Humans have an increased risk of cancer as their bodies mature, but dog breeds are excluded from this theory
Contrary to popular belief, large breed dogs do not necessarily have a higher risk of cancer. Royal Society Open Science We found that large dogs, but not the largest dogs, were more likely to develop the disease.
The study's lead author, biologist Leonard Nanney of the University of California, Riverside, aimed to understand the development and development of cancer in the breed.
Professor Nanney said that while humans are at increased risk of cancer as their bodies mature, dog breeds were not covered by this theory.
“They come in all sizes, from Chihuahuas to mastiffs to Great Danes,” he said. ABC News. “So there's a huge range of sizes.”
Ranney said large dogs have a lower risk of developing cancer than medium-sized dogs because they typically die much younger.
“It's simply because they're dying young,” he added.
Nanney said West Highland White Terriers (also known as Westies), Bernese Mountain Dogs and flat-coated retrievers are the breeds “most prone” to cancer.
He revealed that a type of sarcoma, a rare cancer that forms in soft tissues and bones, is common in flat-coated retrievers.
Given their size, most terriers, especially Scottish terriers, are more likely to develop cancer than previously thought, Nanny said. He said terriers have a high incidence of bladder cancer.
Fortunately, because the disease is caused by a genetic mutation, the study's researchers say there are few dog breeds that are disproportionately susceptible to cancer.
They found that ancestry-based inbreeding reduces a breed's life expectancy but does not increase its overall cancer risk.
Professor Nanney said the model used in the study could be used to see if breeds were predisposed to certain cancers.
He believes dogs are a good model for understanding genetic changes that can increase susceptibility to certain diseases.
