Dog Update - Summer 2022 - 7

Dog Update
same exposures are consistent with
risk factors for lymphoma in people
and suggest an interaction between
breed and environmental chemicals.
" It could be that there are a lot of
small gene defects that add up or a
gene defect in breaking down environmental
chemicals, which don't show
up unless a dog is exposed to these
chemicals. We are continuing to try
and understand these interactions. "
The ongoing research of environmental
chemical exposure in Boxers with
lymphoma involves a new case-control
study that measures specific chemicals
in the urine of Boxers with the cancer to
unaffected Boxers, as well as in household
tap water and household air. " We
are measuring urine metabolites of VOCs
such as benzene, " Dr. Trepanier says.
" Benzene is found in air pollution, diesel
exhaust and cigarette smoke and is
known to cause lymphoma and other
cancers. We hope to learn more about
its effect in dogs. "
BETTER UNDERSTANDING
OF BLADDER CANCER
Much like the lymphoma research,
Dr. Trepanier's ongoing research of
bladder cancer in dogs is looking
directly at urinary chemical concentrations
as well as household chemical
exposures in bladder cancer cases
compared to unaffected controls. The
researchers are measuring metabolites
of acrolein and arsenic, both found in
air pollution, in dog urine as well as
in household dust, tap water and air.
They also are measuring these chemicals
in the urine of owners of dogs with
bladder cancer and comparing it to
the urine of owners of unaffected dogs.
" We hypothesize that a dog with
bladder cancer might be a 'flag' for a
home with higher concentrations of
certain chemicals, which could also
be exposing people sharing the same
household, " explains Dr. Trepanier.
Reflecting on what motivates her
research, Dr. Trepanier says, " We want
to better understand the environmental
risks for dogs that already are known
to have a high breed predisposition for
bladder cancer or lymphoma. We are
trying to identify those environmental
risks because they can be modified
even if the dog's breed inherited risk
cannot be changed. "
Dr. Trepanier is gearing up to begin
another study of chemical risk factors
for lymphoma in Golden Retrievers.
" We expect to have more information
on environmental cancer risks in Boxers
and Golden Retrievers in the next couple
of years, including whether particular
chemical exposures were at a level high
enough to have caused DNA damage
in canine lymphoid cells, " she says.
The results of these studies should
provide owners with specific, evidencebased
advice on ways to help protect
their dogs, even those at higher breed
risk, from these cancers. A toolkit to
identify environmental chemical risks
that often go unidentified in the home
could save the lives of people and
dogs. n
LOOKING TO REPRINT?
Dog Update articles may be reprinted
provided the article is used in its
entirety and in a positive manner.
To request permission to reprint
this article, please contact the editor
at: Barbara.Fawver@purina.nestle.
com. Reprints should include the
following attribution: Used with
permission from the Dog Update,
Nestlé Purina PetCare.
7
PHOTO: DEREK GLAS

https://www.akcchf.org/research/research-portfolio/2780.html https://www.akcchf.org/research/research-portfolio/2780.html https://www.akcchf.org/research/research-portfolio/2780.html https://www.akcchf.org/research/research-portfolio/2780.html https://www.akcchf.org/research/research-portfolio/2780.html

Dog Update - Summer 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Dog Update - Summer 2022