Recurrence and survival in dogs with excised colorectal polyps: A retrospective study of 58 cases

Abstract Background Compared to humans, colorectal polyps are relatively rare in dogs. Epidemiological and prognostic data remain accordingly sparse, although they could help veterinary clinicians in the management of these cases. Objectives To report the epidemiological data of dogs with colorectal polyps and identify factors associated with recurrence and survival. Animals Fifty‐eight client‐owned dogs with colorectal polyps admitted to 7 veterinary hospitals (53 dogs from France, 5 dogs from Spain, and 4 dogs from Portugal) were included. Methods Retrospective multicentric cohort study. Medical records and long‐term outcome of the dogs were reviewed. When available, histological samples were reassessed by 2 board‐certified pathologists according to the revised Vienna classification (RVC). Results The West Highland White Terrier (WHWT) breed was significantly associated with the presence of colorectal polyps (OR: 20; 95% CI: 7.5‐52; P < .001). The overall median time to recurrence was not reached after 2000 days. The overall estimated median survival time was 1640 days. WHWT breed and larger polyps were significantly associated with a shorter time of polyp recurrence after surgical removal (respectively, P = .05 and P = .01). Conclusions and Clinical Importance The probability of recurrence of colorectal polyps in dogs is low, but increased in WHWTs and larger polyps, which might benefit from routine screening after removal. No effective predictors of polyp recurrence and survival were identified using the RVC.