A case report on natural regression of oral papillomatosis in a dog

Abstract

Canine oral papillomatosis is one of the viral diseases of dogs rarely seen in canine populations. The
disease is contagious only in young dogs, immune suppressed adults, those under corticosteroid therapy
or with debilitating diseases. Young dogs often develop oral papillomatosis due to absence of protective
immunity against the papilloma virus and with time extrude the virus following adequate antibody
response. Most dog owners often opt for surgical removal of papilloma growth apparently on aesthetic
reasons which sometimes maybe detrimental especially to geriatric dogs. Though there are medications
available for the treatment of papillomatosis, most canine oral papillomatosis regresses naturally without
treatment. However such dogs should be under Veterinary supervision for early intervention in cases of
invasion of growths by oncogenic cells.