. He breaks down the types of benign tumors into these categories:
- Complex adenomas
- Fibroadenomas
- Duct papillomas
- Simple adenomas
Also, according to Rave Foster, DVM malignant tumors tend to have irregular shape, firm attaching to the skin, and rapid growth. He broke down malignant masses into these types:
- Tubular adenocarcinomas
- Papillary adenocarcinomas
- Papillary cystic adenocarcinomas
- Solid carcinomas
- Anaplastic carcinomas
- Steosarcomas
- Fibrosarcomas
- Malignant mixed tumors
Causes of Mammary Gland Tumor in Dogs
The causes of mammary cancer are as mysterious as the cause of most cancers in humans. Suspect are environmental concerns such as pesticides and cleaning agents, food with a lot of preservatives and additives. What is certain is that is hormonal involvement in mammary cancer. The incidence of mammary cancer in dogs spayed before their first heat is negligible (0.50%). The fewer heats a dog goes through before spaying, the less the chances this dog will develop mammary gland tumors.
Diagnosis of Mammary Gland Tumor in Dogs
A biopsy is the only definitive way to diagnose mammary cancer in canines. The veterinarian will send a sample to a lab to determine whether the growth is benign or malignant. Other tests can be performed to see if the cancer has spread such as an x-ray or ultrasound. Most veterinarians also may recommend having blood work to check on the dogs general health. This is a typical procedure before any surgery.
Treatment of Mammary Gland Tumor in Dogs
- The best and most used treatment for cancer is surgery. Veterinarians remove the tumor along with a large area of surrounding tissue. This is the procedure used for 2-3 tumors
- If there are more than 2-3 tumors, a veterinarian may recommend surgery to remove an entire chain of mammary gland (teats 1-5)
- Chemotherapy may be recommended if the lab determined as tumor is high grade, aggressive, very invasive and not able to be completely removed by surgery. However according to the Ohio State University Veterinarian Medical Center, there is no proven efficacy of chemotherapy for canine mammary tumors.
- Radiation therapy may be recommended for certain types of cancers but it is uncommon
The medical world is developing targeted treatment drugs for women. “Targeted” means that certain cells are very specifically targeted for destruction rather than a whole area of tissue. There is a good deal of research in veterinarian medicine to see whether these human therapies can be applied to dogs.
Worried about the cost of treating your pet's symptoms?
Pet Insurance covers the cost of many common pet health conditions. Prepare for the unexpected by getting a quote from top pet insurance providers.
Recovery of Mammary Gland Tumor in Dogs
After surgery, most dogs will come home with a cone to keep themselves from licking the surgical incision. It is always important for an owner to watch an incision. If swelling of the incision doesn’t go down or redness appears, it is important to return to the veterinarian. These could be an infection or other complication. Your veterinarian will set up a follow up appointment to change bandaging and check the incision. The veterinarian will have the dog fast before surgery and give instructions on when to introduce food and water after surgery. The dog will tell you when she is ready for more activity but it is important to keep her quiet the first 48 hours.
After surgery, it is important for the pet owner to keep checking the mammary glands for reoccurrence of tumors. If the tumors were caught early, it is less likely to re-occur. The worst prognosis is for dogs where the malignant cancer was advanced, involved lymph nodes or aggressive. The best advice for pet owners is to regularly check your pet over from top to bottom, from ears to paws, from teeth to tail, to check for reoccurrence.
Mammary gland tumors can be expensive to treat. If you suspect your dog is at risk of a mammary gland tumor, start searching for pet insurance today. Wag!’s pet insurance comparison tool lets you compare plans from leading companies like PetPlan and Embrace. Find the “pawfect” plan for your pet in just a few clicks!
Mammary Gland Tumor Average Cost
From 5 quotes ranging from $900 - $15,000
Average Cost
$5,500
Top
Mammary Gland Tumor Questions and Advice from Veterinary Professionals
dotson mixed
Nilla Pudd'n
8 Years
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Golfball Size Growth On 4Th Teat
I noticed a small dime sized lump on my dogs 4th teat about 3 moths ago. She has NEVER been to a vet nor has had any shots due to lack of funds. In the 3 months, it has rapidly grown to be golf ball size. It doesnt seem to cause her pain. It hanhs down almost touching the floor. It looks like a bag of marbles. I dony know what to do and I am still unable to afford any medical attention for her. She is almost 8 years old and it deistates me that i cant help her. What are your thoughts please?
May 19, 2018
Answered by Dr. Michele K. DVM
0 Recommendations
Nilla Pudd'n may have a benign growth that isn't going to affect her life, or she may have mammary cancer. Unfortunately, without seeing her, I can't comment on what the cause of this growth might be. She should be seen by a veterinarian to be examined, and they will be able to discuss any possible therapy that she may need with you. Many clinics offer a 'free first exam' that would allow you to have her seen, and most clinics offer CareCredit as a way to handle unexpected expenses. I hope that she is okay.
May 19, 2018
You know care credit is a credit card which people must pass a credit check for. Vet bills can be so outrageous and that really sucks for those of us that absolutely love animals but aren’t financially stable enough to pay the outrageous bills. I honestly do not understand why it costs hundreds of dollars to take a picture of an animal’s bones or worse case, tumors. Then there is medication, radiation, and or chemo. Some people have the means and others don’t which typically results in vets telling us that are less fortunate that it would be best to put our fur babies down. The pain that causes an animal is undeniably excruciating. Oh and then there are “Animal Poison Control” websites that lure you in and ask all of the questions needed to diagnose people’s furry loved one only to stop right before giving sound advice and ask for $50! If I had $50 to spare why in GOD’s HOLY name would I be up all night searching for answers to simple problems on the internet. Makes me feel like Veterinarians are just in it for the money as is all other doctors. Such a sad, greedy world we live in...
June 2, 2018
Stacy C.
Sorry to hear that you find it expansive to own a animal that needs vet care. But you have to think about the over head the vets have to pay also.If they own the building then it has property taxes. If it has 1 or 2 vets, they need salaries to live on. How many nurses, secretaries. Heat, hydro. The equipment that needs to be used for surgeries. Then there are medicines. Etc. They don't get for free. It takes a vet 8 yrs. To go to school. Which is not cheap either. Maybe you could do a GoFundMe campaign for your furbaby. But plz don't say that vets don't care and only are in it for the $. Because it takes a lot to run a business.
July 10, 2018
Trish P.
The vets where I live are so expensive I have to do my own vaccines. God forbid if they need to see one I don't know what I will be able to do
Aug. 25, 2018
Sue S.
Was this question and answer helpful?
German Shepherd
lexi
10 Years
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Large Lump Swollen Right Leg.
hi i have a German shepherd nearly 10 years old female who has a tumor on the mammary gland which is very large and her back right leg has swollen as well, was treated as infection at first two weeks ago went back to the vet and now they think its a tumor which is the size of my forearm in length and she is struggling to sit eating fine and she has high temp they say she needs surgery but they put her asleep to feel it two weeks ago no other test done i am worried about her going under again so soon after the last one they say 1-1500 pounds for the op and after care i am confused and do not know what to do for the best.
May 12, 2018
Answered by Dr. Michele K. DVM
0 Recommendations
If your veterinarian is recommending surgery for Lexi, it seems that that is the best route to take. Anesthesia to have the surgery will not be a problem if she handled the anesthesia two weeks ago. Unfortunately, without seeing her or being able to examine her, I can't comment more on the best course of action, and it would be best to trust your veterinarian, and ask more questions if you need more details on her care.
May 13, 2018
Was this question and answer helpful?
Silky Terrier and Shitzu Mix
Missy
15 Years
1 found this helpful
1 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
A Little Vomiting
My dog had an enormous mass on her breast two years. We took her to the vet, where they tested it for cancer. The test came back negative, however, later that day it seemed to drain itself out. We believe that the needle used for the test made a little hole in it, where it leaked from. Two years later and the mass it back, except this time it is much harder. Therefore, we don't know if this time it could be cancer? We took her to the vet once again, and he said that all the treatment options are risky. He brought up surgery to remove the mammary gland tumor, but is worried she is too old for the surgery. She also has a heart murmur that he is worried about. We asked if he could drain some of it, but he seemed to be worried that she would be extremely scared and possibly have a heart attack. He also said the tumor is going to rupture very soon and we will need to take her to vet immediately for an antibiotic. But what happens after it ruptures and will she be able to survive through the rupture? Do you think we should take a chance on surgery? She is extremely healthy other than that. Everybody thinks she is a puppy because she is full of energy. However lately, she has been more tired than usual and we did start noticing another lump forming next to the tumor. We don't know what to do, any advice?
May 9, 2018
Answered by Dr. Michele K. DVM
1 Recommendations
It seems that the only real choices for her at this point are to have the tumor removed, or wait until it becomes a quality of life issue for her, and make a decision for her at that point. He age and heart condition are factors, but that mass is not going to go away, unfortunately. Without seeing Missy, I have a hard time commenting on whether you should have the surgery done, but a frank conversation with your veterinarian will help. If you are not sure about that opinion, it never hurts to get a second opinion, just to feel better about the options. I hope that she is okay.
May 9, 2018
Dr.King: Thank you. Great answer, one that is very helpful to me at this point. I am just about to go through the diagnosis of some mammary lumps in an unspayed female Staffordshire terrior aged 9 1/2 years old.
May 9, 2018
Stephen F.
Was this question and answer helpful?
Mammary Gland Tumor Average Cost
From 5 quotes ranging from $900 - $15,000
Average Cost
$5,500
Get a free pet insurance quote in less than 60 seconds!
Easily compare quotes from the most trusted pet insurance companies in the United States.
