Mesotheliomas are rare neoplasms that originate from ectodermal cells that line the body cavities.

Mesotheliomas usually occur in older dogs, with an average onset at 8 years of age. However, documented cases of mesothelioma have been reported in patients from as young as 7 weeks to as old as 15 years.2-4 Extremely early age of onset (7 weeks old) suggests that congenital mesothelioma may occur infrequently in the dog.1 Bouvier des Flandres, Irish Setters, and German Shepherd Dogs appear to be at greater risk for tumor development,2 and mesotheliomas are more common in male than in female dogs.

Unfortunately, just as your dog or cat can bring unwanted fleas and other critters into the house, pets can carry asbestos too. They do so by transporting dust or dirt on their fur or feet if they spend time in places that have high levels of asbestos in the air and surrounding environment.

Tragically, a dog was reportedly the first animal to make asbestos and mesothelioma dangers known in 1931 to researchers before they became aware of its toxic effects upon humans.

Was Your Dog Exposed To Asbestos? Does It Have Mesothelioma?

Asbestos is a highly toxic and dangerous source of indoor air pollution. It is a recognized human carcinogen by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), the World Health Organization, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Unfortunately, just as your dog or cat can bring unwanted fleas and other critters into the house, pets can carry asbestos too. They do so by transporting dust or dirt on their fur or feet if they spend time in places that have high levels of asbestos in the air and surrounding environment.

According to the CDCs Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, asbestos exposure usually occurs by breathing contaminated air in workplaces that make or use asbestos. But it can also present in the air of buildings with asbestos that are being torn down or renovated

Complications from asbestos exposure can include two types of cancer: lung cancer and mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is a cancer of the thin lining surrounding the lung (pleural membrane) or abdominal cavity (the peritoneum).

Tragically, a dog was reportedly the first animal to make asbestos and mesothelioma dangers known in 1931 to researchers before they became aware of its toxic effects upon humans. See, N.H. Schuster,"Pulmonary Asbestosis in a Dog," Journal of Pathology and Bacteriology (34:751-757).

A recent study by two veterinarians at the University of Georgia, concludes that dogs diagnosed with mesothelioma, like humans, usually have a grave prognosis.

If you work in an environment were you are exposed to asbestos, or you have reason to believe that your dog may have been exposed to asbestos, he or she may be at risk for asbetos-related cancers and mesothelioma too.

Please contact your veterinarian immediately if you think your dog has been been exposed to asbestos, and if you have any questions about these potential health risks.

If you have any questions about your legal rights, and any that you think your pet may have, please contact a lawyer or law firm near you.