Study Finds Dog Breeds Most Prone to Getting Cancer
It's hard to see our dogs struggle with health problems, especially something as serious as cancer. As with many health issues, what kind of dog you have could affect just how likely they are to develop the disease.
Scientists published their latest findings on cancer in canines in the Royal Society Open Science journal. According to the study, there are four breeds in particular that they found have a sizable risk of dying from cancer: Scottish terriers, Bernese mountain dogs, bullmastiffs, and flat-coated retrievers. Flat-coated retrievers in particular had a significantly higher risk of cancer mortality.
Bigger size in humans is often associated with higher cancer risk, but that apparent correlation doesn't exactly translate to man's best friend. "You have things that range in size from a chihuahua up to a mastiff, or a Great Dane," study lead author Leonard Nunney said. "So there's a huge range of size."
Still, the researchers did find that large dogs—though not the largest ones out there—generally have the highest risk of developing cancer. The biggest breeds seemingly have a lower cancer risk because of their short life expectancy. "[It's] simply because they're dying younger," Nunney said.
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For flat-coated retrievers, the biggest oncological issue they face is sarcoma, a rare cancer that quickly develops in their bones and soft tissues. The team also found a concerning trend with terriers, especially Scottish terriers. They found the small dogs have a higher likelihood of developing cancer than previously thought, with bladder cancer specifically showing up in big numbers.
If you have one of the dogs in question, make sure your pup is up-to-date on their vet visits and keep them as active as possible.
