Victims Thankful for Four-Legged Heroes, Find Hope in Canine Cancer Study

The devastating effects of this year's natural disasters throughout the world have underscored the importance of search and rescue dogs. For years, specially trained dogs of all shapes, sizes, and breeds have worked to save lives and recover the victims of such crises as Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and the Asian Tsunami. However, only since the devastating effects of the terrorists' attacks at the World Trade Center and the Pentagon on September 11, 2001 have search and rescue dogs received nationwide attention.

The long-term health effects of exposure to hazardous carcinogens and fine particles of soot and debris is a major concern for first responders — human and canine alike. The University of Pennsylvania, The Iams Company, and the American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation are conducting a five-year study which utilizes magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technology to look for early warning signs of health issues in search and rescue dogs. The study of 17 dogs, which launched in 2002, kicked off its fourth year this month and will conclude in January 2007.

"Animals can 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."

Utilizing the power of scent to aide their human handlers, these four-legged heroes tirelessly search through rubble without any regard for their personal safety or the protective devices available to human first responders. Now, thanks to MRI technology available exclusively to animals at the Iams Pet Imaging Centers, veterinarians are able to identify and diagnose cancer-related diseases that may develop as a result of unprotected exposure to potentially hazardous conditions at the 9/11 disaster sites. In the fourth year of the study, preliminary findings reveal no signs of cancer-related disease - a hopeful sign that dogs and humans are not at an increased risk of negative health effects as a direct result of their work at the 9/11 sites.

As part of their continued commitment to pet health and well-being, The Iams Company has provided free MRI services to 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. The high-tech, detailed MRI scans available exclusively to dogs and cats at Iams Pet Imaging Centers in Vienna, Va., Raleigh, NC, and Redwood City, Calif. enable researchers to peer into the brains, sinus cavities, nasal passages, glands, and other soft tissue to detect disease that may have developed. To date, two of the original 17 dogs involved in the study have passed away. Neither death was a direct result of their work as first responders.

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 more than 5,000 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 2004, and the third center in Redwood City, Calif., a suburb of San Francisco, in September 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.

For nearly 60 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(R) and Iams(R) Dog & Cat Foods and the Eukanuba Veterinary Diets(R) 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 us on the Web at http://www.iams.com or http://www.eukanuba.com.