Conclusion
Venereal tumours
You may recall that last week a passing reference was made to ‘transmissible canine venereal tumours’ (TCVT) as a vaginal condition which could be mistaken for the proliferation of cells which accompanies another ailment, viz vaginal hyperplasia. We dealt with this latter condition in depth last week.
The word venereal stems from Venus, the Goddess of Love. Diseases that are transmitted by ‘love’ making associated with the intromission of the penis into the vagina (coitus) are called venereal diseases, VD, for short. When this happens in dogs, the name CVD (C for canine) is given; and since it is relatively easily transmitted by the sex act, the scientists logically add in the T for transmissible. Further, because the ailment is associated with massive cauliflower-like swellings (you remember me saying that tumours are swellings), the scientific name for the disease is TCVT (transmissible canine venereal tumours.
Well, this is one condition that vets abhor treating. I say ‘treating,’ but I mean cutting off, piece by piece, these ugly growths which can be small nodules or large pieces of ugly tissue projecting out of the vagina. Sometimes (often) the exposed and protruding tissue is bleeding. There is no better place for screwworm flies to lay their eggs which develop into maggots that have a feast on the walls of the vagina. I know this sounds quite sordid. But it only becomes that way because companion animal owners don’t place any value on the bump that, at the beginning, protrudes from the vagina. Only when the blood is dropping to the ground with every step the animal makes, and when the stench becomes overpowering, do they take notice. Even then, many do not run quickly to the veterinary surgeon. By the time the poor animal reaches the vet, the cauliflower-like tissue which one can actually see hanging out the vagina has grown much larger and is much deeper inside the vagina, right up to the cervix (the area connecting the vagina with the womb) and encircling the exit orifice of the tube (urethra) through which the female dog urinates.
Earlier, in the second paragraph above, I made reference to the love-making aspect of this disease, and its transmissibility. What does that tell us? Clearly, the disease can spread by intercourse. This means that the male dogs can exhibit this ailment as well. Again, the owner only becomes aware of the growths when droplets of blood are shed from the penis. This in itself leads to a false diagnosis by the owner. He/she thinks that the blood is in the urine and that the male dog has a urinary tract infection – you know, the kidney or the bladder or the associated tubes are infected. No owner will pull back the foreskin to see if there is some other cause for the bleeding. An experienced vet takes one look (and because of the swelling around the penis area and the colour of the discharge and via palpation) and pulls back the foreskin. There immediately bulges out this cauliflower-like mass of lobulated tissue which crumbles easily (friable) to the touch.
As with the vaginal version of the disease, the pathological mass of tissue might be quite deep inside the foreskin and can be also growing on the surface of the penis shaft.
Luckily, the vet isn’t squeamish. The vet will place the animal under full anaesthetic and cut away the bad tissue. If he/she feels that the growths have penetrated deep into the penis flesh, delicate cauterization will follow to ensure that all the bad tissue is removed and that the accompanying bleeding will stop.
I know that some of you will go to the internet for further education on this matter. And you will see that many authors will tell you that this TCVT might regress without veterinary intervention, and that your vet can introduce specific drugs to combat this disease. I am sure that they can be right. However, my position is simple: Once you see the cauliflower-like growths protruding out from the vagina/vulva of the bitch and from the foreskin of the male, let the vet excise the growths. My experience here in the tropics (especially where radiation and immunotherapy and chemotherapy are not easily available) is that TCVT must be considered a progressive disease. Consequently, it must be treated surgically as quickly as possible.
Let’s also remember that this TCVT disease is relatively easily transmissible (besides through sexual intercourse) also via the licking of genetalia – dog to dog.
Finally, to emphasize my argument for quick surgery, I must mention that pieces of the damaged tissue can disassociate themselves from the parent mass and go via the blood stream to lymph nodes, to the spleen, kidneys, eyes, brain, etc. Don’t panic; this metastasis (the process by which malignant cells and tissue can spread to other, even distant, parts of the body, giving rise to secondary tumours elsewhere) does not happen often in the TCVT malady. But why take the risk, when the growths can be removed in one fell swoop, possibly followed by some chemotherapy.
Perhaps one last comment: If you see a stray dog with a mass if bleeding tissue hanging out of the vagina or protruding from the foreskin of the male, please call the GSPCA’s Animal Clinic and Shelter. They will try to remove the animal from the streets, so that this transmissible infection (VD), this vicious circle of continuous infection can be stopped.
So, now we have come to the end of this topic of cancer in pets, truly an extensive and complicated subject. I hope that I have kept the publications manageable. And since cancer in pets is not very different from cancer in humans, the pieces of wisdom that you would have garnered from Dr Oz, the Readers Digest, and from all those health magazines, and the internet itself, can be quite sound and offer practical advice.
I am not sure what our next big theme for discussion will be. Let’s surprise ourselves next week.
Until then, enjoy your companion animals.
Please implement disease preventative measures (vaccinations, routine dewormings, monthly anti-heartworm medication, etc) and adopt-a-pet from the GSPCA’s Animal Clinic and Shelter at Robb Street and Orange Walk, if you have the wherewithal to care well for the animals. Do not stray your unwanted pets, take them to the GSPCA’s Clinic and Shelter instead. If you do not wish your pet to have puppies or kittens, you may exploit the GSPCA’s free spay and neutering programme. If you see anyone being cruel to an animal, or if you need any technical information, please get in touch with the Clinic and Shelter by calling 226-4237.
