AVALIAÇÃO DA PREDISPOSIÇÃO DE CADELAS E GATAS PARA A NEOPLASIA MAMÁRIA EM MUNICÍPIOS DO RIO DE JANEIRO

This study aims to identify epidemiological factors that could predispose the companion animals of Seropédica and other cities in Rio de Janeiro to the development of breast cancer, as well as to analyze the veterinarian's contribution inpreventing the disease. For this, questionnaires answered by tutors in an awareness campaign about breast cancer in bitches and cats were evaluated to identifypredisposing factors and risk to the disease, access to veterinary care and guidance on the topic. 1,143 questionnaires were analyzed, which revealed the presence of highly predisposing factors such as the predominance of females, of the canine species and of small canine breeds. The low average age of the population studied was the only factor that indicated a low predisposition. As for the risk factors analyzed, the predominance of non-castrated animals revealed a high risk of developing the disease, while the low occurrence of pseudocyesis and the use of contraceptives were not impact factors in this population. In addition, only 29.3% of tutors who took their animals for veterinary care were instructed on the disease and / or preventive methods such as castration. It is concluded that the analyzed population has a high predisposition to the development of breast neoplasms, which should intensify the training of the veterinarian to include preventive guidance during consultations, expand educational campaigns on the subject and castrations in the region of Seropédica and surroundings.