|
|
Back
This information is provided by
Provet for educational purposes only.
You should seek the advice of your
veterinarian if your pet is ill as only he or she can correctly advise on the
diagnosis and recommend the treatment that is most appropriate for your pet.
Cancer is common in
animals, just as it is in humans, but some breeds of dog are more likely to
develop certain types of cancer than others. It has been known for a
long time that some pure breeds of dog are more likely to develop certain
types of cancer than other breeds of dog, or crossbreeds. The reasons why some
breeds are more susceptible to certain forms of cancer than others are not
known, but there are some clear cut associations :
Breed(s) |
Type of Cancer |
Linked characteristic |
Giant and large breeds of dog - German Shepherd,
Great Dane, Golden Retriever, Doberman Pinscher, Irish Setter, Irish
Wolfhound, Rottweiler, St Bernard |
Bone cancer (osteosarcoma) |
Large skeletons with rapid growth rate and associated
biomechanical pressures - compression and stress - on growing points in
the bone. |
Short-nosed (brachycephalic) breeds eg Boston Terrier |
Cancers of the skin, mammary glands, testicles and brain |
Short-noses . Link unknown - possibly a link to poor
oxygenation of blood if airway obstruction is present or circulatory
disturbances due to anatomical configuration |
Long-nosed breeds (doliocephalic) - Collies, German
Shepherd Dog, Shetland Sheepdog,
Possibly : Labrador Retrievers, Golden retrievers |
Cancer of the nose |
Long noses - so increased surface area of tissue to be
exposed to inhaled substances that might cause cancer - called
"carcinogens" |
Boxers |
Predisposed to develop a wide range of cancers in a
variety of tissues including the skin, testicles, mouth, bone, and lymph
tissues. |
Genetic predisposition |
Cocker Spaniels |
Predisposed to develop cancer in several tissues
including : the skin, mammary glands, mouth, pharynx (throat) and around
the anal region . |
Genetic predisposition |
German Shepherd Dogs |
Cancer of the bone, testicles, nasal, mouth and pharynx
(throat) |
Genetic predisposition |
Dark coated breeds - eg Scottish terrier, Cocker spaniels |
Malignant melanoma |
High concentrations of melanin in skin and hair |
With mapping of the canine DNA sequence (the canine genome) well underway
it is probable that genetic factors that might lead to the development of
cancer (so called "oncogenes") may be identified in the future, and
this could lead to controlled breeding programmes to eliminate the
risks. Much more work is needed to determine what environmental and
other factors are involved in increasing risk in some breeds of dog. For
example a link between bladder cancer and living in industrial regions has
been shown, as well as an increased incidence of lung cancer and cancer of the
tonsils in dogs living in urban areas. In the meantime veterinary medicine
concentrates on early diagnosis of cancer and implementing treatments
including one or more of the following, as soon as possible :
- Surgical removal
- Chemotherapy
- Radiotherapy
- Hyperthermia
Updated October 2013
|