Spotted Calamity Jane, my Dalmatian, was 3 1/2-years-old when she was determined to have breast cancer. I spotted this when checking her breasts after she was near completion of breast feeding her litter of 11 pups. At that time my vet was not concerned that the little marble sized lump would turn out to be cancer thinking it was probably where a pup had bit her harder than normal while nursing.

I had already made the decision to have Cally spayed after this one and only litter, so I gave the go ahead to have my vet remove the lump in her breast and biopsy it for safety.  We were all shocked to find out the results from the tumor biopsy was indeed cancer. I questioned whether chemo or any other kind of treatment was necessary and my vet felt like all of the lump had been removed and that there should not be any alarm for it to grow or spread.

After that experience, I have done monthly exams on all of my dogs and felt them from top to bottom for any kind of lumps.  I advised all of my friends with dogs or pets to do the same. I also found out that spaying greatly reduces the chances of a female dog developing this condition. In those females spayed prior to their first heat cycle, breast cancer is very, very rare. The risk of malignant mammary tumors in dogs spayed prior to their first heat is 0.05 percent.  It is 8 percent for dogs spayed after one heat, and 26 percent in dogs spayed after their second heat. It is believed that the elimination or reduction of certain hormonal factors causes the lowering of incidence of the disease in dogs that have been spayed.  Early spaying is still one of the best things pet owners can do to improve the health and ensure a long life for their dogs.  So at 6 months old my other Dalmatian Kiva was spayed.

If you find a growth or lump in the mammary tissue of your dog, you should inform your veterinarian immediately and not take a wait and see attitude.  Thanks to that first surgery, I have had 9 more years to enjoy loving this valuable member of my family. Cally is now 13-years-old and has been lump-free until recently when we had more lumps removed from her after finding them during her monthly exams -- which by the way she loves and will roll over for you to rub her belly and gladly let you check her out. I have not found any lumps on Kiva who is 6 1/2 years old.