Transmissible venereal tumour (TVT)

Overview

One of the most important tumours in warm regions with large free-roaming dog populations, and almost invisible in Western references, because it is a disease of free-breeding, free-roaming dog populations — which is to say, of most free-roaming dogs worldwide. TVT is extraordinary: the tumour cells themselves are the infectious agent, transmitted physically from dog to dog during mating (and, for the nasal and oral forms, by licking and sniffing). It is one of only a handful of known transmissible cancers in nature, and the cell line is thousands of years old. It presents as a fleshy, bleeding, cauliflower-like growth on the genitals of either sex; owners often notice blood dripping rather than the mass. It rarely spreads internally, and — importantly — it responds well to a chemotherapeutic protocol that a vet administers, with a high cure rate, so this is a diagnosis to act on rather than despair over. Any genital mass or unexplained genital bleeding should be seen promptly. Neutering and control of free-roaming breeding are what prevent it at population level, which ties this entry directly to Animal Birth Control programmes.

What you would notice

• A cauliflower-like, fleshy, easily-bleeding mass on the genitals
• Blood or blood-tinged discharge dripping from the prepuce or vulva
• Excessive licking of the genital area
• Occasionally masses on the nose or in the mouth (from licking or sniffing)
• Otherwise a well, bright dog — this is often the only sign

Sources

• Merck Veterinary Manual (merckvetmanual.com)
• MSD Veterinary Manual (msdvetmanual.com)
• Indian Council of Medical Research (icmr.gov.in)

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