Canine Papilloma Virus? How Bad Is It?

[Kirislin]

Just how contagious is it? I've seen some awful and tragic stories on a US whippet forum about it and heeded the warnings about how dangerous it is.

Today I met a woman and her dog up at our regular park. I noticed he had blood on his head and mentioned it to the lady. She flipped his ear back to reveal a small bleeding sore and said off handedly "oh he has canine papilloma virus, he was covered in them before" I said it's extremely contagious,( because of what I have read on the other forum.) The lady was surprised and said the vet didn't mention anything about that.

I immediately took my girls away and headed to the vet to ask about it. To the lady's credit she was on the phone to them when I walked in, I could tell by the converstation the receptionist was having.

I spoke to the vet (not my regualar vet) and she reckons it's usually only young dogs who are affected and only if they're already immunosurpressed (sp?) She said it's not very contagious and not very dangerous so not to worry. She seemed very casual about it but I cannot forget the horrendous photos I've seen of it. So should I be worried.

Edited July 5, 2008 by Kirislin

[Lemonlime]

My German Shepherd bitch had a Papilloma in her mouth. We were told because of the place it was, it could not be removed. It didnt spread and eventually went away. I was told it wasnt contagious and none of my other dogs were affected.

[Lowenhart]

There are 2 forms of CPV, one that affects the mucus membranes and the other on the skin. Dogs normally have one or the other, not both.

I've had a dog with skin based Papilloma's since puppy hood and never had it spread to another dog - he has bled, bitten, been bitten, mated, shared water bowls etc with other dogs and never once has it appeared on them. None of his offspring have it, neither do their offspring.

However it is thought that ALL dogs carry it, those with suppressed immune systems allow for the papilloma's to grow. The vet hypothesised that my dog had a "whole" in his immune system when it came to CPV as he never came down with anything else (despite living an active, dog orientated life). I know the skin ones aren't lethal, annoying but not lethal. My dog would develop more if under stress (like I'd go overseas for 6 weeks) but they weren't a big deal at all.

I've consulted with vet dermatologists and specialists of all sorts about it. Do not stress about CPV.