Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Chemical exposure linked to lymphoma in Boxer dogs study
By Braman, Samantha L. et al.·Published in Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine·2025·School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison Department of Medical Sciences, , Madison, Wisconsin,·View original on Crossref →
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Original publication title: Environmental Chemical Exposures in Boxer Dogs With Multicentric Lymphoma
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of 20 Boxer dogs diagnosed with multicentric lymphoma (a type of cancer) were studied to see if their illness was linked to exposure to certain chemicals. The research found that these dogs were more likely to live in urban areas and had higher levels of a benzene metabolite in their urine compared to healthy Boxers. This suggests that exposure to benzene, possibly from indoor sources, might be connected to their cancer. If this link is confirmed, using activated carbon air filters and specific house plants could help reduce benzene levels in homes.
People also search for: Boxer dog lymphoma causes · benzene exposure in dogs · indoor air quality for pets
Abstract
Abstract Background Multicentric lymphoma (ML) in dogs has similar clinical features to human non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). NHL has been linked to herbicides and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), direct exposures to these chemicals have not been evaluated in ML. Hypothesis/Objectives ML in pet dogs was associated with herbicide and VOC exposures. Animals Twenty pet boxer dogs with ML and 20 unaffected pet boxer dogs enrolled across the United States between 2021 and 2024. Methods Prospective case–control study. Dog owners completed an environmental questionnaire and submitted dog urine, drinking water, and household air samples for analysis of the herbicides 2,4-D, glyphosate, and atrazine and the VOCs benzene, 1,3 butadiene, and trichloroethylene. Area Deprivation Indices (ADI) and USDA Rural–Urban Continuum Codes (RUCC) were assigned to all dogs based on home address. Results Boxers with ML were more likely to live in more urban counties (median RUCC 1, range 1–6 for cases, vs. median 2, range 1–8 for controls; p = 0.032). Urinary concentrations of the benzene metabolite S-phenylmercapturic acid (PHMA) were higher in dogs with ML (median 1.03 ng/mg creat, range 0.00–1.53) compared to control dogs (0.54 ng/mg creat, range 0.09–4.73; p = 0.031). Odds ratios for exposure to the benzene metabolite MUCA were higher in cases vs. controls, even when controlled for urbanicity (OR 1.01, 95% CI 1.00–1.02; p = 0.035). Conclusions and Clinical Importance ML in boxers might be associated with benzene exposures. If this association is causative, indoor benzene exposures could be remediated with activated carbon air filtration and certain house plants.
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Search related cases →Original publication on Crossref: https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.70230