Dog Breast Cancer Rate Surpasses Humans. Does your dog have a lump or a bump you have been wondering about? The American Kennel Club discussed this with integrative veterinarian Dr. Carol Osborne. Approximately half of mammary tumors are malignant, says Dr. Carol Osborne, DVM, an integrative veterinarian in Chagrin Falls, Ohio, and half have metastasized by the time they are initially diagnosed. But she adds that prevention of mammary tumors is possible in many cases. Therefore, keep an eye (or better yet, a hand) out for a lump on your dog. If you come across something that seems suspicious, play it safe and do not wait to go to your vet. Once examined, a licensed veterinarian can perform a biopsy if she deems it necessary.
The prognosis — the likely outcome of the disease — depends on factors such as tumor size, how far the cancer has spread in the body, tumor type and grade, and other pathologic changes seen in the tumor tissue. According to Dr. Osborne, dogs can live several years after the complete removal of some malignant mammary tumors
Continue reading interview with Dr. Carol Osborne at AKC.