Our English Bulldog is nine and has never been spayed, because we always meant to breed her once and then life got in the way. I was rubbing her belly last night and found a firm lump next to one of her nipples, about the size of a marble. She is completely herself, eating, walking, bossing the house as usual. Is this likely to be cancer, and have I left it too late by not spaying her?
Two separate questions in there, and the answers pull in different directions, so let me take them one at a time.
On the lump itself: do not let her being completely herself reassure you, and equally do not assume the worst. A firm lump beside a nipple on an older unspayed female is exactly the presentation that needs a veterinary examination rather than a few weeks of watching, and the reason has nothing to do with how she is behaving. Mammary tumors are often found on a dog who is bright, eating well and showing nothing at all. That is normal, not a reprieve. What your veterinarian will want to establish is what the lump is made of, whether there is more than one, and whether anything has travelled, and no amount of feeling it through the skin answers any of those.
On whether you have left it too late: for preventing this particular problem, the window that mattered most was early in her life, and I am not going to pretend otherwise. But that is a reason to act now, not a reason to carry guilt. A great many owners meant to breed once and did not, and I had this conversation in the consulting room more times than I could count. Spaying her is still very much worth discussing, both because of what else it takes off the table and because your veterinarian may want to do it in the same anesthetic as any lump removal rather than putting her through two.
What I would do today is telephone and get her in. Take a photograph of the lump beside something for scale, and tell them when you first noticed it. She sounds like a dog who has plenty of life in her, which is the best possible position from which to deal with this.
Introduction To MGT Breast Tumors in Bulldogs and French Bulldogs
Bulldog mammary gland tumors primarily originate from the breast tissue and are more frequently encountered in intact, older female Bulldogs. These tumors rank as the top tumor type diagnosed in intact female Bulldogs, while occurrences in males are infrequent.
Given the high prevalence of mammary gland tumors in intact female Bulldogs, proactive measures such as spaying are critical.
Early intervention can significantly improve outcomes and reduce the likelihood of malignant progression.
MGT Breast Tumor In Bulldogs and French Bulldogs / TYPES:
There are two common types of bulldog breast tumors: the first is benign with an excellent prognosis, and the second is cancerous with an unfavorable prognosis
#1 BULLDOG MAMMARY CANCEROUS ADENOCARCINOMA:
Approximately 50% of mammary gland tumors in bulldogs are malignant, mostly classified as carcinomas; they are aggressive, usually larger, and often ulcerative, can spread to local lymphatics, and by the time of diagnosis, 50% have already metastasized to the lungs.
#2 BULLDOG MAMMARY ADENOMA BENIGN TUMORS
The remaining 50% are benign and mostly characterized as adenomas; they are often smaller in size.
It’s important to recognize that enlargement of the breast or findings of “growth” are not always tumors. Examples are
- Cystic
- Mastitis: often includes cloudy, milky discharge
What Causes Mammary Gland Breast Tumor In Bulldogs?
The primary cause of mammary gland tumors in dogs, including bulldogs, is hormonal influence, with estrogen and progesterone playing significant roles.
Estrogen often referred to as the “heat hormone,” is highly implicated as a major contributing factor to the development of these tumors. This hormone, associated with the estrous cycle, has a direct impact due to the presence of estrogen receptors in the breast tissue.
Progesterone known as the “pregnancy hormone,” also contributes to the risk of developing mammary tumors. Like estrogen, progesterone affects mammary tissue through its receptors located in the breast, further establishing the hormonal link to these tumors.
OTHER
- Genetics
- Obesity & Diet
- Stress
- Carcinogens
The conversation nobody has in time
Of everything on this page, this is the part I would put in front of an owner with a young female Bulldog, and it is the part nobody wants to sit through. The timing of a spay changes the odds on this disease more than anything either of us does later. Not a little. Meaningfully.
The reason owners put it off is almost never neglect. It is a plan to breed her once, or a worry about anesthesia in a breed that has every right to make you worry about anesthesia, or simply a year that got away from everyone. I understand all three, and the third is the most common by a distance. But the decision quietly expires. By the time a lump turns up, spaying her is still worth doing for other good reasons, and the benefit against this particular disease is largely behind her.
If you are reading this with a two year old girl asleep on the sofa and no firm intention to breed from her, that is the conversation to have at your next visit. If you are reading it with a nine year old and a lump, do not spend the evening on what you should have done. Spend it ringing your veterinarian. The dog in front of you is the one we can still do something for.
Mammary Gland Tumor In Bulldogs and French Bulldogs DIAGNOSIS:
Mammary gland tumors (MGT) in dogs can present in a variety of ways, ranging from a small, subtle mass that may be as tiny as a bird’s beak (referred to as “BiBi” size) and buried within the breast tissue, to a large, hard, and easily detectable growth. Given that dogs possess an extensive mammary chain with multiple breasts, far more than the two typically found in humans, it’s crucial to thoroughly examine the entire mammary chain for any abnormalities.
#1 BREAST EXAM
This regular examination is particularly important for intact older female dogs or those that were spayed after experiencing their second heat cycle, as these dogs are at a higher risk of developing mammary gland tumors. Detecting these tumors early can significantly improve the management options and outcomes for the affected dog.
When checking your dog for MGT, it’s important to gently palpate each mammary gland, feeling for any lumps, bumps, or changes in texture. Any irregularities should prompt a visit to the veterinarian for a more comprehensive evaluation, which may include a biopsy to determine the nature of the growth.
OTHER DIAGNOSTIC TESTS FOR SUSPECTED BREAST TUMOR:
- Blood, CBC chemistries, and urine analysis
- FNA: needle aspirate of the mass for cytological exam
- biopsy for histopathology of the mass and any suspected local lymph nodes
- Chest and abdominal radiographs for any suspected cancerous breast mass
- Abdominal ultrasound
How To Prevent Breast Mammary Gland Tumor in Bulldogs?
#1 SPAY: The most critical prevention is spaying your bulldog before her first heat, around 6-7 months of age, or no later than after her first heat. This measure will reduce the former by 99% and the latter by more than 90%.
Your bulldog chance of having a breast tumor is near zero if spayed before her first heat cycle
#2 OTHERS:
- A quality-balanced diet
- Lean body weight
- Relaxed, stress-free home
- Avoiding carcinogens and toxins
#3 BULLY THERAPEUTIC ANTI CANCER SUPPLEMENTS:
- V4B Bully Immune Support: medicinal mushrooms
- V4B Bully HEMP Calm & Relax
- V4B Bully Probiotics: healthy bowl microbiome
- V4B Bully Multivitamins: Anti-oxidants
- V4B Bully Fish Oil EFA: anti-inflammatory
What I tell owners about supplements on this page
I sell supplements for a living, so take this as straight rather than modest: nothing on my shelf treats a mammary tumor. What treats it is the operation your veterinarian plans, informed by what the laboratory says, and where it is needed the advice of an oncologist. If anyone offers you a jar that shrinks a breast tumor, close the tab.
Where my range honestly belongs is around that plan rather than instead of it. She is an older Bulldog with everything that goes with being an older Bulldog, and she may be facing an anesthetic, a recovery and a stretch of restricted activity. Joint and mobility support, a sensible multivitamin, fish oil, a probiotic to settle a gut that antibiotics have been through, something for the anxiety of repeated visits. These may help her feel more like herself while the real work is done elsewhere. They complement what your veterinarian has prescribed, and they replace no part of it.
One thing I would actively discourage, and it comes up every time cancer is mentioned. Please do not start a long list of immune boosting products on the strength of what you read tonight. Beyond the fact that none of it treats this, a dog heading into surgery is a dog whose veterinarian needs to know exactly what is in her system. Bring the bottles to the appointment. Not a list from memory, the actual bottles.
How To Treat Mammary Gland Tumor (MGT) in Bulldogs and French Bulldogs:
Whenever possible, the breast tumors are removed, and if your bulldog is not yet spayed, the procedure should be performed at the same time
#1 MGT SURGICAL REMOVAL:
Surgical removal of mammary gland tumors is almost always recommended. The choice between a lumpectomy (removal of the lump and a small margin of surrounding tissue) and a mastectomy (removal of one or more mammary glands) depends on the size, location, and stage of the cancer, as well as whether it has spread.
#2 LYMPH NODE REMOVAL AND BIOPSY:
Checking the lymph nodes for cancer spread is crucial. If the nearby lymph nodes are enlarged or suspected of containing cancer cells, they are often removed during the surgery for a biopsy. The presence of cancer cells in the lymph nodes can indicate a more aggressive disease and the potential for cancer to spread to other parts of the body.
#3 ONCOLOGIST MGT CONSULT:
Oncologist: If the biopsy results show that cancer has spread to the lymph nodes or if there are other factors suggesting a high risk of metastasis, consultation with a veterinary oncologist is recommended. They can provide advice on the best course of action, which may include chemotherapy or other systemic treatments.
BULLDOG BREAST TUMOR REMOVAL TIP
Before removing a suspected or known cancerous mammary tumor, chest radiographs should be taken to rule out visible metastatic disease. If found, mastectomy is not recommended due to the grave prognosis, pain, cost, and anesthetic risk.
What treats this is an operation, planned by your veterinarian around what the laboratory finds, and sometimes the advice of an oncologist on top. There is no supplement, herb or powder that shrinks a mammary tumor, and anyone telling you otherwise is selling you a story at the worst possible moment.
What my range is for is the dog going through it. She is likely an older girl facing an anesthetic, a wound, and a stretch of being told to rest when she would rather not. Joint and mobility support, a sensible multivitamin, fish oil, a probiotic for a gut that antibiotics have been through, something for the anxiety of repeated visits. These may help her feel more like herself while the real work happens elsewhere. They complement what your veterinarian has prescribed and they replace no part of it.
If that is what you want, the cancer and tumor support range is the honest place to start. Take the bottles to her next appointment so the person operating on her knows exactly what is in her.
See the cancer and tumor support range →
To be clear: nothing here prevents, diagnoses or treats a mammary tumor or any other cancer. Diagnosis and treatment are decisions for your veterinarian. This page is educational only and is not a substitute for veterinary examination, diagnosis or treatment.
She is bright and eating. Does that mean it is probably benign?
No, and this is the single most common reason a mammary lump gets left. Dogs with these tumors are very often completely well in themselves, eating, walking and behaving exactly as usual. How she feels tells you about how she feels. It says nothing about what the lump is made of. The laboratory is the only thing that answers that, and it answers it quickly and inexpensively compared with the cost of waiting.
She is older and unspayed. Is spaying her now still worth it?
Worth discussing, certainly, though be clear with yourself about why. Most of the benefit against this particular disease comes from spaying early in life, so doing it now is not buying that back. What it does do is take other problems off the table, pyometra among them, and your veterinarian may well want to do it in the same anesthetic as any lump removal rather than putting a Bulldog through two separate procedures. That last point is often the deciding one in this breed.
I am frightened of putting a Bulldog under anesthetic.
That is a reasonable fear and I would never talk anyone out of it, because this breed does carry more anesthetic risk than most. The right response is not to avoid the anesthetic, it is to make sure the person giving it knows what they are dealing with. Ask directly how they handle brachycephalic patients, what monitoring they use and how she will be watched while she wakes up. A practice that is comfortable with Bulldogs will have ready answers. There is a whole page on this that goes through what to ask.
There is more than one lump. Is that much worse?
Not automatically, and owners frighten themselves badly on this point. More than one mammary lump is a common finding, and they are not always the same thing as each other, which is exactly why each one has to be assessed rather than judged as a group. Your veterinarian may map them so that any change between visits is obvious. What matters is that the assessment happens, not the count.
It was removed and the report came back well. What now?
That is the good version of this story and it is worth being pleased about. It is not a reason to stop running your hands over her. A dog who has grown one of these may grow another in a different gland, so the habit of checking, and of having anything new looked at rather than watched, is what you carry forward. Your veterinarian will set what follow up suits her particular case.
Will changing her diet or adding a supplement help?
Not in the way the internet promises, and I say that as someone who sells supplements. Nothing you feed her treats this. What good nutrition and sensible support may do is keep her in better general condition through an operation and a recovery, which is worth having but is a much smaller and more honest claim. Please do not let it crowd out the conversation about the surgery itself, and show every bottle to the vet treating her.
More Help from Dr. Kraemer
Mammary tumors sit inside the wider picture of lumps and cancer in this breed, and the spay decision connects them to more than one page.
- Tumors, growths and cancer in Bulldogs and French Bulldogs
- Mast cell tumors in Bulldogs and French Bulldogs
- Spaying Bulldogs and French Bulldogs, risk and reward
- Pyometra, the other reason the spay conversation matters
- Anesthesia and sedation in Bulldogs, risks and safety
- Prevention and wellness guide for the senior Bulldog
If you have a question about your own dog, the Exam Room Q and A is where owners send them.
References
- Mammary Tumors, American College of Veterinary Surgeons
- Ovariohysterectomy, American College of Veterinary Surgeons
- Drugs for Cancers and Tumors, Merck Veterinary Manual
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