A Retrospective Study of Neoplasms of Companion Animals In Abuja, Nigeria

Neoplasms constitute a major health challenge in animals and man worldwide. However, to the best of our knowledge, the prevalence of neoplasms in companion animals in Abuja, Nigeria, has not been determined. This study was therefore conducted to determine the prevalence of neoplasms in companion animals in Abuja, Nigeria. Case records from 2015 to 2020 from two renowned Veterinary Clinics in Abuja, were examined for cases of neoplasms. Data on the species, breed, sex, age, month and year of occurrence, organ(s) affected, methods of diagnosis, and treatment approach, were extracted and summarized into percentages. A total of 24 cases were recorded with 21 (87.5%) in dogs and 3 (12.5%) in cats. The highest prevalence of neoplasms was in German Shepherd (19.1%) followed by Boerboel (14.3%) and Caucasian (9.5%). In dogs, the prevalence of neoplasms was higher in males (57.1%) than females (42.9%), whereas in cats, the prevalence was higher in females (66.7%) than males (33.3%). The mean age of dogs diagnosed with neoplasms in this study was 6.56 years (SEM=1.21) while the mean age of affected cats was 10 years (SEM=0.00). The commonest types of neoplasms in dogs were papilloma (38.1%) and mast cell tumor (28.6%). The three neoplasms diagnosed in cats were mammary gland carcinoma (33.3%), lipoma (33.3%), and fibrosarcoma (33.3%). In dogs, 90.5% of the cases of neoplasms were diagnosed by physical examination only. However, in addition to physical examination in cats, 66.7% of the cases of neoplasms were diagnosed by histopathology, while 33.3% of the cases were diagnosed by ultrasonography. In this study, surgical excision was the commonest method of treatment of neoplasms in both dogs (76.2%) and cats (66.7%). There is a need for the provision of diagnostic facilities to aid the confirmatory diagnosis of neoplasms in dogs and cats in the study area.