Virbac survey identifies need for increased mast cell tumour awareness

Virbac says a survey of vets has highlighted a need for increased awareness of mast cell tumours (MCTs).

Visitors to the company’s Stelfonta-branded stand at the London Vet Show were asked how many MCT cases they had personally diagnosed in the past year – the average was 7.03.

This contrasts with research that suggests vets will diagnose at least 1 case per month, or 12 a year¹.

Common form

MCTs are the most common form of skin cancer in dogs, accounting for 21% of all cases².

Mainly a disease of older dogs, MCT incidence is highest in dogs aged 6 to 10 years^3,4, with a predisposition in popular breeds such as Labrador retrievers, French bulldogs, Staffordshire bull terriers and golden retrievers.

Until the launch of Stelfonta, surgical removal was the standard of care, but can pose challenges because of accessibility to obtain sufficient margins and anaesthetic risks, particularly in senior and brachycephalic pets.

Resources

Virbac said it has created a range of resources on its website.

A total of 77% of delegates who visited the London Vet Show stand said they were likely or very likely to use Stelfonta on their next MCT case.

Meanwhile, Jane Hill of Bay Vet Group won £1,000 in shopping vouchers in the stand competition.

References

1. KG Marketsense UK & DE market assessment and EBC-46 product concept test (2016).

2. Garrett LD (2014). Canine mast cell tumors: diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis, Veterinary Medicine: Research and Reports 5: 49-58.

3. Shoop SJ, Marlow S, Church DB et al (2015). Prevalence and risk factors for mast cell tumours in dogs in England, Canine Genetics and Epidemiology  2: 1.

4. Śmiech A, Łopuszyński W, Ślaska B et al (2019). Occurrence and distribution of canine cutaneous mast cell tumour characteristics among predisposed breeds, Journal of Veterinary Research 63(1): 141-148.