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DOG BREEDS AND CANCER

First broadcast on www.provet.co.uk  


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