Cancer, is it heriditary?

[Carol Burke]

I would love to know what you all think about cancer as an inherited disease? Is it more environmental or inherited? Does diet play a significant part in protecting our babies? What are the risk factors if two from the same litter develop cancer? Is a dog from that litter, although free of cancer, likely to produce puppies that are at risk?

Knock on wood, I have not lost a dog to cancer, but it is always a worry. What can we do to try and keep our bloodlines free of cancer?

Thanks for your input.

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Carol
Darrlburg Rottweilers

[Barbara Surplus]

Carol, I believe that some are more prone to actually contracting the disease than others due to many factors. After losing Sam to osteosarcoma, I really believe it was a combination of all of the most significant things in his life that contributed to his demise - poor quality commercial dog food, over-vaccination, chlorinated drinking water, pesticides/herbicides in our local parks, perhaps he suffered from stress - you name it, it could have contributed to the cancer. Because he was faced with fighting if off on so many fronts, his immune system finally just packed it in. Others would say that there's no rhyme or reason to it - the dog is genetically programmed for it but there has to be some factor that precipitates it and allows it to flourish in the body. I certainly don't have all the answers but I'm taking steps to try to ensure that I'm not creating my dog's illness in the future.
Barbara

[Carol Burke]

Barbara, Thanks for your reply. Do you know anything about your guy's parents or litter mates? Any of them die of cancer?

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Carol
Darrlburg Rottweilers

[BETTY HASTY]

Boy Carol you really believe in making a tough question. I really don't believe that most cancers are genetic but I do believe that as research advances we will be finding out that certain types are genetic just as they are in humans.(I'm a 5 time cancer survivor bad match my parents shouldn't have repeated the breeding!!) But I also believe that diet and environment play a large part in some types of cancer. I couldn't say whitch types cause I am not a Dr. or Scientist but these are my thoughts. Only time will tell.

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BETTY HASTY
NO LIMIT ROTTS
(FORMERLY REED'S/VON LUKEGAROO)
BEBOOPADOO@MSN.COM

[Barbara Surplus]

Carol, we don't know anything about his background other than he had parvo at about 6 months of age and we were his third owners at 10 months. The parvo is a big factor (I don't know what vaccination protocol was followed but I'm sure it was more than ample and he still contracted it) and we think he suffered lots of stress from poor ownership which was evident in his behaviour at first. Wish I did know more but I hope this helps.
Barbara

[rottiholt]

I think some cancer like in humans can be inhertied. I also feel some could be man made like poor diet or whatever.
I would be REALLY cautious about breeding to a dog knowing that quite a few siblings off spring etc had the diease.
I have a 9yr old neuterd male who had prostate cancer at 7yrs old. His mom & dad were over 10yrs old when they passed on, & as
far as I know none of his siblings have had it. I have a 4 yr old son of his & know where
most of his kids are. The oldest ones are 7 yrs old now, doing fine.
This is a good question tho,& breeders should be as concerned about this, as HD.

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[Eliza]

I believe in the genetic factor, as I've known families that have had cancer. But then I guess we never really know why. I lost my one and only Rotti to Bone Cancer last July, and before he was diagnosed I'd never heard of any dog (or owned a dog) that had cancer.

[marianne]

Carol,good question! I have also been lucky.We have not had any cancer with our dogs. We have used 3 different males in our breeding program.The only stud who developed any problems was Hammer. His was blindness and confusion at 10+. The first male (not mine), lived to a respectable age of 11. You know Bravo Boy...no known problems. As for the bitches, Sadie, the matron is approaching 10 in June. Outside of being overweight she is in good health. One bitch, Gretchen ( from the outside stud) was never bred,so they are no pups from her, is today loaded with "fatty tumors".She is being watched very carefully by my vet. As far cancers, I do feel the genetic factor is very important. The predisposition of passing the weakness is seems to run in certain lines. With ever thing being equal, I feel the feeding and enviroment play an important part.So, I quess what I'm trying to say..since we've had 6 litters of pups over the last 8 years, keeping records of all the pups. I feel good in saying ,they have all been in good health and outside of 2 accidents are all still alive.

[Nancy Estes]

My foundation bitch (Imp) died of lymphosarcoma at 7-1/2. She was overvaccinated as a puppy (early days of Parvo), fed high ethoxyquin dog food, dipped on a regular basis. However, the two Basset bitches that grew up with her (5 days' difference in age) did not have cancer, although one of the bitch's daughters had lymphosarcoma. This Basset bitch's sire had a cancerous lesion in his jaw and had to be put down. Imp had 22 puppies. As far as I know, 2 of her offspring had cancer (melanoma & one not biopsied). One granddaughter had lymphosarcoma and one son in a total outcross breeding (German import bitch) produced 2 with cancer (synovial cell cancer I believe, and one with bone cancer). Only one other Rottweiler that I've had (not my breeding & not related) had cancer. But I don't think 2 out of 22 puppies is statistically significant. The other litters I've bred (descendants of my first Rottweiler) so far have not had any cancer that I know of. The last litters I bred are now 1 year old, 5 years old, 6 years old & 7 years old. One of my foundation bitch's sons has sired one litter out of a German import bitch with 2 that have/had cancer.

Nancy

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von Dorow Rottweilers
doggo1@apex2000.net

[This message has been edited by Nancy Estes (edited April 29, 2000).]

[This message has been edited by Nancy Estes (edited April 29, 2000).]

[PowerROTTS]

From what I have been reading on various research articles on the net approximately 10 to 15% of all cancers are due to hereditary factors.

[czechrott]

I just wanted to add 1 more point. Cancer can be genetic, without it being hereditary. Remember your biology!

I feel that this is the probable culprit. I have had 7 rotties die of cancer, all different kinds. By chance, there were no common denominators regarding food, shelter, or water. 2 of those dogs were breeding stock, and as far as I know, nothing similar, ie. same cancers, were ever passed.

I would have a hard time knowing I caused the cancer from the environment I provided.

[PowerROTTS]

[quote]Originally posted by czechrott:
[b]I just wanted to add 1 more point. Cancer can be genetic, without it being hereditary. Remember your biology!

All cancers are due to changes in the genes. Cancers that are not due to hereditary factors are brought about by changes in the genes that occur after conception. Cancers due to strong hereditary factors result from a change in at least one gene that occurs before conception, and at least one that occurs after conception. A change that occurs before conception can be passed from one generation to another

[czechrott]

Certainly, the environment is to blame when toxic chemicals are added to the mix. My K-9 unit used to train on what has now been identified as a Toxic waste area, the level of Love Canal! No surprise, all of our K-9 dogs died of various cancers. Some young, some older. Now, some of the retired handlers are also dying of cancer. Now that's powerful evidence.

Most homes are not toxic waste dumps. My big time Stud dog from Germany died of Lung Cancer. He was NEVER around anyone who smoked, (He was no where near the toxic waste training site either).

Living in a rural area can be a big problem. Well water can be infected with chemicals that don't show up on normal tests. Keep in mind that rural, less populated, areas are a prime target for illegal dumping. Usually, specific chemicals require a specific test for discovery. How would you know what to look for ? Crop dusting and spraying were much worse before. Because politicians realize that the chemicals can enter the food, better regulations are in order now.

Research has to founded on reliable data. If I kept track of everything I heard that was "Bad" for me, or my dog, there would be, no joke, NOTHING left. There is money to be made by mongerers of false hope remedies. Look at the recent problems with supplements. O.K., sorry, I'm getting off of the soap box...

[This message has been edited by Phoenix (edited September 26, 2000).]