Persistent papilloma treated with cryotherapy in three dogs
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Author Spotlight: Dermatopathology and the Treatment of Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Published on: November 8, 2024
Austin W Richman1, Allison L Kirby1, Wayne Rosenkrantz2
1Animal Dermatology Clinic, 4834 Lincoln Blvd, Marina Del Rey, CA, 90292, USA.
Background:
Canine papillomaviruses can affect the mucous membranes and skin of young, old and immunocompromised dogs. Most lesions regress spontaneously over a four to eight week interval; however, in some cases the lesions may persist or progress. Cryotherapy is used as a treatment for papillomavirus induced lesions in veterinary practice but there is limited published evidence regarding its use.
Objectives:
To describe the history, lesions and treatment outcomes of three dogs with persistent viral papillomas treated with cryotherapy.
Animals:
Three client owned dogs.
Methods:
Canine viral papilloma lesions were treated with five to six freeze-thaw cycles using liquid nitrogen cryotherapy.
Results:
All lesions in each case resolved with cryotherapy treatment. Two cases required one treatment and one case required two treatment courses.
Conclusions And Clinical Importance:
The apparent resolution of these papilloma lesions with cryotherapy suggests that this may be a useful treatment intervention for persistent canine papilloma lesions. Spontaneous resolution may still have taken place; consequently, large scale clinical trials are required to demonstrate unequivocally that this mode of therapy, as with other therapeutic modalities, is really effective in the treatment of canine papillomatosis.
