Published: 01 Apr 2021 | Last Updated: 01 Apr 2021 12:28:45

Osteosarcoma is a painful and aggressive bone tumour in dogs that is known to be more common in certain breeds than others. New research has now confirmed that larger breeds, such as Rottweiler, Great Dane and Rhodesian Ridgeback, have a greater risk of osteosarcoma than smaller breeds, as well as showing that breeds with shorter skulls and legs have lower osteosarcoma risk. The findings could inform future breed health reforms as well as studies into the way tumours develop from normal bone.

The study led by the University of Bristol Veterinary School in collaboration with Cardiff University and Royal Veterinary College (RVC) London, and using data from VetCompass™ and Veterinary Pathology Group (VPG) histology, looked at the epidemiology surrounding which dog breeds get osteosarcoma, and what this means for canine welfare. This study also shows the huge benefits from studying dogs as a model to study this cancer.

The study, published in Canine Medicine and Genetics, appears in this month's Northern Ireland Veterinary Today (Pages 36 - 38): https://nivettoday.com/digital/apr21/

The full study is available Open Access: https://cgejournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40575-021-00100-7