Percepção dos tutores e distribuição espacial das neoplasias mamárias em cadelas atendidas em Hospital Veterinário de Salvador, Bahia

Abstract

Female dogs are frequently affected by mammary neoplasms. In Brazil, the frequency of malignant tumors is up to 90%, with many animals presenting metastases at the time of diagnosis. Early diagnosis, accurate medical management, strategic resources and the tutor's understanding and adherence to the proposed treatment are essential conditions for achieving good cure rates and improving the quality of life of these patients. In this context, the objective was to evaluate the epidemiology of mammary neoplasms in female dogs, the perception of the tutors in relation to the disease and the data stream for use in a Geographic Information System for a Veterinary Hospital for small animals. For this purpose, the CAP methodology was used for interviews with the tutors before and after the clinical consultation, consultation of the clinical records and exams for the collection of clinical-pathological data and spatial analysis of the bitches with mammary lesions by geoprocessing in the QGIS software. In order to analyze the HOSPMEV-UFBA data flow, interviews were conducted with employees who fed the clinical data registration system and asked about the main demands and information flow in the different sectors. At the end, both studies were submitted to statistical analysis. The results indicated that the epidemiological profile portrays more frequently SRD bitches, with a mean age of 10 years, not castrated, without a history of pseudocyesis or use of progestogens, with histologically identified tumors, mostly malignant, whose detection time on average was 210 days, and located geographically farther from HOSPMEV-UFBA, on average 15 km from the hospital. Most tutors are female, with an income of 1 minimum wage and high school education. Regarding the data stream for the HOSPMEV-UFBA, a deficiency in data collection was observed, largely due to the intense veterinary clinical routine in the hospital, shorter time to fill in the clinical forms and lack of a quality provider, in addition to the lack of knowledge of the GIS on the part of the physicians’ veterinarians. Based on the data obtained, it is concluded that income and education are determining factors for the continuity of oncological treatment in female dogs with mammary cancer, with the female gender being more sensitive to the demand for the veterinary medical service, presenting good perception and knowledge about the predisposing factors for cancer compared to males. HOSPMEV-UFBA has the potential to develop a GIS associated with collected clinical data, with improved data flow, allowing to encourage research in the area. However, it is necessary to disseminate information about the GIS tool and to increase the interest of the veterinary profession in this important resource.