Sadly, a very high percentage of dogs have to be put to sleep because they develop some form of cancer during the course of their lives whether it's later on or when they are still young. Cancer can strike at any time which is something dog owners have to think about and which is why regular health checks at the vet are so important.

With this said, there are certain breeds of dog that are more prone to developing certain types of cancer and if you own one of these dogs, it's best to be aware of them because just as in humans, the earlier a cancer is detected, the better the outcome can be for the dog. In short, the earlier the condition is treated, the better. Below is a list of 8 breeds which are more predisposed to developing certain types of cancer:

The Rottweiler

These lovely, large and proud looking dogs are renowned for being wonderfully loyal guard dogs. They boast a longish life span of anything from 8 to 11 years, however, they are high on the list of dogs that are more prone to developing cancer and in particular a nasty condition called osteosarcoma which is cancer of the bone.

Other forms of cancer the Rottweiler is prone to suffer from includes the following:

• Lymphoma
• Mast cell tumours
• Soft tissue sarcomas
• Transitional cell carcinomas – cancer of the bladder
• Hemangiosarcomas – cancer of blood vessels

The Bernese Mountain Dog

The Bernese Mountain Dog is stunning looking and they are known for their very kind and confident natures. Sadly, they don't boast tremendously long life spans, which is typically anything between 6 to 9 years. They are also predisposed to developing mast cell tumours which many vets put down to the environmental factors. This includes being exposed to certain chemicals that are commonly used on lawns and in gardens.

The Bouvier des Flandres

These lovely dogs boast a longish life span which can be anything from 10 to 12 years. They are bold and courage characters but they are also prone to developing certain forms of cancer which includes Lymphosarcoma which is a type of cancer that attacks their lymphoid system. The Bouvier is also prone to developing ovarian cysts.

The Great Dane

Great Danes are magnificent looking dogs and they make brilliant family pets boasting life spans of anything from 7 to 10 years. However, they are prone to developing certain forms of cancer which includes osteosarcoma, a form of cancer affects their bones. Again, the earlier the cancer is diagnosed and then treated, the sooner a dog would be made more comfortable and sometimes the better the prognosis tends to be.

The Labrador Retriever

These lovely, loyal and incredibly friendly characters have for a long time been firm favourites as family pets. They boast long life spans which can be anything from 10 to 12 years plus, but they are prone to certain forms of cancer that attack their lymphatic system. Other cancers commonly seen in the breed include the following:

• Osteosarcomas – bone cancer
• Tumours – more commonly found on a dog's mouth, lips and tongue

The Bichon Frise

The delightful looking Bichon Frise is a happy go-lucky little character that boasts a very long life span which can be anything from 12 to 15 years. However, they are also prone to certain forms of cancer which includes basal cell tumours. If a dog develops these tumours it's essential that treatment starts as early as possible because the prognosis is always that much better if it's caught earlier rather than later.

The Boxer

Boxers are lovely characters that boast wonderful outgoing personalities. They also boast pretty long life spans which can be anything from 8 to 10 years plus. However, sadly a lot of the breed succumb to certain forms of cancer which includes the following:

• Mast cell tumours
• Lymphoma
• Brain tumours

The Golden Retriever

Wonderfully affectionate, loyal and obedient, the Golden Retriever has been one of the most popular breeds to keep as a family pet for decades. They boast long life spans which can be anything from 10 to 13 years plus. But like many other pure breeds they are prone to suffer from certain types of cancer which are worth making a note of because the earlier the cancer is detected and treated, the better the prognosis tends to be. The most common forms of cancer seen in the breed include the following:

• Lymphomasarcoma
• Hemangiosarcoma

Conclusion

Sharing a home with a dog is very rewarding because these four-legged friends give so much pleasure to their owners. Making sure dogs are safe, well fed and taken care of is all part of the wonderful experience. Knowing that some breeds are more predisposed to developing certain forms of cancers, helps you recognise when things are not quite right and the sooner a cancer is detected then treated, the more comfortable a dog would be and the better the prognosis might be.