A case report of canine oral papilloma treated successfully with homeopathy medicine

A Case Report of Canine Oral Papilloma Treated Successfully with Homeopathic Medicine

1 S. Jibachha, 2S.P. Kumar, 2S. J. Kumari

1Jibachha Veterinary Hospital Research & Training Center (p) Ltd.Bharatpur-4, Chitwan, Nepal
2Jibachha Veterinary Hospital (p) Ltd. Jhamshikhel, Lalitpur, Nepal

Corresponding author: Dr. Jibachha Sah, 1Jibachha Veterinary Hospital Research & Training Center (p)
Ltd.Bharatpur-4, Chitwan, Nepal [email protected]

ABSTRACT

In Nepal, homeopathic medicine is rarely used in veterinary practice. Therefore, this article aimed to
report the successful treatment of oral papillomatosis in two young dogs of German shepherd breeds
using homeopathic therapy. A total of two dogs aged between 7 and 8 months, brought from Dhading
district to the Jibachha Veterinary Hospital, Bharatpur, Chitwan, they were employed in this research.
Clinical examination was used to make the canine oral papillomatosis diagnosis. A combination of Thuja-
30C, Calcaria carb-30C, Antimony crudum-30C, Causticum-30, Dulcmara-30C, and Acid nitricum-30
were given 5 drops each twice a day orally, and the oral papillomas completely disappeared within two
weeks with no relapse. The combination of homeopathic medicine continued for more than two weeks
after complete regression.

Key words: Oral papillomatosis, homeopathic medicine, canine

1. Introduction

The papillomavirus is the root cause of dog warts, sometimes referred to as papillomas, which are
prevalent skin disorders in canines. These benign, painless growths on dogs' skin have a cauliflower-like
look. Anywhere on the body of the dog may develop warts as a result of this highly contagious virus. But
they mostly occur around the mouth and head. Oral papillomas are warts that appear on the lips or inside
the mouths of dogs. The first occurrence of papillomatosis in dogs was recorded in 1898 (Nicholls and
Stanley, 1999). The etiology of papillomatosis was identified in 1959 (Nicholls and Stanley, 1999) and is
linked to the infection caused by the papillomavirus, a DNA virus with double strands but no envelope
is related to a great number of cutaneous and mucosal manifestations (Hnilicia and Patterson, 2017).

Papillomatosis has a high rate of morbidity and a low rate of mortality with a favorable prognosis and no
disease recurrence since the patient acquires immunity to the virus (Favrot, 2012). The elderly and/or
immunocompromised animals become more susceptible to papillomavirus infection.

Treatment is controversial and can be performed in different ways. Surgery is the most commonly used
therapy among conventional veterinarians. However, some professionals choose not to treat when the
diagnosis is made at the onset of the disease, as spontaneous regression may occur within four weeks.
Other treatment options for persistent cases include cryotherapy, chemotherapy with vincristine or
cyclophosphamide, and autogenous vaccines (Sherding, 2008), auto-hemotherapy, laser therapy,
antibiotic therapy, topical applications with fluorouracil or T. occidentalis (Agnihotri et al., 2015), and

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homeopathic combination therapy (Raj et al., 2020). There are also reports of single oral therapy with T.
occidentalis conferring total regression after 21 days of treatment (Benites and Melville, 2003).
2. Materials and Methods
A total of two dogs aged 7 and 8 months of double-coated German shepherd breed, weighing 27 kg and
29 kg, were used in this study. The dog was brought from Dhading district to Jibachha Veterinary
Hospital, Bharatpur-4, Chitwan, Nepal. Clinical signs were used to diagnose this papillomatosis disease.
Clinical examination revealed wart-like growths around the mouth, buccal mucosa, tongue, gingiva, and
skin on the nose.
The dogs received a combination of homeopathic medicine: Thuja-30C, Calcaria carb-30C, Antimony
crudum-30C, Causticum-30, Dulcmara-30C, and Acid nitricum-30 were given 5 drops each twice a day
orally in the morning and evening. The homeopathy medicine was selected using Zomeo software.

3. Result
The surface of the lips, cheeks, buccal mucosa, and palate all had numour papillomas, as well as a large
papilloma on the skin of the nose.

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Figure. 1. Several types of papillomas affecting the skin of the nose, buccal mucosa, tongue, palatine
mucosa, etc.

After oral application of a homeopathic combination of medicines, Thuja-30C, Calcaria carb-
30C, Antimony crudum-30C, Causticum-30, Dulcmara-30C and Acid nitricum-30 were given 5
drops to each dog twice a day orally in the morning and evening. Papilloma regression began

after the fifth day, and total decline was seen following twelve days (Figure 2).

Figure-2. After 12 days, complete regression of papillomas was observed, and there has been no relapse
till date.
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Discussion

Papilloma possibly a self-limiting illness in dogs and requires no therapy. Nevertheless, persistent lesions
could be connected to discomfort during eating, mouth bleeding, or halitosis. Pet owners do not like this
type of appearance on their pets. There have been numerous reported therapeutic studies for the treatment
of oral papillomatosis, including autogenous vaccines, chemotherapy, and single homeopathy therapy.
But in Nepal, only a few veterinarians are in practice and homeopathy is rarely used.

Canine oral papillomatosis (COP) was observed to be regressive after five days, whereas complete
regression was observed only after twelve days. This therapy is less expensive and requires less surgical
intervention.

As a result, combination homeopathic therapy of Thuja-30C, Calcaria carb-30C, Antimony crudum-30C,
Causticum-30, Dulcmara-30C and Acid nitricum-30 causes papillomas regression in canines with viral
papillomatosis and, because it has no side effects, is a safe alternative to surgery and chemotherapy.
Clearly, more research is required to ascertain the effects of homeopathic treatments combined on canine
oral papillomatosis.

References

Agnihotri, D., Kushwah, M., Kumar, T., Kumar, P., Kumar, A., Srikant, N., and Sindhu, N. 2015.
Successful therapeutic management of a case of canine papillomatosis Haryana Veterinary Journal, 54(1),
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Benites, N.R, Melville, P.A. 2003. Homeopathic treatment of canine papillomatosis. Clnica Vet.; 8 (44):
19 - 20.

Favrot, C., Papillomavirus.2012. In: Greene, C. (ed). Infectious Diseases of the Dog and Cat, 4th ed.
Elsevier Saunders, Missouri;pp. 169–174.

Hnilicia, K., Patterson, P.2017. Viral, rickettsial, and protozoal skin diseases (papillomas). In: Hnilicia K,
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Nicholls, P.K., Stanley MA.1999. Canine papillomavirus - A centenary review. Journal of Comparative
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Raj, P.A.A, Pavulraj, S, Kumar, M.A, Sangeetha, S, Shanmugapriya, R, Sabithabanu, S. 2020.
Therapeutic evaluation of homeopathic treatment for canine oral papillomatosis. 13 (1): 206-213.

Sherding, R.G.2008. Viral diseases. In: Birchard, S.J, Sherding, R.G (eds.). Small animal clinic. Roca, So
Paulo. pp. 178-179.

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