Persistent papilloma treated with cryotherapy in three dogs.

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.