Are bigger dogs more at risk of developing rare bone cancer?

RVC researches have developed a new study that has found giant dog breeds are up to 118 times more likely to develop a rare form of bone cancer than their cross-breed equivalent.

Their osteosarcoma analysis will help vets observe clinical signs associated with the disease and would-be owners to avoid getting dogs bred with more extreme features.

Read the full article on Vet Times here.

Lead author Dan O’Neill said: “Given that dogs are recognised as man’s best friend, every dog owner in return has a responsibility to be a dog’s best friend.

“We can fulfil this responsibility by ensuring that no pet dog is born into a body shape that puts them at substantially increased risk of disease.

“This new study once again flags the costs that dogs pay for our human drive to own dogs with extreme body shapes that do not occur in nature.

“By choosing instead to own pet dogs with natural body shapes, we can each do our bit to put the health of the dog above our human whims.”