Knowledge Hub
Access valuable information to help pet owners and veterinarians improve canine health and quality of life.
Research Updates from the 2019 AKC Canine Health Foundation National Parent Club Canine Health Conference
The AKC Canine Health Foundation (CHF), a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing the health of all dogs and their owners, hosted the 2019 National Parent Club Canine Health Conference in St. Louis, MO on August 9 – 11, 2019. The biennial event, sponsored by Purina, brought together researchers, American Kennel Club (AKC) Parent Club members, […]
Read MoreGene therapy for osteosarcoma – what’s next?
by Jaime F. Modiano, V.M.D., Ph.D., Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, and Masonic Cancer Center Animal Cancer Care and Research (ACCR) members from the University of Minnesota were key participants in a recently completed clinical trial testing a gene therapy approach to treat canine osteosarcoma. This trial, supported through grants from […]
Read MoreResearching New Treatments for Canine Hemangiosarcoma
Hemangiosarcoma is a deadly cancer of the cells that line blood vessels. It most commonly affects the spleen, heart, and skin of dogs. While skin tumors can often be cured by surgical removal, the prognosis for splenic hemangiosarcoma is poor due to microscopic spread of cancer cells throughout the body by the time it is […]
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A Clinical Trial of Medium-Chain Triglyceride Oil for the Treatment of Canine Epilepsy
Introduction Canine epilepsy affects a significant number of dogs, and for about one-third of them, seizures persist despite appropriate anti-seizure medications. These ongoing seizures, along with medication side effects and behavioral changes, can negatively impact quality of life. Recent research funded by the AKC Canine Health Foundation is exploring dietary approaches to help manage epilepsy […]
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CHF Funds Trial for Novel Brain Tumor Medication
 News Release For Immediate Release  Man’s best friend helping man: Canine trial tests novel medication for brain tumors The American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation, Inc., has awarded the University of Georgia (UGA) College of Veterinary Medicine and Emory University a $119,000 grant over three years to test a newly developed experimental drug […]
Read More AKC Canine Health Foundation’s Canine Cancer Research Initiative Receives Champion Sponsorship from Kennel Club of Philadelphia
MEDIA CONTACT:Bradford BradyDirector of Development & CommunicationsAKC Canine Health FoundationPhone: 919-334-4023E-mail: bradford.brady@akcchf.org  News Release For Immediate Release  RALEIGH, NC (May 20, 2019) – The AKC Canine Health Foundation (CHF), a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing the health of all dogs, announces the Kennel Club of Philadelphia (KCP) will direct their Champion Sponsor level […]
Read MoreBone Cancer in Dogs
Introduction Bone cancer can occur as a primary disease (originates from cells that normally reside in the bone space) or as a metastatic disease (spreads from cancers that arise elsewhere). In humans, most bone malignancies are metastases that arise from tumors outside the bone (breast, prostate). Primary bone tumors are less common, and osteosarcoma (primary […]
Read More03139: Riluzole as a Neuroprotectant in Canine Degenerative Myelopathy
Degenerative myelopathy (DM) is an adult-onset spinal cord disease in dogs that causes progressive weakness and paralysis of the hind limbs and eventually all limbs. We now understand that DM is similar to some forms of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, Lou Gehrig’s disease) in humans. To date, there is no treatment to slow the clinical […]
Read More02226-A: Pilot Clinical Trial to Test the Efficacy of Mesenchymal Stem Cells Over-Expressing IL-10 to Treat Osteoarthritis in Elbows of Senior Dogs
Osteoarthritis (OA) is characterized by both chronic inflammation and structural defects in cartilage and subchondral bone. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) have become ideal candidates for therapeutic intervention because these cells could contribute to the treatment of OA in two ways: they can differentiate and replace the damaged cartilage and bone, but also secrete key signals […]
Read More01663-A: Placebo-controlled trial of T-cell receptor (TCR) peptide treatment in dogs with non-responsive atopic dermatitis
Purpose. The objective of this placebo-controlled clinical trial was to determine the efficacy and safety of T-Cell receptor (TCR) peptide treatment of dogs with atopic dermatitis. The study has thus far been directly or indirectly supported by 3 separate Canine Health Foundation (CHF) ACORN grants (#857, #01240-A, and the present grant #01663-A). Background. Atopic dermatitis […]
Read More00970: Tissue Regeneration Using Canine Mesenchymal Stem Cells: Effects of Donor Characteristics and ex vivo Expansion on Cell Pluripotency
Grant Status: Closed Grant Amount: $165,348 Susan W. Volk, VMD, PhD; University of Pennsylvania January 1, 2008 – June 30, 2010 Sponsor(s): American Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club Charitable Trust, American Whippet Club, Friends of Norfolk Terrier, Greyhound Club of America, Japanese Chin Club of America, Keeshond Club of America, National American Pit Bull Terrier […]
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AKC Canine Health Foundation Funds Groundbreaking Study to Evaluate Potential Treatment for Degenerative Myelopathy
MEDIA CONTACT:Sharon M. Albright, DVM, CCRTManager of Communications & Veterinary OutreachAKC Canine Health FoundationPhone: 919-334-4019E-mail: sharon.albright@akcchf.org News Release For Immediate Release  RALEIGH, NC (June 1, 2023) – The AKC Canine Health Foundation (CHF), a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing the health of all dogs, announces funding for a groundbreaking study evaluating a potential treatment […]
Read MorePromising Drug Treatment for Brain Tumors
Meningioma is cancer of the membrane surrounding the brain and spinal cord. It is the most common intracranial tumor in humans and accounts for approximately half of all primary brain tumors in dogs. Surgical removal is the treatment of choice but is not always possible due to tumor size and location or overall patient health. […]
Read More00900-A: Immunological Treatment of Canine Dilated Cardiomyopathy Using a T-Lymphocyte Modulator
Large breed dogs are predisposed to developing dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), a disease that causes the heart to enlarge and not function properly, leading to heart failure and death. Current drug treatments improve the function of the heart and control the signs of congestive heart failure but do not address the underlying cause. Although the precise […]
Read MoreSummary of Canine Health Bytes Webinar: “Canine Degenerative Myelopathy: From Gene Mutation Discovery to Clinical Trials”
“Canine Degenerative Myelopathy: From Gene Mutation Discovery to Clinical Trials”Presented by Joan R. Coates, DVM, MS, Diplomate ACVIM (Neurology)Original air date: October 17, 2019Click here to watch this webinar on demand. Canine degenerative myelopathy (DM) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease with a late age of onset and no known treatment. Histopathology of the central nervous […]
Read More CHF Announces Funding for Clinical Trial to Study Cannabidiol to Treat Drug Resistant Epilepsy in Dogs
 News Release For Immediate Release  RALEIGH, NC (September 6, 2017) – Epilepsy is the most common neurological disorder of dogs, and will affect dogs of pure- and mixed breeds. The AKC Canine Health Foundation (CHF) with the support of its many donors has funded more than $2 million for epilepsy research. In 2017, […]
Read More AKC Canine Health Foundation Awards First Research Grant Through the Comparative Brain Tumor Consortium with the National Cancer Institute
News Release For Immediate Release The AKC Canine Health Foundation, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to prevent, treat and cure diseases in all dogs, is pleased to announce that it has awarded the first research grant through the Comparative Brain Tumor Consortium (CBTC). The CBTC was launched at the National Institutes of Health by […]
Read MoreCanine Hemangiosarcoma – The Road from Despair to Hope
Michelle G. Ritt, DVM, DACVIM; Tessa Breen, BSc (Hons), Dip GD, CMM In following article, we describe the current state of knowledge for canine hemangiosarcoma, including what it is, why it may happen, and how it can be managed. In addition, we present recent findings from our programs that promise to help us improve our […]
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Studying Potential Treatments for Degenerative Myelopathy
Hypothesis Degenerative myelopathy (DM) is a progressive disease of the spinal cord in dogs, similar in many ways to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig’s Disease) in humans. It causes increasing weakness and paralysis, starting in the back legs and eventually affecting the front legs, swallowing muscles, and even breathing. There is currently no […]
Read More00841-A: Pharmacokinetics and Phase I Clinical Trial of High-Dose Intermittent Oral Artemisinin in Dogs with Spontaneous Tumors
Osteosarcoma is the most common primary bone cancer in dogs. The estimated incidence is 10,000 dogs per year in the United States. Many large- to giant-breeds are at increased risk for osteosarcoma. Recently, retired racing Greyhound have been reported as the highest-risk breed. Artemisinin is a drug that has been used anecdotally in dogs with […]
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