Male dogs are FOUR TIMES more likely to develop nose or mouth cancer because they spend more time sniffing and licking other puppies’ genitals than female dogs, study finds
- Canine Transmissible Venereal Tumor (CTVT) is a contagious form of cancer
- It spreads between dogs when they come into contact with an infected dog
- Researchers have analyzed nearly 2,000 cases from around the world
- The results show that tumors of the nose or mouth are much more common in men
Most dog owners won’t bat an eyelid at their pet sniffing another dog’s butt.
But a new study warns that sharing behaviors may increase your risk of an unusual cancer called canine transmissible vein tumor.
Canine Transmissible Venereal Tumor (CTVT) is a contagious form of cancer that is spread through contact between dogs.
Researchers at the University of Cambridge have now found that male dogs are four times more likely to develop CTVT because they spend more time sniffing and licking other dogs’ genitals than females.
The cancer usually causes tumors on the external genitals of males and females, but can also affect other areas such as the nose, mouth and skin (pictured).
What is CVT?
Canine Transmissible Venereal Tumor (CTVT) is a contagious form of cancer that is spread through contact between dogs.
CTVT is transmitted through the transfer of live cancer cells between dogs, usually during mating.
The cancer usually causes tumors on the external genitals of males and females, but can also affect other areas such as the nose, mouth, and skin.
CTVT, also known as transmissible venereal tumor or sticker sarcoma, is a transmissible cancer that affects dogs.
“CTVT is transmitted by the transfer of live cancer cells between dogs, usually during mating,” the University of Cambridge explains on its website.
Although the cancer is not common in the UK, the researchers say cases have risen over the past decade – likely linked to dogs being imported from abroad.
“Although canine communicable cancer is fairly easy to diagnose and treat, veterinarians in the UK may not be familiar with the signs of the disease as it is very rare here,” said Dr. Andrea Strakova, who led the study.
The cancer usually causes tumors on the external genitals of males and females, but can also affect other areas such as the nose, mouth, and skin.
In the study, the team set out to understand how cases differ between male and female dogs by examining nearly 2,000 cases of CTVT from around the world.
Their review found that only 32 CTVT tumors involved the nose or mouth. Of these, 27 cases were found in male dogs.
dr Strakova said, “We found that a very significant proportion of nasal or oral tumors from communicable canine cancer occurred in male dogs.
“We think this is because male dogs may prefer to sniff or lick female genitals than vice versa.
“The female genital tumours, compared to the male genital tumours, may also be more amenable to sniffing and licking.”
Most dog owners won’t bat an eyelid at their pet sniffing another dog’s butt. But a new study warns that sharing behaviors may increase your risk of an unusual cancer called canine transmissible vein tumor (stock image).
CTVT, also known as transmissible venereal tumor or sticker sarcoma, is a transmissible cancer that affects dogs. It is transmitted through the transfer of live cancer cells between dogs, usually during mating
The researchers hope the results will encourage veterinarians to consider CTVT as a possible diagnosis for tumors of the nose or mouth.
“We think it is important to consider CTVT as a potential diagnosis for canine oronasal tumors,” added Dr. Added Strakova.
“Treatment with vincristine chemotherapy is very effective and the vast majority of dogs recover.”
Transmissible cancers are also found in the Tasmanian devil and in sea shells such as mussels and clams.
The researchers hope that studying these unusually long-lived cancers could also be helpful in understanding how cancers work in humans.
WHAT ARE THE TEN COMMON MYTHS ABOUT DOGS?
It’s easy to think that dogs like what we like, but that’s not always entirely true.
According to animal behavior experts Dr. Melissa Starling and Dr. Paul McGreevy of the University of Sydney here are ten things people should consider when trying to understand their pets.
1. Dogs don’t like to share
2. Not all dogs like to be hugged or petted
3. A barking dog is not always an aggressive dog
4. Dogs don’t like it when other dogs enter their territory/house
5. Dogs like to be active and don’t need as much recovery time as humans
6. Not all dogs are overly friendly, some are more shy at first
7. A dog that appears friendly can quickly become aggressive
8. Dogs need space and new areas to explore. Playing in the garden is not always enough
9. Sometimes a dog doesn’t misbehave, it just doesn’t understand what to do or what you want it to do
10. Subtle facial cues often prevent barking or flicking when a dog is unhappy