We recently had a Kali’s Wish reader reach out and ask about the link between mammary tumors and spaying your dog.
The fact is, tumors in the mammary gland are very frequent in female dogs who have not been spayed. It is also not unheard of for male dogs to have a mammary tumor, though it is rare.1
We asked Dr. Al Townshend from our Panel of Experts to tell us a little bit about mammary tumors and how they can be treated:
Mammary tumors are an all too common problem in dogs that have not been spayed. If a dog is spayed before it ever comes into heat the chances of developing a mammary tumor are very low to non-existent. If spayed after the first heat the chances are slight.
Unfortunately, there is no easy or inexpensive way to deal with the problem… [T]he best way is to remove the growths and send them off for evaluation (50% of mammary tumors are benign). At the same time I would neuter the pet as mammary tumors are stimulated by the hormones produced by the ovaries.
If the lab results indicate the growths are not cancerous, for the time being you can stop worrying. Continue to monitor your pet’s mammary glands for additional growths, and let your veterinarian know if you find more.
If the lab results indicate the growths are cancerous, get the chest X-rayed to see if the cancer has spread. If there is no indication the cancer has spread, there are options that your veterinarian can discuss.
Do you have any questions about pet health that you would like to ask our Panel of Experts? Reach out today!
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This page has been reviewed by our Panel of Experts for accuracy. Our Panel of Experts is comprised of practitioners with varying specialties and perspectives. As such, the views expressed here may not be shared by all members of our Panel.
The content on this website is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional veterinary medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
