The Nationwide pet insurance company recently published a white paper that analyzed cancer claim data for over 1.6 million dogs between the years 2015 to 2021.

What does the analysis reveal about the incidence of cancer in dogs? Here are a few highlights from the study, which focused on the 25 most popular breeds in the US.

Purebred dogs are 1.9 times more likely to be diagnosed with cancer compared to mixed breed and cross-bred dogs.

Among purebred dogs, some breeds have a higher-than-average risk for cancer while others have a lower-than-average risk.

The breeds with the highest risk for cancer include Boxers (highest rate), Beagles, Golden Retrievers, Rottweilers, Labrador Retrievers, and Doberman Pinschers.

The breeds with the lowest risk for cancer tend to be smaller in size, including Pomeranians (lowest rate), Chihuahuas, French Bulldogs, Yorkshire Terriers, and Toy Poodles.

Among the 3 highest risk breeds (Boxer, Beagle, Golden Retriever), the body systems most affected by cancer include urinary, cardiac, lymphatic, skin, liver, and neurological systems.

The study also looked at dogs’ age at the time of the first cancer claim. They found that skin cancer first claims generally occurred at younger ages than other types of cancer.

While many first cancer claims occurred when dogs were in their senior years, some breeds had younger first claims. These include the French Bulldog, Great Dane, Doberman Pinscher, and Boxer.

You can read and download a PDF of the full report HERE.