Scientists at PetDx (La Jolla, California) have found that large dogs, males and purebreds tend to get cancer at a relatively younger age. The research was published in the journal PLOS ONE.
Cancer is the leading cause of death in pet dogs. In dogs, as in humans, early detection can lead to more effective treatment. New non-invasive blood tests (“liquid biopsy”) can detect tumor DNA long before other signs of cancer appear. However, there are no official guidelines on when to start scanning.
The study included 3,452 dogs diagnosed with cancer. Scientists have found that dogs weighing 75 kg or more are diagnosed with cancer at an average age of five. Smaller dogs weighing between 2.5 and 5 kg were diagnosed with cancer at age 11.
Purebred dogs developed cancer at the age of 8.2 years and mestizo a year later. In the “youngest” cancer mastiffs, St. It has been seen in St. Bernards, Great Danes and bulldogs. The Bichon Frize took the longest. Other risk factors were male gender and no history of castration.
The results mean that all dogs should begin cancer screening at age seven, but for some breeds, screening can be beneficial even at age 4.
Source: Gazeta
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