Millie the 6 year old Pomeranian is having a mammary gland tumor removed today. Most mammary tumors develop because of spikes in female hormone (estrogens) that take place during a dog’s heat cycle. By spaying a dog at 6 months of age it virtually eliminates the risk of getting mammary tumors, which starts at only about 0.5%. Once a dog goes through one heat cycle the risk increases to 8%. The risk increases to 26% after the second heat cycle !!! (says the American College of Veterinary Surgeons). If a dog is spayed after 2 years of age there is no more protection from mammary tumors but you can still help prevent pyometra (deadly infections of the uterus) & ovarian cancers. Did you know that over 25% of non-spayed female dogs will develop mammary tumors? This is a huge percentage! #spayandneuter#spayandneuter #pomeranian#pomsofinstagram #mammary#mammary #breastcancerawareness#dogsofinstagram #dogstagram#dogstagram #petsofinstagram#petsofinstagram #bocaraton#bocaraton #boca#bocamidtownevet #southflorida#southflorida #palmbeach#palmbeach #aaha#aaha #bocavet#bocavet