October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month
October has a special meaning for many women. It’s a time of year set aside to raise awareness of breast cancer issues. In the spirit of breast cancer awareness month, let’s review how this cancer can affect our pets as well.
Canine and Feline Breast Exam
Our dogs and cats can’t follow the first rule of breast cancer awareness—the self exam. But, as conscientious pet owners, we can do a breast exam for them. Dogs and cats have a chain of mammary glands rather than just two breasts, so checking for lumps and bumps takes a little time. Here’s how it works:
- Have your dog or cat lie on their side and gently massage each teat and the surrounding tissue.
- Note abnormalities that can range from smooth pea-sized growths to lumpy larger masses.
Not all breast enlargements are tumors, so don’t be alarmed if you do feel something unusual. Nursing mothers or females in heat will have enlarged mammary tissue due to hormone-associated changes. Also, overweight females may have fatty deposits in the mammary area.
