High-Grade Extragenital Canine Transmissible Venereal Tumor of the Skin in a Pointer Dog. First Report in Iran

Abstract

Canine transmissible venereal tumors (TVT) are cauliflower-like, pedunculated, lobulated mass in appearance. TVT may be solitary or multiple and are almost always located on the genitalia. They may be transplanted to adjacent skin and oral, nasal, or conjunctival mucosae. The tumor is transplanted from site to site and dog to dog by direct contact with the mass (1). A pointer dog with a history of preputial bloody discharge, abnormal subcutaneous masses, weight loss and hyporexia was referred to internal medicine section of small animal hospital of University of Tehran. Physical examination revealed non-painful, freely movable, generalized subcutaneous masses and a small nodular lesion (<5mm) in dorsal region of penis. The final diagnosis as TVT was made from cytologic, clinical and histologic findings. The patient was treated with vincristine sulfate intravenously, once a week, for four weeks. The response to chemotherapy with vincristine was excellent leading to regression of the lesions.