Mastopathy in dogs treatment. Mastopathy: first signs, treatment, prognosis. Physiological features of the disease

1. Tumor—,represented by newly formed tissue, in which changes in the genetic apparatus of cells lead to disruption of the regulation of their growth.

All tumors are divided depending on their potential for progression and clinical and morphological features into two main groups:

1. benign tumors,

2. malignant tumors.

There are 5 classic features of tumor tissue: atypia (tissue, cellular), organoid structure, progression, relative autonomy and unlimited growth.

Breast tumors occupy the second place in frequency of occurrence, second only to skin neoplasms. This pathology is relevant all over the world to this day. The main problem lies in early diagnosis and, accordingly, early treatment.

In more than 40% of cases, breast tumors are
benign.

The following signs are typical for tumors of the mammary glands of dogs: growth
in the capsule, multiplicity of nodes, complex histological structure and
wide morphological diversity.

Among the benign tumor conditions of the mammary gland in dogs, the following should be highlighted:

Mammalgia

Fibroadenoma

Leaf fibroadenoma

Mastopathy.

1. Mastodynia (mastalgia) - pain in the mammary gland. Cyclic
engorgement of the glands due to venous stagnation and swelling of the stroma
before estrus; at this time the mammary gland increases in volume
by more than 15%.

2. Fibroadenoma is a condition that is determined by dense elastic
consistency of the mammary gland, proliferation of connective tissue.
Fibroadenomas can be single or multiple, located in aqueous or several glands at once; they are often combined with mastopathy.
On palpation, fibroadenomas are defined as clearly defined dense
a rounded knot with a smooth surface that moves freely in the tissue
glands with pressure on it. Less commonly, fibroadenomas have a coarsely tuberous
surface. Their consistency varies, but they are always denser
mastopatic nodes. The skin over the nodes of fibroadenomas remains
unchanged.

The sizes of fibroadenomas vary: from very small, sometimes detectable
only with macroscopic studies, up to formations with a diameter of
several cm. In some cases, fibroadenomas grow quickly, reaching
large in size, occupying most of the mammary gland, deforming it; at the same time, they are clearly visible in the form of a protruding tumor node.

Leaf-shaped (phyloid) is a giant fibroadenoma consisting of
more cellular components than a typical fibroadenoma. This
forms that grow quickly reach large, sometimes gigantic
sizes. In cross-section, they have a layered structure, resembling sheets
folded book. Histological examination reveals growths of connective tissue rich in cellular elements, glandular ducts and cysts lined with proliferating epithelium, areas of intracanalicular and pericanalicular fibroadenomas.

3. Mastopathy is a fibrocystic disease,
characterized by a spectrum of proliferative and regressive changes
gland tissue with a violation of the ratio of epithelial and
connective tissue components. The main link in pathogenesis is a violation of hormonal regulation. Proliferative changes include hyperplasia, proliferation of lobules, ducts, connective tissue, and regressive processes include atrophy, fibrosis, and cyst formation. Histological changes consist of signs of adenosis, sclerosis, expansion of the ducts with foci of epithelial proliferation, combined in each case in different proportions, often with a predominance of one of the components.

Fibrocystic mastopathy (FCM) occurs in 70-75% of all cases
benign neoplasms in dogs. The peak incidence occurs at 6-8 years of age and is characterized by multiple and, as a rule, painful cystic formations, prone to changes during estrus.

2. Etiology

The etiological factors of malignant neoplasms are associated with specific tumor irritation, most of which are multifactorial in nature.
Under certain conditions, benign neoplasms can
degenerate and become malignant.

The following factors have etiological significance in the development of malignant tumors:

1.Physical factors.

Chronic damage: for example, with opisthorchiasis of carnivores, with
the effect of gall bladder stones on its wall is observed to be chronic
its damage, which can lead to tumors.

Chronic radiation exposure (radiation carcinogenesis):
ionizing radiation is now known to be carcinogenic
universal agent. The frequency and types of malignant and benign neoplasms induced by ionizing radiation depend on many factors, including the penetrating ability of their different types, the nature of the impact - external irradiation or internal (
inclusion of radionuclides, their organotropy), dose distribution during
time (acute, chronic, fractional exposure). So ultraviolet
irradiation can contribute to the development of skin tumors,
gamma radiation - respiratory systems, internal radiation can lead to the development of kidney and liver tumors (especially high levels of strontium and thorium).

2. Chemicals. More than 800 chemicals are known to have carcinogenic properties.

There are five groups of chemicals that are carcinogenic
action: polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, aromatic
amines and amides (nitrogen dyes, naphthalene, insecticides), nitrogen-nitrous
compounds, alkylating agents (benzyl chloride), organic carcinogens (arsene trioxide, asbestos) and, in addition, plant alkaloids. These chemicals interact in complex interactions with hormones, the genetic and immune systems, and viruses. By itself, a chemical substance sometimes does not have a carcinogenic effect, but under the influence of additional implementing factors it becomes so. In animals, tumors arise as a result of the synergistic action of a number of carcinogenic factors, initiating (strong carcinogens) and activating (cocarcinogens). A number of substances that are not considered carcinogens, in combination with other factors, can contribute to the development of tumors. Some substances can promote the development of cancer in the embryonic period.

Carcinogens can also form in the body itself; it's basically
metabolic products of sterols, amino acids, proteins, etc. they are to varying degrees
have an oncogenic effect. So, cholesterol is weak, and its
cholestadiene metabolites exhibit significant blastomogenicity
activity. In an experiment on mice, when these carcinogens were introduced into
the body managed to cause lung adenomas, leukemia and lung cancer in them.
Carcinolipin is isolated from yolk. When administered with food or under the skin
in mice or rats, it caused them to develop cancerous tumors. Carcinolipin stimulates protein biosynthesis. Derivatives of bile acids: deoxycholic and apocholic acids have a carcinogenic effect. Tryptophan derivatives - ortho- and aminophenols (intermediate products of the conversion of tryptophan into nicotinic acid) also have a blastomogenic effect - with their help it was possible to cause bladder blastoma.

3. Oncogenic viruses. The etiological role of viruses in the origin of tumors in many animals can be considered proven. Carcinogenic viruses are divided into DNA viruses (polynoma, papilloma, adenoviruses and herpes viruses) and RNA viruses or oncoviruses. The latter are divided into types A, B and C according to their ultrastructure. Under the influence of viruses, several types of genetic changes can occur in cells: integration of the viral genome into the genome of a normal cell, mutations, epigenomic changes.

4. Mutations. The hypothesis about the role of mutation in tumorigenesis was proposed in 1914
year of Bovary. There is now evidence that in cells
tumor, the structure of chromosomes is rearranged.

5. Epigenomic changes are persistent changes in genetic properties,
accompanying cell differentiation during embryogenesis. Unlike mutations and integration of viral genomes, epigenomic changes do not appear to be associated with irreversible changes in cellular DNA.

6. Genetic factors. A small number of tumors can occur as genetically determined diseases. Dependence on “tumor” genes is associated with the appearance of congenital or hereditary
neoplasms. They have been proven for approximately 50 types of tumors. TO
dominantly inherited tumors include basal cell carcinomas, neuromas,
osteochondromas, multiple lipomas, cervical polyposis,
neurofibromatosis.

Hereditary neoplasms can occur as congenital or
developing immediately after birth, but can also develop in
growing young animals or even adult animals.

7. Hormonal factors. Many studies have shown that high doses of hormones (for example, steroids), implantation or removal of endocrine glands (castration, removal of the thyroid gland) can lead to the development of various types of tumors. Thus, an increased amount of estrogens in the blood of animals causes endometrial hyperplasia; in a prolonged state of this kind, endometrial carcinoma can develop.

A high dosage of hormones during involution of the endocrine glands can
lead to the occurrence of uterine fibroids, adenomas of the endocrine glands, as well as
promote the development of prostate, uterine, and ovarian cancer. In
During pregnancy, benign breast tumors often form
iron Developing or existing breast carcinoma,
on the contrary, it grows slowly, and after the birth of the animal it can grow rapidly
spread.

6. Age factors, the influence of breed, gender, color of the animal on
the occurrence of neoplasms in the body. With increasing growth, development and age of the animal, fundamental changes in the genetic apparatus occur.

Tumors occur at all stages of life, but most often in adults or old animals. For example, in dogs and cats, tumors are most often registered at the age of 6 to 10 years (on average 8 years), in horses and cattle - from 5 to 13 years (on average 8 years), in chickens - at 2 years. However, some tumors (of viral etiology) also develop in young animals. Thus, papilloma in cattle, horses, dogs is observed at the age of no more than 2 years, lymphosarcoma - in dogs aged 1 to 2 years, osteosarcoma - in dogs aged 1 to 2 years. 4 years, and in cats more
at an early age.

The breed, color and gender of animals have a certain significance in the occurrence of tumors. Among dogs, tumors are more often recorded in boxers and terriers; squamous cell cancer of the eye is noted in Hereford cattle; melanomas occur predominantly in gray horses. Females are more susceptible to cancer than males, and the uterus, vagina, and mammary gland are especially often affected. However, there are tumors that equally affect animals of both sexes.

Tumor tissue arises from normal tissue by transforming the latter. There are three phases in the transformation of normal tissue into tumor tissue.

The first stage is the transformation of a normal cell into a pre-tumor cell, while only the reactivity of pre-tumor cells changes, but morphologically they do not differ from normal. This process is based on the induction of changes in chromosomal mechanisms by a carcinogenic stimulus. In this case, genetic information is disrupted, primarily the loci responsible for the formation of cellular structures.

The second stage is the transformation of a pre-tumor cell into a tumor cell, the multiplication of these cells and the formation of a tumor node. The transformation of a pre-tumor cell into a tumor cell is due to the fact that accumulated cocarcinogens induce a carcinogenic effect and thereby contribute to the occurrence of mutagenic changes in cells, expressed by molecular changes in various parts of the genome, changes in the organization of entire chromosomes, and disruption of the mechanisms of chromosome replication. Due to distorted genetic information, cells lose the ability to form enzymes and proteins with characteristic organ and tissue specificity, and acquire the ability to synthesize embryospecific and heterologous antigens (including on their surface), the normal antigenic topography of the cell surface changes. All this determines their malignant properties in the future.

The third stage is the automatic unlimited growth of tumor tissue, due primarily to its escape from the control of the body’s regulatory systems due to the lack of strict correspondence between the protein composition and homeostatic factors

The physiological mechanisms of cell interaction with the environment undergo significant changes during malignancy. A malignant cell loses its contact connections with neighboring cells of the tissue structure and specialized contacts with the nervous system. It has been established that the process of malignancy is in direct connection with the release of malignant tissue from the regulatory influence of the nervous system.

Tumor tissue, compared to normal tissue, is poor in nerve elements and nerve fibers (afferent) - they are located on the periphery of the tumor tissue.

They do not have a corresponding blocking effect on tumor cells and homeostatic factors, in particular hormonal ones, which inhibit the growth of normal cells.

Thus, the loss of regulatory innervation influences, the enrichment of a highly developed membrane apparatus (the apparatus of active energetic interaction of the cell with the environment of existence), a specific change in functional properties, and high resistance to an altering stimulus determine the unrestrained growth of cancer cells. They act as an independent, perfect, self-regulating biological system with a tendency to persistent unbridled growth.

Genetic factors undoubtedly play a role in tumor transformation, but direct inheritance of true tumors has not been established. A predisposition to the occurrence of tumors is usually inherited, which can manifest itself throughout the life of the animal when exposed to carcinogenic factors.

Carcinogenic substances sensitize tissues to the development of blastomogenesis. There are also a number of nonspecific factors (actinomycin, B vitamins - especially B 12, etc.) that create the “soil” for the manifestation of the action of carcinogens.

Mutation mechanism of chemical and physical carcinogenesis.

Impact of carcinogenic factor

Mastopathy in dogs is a tumor disease that develops in the mammary gland. Veterinarians encounter this tumor quite often in their practice. In the vast majority of cases, it is diagnosed in females whose age exceeds 6 years.

Often the 4th and 5th mammary glands are affected by this disease. The reason for this is their increased functional activity. Initially, one tumor begins to develop, but if treatment is delayed, it can develop into multiple ones.

Lumps in a dog's mammary glands are most often associated with estrus or pregnancy. At this time they increase. Normally, after this period they should return to their original state. In cases where this does not happen, pathology begins to develop, expressed in the appearance of abnormal formations.

Forms of mastopathy

Tumors in a dog's mammary glands can be of several types. They are often benign (60%), but some may be cancerous (40%). Since different types of cells are involved in the process, visual examination of the tumor does not make it possible to determine whether the neoplasm is benign or malignant.

Some scientists have argued that mastopathy in dogs is not a particularly dangerous disease. However, this is a misconception, since even a benign tumor without proper treatment can develop into a cancerous tumor.

Mastopathy is divided into fibrocystic and diffuse. With the development of the fibrocystic form, rapid proliferation of nodules occurs. This most often occurs in older animals. Such a seal can be single or multiple.

Often, diffuse mastopathy begins to develop before estrus (several days before its onset). In the absence of necessary therapy, it can develop into a fibrocystic form.

Most veterinarians consider mastopathy to be a disease that precedes cancer. That is why you should not delay contacting a specialist.

A photo of mastopathy in a dog is presented in the article.

Causes

Mastitis is considered the main cause of the disease. Most often, this pathology can be observed in females who gave birth to dead puppies. Another possible cause of mastitis is the contamination of the glands with pathogenic microorganisms or fungi. In the absence of timely treatment, inflammatory processes begin to spread and become the cause of mastopathy. In addition, a false pregnancy can provoke this disease. It is quite rare to see the development of mastopathy in a nursing female.

Symptoms

Symptoms of mastopathy in dogs can vary. However, the disease can be confidently identified by the following symptoms:

• significant enlargement of the mammary glands;

• granularity or veininess of the glands, detected upon palpation;
• presence of ichor discharge from the nipples;
• painful sensations in the area of ​​the mammary gland, accompanied by the dog’s attempts to lick it;
• rapid weight loss;
• complete refusal to eat and drink;
• manifestation of apathy and weakness;
• hair loss in areas where tumors form and increased skin temperature;
• the occurrence of ulcerative lesions.

The main sign that the disease has reached the malignant stage is a cough. The occurrence of this symptom indicates metastatic damage to internal organs.

Stages of mastopathy

Tumors often affect the 3rd-5th lobes of the mammary gland. The reason for this is their structure, namely the large volume of glandular tissue in these parts of the organs. Mostly the disease begins with the development of single small formations. If other lobes are involved in the tumor, then this indicates the occurrence of a serious pathological process, which indicates that the tumors have begun to spread. The consequence may be damage by metastases to the lymph nodes and internal organs.

The early stage of development of mastopathy in dogs is characterized by the presence of small single mobile formations in which there is no pronounced pain. The severity of the pathological process depends on the size of the tumors and their spread.

The cancerous process is characterized by a painful reaction, severe local hyperthermia and redness. The tumor does not have clearly defined boundaries, since the growth of malignant cells spreads to the surrounding nearby tissues. In this case, it is not possible to identify foci of inflammation. This is a consequence of the fact that the formation of a barrier between healthy and diseased tissues does not occur. A feature of malignant tumors is that they are immobile, as they grow together with muscles and skin.

The late stage of mastopathy development differs from others in the large size of the tumor. Its diameter can reach more than 20 cm, and its weight can reach several kilograms. At this stage, the site of tumor development is covered with skin defects in the form of non-healing ulcers and ulcers. There is a significant enlargement of the lymph nodes and when pressure is applied the dog feels severe pain.

Diagnostics

Diagnosis of tumor pathology in the dog’s mammary gland is carried out as follows:

1. Feeling the mammary glands of a female, who is first in a standing position, and then in a lying position. This is necessary to exclude the diagnosis of a hernia and detect the affected lobes.
2. Determination of pain, consistency, size and mobility of the affected areas.
3. Examination of all lymph nodes to which there is access in order to exclude the spread of metastases.
4. Carrying out tissue biopsy and morphological examination of material susceptible to pathology.
5. X-ray examination of the abdominal and thoracic cavities to exclude the presence of metastases in the internal organs.

In the initial stages of mastopathy there is rarely pain, even in cases where the diameter of the tumor reaches 10 cm and several lobes are involved. The formation has a clearly defined shape without inflammatory processes affecting surrounding tissues. The level of mobility and consistency density depend on the size of the formation.

Involvement in the pathological process does not occur immediately. With the development of mastopathy, an increase in lymph nodes and loss of their mobility is observed. However, no pain is observed. Also, to diagnose mastopathy, biochemical studies are carried out for the following hormones:

• follicle-stimulating;
• luteotropic;
• progesterone;
• estradiol

An increase in their level may be a sign of the development of mastopathy in a dog. However, it should be clarified that these same signs are not characteristic of developing pathologies of the reproductive organs. Thus, making a diagnosis based solely on biochemical results will not be correct. To be completely sure, a biopsy is necessary.

Biopsy

A biopsy is the most accurate way to identify a tumor. Imprint smears make it possible to conduct diagnostics, which will help choose the optimal treatment method. Carrying out a biopsy involves fixing smears with an absolute solution of alcohol and their subsequent staining according to May-Grunwald and azure-eosin.

Treatment regimen

In the initial stages, the veterinarian observes and examines the dog before and during each heat. Treatment of mastopathy in a dog can be carried out using homeopathic medicines that maintain a stable condition of the nodes or remove them.

If a diffuse form of the disease develops, the veterinarian prescribes hormonal therapy. If a fibrocystic form of mastopathy develops in a dog, surgery cannot be avoided. For older dogs, surgery is contraindicated. It can only be performed in case of heart or liver disease. Surgery does not always guarantee a complete recovery, as relapses may occur.

In cases where the dog’s tumor is very large and metastasis has already begun, there is no point in performing surgery. In rare cases, if it makes sense, the veterinarian may prescribe surgery to remove part of the growth. This will make it possible to prolong the dog’s life, but does not guarantee a complete cure.

Treatment at home

If for some reason it is not possible to visit a specialist, you can treat mastopathy in a dog at home. However, this should not be continued for a long time and the dog should be shown to a veterinarian as soon as possible. Since it is impossible to conduct at home the tests that a doctor will conduct to determine a treatment regimen, this visit should not be delayed. In addition, the owner may simply not know how to treat mastopathy in a dog, and his treatment will be ineffective, which will bring even more harm to the pet.

Self-treatment of the disease involves regularly applying a cool compress to sore nipples. You can massage them twice a day. To prevent stagnation of milk, it is necessary to apply it to the nipples of puppies. If purulent discharge appears from the nipples, it is forbidden to use puppies.

Possible complications

Lack of timely treatment can lead to the development of a number of complications in the dog. First of all, there is a threat of the formation developing into a cancerous tumor. If the tumor has reached the metastasized stage, then in most cases it is not possible to cure the animal and only proper care can help prolong its life.

Advanced mastopathy can cause the development of sarcoma, mixed tumor, adenocarcinoma.

The transformation of a tumor into a malignant one most often occurs in poodles, shepherd dogs, giant schnauzers and cocker spaniels.

Preventive actions

In order to avoid the development of mastopathy, it is necessary to regularly bring the dog for examination. Two visits a year will be enough. You can also give your dog medications to prevent the formation of nodules and cysts. One of the most reliable preventive measures is sterilization. Proper animal care and a balanced diet will also help prevent the occurrence of mastopathy.

Mastopathy in dogs is a benign tumor of the mammary gland. This is a fairly common phenomenon (more than half of all tumors) in dogs, which, as a rule, is found in females older than 6-7 years.

Most often, tumors occur in the fourth and fifth pairs of mammary glands; they are rare in the first and second pairs. This is due to the fact that it is the fifth pair of mammary glands that has the greatest functional activity. At first, a single tumor appears, and if no measures are taken, the tumors can become multiple.

The appearance of a tumor is usually associated with estrus, or false whelping. With these functions, the mammary glands always enlarge, and then return to their normal state. However, with pathologies, abnormal formations appear in the tissue. They can be elastic or soft, and can be visible through the skin.

Forms of mastopathy in dogs

Mastopathy can be diffuse and fibrocystic.

• Diffuse form begins with the appearance of pain in the mammary glands, which occurs a few days before estrus. This form may precede fibrocystic. When palpated in the mammary glands, a sensation of a bag of shot is noted.
• Fibrocystic form Characterized by the formation of dense painful nodes, which without treatment grow quite quickly. This form of mastopathy is more common in older dogs over 6 years of age. Seals in the mammary glands can be single or multiple and are always pronounced.

Symptoms

Since the fibrocystic form of mastopathy can have quite different symptoms and the most unpleasant consequences (including the formation of precancerous tumors), if signs of mastopathy are detected, you should consult a specialist as soon as possible or. An accurate diagnosis can only be made by examining the contents of the formation using histology.

Treatment of mastopathy

• At the initial stage of the disease, the doctor simply observes the animal and regularly examines it during pregnancy.
• It is also possible to use homeopathic medicines, which in a stable state can keep the nodes for a long time or even lead to their disappearance.
• Hormone therapy is also often used to treat the diffuse form of the disease.
• If mastopathy has a fibrocystic form and the tumor grows, surgical intervention is necessary. True, not every old animal will undergo surgery; it depends on age, concomitant diseases of the liver, heart, kidneys and the degree of tumor spread.
• As a result of the operation, the prognosis for further recovery is not always favorable; relapses and individual metastases may occur.

If it is large and metastasis processes have begun, the operation is already pointless. However, sometimes the doctor even in such a situation performs a so-called palliative operation: he removes the largest part of the bleeding or disintegrating tumor, and the remainder is treated with antitumor drugs. True, such actions lead to a slight prolongation of life, but not to the cure of the animal.