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Herbicides dangerous for terriers
EDMOND — Q: I lost my 8-year-old female Scottish Terrier “Betsy” to cancer of the bladder last month. A friend told me the same thing happened to her male Scottie at 9 years of age. Is there a connection with this kind of cancer and Scottish Terriers? Is there anything we can do to keep this from happening because we love the breed and plan to get another one soon?
A: You did not say what kind of cancer Betsy had, but we will assume it was transitional cell carcinoma since this is a very common form of cancer of the urinary bladder and is seen often in Scottish as well as other terrier breeds.
The West Highland White Terrier and Wire Haired Fox Terrier also show a much higher than normal predisposition to develop this bladder cancer. Unfortunately, Scotties top the list, being some 18 times more susceptible than non-Scottish Terrier breeds such as mixed breeds or other non-terrier pure breeds. It is the most common cancer that occurs in the urinary tract of dogs.
The number one cause that has been associated with this cancer is herbicide exposure. It seems that several terrier breeds are susceptible to the phenoxy herbicides, and it has been determined that they have a genetic susceptibility.
One of the most common phenoxy herbicides is 2,4-D or 2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid. The chemical itself is safe in that a dog could eat 2,4-D for several years before it would kill him. However, terriers are susceptible to the chemical due to their genetic makeup that makes them more prone to develop the bladder tumor.
No one has yet identified the genetic cause of the susceptibility. This should definitely not keep you from adopting another Scottish terrier. This is a great breed and should not be on a “do not adopt” list simply because they are more susceptible than other breeds to transitional cell carcinoma.
The better plan would be to try to prevent any exposure to the phenoxy herbicides. Either never use them in and around your Scotties’ environment, or do not let him out on the lawn or around any bushes or plants treated with the chemical.
How do we know that its use on our lawns and gardens is not as bad for us as our pets? As with all diseases, especially cancer, the best plan is prevention. Limit or prevent exposure to the chemical known to cause the problem, and enjoy the company of a fun and exciting breed of dog.
DR. M. MARGARET KING, a longtime Edmond veterinarian, is a guest columnist. If you have any questions, send them to 1900 S. Bryant, Edmond, OK 73013.
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