Page 72 - Chow LIfe - Summer 2022

surveys but may be in future ones. She pointed out to make more informed decisions about treatment
that there is lots of potential information, including options.
the availability of frozen urine samples, from the
ongoing Golden Retriever lifetime study. Trepanier Also, from the University of Pennsylvania, Nicola
plans to conduct further studies looking at gliomas Mason, BVetMed PhD, spoke about precision
and nasal carcinomas and is recruiting affected dogs medicine in canine lymphoma. Precision medicine,
for these studies. If you would like to participate, which is tailoring treatment to molecular subtypes
contact her at lauren.trepanier@wisc.edu. of cancer, is becoming the norm in human cancer
therapy. This could also greatly improve canine
therapy and outcomes as we know what to look for.
At least 10 different subtypes of canine lymphoma
THE LIFE AND TIMES OF THE HERO DOGS have been identified. The challenge is balancing
OF 9/11 how many genes to look at versus expense and
Continuing the thread of environment and cancer practicality. The best balance is probably with
(and other diseases), Cynthia M. Otto, DVM, PhD, targeted gene sequencing, which looks at about 300
DACVECC, DACVSMR gave the keynote talk, a genes. Their gene panel is still in its validation phase,
final report of the health of the 9/11 search and and still too early to know if it will pan out. Other
rescue dogs. These dogs were exposed to high levels panels are available elsewhere but Mason cautions
of hazardous materials including asbestos, metals, that such veterinary-aimed panels and tests don’t
dioxin like matter, polychlorinated biphenyls, require the stringent FDA analysis that analogous
volatile organic compounds, and smoke and dust, human tests would and may not be what they
and they did so without wearing masks, respirators, purport to be. She adds that tests that supposedly
or boots. While human responders reported a detect cancer in the blood are subject to the same
barrage of illnesses even while wearing protective criticism.
gear, what about the dogs who were actively sniffing
and traversing not only the buildings, but the Fresh
Kills landfill where debris was taken, and doing so “In a pilot study, McGrath’s lab
for weeks and even months? had found that 89% of dogs treated
Otto and team followed these dogs, which consisted with CBD showed some reduction in
of 31 German Shepherds, 28 Labs, and 12 Goldens number and severity of seizures.”
with a mean age of 5 years. Surprisingly, even at the
time most dogs remained relatively healthy, with
cuts (at 9 events per 1000 search hours) and weight
loss the main complaints. A toxicology screen CBD AND EPILEPSY
showed no evidence of lead, mercury, PCBs, or other
organic compounds. Deployed dogs had slight Owners of epileptic dogs know the challenge of
pulmonary changes and cardiac changes compared balancing antiseizure medication with quality of
to control dogs, as well as some higher liver values, life. Stephanie McGrath, DVM, MS, DACVIM, of
but the latter resolved within the year. By year 5 post Colorado State University, is continuing her research
9/11, deployed dogs had some different blood values, of CBD and epilepsy in dogs. In a pilot study
such as higher alkaline phosphate, glucose, and McGrath’s lab had found that 89% of dogs treated
cholesterol. As for cancer? There was no difference with CBD showed some reduction in number
between deployed dogs and control dogs. and severity of seizures. That study is now being
MORE CANCER expanded to include 60 dogs; results are expected
this year. Interestingly, preliminary data suggests
Two other talks revolved around prognostic markers that dogs treated at a dose of 2.5 mg/kg had a better
in canine breast cancer and targeted therapies in response than those treated at the higher dose of
lymphoma. Susan Volk, VMD, PhD, DACVS, of the 4.5 mg/kg. Not all dogs responded, but those that
University of Pennsylvania, states that about 50% did had a greater than 50% reduction in seizures.
of canine mammary tumors are malignant, but it’s Future studies will focus on the lowest effective dose
hard to know which ones will spread out of control. to control seizures, as well as safety and CBD, and
In breast cancer the underlying collagen matrix may other conditions such as mobility and anxiety.
be tumor-permissive or tumor-resistant, depending MUO AND THE MICROBIOME
on the size, density, and organization of the collagen
fibers. Tumor permissive matrixes allow cancer cells Nicholas Jeffrey, BVSc, PhD, MS, DECVS,
to divide and migrate more easily. Identifying the DECVN, DSAS, FRCV spoke about
underlying collagen matrix could allow veterinarians meningoencephalomyelitis of unknown origin

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