Golden Retriever Lifetime Study Description of Baseline Rod Page, DVM, MS, Diplomate ACVIM Professor and Director, CSU Flint Animal Cancer Center Stephen Withrow Presidential Chair in Oncology Principal Investigator, GRLS
Introduction to the Golden Retriever Lifetime Study (GRLS) Prospective study to determine the predictors of cancer over the life course Collecting data in real time allows us to account for temporality in our data (i.e. we know that exposure preceded disease) Four main outcomes: osteosarcoma, mast cell tumor, hemangiosarcoma, and lymphoma Secondary outcomes: recurrence of the main outcomes, hypothyroidism, allergies, heart failure, epilepsy, hip dysplasia, kidney failure Other potential studies: You name it!
GRLS by the numbers 3,044 dogs enrolled in the study Currently we have 3,015 participating study dogs 16 dogs have passed away 13 dogs were withdrawn from the study by their owners Complete data from the baseline survey was delivered in June 2015 Zuma, from Utah
Where are your dogs? Every state in the lower 48 is represented in GRLS California has the most dogs (n = 278) Colorado has the most dogs per capita (5 study dogs per 100,000 people)
How old are your dogs? Mean: 2.6 years (95% CL: 2.61-2.68) Minimum: 8 months Maximum: 5.5 years
Age at baseline veterinary visit
Time in the study The study has accrued 4,580 dog-years.
Veterinary reported data At baseline: Biometrics Spaying and neutering Common diseases by system Current: Current primary endpoint counts KD, from Maine
Biometrics Weight Mean: 62.0 pounds (95% CL: 61.4 62.7) Minimum: 24 pounds Maximum 80 pounds Height (at withers) Mean: 22.6 inches (95% CL: 22.5 22.7) Minimum: 12 inches Maximum: 29.9 inches
Biometrics Body condition score Mean: 2.4 (95% CL: 2.3 2.4) 5 or above is considered serious to extreme health risk Minimum: 1/7 Maximum: 7/7 Rate of obesity (5-7 body condition): 2% 27% of dogs are in mild or moderate risk body fat categories
Spaying and Neutering Spayed Neutered Intact Intact
Spaying and Neutering 1,458 (48%) GRLS dogs have been spayed or neutered
Most common veterinarian-reported conditions at baseline Cardiovascular 68 have a heart murmur identified 23 with subaortic stenosis Neurologic 7 cases of epilepsy
Most common veterinarian-reported conditions at baseline Musculoskeletal (excluding self-limiting soft tissue lameness) 22 dogs with elbow dysplasia 34 dogs with hip dysplasia 36 dogs with panosteitis (growing pains) Integumentary 687 dogs had 1 episode of otitis externa (ear infection) GI/ infectious disease 300 dogs had intestinal parasites (hookworms, whipworms, roundworms, ± tapeworms)
Current primary endpoint counts 8 mast cell tumor cases 4 confirmed lymphoma cases 3 dogs are alive 1 dog died of lymphoma 2 potential lymphoma cases Both have died and are awaiting pathologist s diagnosis but lymphoma is strongly presumed
Owner reported data Gibbs, From MA
Vaccines 94% of GRLS dogs received rabies vaccination before or at the time of the baseline visit 28% received Borrelia burgdorferi (Lyme disease) vaccine 99% received at least one distemper, parvo, adenovirus, and parainfluenza combination (± other antigens)
Heartworm Prevention 89% of GRLS dogs are on heartworm prevention 69% are on prevention year-round
Flea and tick prevention
Lifestyle fun facts 13% go swimming daily when it is warm outside 11% of dogs use the ocean as their favorite swimming hole 21% of dogs share their owners beds Penny, from CO
Specific research questions Are the timing and dose of reproductive hormones associated with primary outcomes? Is the association different for males and females? What is the association between nutrition and obesity and primary outcomes? Does age at obesity matter? What is the association between geographic location and the primary outcomes? Seamus, from CA
Publications current and planned Current Planned: A full description of baseline data estimated to submit for publication by the end of the calendar year Expected publication date sometime in the spring of 2016
Upcoming activities GRCA 9/26 through 10/4 in Wilmington OH GRLS activities: booth in exhibit hall, parade of heroes, Yappy hour, presentation to GRF and GRCA Dog Park Social networking app that we are developing to help GRLS participants stay connected and informed GRLS newsletter Electronic newsletter tailored to GRLS participants and veterinarians to keep them informed of the science and upcoming events and activities CLHP is relaunching at the end of the year
Acknowledgements Thank you to all of the study participants, veterinarians and dogs! The GRLS team All of the partners in GRLS
Indy, from Arizona