As I came across news headlines discussing a form of canine cancer transmitted through intimate sniffing between dogs, I was startled. It’s a known fact that dogs have a natural inclination to sniff each other intimately.
Why was this the first time I was hearing about it? Were you aware?
Turns out, this isn’t a widespread issue in the U.S., and it isn’t especially lethal either. It’s essential, however, to stay informed about such topics to safeguard our pets.
What’s This Contagious Dog Cancer? Typically, cancer isn’t infectious.
You might be familiar with the human papillomavirus (HPV), a virus transferred through human intimate contact, and it can be prevented using the Gardisil vaccine. While HPV often doesn’t display symptoms, it sometimes leads to genital warts. In rare instances, it heightens the risk of various cancers, although the virus itself isn’t directly carcinogenic.
The Canine transmissible venereal tumor (CTVT) in dogs isn’t virus-induced. Rather, the cancer cells themselves spread, acting similarly to a virus upon contact.
How Widespread is CTVT in Dogs? Regions with free-roaming dogs, mating without restrictions, or areas with lower neutering and spaying practices report higher CTVT occurrences. Conversely, in nations like the United States and Canada, where neutering is common and dogs don’t freely roam, CTVT is rare.
Guarding Against CTVT If CTVT isn’t prevalent in your locality, your pet is likely safe.
It’s wise to have a secure area for your dog and to supervise their outdoor activities, both for disease prevention and overall safety. Regular dog park goers shouldn’t be overly worried, as long as their dog’s playmates aren’t exposed to high-risk areas.
Considering neutering your dog can also be beneficial for various reasons, including minimizing their inclination to wander and lowering infection risks.
Notably, CTVT cases have been on the rise in the UK, possibly due to an increase in international adoptions.
Where is CTVT Most Observed? Traveling with your pet to specific areas could warrant extra precaution against CTVT. CTVT is recognized in 90 countries, and in 30 of these, over 1% of the dog population is affected.
If traveling or residing in a high-risk region, ensure your pet avoids interactions with stray dogs.
Chart from University of Cambridge Department of Veterinary Medicine / Andrea Strakova
Are Male Dogs at Greater Risk? While some news pieces claim male dogs have a quadrupled risk, this isn’t entirely accurate.
Both genders are equally susceptible to CTVT. Though males might engage more in the sniffing behavior, their overall risk for genital CTVT tumors aligns with that of females.
Identifying CTVT For dogs with CTVT, initial symptoms might manifest as persistent licking or changes in the appearance of their genital region, possibly presenting as swollen, textured, or bleeding growths.
Understanding CTVT’s Impact Dogs with CTVT possess active cancer cells externally, which can transfer upon contact with other dogs. It’s ambiguous whether only visible tumors are contagious. Curiosity might lead dogs to investigate peers with visible cancer growths.
Encouragingly, metastasis occurs in merely 0-5% of CTVT cases. Treatment prospects are also bright, with chemotherapy showing effectiveness against CTVT, which usually remains localized.
