Background: Fibroadenomatous changes (FAC) of the mammary gland in cats, represents a benign, progesterone-associated fibroglandular proliferation of one or more mammary glands that may occur in intact female cats at the time of puberty, during pregnancy or pseudopregnancy, or in female and male cats of any age under progestin treatment. Nowadays, the elective treatment of FAC is based on the progesterone antagonist aglepristone. This study aimed to report the treatment of FAC with a combination of drugs designed to preserve mammary gland integrity, even in pregnant cats.
Case Description: Eight sexually intact female cats with fibroadenomatous changes showed mammary glands that were symmetrically enlarged and inflamed in all cases and the skin was ulcerated in six cats. Four cats were on days 25-32 of pregnancy at presentation. Non-pregnant cats were treated with aglepristone and with a dietary supplement, containing maltodextrin and bromelain. The mammary glands were daily massaged with an Aloe vera emollient gel. If the gland was inflamed or ulcerated, broad-spectrum antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory treatments were given and ulcers were treated topically with a hypericum and neem-based cream. Two of the four pregnant cats were treated with the same therapeutic schedule plus cloprostenol to facilitate uterine emptying. Two pregnant female cats underwent all the same schedule but aglepristone to preserve litter. At term, they delivered respectively four and three kittens that were normally nursed and weaned after 40 days. In all the studied cases, the mammary gland reduced in size 2-3 weeks after the start of the treatment and completely remitted after 4-5 weeks.
Conclusion: This case series encourages the use of adjuvant therapy in course of FAC to preserve mammary gland integrity and functionality. Exploiting the natural decline of progesterone at the end of pregnancy (or pseudopregnancy) the therapy may be used also without aglepristone, when its use has other limitations.
Key words: cat, breast, tumor, aglepristone, hypericum, bromelin, aloe
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