Surgical management of mammary gland fibroma in a two-year old Boerboel bitch- a case report

Accurate diagnosis and prompt treatment of canine mammary tumours are crucial for achieving a positive outcome. A two-year and two months old Boerboel bitch weighing 40 kg was presented to the Veterinary teaching hospital (VTH) of the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike with a primary complaint of enlarged mammary gland. Physical examination showed that the caudal mammary gland was enlarged and firm, measuring approximately 12 cm x 8.5 cm but with no evidence of pain on palpation. The physiological parameters which included heart rate (110 beats/minute), pulse rate (110 beats/minute), rectal temperature (39.9oC), and Respiratory rate (15 cycles/minute) were within the normal ranges for dogs. The capillary refill time was less than 2seconds and the mucous membrane was normal. Fine needle cytology showed neoplastic fibroblasts while preoperative radiograph revealed no pulmonary metastasis. The patient was evaluated for surgical fitness and a simple mastectomy was performed under general anaesthesia. Xylazine-Ketamine anaesthetic protocol was used following a standard procedure. Histopathology of the excised tissue revealed severe proliferation of fibrous connective tissue that had disrupted the normal histologic architecture of the mammary gland which confirmed mammary gland fibroma. The patient made an uneventful recovery from anaesthesia and was given post-surgical treatment and care. One year post-surgery the bitch whelped successfully and there was no reoccurrence. It is obvious from this report that careful surgical excision of mammary gland fibromas using wide margins and ensuring complete elimination of the entire tumour not only cures the condition, but also ensures there would be no reoccurrence.