Canine mammary tumors: a bibliometric and visualized analysis from 2009 to 2025

BACKGROUND: Canine mammary tumors (CMTs) are the most common neoplasms in intact female dogs. Although the number of publications on CMTs has increased steadily over recent decades, a comprehensive overview of the knowledge structure, research hotspots, and evolutionary trends in this field is still lacking. METHODS: Publications related to CMTs were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection without restrictions on language or document type. Bibliometric and visualization analyses were conducted using CiteSpace (version 6.3.1) and VOSviewer (version 1.6.20). Co-authorship, co-citation, and keyword co-occurrence networks were constructed to identify influential countries, institutions, authors, core journals, research themes, and emerging trends. RESULTS: The annual number of publications on CMTs showed a long-term increasing trend and has remained relatively stable in recent years, indicating a mature research stage. Brazil, the United States, and Italy were the most productive and influential countries, forming the core of the international collaboration network. A limited number of institutions and author groups dominated the field, with strong intra-group collaboration. Keyword and co-citation analyses revealed that histopathology, molecular expression, prognosis constitute the central research themes. Temporal and burst analyses indicated a shift from descriptive pathology toward molecular characterization, prognostic evaluation, reflecting the increasing depth and complexity of research in this field. CONCLUSIONS: Research on CMTs has evolved from morphology-based studies to increasingly molecular and clinically oriented approaches. This bibliometric analysis clarifies the intellectual structure and developmental trajectory of the field and provides a systematic reference for future research on CMTs.