Incidence and Risk Factors for Insulinoma in Dogs
A recent study published in Scientific Reports examines the incidence, risk factors, and breed predispositions for insulinoma in dogs receiving primary veterinary care in the UK. Insulinoma, the most common pancreatic tumor diagnosed in dogs, was the focus of this research, which utilized the VetCompass Program to analyze anonymized electronic health records (EHRs) from dogs under UK veterinary care in 2019.
Study Overview
The study included data from 2,250,741 dogs and identified 278 confirmed insulinoma cases. The 2019 incidence riskof insulinoma was estimated at 0.003%, with a confidence interval of 0.002–0.004%. Researchers used multivariable logistic regression analysis to evaluate various demographic risk factors associated with insulinoma.
Breed Predispositions and Risk Factors
Certain breeds were found to be more predisposed to developing insulinoma. These included:
Dogue de Bordeaux
German Pointer
Flat-Coated Retriever
Boxer
West Highland White Terrier
In contrast, Labrador Retrievers were found to have decreased odds for developing insulinoma. Additionally, being a terrier breed or belonging to a breed predisposed to other endocrine cancers increased the odds of insulinoma diagnosis.
The study also highlighted other significant risk factors for insulinoma:
Female neutered dogs were at higher risk.
Dogs aged 9 to <15 years were more likely to develop the condition.
Dogs with an adult bodyweight of 20–<30 kg or those that were above the median bodyweight for their sex/breed showed increased odds for insulinoma.
Significance and Implications
This study provides the first comprehensive epidemiological analysis of canine insulinoma in dogs under primary veterinary care. The findings offer valuable leads for further research into the epidemiology and etiology of insulinoma, as well as potential links between insulinoma and other canine endocrine cancers.
The results are also important for veterinarians in identifying dogs that are at greater risk for developing insulinoma, allowing for earlier detection and intervention.