I have an old girl.. She's 12. She's looney lol

She's not fixed. She was a show dog. Never fixed her after she retired... now there is a HUGE mammory tumor on her boob in the back.

Its always been there after every heat cycle for the past 2 years. It never grew. Its still squishy. Not a huge concern.

Now its HUGE, its hard... it looks ugly..

I'm going to get it looked at and tested for cancer. Her mama died 5 years ago to cancer, so it is a concern. However, this dog does not act sick in anyway. Her mama acted sick for a very long time until the vets did diagnose her with cancer of the bladder.

My question... would any of you opt to have it removed if the tumor is not cancerous? She's 12 years old. The last time she was put under for surgery on her mouth, she did not do good for days after. Very skiddish, unaware... Not something I want to put her through a lot.

She comes into heat for 2 or 3 days.. and then we get this tumor for 2 months. She doesn't appear to be in pain. Her personality never changes (like if she were in pain).

I heard, but haven't confirmed, that there is a shot to help dogs not come into heat. I would like that to be my alternative if she doesn't need surgery so that the tumor stays away... It really only does show up after her heat cycle. It's big now, but hasn't grown any.

Just thoughts and opinions... Remember, she's 12!

Here's a pic of her!

Ahh she's a doll. If it wasn't cancerous, I would not under go the surgery. Max had this weird growth on his ear, he is 10, it wasn't cancerous, but it just fell off one day. I know your girls tumor won't fall off, but it's not worth the pain to her.

At 12 years old I would be reluctant to do the surgery, it's not cancerous, it's not causing her any pain or discomfort, its just a little unsightly.

I personally haven't heard of the shot (it might just not be available here) We only have the male implant that makes them 'blind' to b*tches in season (which hasn't worked for my mums idiot dog)

She is so pretty.

I'm with Bella and Shaz. If it's not cancerous I'd leave it, as long as it's not bothering her.

Motion carried, don't subject her to anesthesia. It seems that's worse than the mastitis. We had a dobe that got mastitis after each heat. It never seemed to bother her. Strangely enough, when she was bred it didn't develop. Go figure.

Mammary tumours are very hard to diagnose with plain cytology, unless they are removed and sent to a histologist.
We do surgery on 12 year old dogs at least twice a week. With the proper protocols, it's quite safe (but there always is a risk). Heck we did a dentistry on a 21 year old Cockapoo last week.

If you do decide to get it taken off, get chest x-rays first. If it is cancer, then it may have spread to the lungs and there is no point in doing surgery if it's gotten there.

Also, with mammary tumours, besides being hard to diagnose and often cancers going un noticed, benign lumps around there, if left, have been known to become malignant.
Even if they aren't cancerous, due to the area they are prone to ulcerating and hindering a dogs ability to lay down. It will grow, and it will only get bigger. It'd be best to take it off now, even if it's not cancerous, then to risk taking it off in 2 years when her anesthesia risk will be even higher.