D07CA-643: Intraspecific Scaling of Selected Organ Weights in Dogs

principal investigator: Ashley Nichols, Veterinary Student Scholar, Oklahoma State University

sponsorship not needed

Year: 1 of 1. $5,000

Selective breeding of dogs has produced breeds of all different sizes, from tiny Chihuahuas to massive Saint Bernards. This huge range in body size influences a number of different body processes, such as the speed at which the heart beats and the size of the organs. Organ size affects the use of chemotherapy (anticancer) drugs because the rate at which the body processes and removes drugs relates to the size of the kidneys and liver. Understanding differences in organ size and function may allow veterinarians to prescribe chemotherapy drugs more effectively, based on gender and body size. The student will test whether body size and gender can be used to accurately calculate organ size, paving the way for future studies that could more accurately calculate dosing equations for chemotherapy drugs.