Dogs More Prone To Cancer
New studies have found that certain dog breeds are more likely to get dog cancer than the rest. Because of this research, the notion that larger dogs are more likely to get cancer has been disproven. It is in fact proven that larger dogs do not have a higher risk of getting cancer. its the small or medium sized dogs that do.
However, there are a few breeds that are considered to be large that has a high chance of getting dog cancer. These being the Flat Coated Retrievers, Bernese Mountain dogs, and the Westies.
Biologist at the University of California, Leonard Nunney, said that him and the researchers were looking to find the way cancer starts and progresses. As well as how this is linked to the dog’s breed. Nunney has pointed out that in humans, the correlation to cancer and the size is true.
But it is not the same for dogs. He has explained that the reason why larger dogs are not more likely to get cancer is because they do not live as long as smaller dogs do. “That’s simply because they’re dying younger,” said Nunney explaining the reason why.
Is There an Exception to This Rule?
Nunney states that flat coated retrievers are prone to a specific type of dog cancer. This is a rare cancer that affects their bones and their issues. Another breed that may be considered a large breed that is prone to cancer is the Terriers. However, it is more specifically the Scottish Terriers that are prone to the dog cancer.
This cancer is known as bladder cancer and is most likely to not get detected in time. These are a few exceptions to the research made. Even though they are large breeds they have different reasons for getting cancer that is not their size.
Some good news is that even though cancer is most likely to develop in medium size dogs, not many breeds that fit the criteria are bound to get dog cancer. Studies found that genetic mutations were the main reason why these dogs were prone to cancer.
Nunney has noted that this model can be useful to monitor whether some breeds are more likely to get cancer than others. “Dogs are an extremely good model for understanding the genetic changes that may lead to a higher susceptibility of specific cancers,” stated Nunney.
Written by Erika Cano
Sources:
Dog Time: Dog Breeds With Higher Cancer Risk Uncovered by New Research
ABC News: These dog breeds have a higher likelihood of getting cancer, according to new research
Top and featured image courtesy of Krysta Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
Inset Image Courtesy of katieb50 Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
