[Gpdd] HEALTH: tumours in unspayed females

[Patricia Simon]

> Do girl pigs often get breast cancer?

My understanding (and our experience) is that unspayed females often develop
ovarian cysts and uterine tumours when they get older.  I haven't heard of
any association with breast cancer or mammary tumours in unspayed females.

Two (2) of our 3 girls needed to be spayed when they were 4-5 years old due
to reproductive growths (cysts and tumours).  I've read estimates that
between 70% and 90% of unspayed females develop cysts and/or uterine tumours
later in life, so our "2 out of 3" experience may not be abnormal.

Spaying a female is more invasive, therefore riskier and more expensive,
then neuteuring a male GP.  It's a difficult decision to make.

Patricia