Community awareness in the municipality of Maricá-RJ about breast tumors in female dogs and cats

Abstract

Introduction: Breast tumor is the main neoplasm observed in bitches, and the third most common in cats. It is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in bitches and, especially in cats, it is generally malignant and has a high metastatic potential. Although this condition has a multifactorial nature, it was observed that the hormonal factor is one of the main predisposing factors. Objective: The objective of this work was to evaluate the knowledge of the community in the city of Maricá about mammary neoplasms in dogs and cats with the aim of raising awareness and disseminating information about early diagnosis and treatment. Materials and methods: Observational research carried out through an online questionnaire on the Google Forms platform open to the public and disseminated to dog and cat owners in the Maricá-RJ city via social media in the period from 01/05 to 31/07 2023. Results and discussion: 401 interviews were carried out with dog and cat owners in the city of Maricá-RJ. According to the survey, 53.3% of respondents admitted that they were not aware that unneutered cats and dogs can develop this condition; 71.8% do not know how to prevent it; and only 29.2% cited castration as an effective prevention method. Conclusion: The results highlight the importance of understanding breast tumors, their prevention methods, and the importance of regular veterinary care. Furthermore, it is necessary to disseminate information that early castration is a crucial measure for preventing mammary neoplasms in these species.