Papilloma in dogs: types, treatment

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Usually, at the first symptoms of a possible illness, a person is in a hurry to seek help from a specialist, since even brief data can help identify a diagnosis and prescribe treatment. Veterinarians, on the other hand, deal with four-legged patients of various types who do not know how to speak, much less complain about their illness. Despite this, they also need help, and they can get it at veterinary institutions.

A veterinarian needs to have a we alth of knowledge in order to be able to help pets. The he alth status of an animal can be determined by appearance, as well as after examining the coat, eyes and ears.

Pet owners have a huge responsibility, so they must also be able to provide first aid, know the main symptoms of common diseases and, if necessary, isolate the pet from the like or from people in time.

Some diseases of pets do not pose any danger to the animal and others. But, toFor example, how safe is papillomas in dogs? Is it a precursor to a serious illness?

What is papilloma?

Papillomatosis is a viral disease that is quite common in dogs. Papillomas in dogs, for which treatment should not be delayed, are benign growths. Outwardly, they look like a cauliflower inflorescence. Tumors are caused by infection of epithelial cells with DNA papillomaviruses. The virus promotes the growth and division of epithelial cells, due to which chromosomal instability and mutations appear.

Penetrating into the body, the virus may not manifest itself immediately: it may take several weeks or even a month before the first signs appear. The causative agent is quite tenacious in the external environment.

Viral papillomatosis can be transmitted from one animal to another through contact, medical instruments and care items. However, the disease does not pose any danger to humans.

Symptoms

Detecting a disease in your pet is quite simple. On any part of the body, small growths of a pinkish color with a smooth surface appear. If the tumors are not detected in time, then over time they will coarsen and become rough.

The virus manifests itself only in appearance, the dog has no internal ailments. Symptoms can be different, it all depends on the location of the tumors. If the disease has formed inside the oral cavity, then the process of feeding the dog is significantlycomplicated: it becomes more difficult to swallow and chew food. There is also profuse salivation and bad breath. Papilloma on a dog's paw prevents her from moving. In this case, the animal tries not to lean on the limb and limps noticeably, as it experiences pain. It is worth paying attention to the fact that wool does not grow on tumors.

When symptoms are detected, you should immediately consult a veterinarian, as the disease can progress and develop from a benign tumor to a malignant one. The 24-hour veterinary clinic accepts patients at a convenient time for you. In order to distinguish papillomatosis from another disease, you need to know the following types of neoplasms.

Types of papillomatosis

First of all, papilloma in dogs has the following feature - it does not grow deep into the tissues, but only outward. In this case, the virus captures only the mucous membrane or the upper layer of the epidermis. Usually papillomas are small in size, only in rare cases they begin to increase. An animal in the course of its life activity can disrupt neoplasms, after which they begin to bleed.

The following types of viral papillomatosis are distinguished:

1. Oral papillomatosis. Young dogs are usually infected. The virus is a white papules and captures the oral cavity, lips, sometimes the nose, conjunctiva and skin with hairline. Tumor regression begins within 3 months.
2. Transitional cell papillomas. Also found inmostly in young dogs. The lesion is rounded, it captures the surface of the abdomen and the axillary zone.
3. Skin papillomas. This species is often found in adult dogs. In this case, the lesion captures the head, eyelids and feet of the paws. Papillomas are smooth and small (less than 0.5 cm in diameter).
4. Many pigmented papillomas. It is observed in small breeds of dogs. The lesions are non-progressive and are seen on the thighs and lower torso of the animal. The appearance is characterized by pigmented plaques, in an advanced form, the neoplasms become scaly.
5. Papilloma of the fingertips. Occurs in older dogs. The tumors are hard and involve only the balls of the fingers.
6. Papilloma of the genitals. It occurs quite infrequently. The growths are elevated and appear on the penis or vaginal mucosa.

Reasons for appearance

The virus enters the animal's body through the slightest damage to the skin or mucous membrane. At first, it takes root in the basal cells, after which it penetrates into the surface layer of the epithelium.

Usually, dogs become infected with viral papillomatosis from each other through contact, through shared toys and sticks. This problem is especially common in shelters, because there animals live crowded and the likelihood of infection is very high. The risk group includes young animals with weak immunity. If an adult dog with a weak immune system becomes infected, there is a high chance that the tumor will degenerate into a malignant one.

Diagnosis

Papillomas in dogs on the body may not be detected even by the most experienced dog owners. It is especially difficult to identify the presence of the disease in long-haired breeds when the dog is afraid of the veterinarian in panic and does not let him in for an examination.

It is also very difficult to detect papillomas on the genitals of a female dog and formations between the fingers. In the latter case, the tumor may remain invisible for a long time, because it does not interfere with the animal. Spontaneous remission may begin, in which case it is possible to understand that the dog has been ill only by the remaining scars. Papilloma in dogs will not go unnoticed in the case of regular examination by a qualified specialist.

The development of medicine has reached a level where viral papillomatosis can be detected using diagnostic methods. Samples of growths of unknown origin are taken and provided to the laboratory for a detailed examination. Specialists identify the papillomavirus to deny the presence of oncology. In rare cases, polymerase chain reaction and electron microscopy are used.

Immunity

In the case of spontaneous remission, most dogs develop immunity to the disease, in other words, immunity. However, parts of their cells retain the genome of the virus, so that the animal can be a carrier of the disease and pose a danger to other individuals. Passive immunity is acquired by dogs that have been injected with a specific serum containingvirus-neutralizing antibodies. They say about insufficient immunity when a benign formation develops into a malignant one.

Treatment of disease

Mostly the disease is mild and viral papillomatosis is eliminated by itself. When this does not happen, the dog should be taken to a qualified specialist. Do not make a diagnosis yourself, as you can cause irreparable harm to the animal.

Removal of papillomas in dogs depends on their number and location.

When papilloma in dogs is large enough and located on the pet's skin, it can be removed at home. To do this, it must be tied up with linen thread and cauterized with liquid nitrogen. After such a procedure, the growth will turn black and fall off by itself.

If the papilloma is single and small, it can be lubricated with celandine until blackness appears, after which it is carefully cut off with a sterile knife. The wound must also be treated until complete healing.

When there are many formations, the veterinarian will prescribe an intravenous injection of 0.5% novocaine solution. The duration of treatment and dose will depend on the condition of the animal. In special cases, a “blockade” of novocaine is placed under the papilloma or injections are made into its base.

Papilloma in a dog's mouth is removed by surgery.

Prevention of occurrence

First of all, in order to exclude infection of a dog with viral papillomatosis, it is necessary to maintain its immunity. Even if the animal becomes ill, the symptoms will not be pronounced whenstrengthened body. To do this, it is necessary to properly maintain the dog and adhere to a balanced diet.

Tips

The following tips will help keep your pet he althy:

1. Check your pet regularly for growths.
2. If you notice a papilloma in another dog, do not let your pet near it.
3. Immunity can be strengthened with long walks and vitamins.
4. Papillomas in dogs treated in a specialized facility will heal much faster than those removed at home.
5. If there is a tumor, do not let the pet comb and tear it.
6. Lubricating the wound with celandine is possible only if the dog cannot reach it with its tongue.

24-hour veterinary clinic - a faithful assistant for any pet disease!