, or CTVT, is an unusual cancer – it is infectious and can spread between dogs when they come into contact. The living cancer cells physically ‘transplant’ themselves from one animal to the other.
As pet owners, we all want to take the best care of our four-legged friends, and one of the most important aspects of this is knowing how to recognize and treat serious health conditions. Dog mouth cancer is a serious illness that can cause major health problems for our canine companions, and one of the questions many pet owners have is whether this type of cancer is contagious. In this blog post, we’ll be exploring the facts and exploring the answers to this important question, so you can be better informed and better prepared to provide the best care for your beloved pooch. We’ll be examining different types of mouth cancer, the risk factors, and the symptoms to look out for, as well as the treatments available in order to help you make the best decisions for your pet’s health and wellbeing. So, let’s dive in and take a closer look at ‘Is Dog Mouth Cancer Contagious?’
A type of tumor that can pass between dogs is showing researchers how cancer cells evolve.
(Credit: Jess Wealleans/Shutterstock)
What are the most common symptoms of mouth cancer in dogs?
Bad breath, excessive drooling, bleeding from the mouth, difficulty chewing, obvious signs of oral pain, loose teeth, a visible lump or mass inside the mouth, swollen areas of the face, reluctance to eat, and weight loss are among the most typical oral cancer symptoms in dogs.
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Thousands of years ago in Asia, a dog got cancer. One cell underwent a mutation that caused it to develop the first stages of a tumor. The dog ultimately passed away, but not before leaving behind a special legacy: its cancer cells.
These cells are still developing in dogs today all over the world. This is due to the fact that this specific type of cancer cell had the incredibly uncommon ability to switch between hosts.
Only a small subset of cancers, those that can spread from animal to animal, are contagious. Along with dogs, the list of species that can harbor tumors that can move between hosts like a cancerous parasite includes Tasmanian devils, Syrian hamsters, and some varieties of marine bivalves.
Now an international team of researchers has analyzed the genetics of the canine transmissible venereal tumor (CTVT) to better understand how these cancer cells have evolved over the span of thousands of years. Along with that, they’ve been able to gain some insights into the history of the tumor’s canine hosts, tracking their path across the seas as companions to sailors. The discovery, published today in Science, is providing valuable information not only about the dogs, but about cancer as well. And tracking how the cells evolve and grow over time could help inform new therapies.
FAQ
Can a dog get cancer from licking other dog’s tumor?
As a result of coitus, licking, biting, and sniffing tumor-affected areas (the genitalia, nose, or mouth), the cancer is typically passed from one dog to another during mating.
Can mouth cancer in dogs spread?
However, if your dog’s oral cancer isn’t found until it’s advanced, there’s a good chance the disease will have metastasized (spread to other parts of the body). Sadly, dogs with late-stage diagnoses may only have 6 to 12 months to live.
Is cancer of the mouth contagious?
Cancer is NOT a disease that can be “caught” from another person. Cancer cannot be spread through close contact, including intimate acts like kissing, touching, dining together, or breathing the same air. Cancer cells from one person with cancer cannot survive in the body of another person who is healthy.
How quickly does mouth cancer spread in dogs?
They frequently involve the underlying bone as they grow quickly, and some varieties easily spread to other parts of the body. Here are some signs to watch out for, some treatment options, and how long dogs with mouth cancer can expect to live.