Prevalence and epidemiological studies of canine skin and subcutaneous Tumours in Durg district of Chhattisgarh

Abstract

The present study was conducted to determine the prevalence and epidemiological distribution of canine skin and subcutaneous tumours in Durg district of Chhattisgarh. A total of 242 dogs presented to the Teaching Veterinary Clinical Complex, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Anjora, Durg, from August 2023 to January 2024 were screened for the presence of cutaneous and subcutaneous growths. Among them, 52 dogs were found affected, indicating an overall prevalence rate of 21.48 per cent. Epidemiological evaluation revealed the highest incidence in dogs aged 7-9 years (40.38%), followed by 4-6 years (32.69%). The occurrence was slightly higher in males (53.85%) than females (46.15%). Breed-wise distribution showed maximum cases in non-descript dogs (32.69%), followed by Labrador (21.15%) and German Shepherd (19.23%). Body weight analysis indicated a higher incidence in dogs weighing 20-30 kg (55.77%). Site-wise distribution demonstrated that mammary glands and limbs were the most commonly affected regions (17.31% each), followed by head and neck (15.38%) and thoracic region (11.53%). Most affected dogs were intact, with 28 females non-spayed and 24 males uncastrated. Regarding feeding habits, the majority of affected dogs (86.53%) were maintained on a mixed diet of homemade and commercial feed. The findings of the present study indicates that canine skin and subcutaneous tumours are relatively common, particularly in middle-aged to older, intact, and non-descript dogs. The study further highlights the importance of early detection, epidemiological monitoring, and proper management strategies to improve clinical outcomes in canine patients.