Descriptive epidemiology of canine and feline cancer in California, United States from 2000 to 2019.

Age, sex, and neuter status show complex, cancer-type-specific associations in companion animals.

This descriptive epidemiological study analyzed cancer incidence in dogs and cats using 20 years of hospital records from UC Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital (2000-2019). Among 150,063 patients, 26,883 were diagnosed with cancer (18.1% dogs; 17.0% cats). The study examined nine major cancer types, with detailed analysis of sarcoma, carcinoma, lymphoid neoplasia, mast cell tumors, and melanoma using multivariable logistic regression. Key findings include: older age as the strongest predictor across both species, though odds declined in senior dogs (≥12 years) for certain cancers; spayed females had significantly higher odds of lymphoid neoplasia, mast cell tumors, and melanoma compared to intact females; male dogs showed higher lymphoid neoplasia odds; and complex age-sex-neuter interactions affecting sarcoma and carcinoma risk. Sex-neuter status effects were species-specific. These findings demonstrate that cancer predisposition involves intricate, cancer-type-specific associations influenced by age, sex, and reproductive status, emphasizing the need for comprehensive statewide cancer registries to better understand companion animal cancer epidemiology.

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