Cancer is a leading cause of death in dogs. Some breeds are at higher risk than others of getting some form of cancer, so a new early detection blood test is offering pet owners hope.

The CANcer Detection in Dogs (CANDiD) study has been evaluating the performance of a liquid biopsy blood test that uses genetic sequencing to analyze a dog’s cells for signs of cancer.

The study has found some encouraging results. The researchers report that:

For three of the most aggressive canine cancers (lymphoma, hemangiosarcoma, osteosarcoma), the detection rate was 85.4%; and for eight of the most common canine cancers (lymphoma, hemangiosarcoma, osteosarcoma, soft tissue sarcoma, mast cell tumor, mammary gland carcinoma, anal sac adenocarcinoma, malignant melanoma), the detection rate was 61.9%.

An article about the study on the AVMA News website notes, “Finding cancer early not only potentially makes treatment easier for a patient;, it has a huge impact on the human-animal bond.”

Who should think about getting this test for their dog? The AVMA suggests that an annual screening could be helpful if your dog is older and/or belongs to a breed that is especially prone to cancer.

Be sure to talk to your veterinarian if you have any questions about pets and cancer.