Cancer Study of Canine Heroes Offers Hope for Human 9/11 Work Crews

DAYTON, Ohio--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 13, 2004--

9/11 search and rescue dogs show no signs of tumors at mid-term in five-year study by University of Pennsylvania, The Iams Company and AKC Canine Health Foundation

The families of survivors, first responders and workers who cleared debris from the 9/11 disaster at the World Trade Center and the Pentagon can take new hope from a study of 17 search and rescue dogs, who appear in good health and cancer-free.

The results are captured in the mid-term report of a five-year study by the University of Pennsylvania, The Iams Company and the American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation, which is using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at the Iams Pet Imaging Centers to identify and diagnose cancer-related diseases as a result of the 17 dogs' unprotected exposure to potentially hazardous dust and debris at the two sites.

"Animals often display early signs of disease when exposed to the same carcinogens as humans," said Dr. Liesa Stone, a veterinarian with The Iams Company, who has tracked the dogs' health since the study's inception in 2002. "The study allows us to track physical changes in the dogs, and may serve as an early warning of similar health problems in humans who worked at the sites."

The fear of potential health risks for human rescue workers has been a constant concern since 9/11. Human workers generally wear masks and other protective devices to shield them from possible dangerous particles in the dust and debris. But, service dogs work disaster sites for hours, even days at a time with no such protection. While Dr. Stone cautions the study won't be complete until 2006, she says preliminary findings can be taken as a hopeful sign the dogs and humans will not develop cancer as a direct result of their work at the 9/11 sites.

The high-tech, detailed MRI scans enable researchers to peer into the dogs' brains, sinus cavities, nasal passages, glands, and other soft tissue to detect disease that may have developed. To date, only one dog involved in the study has died, but not as a result of his work in the 9/11 tragedy. In June, "Rookie," a 9-year-old German Shepard with the Saginaw, Mich., police department, died of complications from an aggressive, fast-spreading cancer.

Experts later determined that the bone tumor of the mandible (lower jaw bone) most likely pre-dated the events of 9/11 and had no connection to inhaled carcinogens. Nonetheless, an MRI allowed veterinarians to properly diagnose his condition and added months of quality to the dog's life after the successful removal of the initial tumor.

"Without search and rescue dogs, we could not do our work as quickly as needed to find those affected by disaster," said Rookie's handler Officer Joaquin Guerrero. "We need our canine partners healthy and at the top of their game. This study allows us to see what risks are involved for our dogs so we can take the right precautions to protect them in the future."

For the past three years, as part of their continued commitment to pet health and well-being, The Iams Company has provided free MRI services to the 17 search and rescue dogs from across the nation that participated in the recovery efforts stemming from the 9/11 tragedy. MRI is an advanced diagnostic tool that uses magnetic energy and radio waves to create detailed images of tissue, allowing veterinarians to more accurately determine the cause and location of diseases such as cancer in pets without invasive exploratory surgery.

All of the MRIs to date have been performed at the Iams Pet Imaging Center in Vienna, Va. and will be expanded to a second Iams Pet Imaging Center on the campus of North Carolina State University (NCSU), in Raleigh, N.C.

In September 2002, The Iams Company opened its first Iams Pet Imaging Center in Vienna, Va. Since its opening, the Vienna center has become the world leader in pet MRI scans, based on nearly 3,000 case referrals. The Iams Company opened the second Pet Imaging Center on the campus of North Carolina State University (NCSU), in Raleigh, N.C., in August and is scheduled to open a third Pet Imaging Center in early 2005. These technologically advanced centers house state-of-the art equipment with technical expertise provided by ProScan, a world leader in human MRI technology and education.

To learn more about this study or Iams Pet Imaging Centers, visit The Iams Company on the Web at www.iamsco.com, www.iams.com, or www.eukanuba.com or call 1-866-4PETMRI.

About The Iams Company and Eukanuba

For more than 50 years, The Iams Company, a division of Procter & Gamble (NYSE:PG), has enhanced the well-being of dogs and cats by providing world-class quality foods and pet-care products. To learn more about Eukanuba and Iams Dog & Cat Foods and the Eukanuba Veterinary Diets line of canine and feline therapeutic diets or general pet care and nutrition information, call the Iams Consumer Care Center at (800) 446-3075. You also can visit Eukanuba on the Web at http://www.eukanuba.com.