[150class]

I read here on RTF today that 60-80% of Goldens die from cancer. I find that very very very hard to believe. Can anyone verify that?

 

[RexG]

From the GRCA website Health menu, Understanding Cancer in Golden Retrievers:

http://grca.org/health/cancer.pdf

 

[150class]

Interesting read
Thanks for the link

 

[labraiser]

golden cancer rate

It's true. I have been treating my female lab for breast cancer. She is doing well for 8 months now. Every time I go to the canine oncologist, it's full of goldens. I ask the vet and said she is doing a study and the rate is about 50% cancer in all goldens. Sad but true.

Scott

 

[150class]

but according to the above link - the average life span of a Golden is similar to a Lab. Is it affecting Goldens that late in life that its not bringing down the average life span?

 

[Creek Retrievers]

I hate to say this, but every golden we have owned and has gone over the rainbow bridge, has passed away from cancer. Both died from Hemangiosarcoma at 10+ years. I have an eight year old female currently in remission after being diagnosed with lymphoma. She has been given six months to a year and her treatment was for free through a cancer study at UW Madison Veterinary school.

I am not looking to blame anyone for cancer in goldens because if you ever bred a golden litter, you might have produced a dog with cancer. Looking at field goldens in particular, there is very little genetic diversity. When you do a heavy line breeding to a certain dog(Joe Smoe) for a certain trait, you also get Joe Smoes bad traits too. Genetics, traits, hereditary only play one part of the equation. The other part of the equation is the environment. I have heard theories from carpeting to truck exhaust seeping into the truck bed causing cancer. It is important to know what causes cancer, but it is more important what will be done with the information in the future to secure the breed.

The biggest part about canine cancer is that there is not enough research to formulate an accurate thesis. Canine cancer overall is on the rise, labs included. If you have a golden with cancer or any breed for that matter, donate a biopsy for more research. If you are fortunate to get your dog into a study or a drug trial, then do so. I bred my eight year old female who has lymphoma and I wonder about the future or how many of her offspring will come down with lymphoma.

 

[EricW]

Part of issue with a growing rate of cancer in my opinion is dog life expectancy is up. So older living dogs creates the ability for cancer's to develope in a weakening body. The few cows I have known that people kept till they died of old age also died of cancer. May be a fact of nature for animals.

 

[Sue Kiefer]

It is the combination of factors.IMHO
The over use of canine vaccines, the high this and that in our dogs food, what is in the ponds they swim in and the land they run on, and the high degree of their genetics is what is killing our breed.
They absolutely have no immune system left to fight.
And I might add that Becky is right when she says that it isn't isolated to one or a couple of lines. It's in them all.
Sue

 

[ErinsEdge]

Part of issue with a growing rate of cancer in my opinion is dog life expectancy is up. So older living dogs creates the ability for cancer's to develope in a weakening body.

I think cancer killing dogs in the 3-5 year range, which is what I keep hearing of, can't be considered a disease of old dogs. It seems from what I have observed, that Goldens either live very old or die quickly young.

 

[Creek Retrievers]

Part of issue with a growing rate of cancer in my opinion is dog life expectancy is up. So older living dogs creates the ability for cancer's to develope in a weakening body.

I think cancer killing dogs in the 3-5 year range, which is what I keep hearing of, can't be considered a disease of old dogs. It seems from what I have observed, that Goldens either live very old or die quickly young.

I agree Nancy. I have heard of goldens dying from cancer at 20 months of age and obvious something genetically and environmentally went wrong. If it was just a case of old age, then that is something completely different. Plus old age is in the eye of the beholder. I feel a golden at 8 years of age is just beginning its senior years. Plain and simple, cancer in goldens is not just affecting older dogs.

 

[EricW]

Part of issue with a growing rate of cancer in my opinion is dog life expectancy is up. So older living dogs creates the ability for cancer's to develope in a weakening body.

I think cancer killing dogs in the 3-5 year range, which is what I keep hearing of, can't be considered a disease of old dogs. It seems from what I have observed, that Goldens either live very old or die quickly young.

I agree Nancy. I have heard of goldens dying from cancer at 20 months of age and obvious something genetically and environmentally went wrong. If it was just a case of old age, then that is something completely different. Plus old age is in the eye of the beholder. I feel a golden at 8 years of age is just beginning its senior years. Plain and simple, cancer in goldens is not just affecting older dogs.

My point wasn't to argue that, I am just saying that if they are taking the overal dog/breed population and cancer rate is going up, part of the issue is longer living dogs. Another factor is back yard breeders.

Not to mention that with todays communication abilities (i.e. www and email), more involved record keeping and research, and increased knowledge and vet services, we are becomming more informed of the issues at hand.

 

[dbuzzard6]

Cancer Prevenative

here is a cancer prevenative - it could be what your feeding........or maybe what your not feeding, quality food . You won't have to worry about food recalls with this food. I quarantee this food and have fed it for 7 years. This woman's dog died of cancer - she was so frustrated she researched dog food for years and decided what was on the market was not good enough for her dogs. I agree, you can read all about her, her research, and cancer in dogs on this website and THE DOG FOOD !!!

www.kumpi.com