A possible link between canine sterilization and the development of
hemangiosarcoma has been identified by a scientific investigation of data
from the Golden Retriever Lifetime Study that was published in
Veterinary and Comparative Oncology. Although researchers have previously indicated this unexpected result,
little is still known about it.
The probability of identifying hemangiosarcoma is continuously low in all
sexes and neutering statuses up to around age eight, according to the
scientists. Past this juncture, male dogs that have been neutered or remain
intact are equally susceptible to acquiring the illness. It's interesting to
see that intact females constantly have a lower diagnostic probability than
any other sex/neutering status. Meanwhile, in female spayed animals, the
probability of diagnosis rises.
Among the participants in the Golden Retriever Lifetime Study,
hemangiosarcoma is the most often diagnosed malignancy. About 90% of dogs
who are diagnosed with this illness die within a year, making it an
exceptionally lethal disease. Not many dogs live more than two years, even
with intensive treatment.
Dr. Alison Hillman, a Senior Epidemiology Consultant at Ausvet and one of
the study's researchers, stressed the need for more investigation into any
possible link between sterilization and canine cancer and urged the
inclusion of more data from older dogs. She also mentioned that future
research focusing on the connection between sterilization and
hemangiosarcoma will shed light on additional possible causes.
"This information may also be of value in the context of translational
research, as hemangiosarcoma is rare in humans and thus difficult to study,"
Hillman stated. "Lessons learned through research in dogs may inform
prioritization of investigations in humans, given the similarity between
dogs and humans regarding the clinical and pathological features of this
tumor, and the relative similarity in genetics between the two species as
compared to, for example, mice and humans."
Chief Program Officer Kathy Tietje of the Morris Animal Foundation, who was
also engaged in the project, stated, "Analyses like these are possible
because of the availability of data from the Golden Retriever Lifetime Study
through Morris Animal Foundation's Data Commons."
"This analysis serves as a fundamental research tool, with potential for
further use by other scientists to generate hypotheses and design their own
studies," she stated. "It also underscores the immense value of the Study's
resources for scientists actively engaged in this field."
