Lymphoma in Miniature Dachshunds: A retrospective multicenter study of 108 cases (2006-2018) in Japan

Miniature Dachshunds (MD) are predisposed to lymphoma with disease onset of young age and long-term survival.

To compare clinical features and survival time of lymphoma in MD and non-MD.

One hundred and eight MDs with lymphoma and 149 non-MD breed dogs with lymphoma were included in the study.

This was a retrospective multicenter observational study. Lymphoma was classified based on signalment, histopathology/cytology, and anatomical site of the disease. For each type of lymphoma, median survival time was analyzed by Kaplan-Meier estimates and life table analysis. Prognostic factors for large-cell gastrointestinal lymphoma (LGIL) were analyzed using Cox regression.

Gastrointestinal lymphomas were more common in MDs (53/108) compared to non-MDs (41/149). The multicentric lymphoma was most common in non-MD breed dogs (74/149) compared to MDs (33/108). The median age that dog developed lymphoma in MD and non-MD were both 10 years old; however, lymphomas were more frequently observed in younger dogs (<4 years) in MDs (20/108) compared to non-MDs (9/149; P = .002). Seventy percent were diagnosed with B-cell with median age of diagnosis was 3 (1-14) years. Mott cell differentiation was observed in 6 dogs. Age <4 years and B-cell phenotype were significant factors for longer survival time in MD with LGIL.

Lymphomas in MDs involved gastrointestinal lesions at higher frequency compared to other dog breeds examined. B-cell lymphoma was more common in early-onset LGIL in MD and cases that involved Mott cell differentiation were observed. Awareness of this specific presentation of lymphoma in dogs will possibly affect the treatment decision process for the owners of MD with LGIL.