Although technology has managed to transcend an infinity of obstacles present in human life, diseases have also managed to stay above many of these ranges. Proof of this is the way in which today various diseases continue to be a headache for many families.
But not everything falls to humans and is that animals are also victims of many deadly diseases and not fatal. With an emphasis on our four-legged friends, we will talk about breast cancer in dogs, sharing information about its symptoms, treatment, prevention and some ways to diagnose.
Breast cancer in bitches
As is well known, cancer consists of the accumulation and growth of cells in organisms.
The case of breast cancer attends to these characteristics, being the case of breast cancer in bitches distinguished by the rapid appearance and accumulation in the mammary glands thereof.
The development of these cells can compromise the life of this animal in a detrimental way. It should also be noted that these cells do not provide the proper functions of cells, therefore, the extent to which these cells invade the body will be directly proportional to the wear and tear of the body, and can cause death in many cases.
What are the symptoms of breast cancer in dogs?
Fundamentally, breast cancer, as its name suggests, usually affects one or more of the ten mammary glands that they possess. These glands are distributed in two sequences symmetrically, (five on each side) which go from the chest to the groin.
The appearance of tumors in these areas is usually one of the most common and this to a greater extent and as the dog grows, being older dogs are the most susceptible to cancer.
Among the most common symptoms are bloody discharge from the nipples. We can also mention the appearance of a painless lump in one or more breasts. From this fact, it is pertinent to perform a physical examination as soon as possible, since large breasts are usually the most affected. Some cases are usually characterized by ulcers on the skin, managing to even notice wounds.
Diagnosis of breast cancer in bitches
Upon detection of any of these symptoms, a prompt visit to the vet is recommended, who will be able to carry out the pertinent studies. However, in-depth studies will be carried out in a laboratory, in which and through an excised material, it will be possible to determine the nature of the cells present in it and with it, the existence of cancer in the organism of our pet. .
Said study also give us information about the tumor, telling us, for example, if it is malignant or benign; It can also offer us data about the possibility of it reappearing in our dog's body, among other possibilities.
Treatment of breast cancer in bitches
Treatment and its contribution will largely depend on the so-called early diagnosis.
Generally, the surgical removalHowever, this treatment is the owner's choice, although this will depend on whether the possibility of metastasis in the body has been determined. For these purposes, an X-ray is usually used to determine the presence of masses in other areas of the body.
How to prevent breast cancer in bitches
It has been proven that breast cancer in bitches It is largely related to the secretion of hormones, a characteristic obviously present to a greater extent in female dogs.
Therefore, one of the most effective measures to prevent breast cancer is the sterilization. It is worth taking into account that it is recommended to sterilize before the first heat, otherwise, this measure will gradually lose effect and if it is sterilized after the first heat, the protection will be 90% and so on.