Profile of owners of female dogs with mammary tumors

Mammary tumors (MT) are the most frequent neoplasms in dogs in Brazil. In this way, the present study aimed to profile, knowledge, and behavior of owners of bitches with MT in a veterinarian service. For this, 11 owners of female dogs who had consented for the mastectomies of their bitches were interviewed. While only one owner said they did not know that dogs could have mammary cancer, most did not know how to prevent canine mammary cancer, demonstrating the need for educational campaigns on the disease. Three owners stated that they used contraceptive drugs on their dogs several times. Eight owners reported that they had never consulted a veterinarian about the tumor. Most owners stated that they only sought help for the dog because participation in the project was free of charge, indicating that financial difficulties are a major reason owners delay consultations. It was concluded that lack of knowledge about the disease is still high among the owners interviewed, especially with regard to prevention. Therefore, the issue should be addressed more frequently by veterinarians in order to guide the owners.