Altered Mutagen Sensitivity as a Predisposition to Cancer in Golden Retrievers

Results:

Study Observes that Golden Retrievers Are Genetically Predisposed to Cancer

Cancer is the number one cause of death in dogs over the age of 2, and an estimated 60 percent of Golden Retrievers die of cancer. Research in human medicine is beginning to indicate that an individual’s ability to repair DNA correlates with his or her susceptibility to cancer. The results of this study, funded by Morris Animal Foundation and the Golden Retriever Foundation, confirmed that Golden Retrievers with lymphoma have higher levels of DNA damage than healthy Golden Retrievers or healthy mixed-breed dogs. These results suggest that inherited deficiencies in the ability to repair DNA may contribute to the development of lymphoma in Golden Retrievers. The information learned in this study may help scientists develop prevention strategies for canine cancer.

D07CA-506
Dr. Douglas H. Thamm, VMD, Colorado State University