Often underestimated or completely unknown, the papilloma virus creates discomfort for the dog that can turn into real dangers. In the most serious cases, surgery can be done, even if the disease usually disappears by itself, just as it appeared. The rule not to be overlooked is control and attention to symptoms.
More common than you think, oral papilloma in dogs is caused by the canine papillomavirus virus (COPV). The dog suffering from this disease usually has more or less small nodules on the tongue and especially on the lips, with a characteristic white color tending to greyish with lots of protuberances. The lump at first resembles a small cauliflower.
Benign neoplasms, these tend to rapidly reabsorb and disappear on their own, in a time that normally varies from five to six months. This does not mean that in some, albeit very rare cases, the papilloma transforms from benign to malignant. It is for this reason that it is advisable to keep the dog affected by this disease under control in order to prevent the disease from degenerating.
Papillomatosis can occur in three possible different forms:
• the oral form (the most frequent);
• the ocular shape;
• the cutaneous form.
The disease is found more frequently in young dogs; it is estimated that the dogs most prone to papillomatosis are those that have not yet reached three years of life, this does not mean that even an adult or even elderly dog may experience the clear symptoms of the disease. The possibility of contracting the disease in the latter increases considerably if in contact with young dogs since it is basically a viral infection, highly contagious.
The contagion occurs very quickly, and direct contact between the papillomas of the sick dog with the mucous membranes of the healthy one proves sufficient, which are even more in danger if these present small abrasions or even superficial wounds. It is precisely there that the virus will take care of inoculating itself and spreading shortly thereafter.
On the other hand, finding the disease immediately is really difficult since after the infection it remains in incubation for a fairly long period that can vary between 30 and 60 days. Incubation will prove to be longer in dogs with excellent immune systems, which eventually have to fail. It is still the immune system that allows a natural reabsorption of the papillomas. In the event that this does not happen and the immune system does not react positively, over time not only will the papillomas not disappear, but they will increase in volume and number.
When these are also infected with the dog's tongue, the difficulty in feeding gradually increases.
The size and number of papillomas depends exclusively on the speed with which the owner became aware of the disease and took his faithful four-legged friend to the vet.
In the most annoying and difficult cases, the veterinarian can intervene either surgically or with various other methods. In the case of large papilloma, easily reachable and well localized, but above all single, it is likely that the veterinarian will proceed with topical applications: we will therefore opt for ointments, drops or ointments all based on substances that break down the keratin allow an easy elimination of the papilloma.
Unlike the case of small and numerous papillomas, which even with the passage of time have given no sign of wanting to improve. In this case you will have to opt for attacks through systemic chemotherapy and through antineoplastic drugs, which needless to say, the veterinarian will have to prescribe.
However, this last treatment is recommended for owners who have a lot of time to devote to their pet. Otherwise the surgical solution will surely prove to be the ideal one. In some cases, cryotherapy has also been shown to be effective. Through the application of small probes on the papilloma, the cells of the area will be frozen and the virus contained in them will be eliminated. It even seems that this technique stimulates the immune system of the four-legged friend making it stronger for any new attacks by the virus.