New Vaccine Offers Hope to Dogs With Deadly Bone Cancer

Bone cancer is one of the deadliest diseases for dogs. Osteosarcoma develops quickly and often without warning.

More than 65% of dogs with this type of cancer die from it. Now, researchers at Yale University have created a vaccine that is giving hope to dogs and their owners.

The experimental treatment has already saved the lives of around 300 dogs.

One of these dogs is Hunter, a Golden Retriever who worked in search and rescue.

Survived Thanks to the Vaccine

Hunter helped find victims in building collapses and other disasters. He was diagnosed with osteosarcoma in his left front paw, writes El Economista.

After receiving the vaccine, the cancer was completely eliminated. Unfortunately, his paw had to be amputated, but he survived.

The treatment is a form of immunotherapy. It is currently under review by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which regulates veterinary treatments.

Yale University says the vaccine has gone through several clinical trials over the past eight years. In hundreds of dogs, including Hunter, the results have been promising.

The vaccine was developed by Mark Mamula, a professor of medicine at Yale School of Medicine. He points out that dogs develop cancer much like humans do.

Greater Odds

Tumors in dogs grow, spread, and mutate, just like in people. Mamula shares that his own dog died from inoperable cancer 11 years ago. He hopes the vaccine can provide relief and a pain-free life for affected dogs.

The research began with testing in mice. After encouraging results, the first clinical trial in dogs started in 2016.

So far, more than 300 dogs have received the vaccine at 10 centers in the United States and Canada. Trials are still ongoing.

According to the published findings, the vaccine creates antibodies that can locate tumors and block the pathways that help them grow.

The researchers say the vaccine can increase the one-year survival rate of dogs with certain cancers from 35% to 60%. In many cases, it also shrinks tumors.

For dog owners and veterinarians, this vaccine represents a major step forward. It may change the way osteosarcoma is treated and give many dogs a chance to live longer, healthier lives.