Just returned from my vet after I found a lump on the my dogs stomach.  He says its a mammary lump, probably cancerous and should be removed and that she should be spayed at the same time.  I voiced my concerns about subjecting my 10 year old bitch to such an operation and wondered why he would not just remove the lump.  My vet is not very chatty and just said its best.  No tests have been carried out on her and I am just wondering if this is the normal thing to do?

Although she has started drinking and panting a lot she seems in good general health...................advice please.

Hi

I know it is easier said than done but after my recent experiences I will no longer have suspected tumours removed from my dogs (do a search on    Fennel  going back about 100 days, the thread is called Mammary Strip).

Fennel is the second bitch I have lost as a result of mammary cancer as I also lost her G. Grandmother to it.

I am now of the opinion that:- there is no point in operating on lumps because if it is cancer the dog is going to die at some point from it and if it is not cancerous then the dog will live.  If opened up then it seems to spread faster and to other organs.

I have just got back from the vet with Fennel's mother who has, over the last few months developed various lumps and bumps (she is also ten) and my vet is of the opnion that they are just fatty lyphomas (sp?) and nothing to worry about. 

Some mammary lumps are affected by hormones - my first bitch was spayed over two hears before she developed cancer.

If she is panting a lot she could have trouble with her lungs - did you mention this to your vet?.

I would never advise you what to do in this situation as you have to feel, whatever happens, you have done your best for your girl, I just know that having done it twice and "lost" I will not do it again.

I agree Kerioak.  My experience in the parlour is that bitches who have mammary lumps removed, last a much shorter time than those who are left alone.  Mammary lumps "tend" to be secondary, and although the most obvious and visual, they haven't been lumps that have caused the bitches' demise. :(
Not a nice decision to have to make though!

How big is the lump and how long has she had it. What breed is she and what would you expect the normal life span to be. Sorry for the questions but they are things I would take into consideration when making a decision for myself and therefore before I make comment on your situation.

I've no experience of mammary tumours but I'm puzzled as to why he wants her spayed at such a great age (unless to prevent pyometra)  I always understood that they had to be spayed young to have any effect on mammary tumours. 

Kath.

Sometimes hormones play a part in mammary cancers and it is thought that if they no longer have seasons then this stops the surges that can trigger faster growth

Shes a tibetan terrier and has had the lump about 6 months and it seems to be slowly getting bigger in the past few weeks - the vet did not seem particularly concerned on our first visit to him.  She has had no season for the past 18 months.  The vet did mention that if she wasn't spayed then she would develop pyometra ( thanks I had forgotten the word) the lump is about 2" across and I suppose and inch deep and is moveable. 

Thanks for all the replies - I will look back on some of the older threads as you suggest.

A couple of years ago our family pet - Amy, 13 year old Yorkie had mammary tumours, they were small at first and the vet took some cells from them with a needle to help identify them.  The vet suggested the options which included a general anaesthetic, full mammary strip/spaying.  There was no way we were putting Amy through that at her age and we knew how badly she took a GA after a dental a few years previous.  We decided to leave her be as she was fine in herself.  Gradually they grew and grew (in the meantime she was ok in herself, went for walks, had a play etc) and about 10 months later they grew so big that they started to bleed, not only this she really was on deaths door and appeared in great pain, this happened very quickly and the following morning we said goodbye and the vet came round to the house where Amy was PTS.  I dont mean to sound depressing but my point is that we dont regret a thing - I cuddled her while she was PTS and although i cried, I felt at ease with the decision - her time just came and there was no denying she was in pain.  I would have hated for her to go through a full mammary strip for the lumps to just come back (which the vet said was likely.)  I'm sorry I sound morbid but I am passing on my experience and opinion - I have no regrets.  Good luck, and get all the explaining you need from your vet if he/she isn't very helpful then maybe a second opinion?
Sarah
Also, Amy had trouble with her breathing at times, she had a lump on her chest area and it was noticeable as the lumps grew bigger.