Page 11 - Clinical Connections - Spring 2021

Research News
FELINE LYMPHOMA EPIDEMIOLOGY
The RVC has published the world’s largest study on lymphoma
in cats under general veterinary care. The VetCompass study revealed that approximately one in every 2,000 cats (48 per 100,000) under first opinion veterinary care in the UK are affected by the disease each year.
Exploring anonymised clinical records from over 500,000 cats, the study found that male cats (x1.7 risk), cats over 11 years
of age (x5 risk) and insured cats (x3.6) were more likely to be diagnosed with feline lymphoma. Conversely, vaccinated cats were at decreased risk of diagnosis compared with unvaccinated
EARLY-AGE NEUTERING OF CATS
cats. Breed and some environmental exposures were explored but no associations were with lymphoma were identified. These could be explored further in future larger studies.
The full story of the study and its findings are available as an infographic that can be downloaded or shared on social media - Lymphoma cancer in cats (pdf).
‘Incidence and risk factors for feline lymphoma in UK primary-care practice’ was
published in the Journal of Small Animal Practice and is open access at https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jsap.13266
Lymphoma cancer in cats
HEALTH STUDY RESULTS
What is lymphoma?
Lymphoma is a cancer of lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell, and is one of the most common cancers in cats.
Number of 562,446 cats in study
11.0 Average age at
70 Most common body parts affected
yrs
first diagnosis
Percentage of cats with laboratory-confirmed lymphoma
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Previous research has shown that cats with abdominal lymphoma (most commonly affecting the gastrointestinal tract) will often show weight loss, inappetance, vomiting and diarrhoea (1)
1. S.N. Ettinger (2003) “Principles of treatment for feline lymphoma”
Clin Tech Small Anim Pract, 18
Abdomen
Lymph nodes
Respiratory
x 5.0 x 4.0
6 Factors associated with
lymphoma diagnosis
x 3.6
0.05%
5 4 3 2 1 0
x 1.7
Breed and environmental exposures studied were not x 1.8 found to influence the risk
of lymphoma diagnosis
x 0.7
*Reference category
Increased
diagnosis
in insured cats suggests strong welfare gains for
CONCLUSIONS
Owners of older and male cats should be alert to the possibility
of lymphoma
insured cats
The global problem of unowned ‘domestic’ cats is driven by their phenomenal reproductive success but carries significant economic, animal welfare and biodiversity costs. Neutering of owned cats prior to puberty prevents unwanted litters and helps to reduce the overall cat populations.
The prevalence and predictors of neutering, and the age at which surgery was carried out, were investigated using anonymised electronic patient records in the VetCompass Australia database of cats presented to practices across Australia.
Of 52,941 cats born between 2010 and 2017, 83.6% were neutered. Among 7,463 desexed females, 21.5% had been neutered by four months of age, 59.8% by six months and 85.4% by a year.
Sex, breed, location and socioeconomic indices were significantly associated with neutering status and age at surgery. Cats born between 2010 and 2017 had a greater chance of being neutered than cats born between 1995 and 2009 at each age cut-off (≤4 months [OR 1.76],≤6 months [OR 1.50] and≤1 year [OR 2.33] p<0.001).
Compared with cats born before 2010, cats born later were significantly younger at neutering but, even so, many cats would still have reached sexual maturity before surgery. These findings can inform the design of frontline strategies promoting prepubertal neutering and they demonstrate, for the first time, a shift towards neutering of younger cats.
The research paper, ‘A shift towards early-age desexing of cats under veterinary care in
Australia’ was published in Nature’s Scientific Reports and is available open access at https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-79513-6
RVC AUTHORS PUBLISH BOOK ON BRACHYCEPHALIC COMPANION ANIMALS Brachycephalic companion animals are currently facing a huge health and welfare crisis. Dogs, in particular, are suffering from a ‘perfect storm’ right now because the effects from intrinsic conformation-related predispositions to several health issues are amplified by the extrinsic population boom for certain brachycephalic breeds, such as the French bulldog and pug. Yet, for many owners, these dogs represent the perfect companion: endearing personas and looks that are wrapped up in a socially desirable package.
But where is the truth in all of this? Answering this question was the task taken on by two RVC lecturers, Dr Rowena Packer and Dr Dan O’Neill,
in a new book Health and Welfare of Brachycephalic Breeds: A Guide for Veterinary Professionals. A book of two halves, the first part explores the context of how and why we are in this crisis, while the second part covers the background, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of the many unique healthcare needs of brachycephalic animals.
With twenty chapters written by world-leading experts, this resource
will inform, challenge and stimulate. According to the authors, the book will open our minds to new opportunities to improve the welfare of brachycephalic animals from our personal and collective choices and actions. And it may just change our views on brachycephaly in companion animals forever. The book is available for pre-order now and will be published in July.
Spring 2021 11
% affected
Relative risk
Female* Male
Not insured* Insured
Not vaccinated* Vaccinated
2 - 5 yrs*
5 - 8 yrs
8 - 11 yrs
≥ 11 yrs