Breast Cancer Signs in Dogs: What to Look For and How to Think About Mammary Cancer
Dr. Demian Dressler is internationally recognized as “the dog cancer vet” because of his innovations in the field of dog cancer management, and the popularity of his blog here at Dog Cancer Blog. The owner of South Shore Veterinary Care, a full-service veterinary hospital in Maui, Hawaii, Dr. Dressler studied Animal Physiology and received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of California at Davis before earning his Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from Cornell University. After practicing at Killewald Animal Hospital in Amherst, New York, he returned to his home state, Hawaii, to practice at the East Honolulu Pet Hospital before heading home to Maui to open his own hospital. Dr. Dressler consults both dog lovers and veterinary professionals, and is sought after as a speaker on topics ranging from the links between lifestyle choices and disease, nutrition and cancer, and animal ethics. His television appearances include “Ask the Vet” segments on local news programs. He is the author of The Dog Cancer Survival Guide: Full Spectrum Treatments to Optimize Your Dog’s Life Quality and Longevity. He is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, the Hawaii Veterinary Medical Association, the American Association of Avian Veterinarians, the National Animal Supplement Council and CORE (Comparative Orthopedic Research Evaluation). He is also an advisory board member for Pacific Primate Sanctuary.
Updated: December 16th, 2019
Summary
Finding a lump on your dog’s breast is not good: Learn how to examine your dog for breast cancer and when to head to the veterinarian.
Breast cancer … in dogs? Can dogs even get breast cancer? Yes, they do. We don’t call it by the same name; in dogs, we call it mammary cancer. But because the mammary gland is the bulk of the breast, and the disease is very similar, mammary cancer is, in fact, dog breast cancer.
Thankfully, breast cancer in dogs is not as aggressive as breast cancer usually is in humans … but it’s serious, nonetheless. For a full discussion of breast cancer, including its warning signs, treatment, and special diet considerations, please see chapter 31, which starts on page 320 of The Dog Cancer Survival Guide.
Signs of Breast Cancer in Dogs
Signs of breast cancer in dogs include the following:
- small nodules (bumps) within the mammary tissue that feel like little BBs under your fingers
- larger nodules within the mammary tissue, still under the skin
- bloody discharge from the nipple
- straw-colored discharge from the nipple
- pus-like discharge from the nipple
- larger, deeper growths in the mammary tissue that protrude visibly and can be seen as lumps
Want to learn more about mammary tumors and how to treat them? Get the Dog Cancer Survival Guide, and flip to Chapter 31
Spaying and Breast Cancer
Veterinarians often advocate early spay for females because it can prevent breast cancer later on. This is usually done before the first heat comes at about six months.
And it’s true: female dogs who have been surgically sterilized before their first heat, which is usually around 6 months of age, usually live essentially free of breast cancer.
As the spay age increases, this protection drops.
Sounds good, right? Well, yes, as far as breast cancer goes. But you should also know this: early spay and neuter before the first heat is associated with increased risks of other types of cancer. Those other types include the very aggressive osteosarcoma and transitional cell carcinoma.
This is why we debate whether early spays help avoid cancer. The evidence is mixed. Early spays almost completely eliminate breast cancer, which is nice. But early spays INCREASE the risk of more aggressive cancers.
Found a Lump on Your Dog’s Breast? Get It Checked.
The most critical thing to remember is that if you have a female dog who has a bump in the area around the teat (nipple), please get it checked.
Many of these growths are life-threatening. And if you have a female dog who is not spayed (intact), or was spayed later in life (at more than 6 months of age), examination of the mammary tissue of your dog may be a lifesaver.
How To Give Your Dog a Home Breast Exam
A breast exam in dogs? Yes, you heard it here first. You should absolutely examine your dog, especially if she is intact or spayed late.
How do you do it?
First, you have to be able to see and feel her belly. Many dogs already like to lay on their sides or back. If your dog “gives belly,” you can do her exam then … but even dogs who won’t roll over can still be examined.
Whether giving belly or standing up, here’s what you do.
First, find the mammary glands. Dogs normally have ten, two rows of 5 going down the length of the body, one on the left and one on the right. If your dog has an extra teat or a missing teat, or if they are not perfectly aligned from left to right, don’t worry. Variations are normal!
Second, use your fingers to “see” as well as feel, as instructed below. There are two separate techniques to use — so don’t skip these steps.
- To make sure your dog is comfortable, try doing this with two hands, one on the left chain and the other on the right chain.
- Keep your fingers flat and use the pads of your fingertips to “fan” through the mammary tissue up and down the torso, from the head to tail. Start on the first teat on both sides and work down toward the last teat on both sides, feeling for “blips” or bumps under your fingertips.
- Still keeping your fingers flat, fan your fingers left to right, from the first set of teats to the last. You are still looking for those little blips or bumps.
- Next, use the second technique, which is to gently press the mammary tissue to look for deeper bumps or lumps. On each teat, gently gather the mammary tissue between your thumb on one side and your index and middle finger on the other. Keep in mind that this could be sensitive tissue, so be gentle! Gently roll the tissue with your thumb as your fingers hold the other side. Move your thumb in a circular motion and feel for blips and bumps between your fingers.
- Remember, you are looking for little lumps and nodules that feel different from the surrounding mammary glands.
- Any area that is hard or different is worth having a veterinarian take a look at.
- If you can see pus, blood, or any other abnormality on the mammary tissue, get it looked at.
How often to do an examination like this on your dog? I suggest every month or so for female dogs above the age of 7 years.
Even if your dog had an early spay, do a breast exam every once in a while for your own peace of mind. It’s well worth the few minutes.
Treating Breast Cancer in Dogs
Breast cancer in dogs is best treated with a combination of different Full Spectrum steps. In my patients, I use surgery, dietary changes, Apocaps, deliberate efforts to increase life quality, reduction in body fat (a risk factor for mammary cancer), immune-boosting and anti-metastatic supplements, touch therapies, and more. As a rule, this cancer does not respond very well to chemotherapy.
Best,
Dr D
Spay/neuter and the association with cancer in dogs: part one
Dr. Demian Dressler is internationally recognized as “the dog cancer vet” because of his innovations in the field of dog cancer management, and the popularity of his blog here at Dog Cancer Blog. The owner of South Shore Veterinary Care, a full-service veterinary hospital in Maui, Hawaii, Dr. Dressler studied Animal Physiology and received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of California at Davis before earning his Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from Cornell University. After practicing at Killewald Animal Hospital in Amherst, New York, he returned to his home state, Hawaii, to practice at the East Honolulu Pet Hospital before heading home to Maui to open his own hospital. Dr. Dressler consults both dog lovers and veterinary professionals, and is sought after as a speaker on topics ranging from the links between lifestyle choices and disease, nutrition and cancer, and animal ethics. His television appearances include “Ask the Vet” segments on local news programs. He is the author of The Dog Cancer Survival Guide: Full Spectrum Treatments to Optimize Your Dog’s Life Quality and Longevity. He is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, the Hawaii Veterinary Medical Association, the American Association of Avian Veterinarians, the National Animal Supplement Council and CORE (Comparative Orthopedic Research Evaluation). He is also an advisory board member for Pacific Primate Sanctuary.
Hi Roxanne,
Get her to the vet. Nothing can be determined online, she needs an exam, and in the meantime you are only worrying. That’s just wasted effort and doesn’t help either of you. Make the appointment please and once you know what’s going on, you’ll have a better focus. Good luck!
I’ve noticed my baby girl has some blood coming from her nipples. She turned one in July and that’s when she went in her first heat. Should I be scared? Isn’t she too young to have this dog cancer??
Hi Stephanie, Well, it’s possible that it is mammary cancer, but only your vet can do the test to know for sure. And your dog’s age does not matter as much as how healthy and happy she is. When there is any kind of lump, the best action is usually to cut it out, so if your vet feels that your dog is OK with surgery, please consider it if you can. If is is a cancer, diet is very important, and you can find the best Dog Cancer Diet on the main blog page. Good luck.
my dog got a lump on nipple back one i wud say it inch by inch now she fourteeen vet say not no if cancer or not but she not leaking anythink but it feels hard and told me three weeks ago come back in three weeks that next tuesday and i feel she to old for op an told me if cancer need to op on her i not no wot to do,,love her so much u think it cancer
Hi there i have a staf shes 7 and ive noticed a lump in her tit and its been leakin woth all different fluid and now its bloody fluid what could this be could it be cancer?? Many thanks
Yes Kirsty, it could. And it could be some other things that could be treated. Please get her to your vet as soon as possible. Good luck.
Thank you for the article – just read while googling for further input. Regarding the comment about “can be done with a dog standing too”, in my own malamute bitch’s case a small lump directly below the nipple could not be felt when standing but was easily detected when on her side: even the slightly larger lump noticeable on/near the surface – which I’d presumed to be possible irritation from grooming in the first instance – was not that easy to detect when standing.
Lying on the side and checking the uppermost row of nipples, then rolling over and repeating, definitely seems to give a better “feel” for anything unusual than rolled on her back, and certainly vs. still standing.
Just my 02c, anyhow (and vet consultation to follow on Monday).
Thanks again & Best wishes to y’all : )
Hi Victoria,
Well done for noticing this and for asking for information early! It is certainly possible that it is a bite, or perhaps she got caught on something outside. If it appeared suddenly this is very possible. There has been a delay with me responding to you, so you may have already noticed a change. My advise is to keep an eye on it and measure it….. take a photo of th lump with a quarter next to it. In a week take another photo of it next to the quarter. Don’t panic and don’t think the worst. If it remains the same, gets bigger or begins to have any type of discharge, please see if you can get her to the vets for a check-up. You can phone ahead and ask what the charge would be, and maybe get some help with the fee. It should not cost very much for them to just have a look at it, but further tests they might feel necessary could add up. Take it one step at a time. And, well done for rescuing your girl. You’ve given her a wonderful new life, and I’m confident it will be a long one with you being one the ball with your observations. Feed her good, real food, not cheap commercial dog food, and enjoy every day. Good luck!
Hi I have a (we believe) dachsund pitbull female dog. She is about 2 years old according to vets. I rescued her off the streets not long ago. She has not been spayed and i just found a big lump about the size of a small lemon on her lower left nipple. I haven’t seen this or noticed this at all until today and she always lays belly up so i think i would’ve noticed it. My mom thinks its a bite of some sort because there is two little scabs on it,so i guess it could look like a bite. Im very concerned because my mom thinks im crazy to say that she might have cancer. What should I do. I dont have an income of my own to take her to a vet. Please help! Thank you!
Hi
My female Maltese (8yrs) has never had puppies or been fixed. She has a small lump under the skin 2 cm from her 3rd nipple, towards the middle of her tummy. It’s about the size of a pinky fingernail and has smaller lumps around or underneath it. Is there a chance this could be cancer or a fat deposit? I cannot get her into the vet until next week and am really worried. There is no other signs or symptoms and causes her no discomfort. She has a small hernia further down but has never been a problem.
Thanks.
Hi Georgia, You’re right to get this checked out, but there is no problem waiting until you can go next week. (I assume the vet knows about the Hernia.) Nothing major will change in those few days, but your job is to keep an eye on the lump and stay calm and positive. Take a photo of the area, with a coin next to the lumps if they’re visible, then before you go to the vets take another photo with the same coin, for perspective. In the unlikely event that there are any changes at all, these will give your vet a good visual to work with. It is an easy area to aspirate the lumps if you vet or you feel that you want to know for sure. In my book, it’s always better to know, but go with your instincts. Don’t worry. You’ve found it and you’re taking action. That’s the most important step at this time. Give your girl a cuddle from me. All the best!
I have an 11 year old lab with a mass in the glands near her back legs. It was noticed 3 weeks ago. Iv decided against surgery because it wont prolong her life and i would sooner her enjoy whats left. The mass has further lumps around it and it was leaking pus. The vet put her on synulox but it wont clear up. She is showing no signs of pain or discomfort. When that time comes i know i will have to be brave and make the decision to put her to sleep. My question is hiw ling can they live with it and do they show signs of pain. Wgat do you look out for??