We Are The Cure Blog | Canine Cancer Information

I was absolutely taken aback by this stunning revelation that even dogs can contract venereal diseases. Also called TVTs (Transmissible venereal tumors), sticker tumors or infectious sarcomas they usually spread by normal contact during the process of sexual intercourse. However, they can also be transferred through sniffing or contact with the tumor.

Although it can affect any dog, the unsprayed ones are more susceptible. The clinical signs may include genital bleeding in case of females and bleeding from the penis in case of males. The tumors usually develop around the genitals. But other areas that may come under attack include nose, mouth and anus. Initially, these lesions appear as fleshy edematous growths. But they aggravate quickly and the surface soon gets eroded. The tumor then comes out as dark red genital discharge. Bleeding due to the onset of tumor growth can also occur in a spayed female which is very often mistaken for normal bleeding of the heat cycle. In some animals the discharge also has a foul odor.

The physical examinations consist of visual inspection, cytology and biopsy. Due to the locally aggressive nature of these tumors, doctors opt for surgery. After the success of the surgery, vets go for chemotherapy in which vincristine is administered intravenously. The tumor is also responsive to radiation therapy in which a beam of light is projected on the tumor. This results in the local remission of the tumor.

The tumors behave well prognostically. Even in the case of metastasis the cure rate is 90%.