Clinical and pathological prognostic factors in canine mammary tumors

In the present study, clinical and reproductive variables and pathological features were evaluated as prognostic factors in canine mammary tumor disease. Seventy-four female dogs free of distant metastases at diagnosis were followed-up during a period of 18 months after the surgical excision of mammary nodules. Age at presentation, tumor size, lymph node involvement, histological malignant grade and nuclear grade were proven to act as variables able to predict the overall survival time in dogs with mammary neoplasms. Disease free survival time was associated to the age, the presence of multiple malignant tumors, tumor size and ulceration of the skin.