Lymphoma in Australian Pet Dog and Cat Populations

Abstract

This thesis is a study of the epidemiology, clinical presentations, response to treatment, and outcomes for dogs and cats in Australia.

Included is a published paper that reviews the outcomes and prognostic factors in dogs with lymphoma, that highlights the deficiences many of the studies in the veterinary literature.

The studies have identified novel breed risks in both dogs and cats and the relationships in cats between breed and the anatomical location of lymphoma.

The outcome studies show that the response to treatment in dogs and cats in Australia align with those reported from Europe and North America. A finding in many of the analyses in the canine study, but in only one analysis in the feline study, was that the hospital was a statistically significant predictor of outcome. Additionally multiple breeds of dogs were able to be evaluated and assessed for the influence of breed on outcomes.

These studies provide a needed update on lymphoma in Australian dog and cat populations. The inconsistencies in the veterinary literature on this topic is an area that needs to be noted and reduced. Detailed studies comparing the patient demographics and other factors influencing treatment choices or outcomes, between referral and primary care practices is needed.

The overall poor outcomes presented support the need for exploring novel therapies and prognostic markers to guide their use.