Sadly, it comes as no surprise to us in the United States that the incidence of cancer in pets is on the rise. But this article, from Thiruvananthapuram, India, is raising the alarm there as well.
By Express News Service | Published: 20th October 2017 07:11 AM |
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM [India]: Your cute, cuddly pet dog, especially if it’s a foreign breed, could be susceptible to cancer, a disease one normally associates with humans, says the Animal Husbandry Department. Cancer incidence among animals is on the rise in the state, particularly among dogs of foreign breeds and cattle, according to the department, which has opened the state’s first oncology wing for animals at the Chief Disease Investigation Office (CDIO), Palode. ‘’We’ve noticed a definite increase in the number of cases among animals, especially canine breeds like Alsatian, Pomeranian and Dobermann,’’ N N Sasi, director, Animal Husbandry Department, told Express.
The reasons still elude the department which is now planning a detailed study into the hows and whys of this alarming trend. ‘’We have not pinpointed reasons. But the trend is visible from the samples that we have so far received. The diet of these pet dogs could be a contributing factor, for one. Most dog owners feed exotic breeds the same food they themselves consume; chicken, mutton, fish and beef included. This change from their normal lifestyles could be a reason,’’ Sasi said.
Also, many such breeds are forcibly transplanted to an environment that is appallingly opposite to their normal habitats. Breeds like the Siberian Husky and the Labrador, for instance, are more at home in the colder northern latitudes rather than humid Kerala which lies closer to the equator.
But it’s not just the exotic dog breeds alone that have prompted the department to set the alarm bells ringing and establish an oncology wing. The rise in cancer incidence has also been noticed amongst cattle and wild animals, according to Sasi. “The public should support us by providing the maximum number of samples. Veterinary hospitals have been asked to refer cases to the oncology wing,” Sasi said. The department, after assessing the performance of the new facility and the demand would scale it up and, possibly, open similar facilities in other parts of the state as well, he said.
Measures being taken
· Centre to help in early identification of cancers, assessment of the stage of disease and cancer type.
· Centre has a specialised team to handle cancer cases.
· Rise in biopsy samples, cancerous morbid tissues and Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology samples received at CDIO proof of increasing cancer incidence in animals, says Animal Husbandry Department.
· Environmental contamination, changed food habits likely contributing factors.
[Thiruvananthapuram, also known as Trivandrum, is the capital and the largest city of the Indian state of Kerala.]
In a related article From Zee News: Rise in cancer cases among domestic animals prompts Kerala Animal Husbandry Department to open oncology centre
The research from the unique centre, functioning at the state-run Chief Disease Investigation Office (CDIO) in Palode near here for the past one year, has revealed that the deadly disease prevails among a majority of pet animals, including cattle, dogs and cats.
Thiruvananthapuram: An alarming increase of cancer cases among domestic animals has prompted the Kerala Animal Husbandry Department to open an diagnostic oncology centre for its early detection and research.
The research from the unique centre, functioning at the state-run Chief Disease Investigation Office (CDIO) in Palode near here for the past one year, has revealed that the deadly disease prevails among a majority of pet animals, including cattle, dogs and cats.
Functioning under the Pathology Division of CDIO, the oncology unit carries out the cytology and biopsy of tumour samples sent from veterinary hospitals across the state and gives advice and information for treatment.
As in the case of humans, cancer cases are on the rise among pet animals also, says Dr Nandakumar of the Pathology Division, CDIO.
“As per the samples we get, various types of the deadly diseases, from mammary tumor to sinus cancer, are found prevalent among animals,” he told PTI.
At the diagnostic unit, experts study the animal tumours, diagnose whether the lump is cancerous or not, identify the type of cancer and give advice for chemotherapy and other treatment to be carried out, he said.
The veterinary expert said that the centre has modern and advanced diagnostic facilities to identify all aspects of the disease.
“As in the case of humans, we cannot point out any particular reason for increase of cancer cases among animals. Among dogs, it is most prevalent among high breeds like Labrador or Alsatian. But it is comparatively lower among local, nondescript dogs,” he said.
Director of Animal Husbandry Dr N N Sasi said various projects in coordination with the Regional Cancer Centre (RCC) here are progressing in this regard.
“There are also plans to carry out research on whether the disease in pet animals has an adverse impact among human beings in any way through their frequent interaction,”he said.
He also wanted a separate epidemiological wing with the coordination of both Health and Animals Husbandry Departments for advanced studies and to share information on various diseases which affect both humans as well as animals.
CDIO, the state’s referral laboratory for animals, is established to control and coordinate the disease diagnostic activities of the Animal Husbandry sector in the entire southern state.
