Orvis-Backed Golden Retriever Lifetime Study Celebrates 12 Years
Orvis is incredibly proud to celebrate this anniversary with the Morris Animal Foundation in connection with its groundbreaking Golden Retriever Lifetime Study. This pioneering project, launched in June 2012, aims to address a significant gap in veterinary research by gathering health data on over 3,000 golden retrievers throughout their lives to better understand cancer risk factors in dogs.
Before the Golden Retriever Lifetime Study, few researchers had the resources for a large-scale, long-term study to collect real-time data on canine health. Retrospective studies, which analyze historical data, offer valuable insights but often fall short in identifying the underlying causes of diseases. The Golden Retriever Lifetime Study was designed to overcome these limitations by focusing on four major cancers: lymphoma, hemangiosarcoma, high-grade mast cell tumors, and osteosarcoma.
Lilly, the author’s Golden, passed away three weeks shy of her 10th birthday from hemangiosarcoma, a highly aggressive and almost always fatal cancer. The same disease also took the lives of two of Lilly’s five siblings. Two of the six pups from that litter, including one that has passed, have been part of the MAF study.
Photos by Laurie Barrett
The study’s inception involved extensive planning and collaboration among veterinary leaders like Dr. Rod Page, Dr. Bette Morris, and Dr. Patricia Olsen. They crafted a detailed plan, developed comprehensive surveys, and established an enrollment process for 3,000 golden retrievers across the U.S.
Golden retrievers were chosen due to their high incidence of cancer and widespread popularity, which facilitated the recruitment of a large sample size. Additionally, the generic insights gained from this breed could potentially benefit research on other breeds and mixed dogs.
Over the past 12 years, the study has made significant progress:
Over 600 cases of cancer have been recorded, with hemangiosarcoma being a major focus of the Hemangiosarcoma Initiative.
A new database now supports ongoing research and provides a valuable resource for the scientific community.
Numerous studies using data from the Golden Retriever Lifetime Study have explored various health issues.
Genotyping and other initiatives provide deeper insights into genetic factors and compare senior dogs that avoided cancer with those who developed it.
The goal of this research is to prolong the lives of dogs like Lilly, so they may share more adventures and joy with the people who love them.
Photo by Laurie Barrett
The Foundation remains committed to following the remaining dogs throughout their lives and expanding research into other health issues beyond cancer. The Golden Retriever Lifetime Study also serves as a model for new prospective health studies, including the Dog Aging Project.
Orvis’s support, including over $2 million raised through corporate gifts and the Orvis Cover Dog Contest, has been crucial to the study’s success. Our ongoing partnership will continue to drive forward research to enhance the health and longevity of our canine companions.
For more information on the Golden Retriever Lifetime Study and the critical research funded by Morris Animal Foundation, visit their website and explore resources such as the latest study updates and podcasts.
