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Peer-reviewed veterinary case report

How histiocytic sarcoma shortens life in Bernese and Flat-coated

By Erich, Suzanne A et al.·Published in Veterinary journal (London, England : 1997)·2013·Department of Companion Animals, Netherlands·View original on PubMed

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Original publication title: Causes of death and the impact of histiocytic sarcoma on the life expectancy of the Dutch population of Bernese mountain dogs and Flat-coated retrievers.

Species:
dog

Plain-English summary

Bernese mountain dogs and Flat-coated retrievers are at a higher risk for serious health issues, particularly a type of cancer called histiocytic sarcoma. This study found that more than half of the deaths in these breeds were linked to tumors, with histiocytic sarcoma being a significant cause. In fact, about 14% of all Bernese mountain dogs and Flat-coated retrievers died from this specific cancer. This highlights the importance of ongoing research and awareness regarding these breeds' health issues, especially concerning cancer.

People also search for: Bernese mountain dog cancer symptoms · Flat-coated retriever life expectancy · histiocytic sarcoma treatment in dogs

Abstract

Bernese mountain dogs and Flat-coated retrievers are predisposed to hereditary oncological diseases. Since 1986 several authors have reported a high prevalence of tumours in both breeds, especially malignant histiocytosis/histiocytic sarcoma, which has a negative influence on life expectancy. However, many earlier reports included relatively low numbers of dogs, distributed over a small number of broad categories, often using outdated disease criteria. The aim of this study was to provide new data on causes of death, and the relative role of tumours, especially histiocytic sarcoma, collected and verified in a large number of dogs of both breeds in co-operation with dog owners and veterinarians. The study demonstrates that the death of at least 55.1% of Bernese mountain dogs and 63.8% of Flat-coated retrievers is associated with malignant tumours. In addition, it appears that over 1/7 of all Bernese mountain dogs and Flat-coated retrievers die because of histiocytic sarcoma. This emphasises the need for further research on tumours, especially histiocytic sarcoma.

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Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24231621/