October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month for us humans, a very important reminder for us. However, it can also be an important reminder for our pups as well; they can get mammary cancer too. We have dealt with this many times here at Laber of Love. Our first case was with Jedi, who came to us with mammary tumors that needed to be removed right away because they were partially ruptured. Unfortunately, her cancer spread to her lungs.
Right now, we have 4 pets that came to us or developed mammary tumors while in our care – Ginger, Ruby, Rose, and Nevaeh. While we are hopeful that we have been able to catch these masses early on for this group of dogs, there is no guarantee that the Vet will be able to remove all of the cancerous cells; cancer could very easily spread to other parts of their bodies as it did with Jedi. With Nevaeh, we aren’t able to remove her masses at all because she would more than likely not even make it through the surgery. This is what we face when we get these dogs at the end of their lives. Not only do we hold them and care for them through any surgery they face along with the effects of cancer ravaging their bodies, but we also bear the burden of the cost as well.
But what if this didn’t have to happen? What if I told you that simply spaying your female dog when it is young can lessen the risk of your dog having this form of cancer? In fact, if you spay your female before its first heat cycle, you can reduce the chances of her developing mammary cancer to less than 1%. If spayed after the first heat cycle, the risk is still small – 7%
Who wouldn’t take those odds?
Mammary masses aren’t the only danger though. Pyometra is a dangerous infection of the uterus that can be life threatening if left untreated. This is another complication that can be avoided altogether if your dog has been spayed appropriately.
Finally, dogs can develop tumors in their uteruses. Although 85-90% of these tumors are non-cancerous, they generally develop during middle age to older dogs and are still dangerous. Another complication that would be completely avoided if the dog had been spayed at a young age.
Not only does spaying your female dog at a young age reduce the risk of mammary and uterine cancer or a pyometra, but the surgery is so much less invasive, and the recovery is easier for your pup as well. As an added bonus, you will be helping to control the pet population which is currently out of control. There are simply not enough loving homes for the dogs being bred right now. This is the easiest way that everyone can help the situation.
So help your dog live a much more fulfilling and happy life – spay her early in her life! This will save heartache, time, and money down the road for you too.
Nicole Laber, Fospice Mom, and Board Treasurer