October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. This disease does occur in our pets as well. Fortunately, almost all of it can be prevented by spaying your pet before her first heat cycle.

Dogs are particularly prone to breast cancers. Their bodies are not designed to cycle continuously without nursing pups. With every heat cycle their bodies go through a sixty day hormonal pregnancy regardless of whether they breed or not. This hormonal cycle continuously stimulates the mammary tissue for at least four months of each year. The constant stimulation leads to very high rates of cancer. Fortunately, 99% of canine breast cancer can be prevented by spaying young dogs.

While breast cancer is less common in cats, it does occur. Like in dogs, the risk is also drastically reduced when cats are spayed. Just like in people, reproduction and nursing reduces the risk of breast cancer in intact dogs and cats.

Great strides have been made in the treatment of cancer in pets. Many pets can be cured completely. All pets should see their veterinarian twice a year for a thorough physical examination and any new lump should be checked as soon as it is noticed. A simple needle aspirate can frequently differentiate between harmless masses and those that should be removed. Just like in people, cancers that are detected and removed early have the best chance of being cured.

Dr. Sara Lash is owner of Healthy Pets Mobile Vet and can be reached at www.drsaralash.com or calling 919-329-7387(PETS). Information included in this article credited to Dr. M. Watts.