In a wrap up of the Cornell Veterinary College canine genetics seminar held on January 21 in Ithaca, oncologists Dr. McEntee and Dr. Hume looked at three additional cancers that are commonly seen in dogs.
Osteosarcoma is a cancer of the bones. While this tends to be a cancer of mature adults in dogs, it is often seen in children in humans. This is a cancer that tends to strike large dogs. In fact, dogs weighing over 30 kg have a 60 times greater risk of developing osteosarcoma than dogs weighing under 10 kg. With breeders of St. Bernards, Irish Wolfhounds and Leonbergers in the Utica/Rome area of upstate NY, this is a cancer that concerns local residents.
A familial pattern of inheritance has been seen in some breeds. So while a genetic predisposition has been suggested for large breed dogs; in these breeds, a genetic connection has been conclusively shown. These breeds are St. Bernards, Rottweilers and Scottish Deerhounds.
Amputation is often part of the therapy for this cancer. This may be done by your local veterinarian or you may be referred to Upstate Veterinary Surgical Center in Canastota or Veterinary Medical Center of Central NY in East Syracuse. Cornell is another option. If limb sparing surgery is a possibility, Cornell may be the recommended site.
Hemangiosarcoma is a cancer of blood vessels. It tends to strike the skin, the spleen and the part of the heart called the right atrium. The skin version is the least malignant but may be influenced by solar exposures. If you have a thin skinned, white pigmented dog, try to keep him inside from 10 am until 3 pm and use sun lotion to minimize his UV exposure.
The other forms of hemangiosarcoma are very aggressive. Even with surgery to remove the spleen combined with chemotherapy, only 20 percent of the dogs affected are still alive at one year. Many dogs are simply found dead, having shown no symptoms, when a large area of the tumor ruptures and they bleed out internally.
Transitional Cell Carcinoma or TCC is a cancer of the bladder. This cancer has been closely linked to herbicide and pesticide exposures. Female dogs and overweight dogs have an increased risk of this cancer. Scottish Terriers are the "poster breed" for this cancer. Interestingly, Scotties can reduce their risk of this cancer by 70 percent if they eat vegetables three or more times per week.
This seminar was a wonderful day of learning and sharing sponsored by the Medical Genetics Service at Cornell. A new DNA Bank is being established at the college to help future researchers. Having a number of blood samples on hand to draw from will speed up research projects and keep costs down. If your dog is headed down to Corrnell for an appointment, consider making a doantion of blood and/or money to the DNA Bank to help future dogs.
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