Heroes Rescue 12-Year-Old Dog From Euthanasia—But Then They Make a Heartbreaking Discovery
A 12-year-old dog in an Arizona shelter was facing euthanasia due to a mammary mass, a common fate for many medical cases in overcrowded facilities.
Fortunately, Serenity, a pitbull mix, was rescued by Love Them All Sanctuary + Rescue, a Scottsdale-based organization. The rescue not only saved Serenity from euthanasia but also provided her with the critical treatment she needed.
Serenity underwent surgery to remove the mammary mass, which was identified as a bleeding melanoma tumor that had been hanging from her body.
Healing With Love
The rescue was able to pay for the dog’s surgery due to the generous donations from the people willing to help Serenity. Following the surgery, the senior dog was placed in a foster home where she got a chance to recover as well as receive immense love and care.
However, a week after sharing about Serenity’s successful operation, the rescue posted another update on Facebook. They informed their followers that the tumor had returned as malignant. It’s unclear what’s next in store for Serenity. But for now, she is a happy dog at her foster home, playing with her toys, and enjoying life to the fullest in her golden years.
Source: Facebook
Seeing Serenity’s story, many social media users left heartfelt messages for the dog. Facebook user, Sue Berry Gun, comments, “She looks so healthy and happy! Thank you for saving her 💜💜” Meanwhile, an Instagram user, Kristen Kinney, wrote, “She is precious – carrying her stuffy is everything !!! ❤️❤️❤️”
What are Mammary Tumors in Dogs?
Mammary tumors are a common occurrence in dogs, particularly in sexually intact females, where they are the most prevalent form of neoplasia, according to a veterinarian, Karin Sorenmo.
If you see online pictures of mammary tumors in dogs, it is natural to feel concerned for your dog. But it is important to note that only 50% of mammary tumors are malignant, whereas the other 50% are benign mammary tumors. It is the malignant mammary tumor that indicates mammary cancer in dogs.
So, every mammary mass will not mean that your dog has cancer.
Symptoms of Mammary Tumors in Dogs
You might be wondering what does a mammary tumor look like or feel like. If you browse through the canine mammary tumors pictures online, it won’t help in clearing things out for you.
A veterinarian at Banfield Pet Hospital Carrollwood Village Center, Dr. Michael Kearley, states, “A female dog’s mammary glands should be soft and pliable, and there shouldn’t be any lumps or firm swellings. If you happen to notice a lump, have your dog examined by a veterinarian immediately.”
Canine mammary tumors can cause many other symptoms, as per Dr. Kearley. Some of them are given below:
- Unusual tiredness or lack of energy
- Decreased appetite and weight loss
- Respiratory issues like coughing
- Tenderness, warmth, or pain at the tumor site
- Weakness
Causes of Mammary Tumors in Dogs
Dr. Sorenomo says, “Prolonged exposure to estrogens and progestins is associated with increased risk of mammary tumors in dogs. Female dogs that have undergone ovariohysterectomy (OHE) prior to their first estrus and male dogs have a very low incidence of mammary tumors.”
Therefore, spaying your dog can significantly lower the likelihood of canine mammary gland tumors. Dr. Kearley notes, “The likelihood of a dog spayed prior to her first heat cycle developing a mammary tumor is about 0%.”
He further adds, “Even though only about half of these tumors are cancerous, any tumor should be taken seriously and tested for further diagnosis.”
Diagnosis of Mammary Tumors
If your dog’s mammary mass can be touched, the vet will physically examine it. According to Dr. Kearley, “benign tumors feel like small-well-defined, firm masses, while malignant tumors feel stuck to underlying tissues, are not easily moveable, and have indistinct borders.”
The vet can also perform basic blood work on your dog to assess your dog’s overall health and detect any potential underlying conditions.
Additionally, they can carry out a Fine Needle Aspirate (FNA), which is a simple, outpatient procedure where a needle is gently inserted into the mass to collect cells for laboratory analysis. This test provides valuable insights but may have some limitations.
For a more detailed understanding of the mass helping in guiding the treatment decisions, the vet can recommend a biopsy. A biopsy involves surgically removing a tissue sample from the mass or skin and sending it for further examination and diagnosis.
In the event of the diagnosis confirming cancer, your vet may recommend abdominal ultrasound and chest radiographs. This is so because “most mammary tumors spread, or metastasize, to the local lymph nodes, chest, and possibly the liver.”
Treatment of Mammary Tumors
Generally, surgery is the recommended treatment for mammary tumors, according to NC State Veterinary Hospital. In their words, “Surgery is the only treatment required for benign tumors and some malignant tumors.”
However, some dogs are more likely to have tumors come back or spread after surgery. This includes dogs with big or aggressive tumors or tumors that have already spread. But surgery can still help, and multiple tumors can be removed at the same time.
Dr. Kearley explains, “Chemotherapy and radiation can be used if the tumor is too large, has been incompletely removed through surgery, or has already metastasized.”
Non-cancerous tumors may not require surgery at all unless they are causing any discomfort for the dog or for any cosmetic reasons. But they must be monitored for any signs of growth or any other changes.
When it comes to surgery for mammary gland tumors in dogs, there are five options to consider:
- Lumpectomy: Just removing the tumor.
- Simple Mastectomy: Removing the tumor and the affected mammary gland.
- Regional Mastectomy: Removing the tumor, gland, and nearby tissues.
- Radical Mastectomy: Removing the entire chain of mammary glands on one side.
- Bilateral Mastectomy: Removing both chains of mammary glands.
Each option has its own benefits and risks, and your vet can help you decide which one is best for your dog.
Preventing Mammary Tumors in Dogs
The most effective way to prevent mammary tumors in dogs is to spay them, ideally at a young age. Dr. Kearley asserts, “If you adopt a dog who has had litters in the past or an unknown history, it’s important to have a conversation with your veterinarian to determine spay options in order to limit any further mammary gland issues. “
