Cancer in Female Dogs

Cancer is described as the out of control and abnormal growth of cells in a particular region of the body by the American Cancer Society. Cancer starts as damage to the DNA of a cell, causing it to divide quickly but not die. Cancer cells can then invade other tissues and spread to the rest of the body if they are malignant. Cancer in female dogs is more common than in male dogs due to the specific changes in hormones that a female dog endures throughout her life. Some of these cancers are preventable, such as mammary or breast cancer.

  1. Symptoms

    • The symptoms of cancer in female dogs varies as to the type of cancer. Breast cancer, the cancer that affects 26 percent of all intact female dogs according to Canine Cancer Awareness, often presents with no signs until it is in the terminal stages of development. The signs at that point can still be difficult to notice as they include a slight enlargement of the nipples, small nodules being felt by palpation and potential leaking of puss from the nipples. Uterine or vaginal cancer can be noticed by a sudden decrease in appetite and energy levels, as well as abnormal discharge.

    Diagnosis

    • Despite where the cancer is located, a proper diagnosis can only be achieved through the biopsy of the tumor. This biopsy will inform a veterinarian as to where the cells originated and if the cancer malignant or benign. Malignant cancer cells are capable of spreading throughout the body where benign cancer cells remain with the original tumor. A veterinarian may also request a full blood work panel, urine analysis and radiography. If a magnetic resonance imaging machine, otherwise known as an MRI, is available the veterinarian may request this as well. These test results will determine the amount of cancer in the female dog and the possibility of treatment.

    Treatment Options

    • Treatment for cancer in female dogs begins with the removal of the tumors if possible. If the tumors are widespread in the body, the removal may not be possible and the dog may be turned down for this phase of treatment. The next phase of treatment includes subjecting the dog to chemotherapy drugs and radiation. During these treatments, the dog may appear depressed and lethargic. These symptoms will pass quickly as the radiation and chemotherapy drugs are not as strong for dogs as they are in humans. If the cancer is quite advanced or the owners do not wish to subject the dog to cancer treatments, supportive medications such as anti-inflammatory and pain medication will be administered.

    Prognosis

    • There are several factors to consider when determining the prognosis of the female with cancer. The first is the size or number of tumors. If the tumor was detected early and there is only sign of a single tumor, the prognosis is good. If there are multiple or widespread tumors and these tumors are large, the prognosis is poor and the condition may be considered terminal. If the symptoms are very slight, the overall condition of the dog will be good resulting in a good prognosis, where if the symptoms are very noticeable, the condition's prognosis is poor. Radiation can help to increase the length and quality of life for most dogs but will not remove the tumors.

    Prevention

    • Spaying a female dog before her first heat is the best way to prevent cancer in a female dog. The spaying for a dog before her first heat reduces her chance of mammary cancer to 0.05 percent, according to Dr. Race Foster of Drs. Foster and Smith. If the dog is spayed after her first heat but before the second, the likelihood of breast cancer increases to 8 percent. Spaying a dog after the second heat results in a 26 percent chance of the dog developing cancer. It has not been shown to decrease the likelihood of breast cancer to spay after this point, although spaying a female dog does eliminate the chances of vaginal or uterine cancers.