Mammary Tumor Growths Large and Small

By David G. Wolf, NGAP Director
Posted:November 23, 2016

Mammary tumor growths in female dogs and cats is not such an unusual happening. It is certainly better to have it removed when they are small. First, the surgery itself will be much less expensive and there is a greater possibility that it will not be malignant. Of course, there is the discomfort experienced by the dog. The photographs of the dog in this writing show one very large mammary tumor and one very small mammary tumor.

Right:Large Tumor Right: Close-up of small tumor

I can imagine how uncomfortable it was for this dog to carry around a baseball-sized tumor. The surgery itself was much longer and the procedure more difficult. In these situations, we will end up dissecting the tumor out so it does not reoccur. The end result of this large tumor was a very long incision, considerable longer healing time, and more discomfort during the healing process. If you see a mammary tumor on your dog, have it checked by your veterinarian and keep in mind the benefits of early removal.