Dog owners will be able to test their pets for early signs of cancer in a new assessment launching on Monday.
The test is the first to screen for cancer in dogs in the UK, a disease which currently kills half of hounds over the age of 10 in Britain.
With just a few millimetres of blood, the Nu.Q test can detect warning signs in healthy dogs, giving vets the chance to treat the disease earlier and easier.
Much like mammograms or cervical screenings pick up early signs of cancer in women before they feel ill, the test could be administered to healthy dogs annually once they reach seven.
Dogs more prone to cancer, such as labradors and golden retrievers, could be offered the test once they reach four.
The service is already available in the US, with vets charging about £80 per test. A version for cats is also in development.
Biotech firm Volition, which is behind the test, says the assessment works by measuring nucleosomes which are released into the body when a patient – human or canine – has cancer.
If detected, the dog will need follow-up investigations such as a biopsy or scan, which can also identify the type of cancer.
Volition, says 97% of its cancer detections were accurate. However, its studies show not all cancers are picked up at the same rate. In a study from 2020, it managed to uncover 82 percent of hemangiosarcoma – cancer within blood vessels – and 77% of lymphoma cases.
In its study report, Volition said: “Currently, many dogs are typically diagnosed when they are unwell and there is a suspicion of cancer. Even then dogs suspected of having cancer are often required to undergo a variety of tests that may be expensive, time consuming and/or painful for the animal.
“We believe using the test can help streamline the diagnostic process thereby allowing treatment to be initiated earlier, providing better quality of life to the pet and more quality time with its owners.”
