April 20, 2023 – Our first studies delved into the biology of cancerous tumors in dogs, trying to better understand the disease and spur new research discoveries. Our first disease-specific cancer study was a few years later, exploring treatments for feline leukemia.
Today, we know much more about how cancers develop and spread. We also have a feline leukemia vaccine, greatly reducing disease prevalence in cats. While we have come a long way in advancing diagnostics and treatments, there’s still more to do to Stop Cancer Furever.
With about 100 different types of animal cancers, the majority of the Foundation’s cancer funding is aimed at aggressive cancers. These include blood, bladder, brain, lymphoma, gastrointestinal, oral, skin, eye, urinary tract, bone, pancreatic and breast cancers in dogs and cats. We also fund cancer studies in other species, including horses, California sea lions, Tasmanian devils and koalas.
To date, we’ve invested more than $26 million in 350+ animal cancer health studies, with an additional projected $32 million supporting our Golden Retriever Lifetime Study collecting valuable data on canine cancers. Through our work, and with continued donor support, we hope many more dogs, cats and horses (and wildlife species, too) will live full and healthy lives free from deadly cancers.