Tara has TVT

If you remember, Tara was one of our rescued dogs from the Klang Dog Pound in Dec 2009.  She was treated for distemper and after recovery, was adopted by Annee and her family.  Tara was also spayed in March this year before she was adopted.

Last month, Annee called to say that Tara was bleeding and appeared on be on heat. Annee brought Tara to a vet in PJ who diagnosed it as “menstrual blood”.  This vet suggested that some ovarian tissue may have been left behind during the spaying, thus causing Tara to still come on heat.  He wanted to schedule Tara for another spaying.  

We thought it may be wise to seek a second opinion, so we scheduled Tara for another check-up at one of our panel vets.  The vet examined Tara and decided it might be better (for Tara) that we wait for another 6 months for the next cycle (if any) so that we can be sure that it is menstrual blood (please note that “menstrual blood” is just a layperson’s term to describe the blood that is secreted during the course of a female dog’s cycle).  The vet did not want to simply cut open Tara unless we can be absolutely sure that some ovarian tissue had been left behind.  If indeed that was the cause, the required procedure would be a laporotomy, which requires a much longer cut than an ordinary OHE (spaying) because the vet needs to locate the remaining ovarian tissue.  The vet also wanted to rule out stump pyometra.  He did a vaginal swab and Tara tested negative for TVT. 

So, we all decided it was best to wait.

Note: The ovaries are covered with fat, and it is sometimes possible that some ovarian tissue might be left behind in an OHE (spaying).  If this happens, the animal will still come on heat, but she cannot get pregnant anymore since the uterus has already been removed. 

Last week, Tara bled again, and this was just 1 month from the last bleeding.  It did not look like menstrual blood anymore because a female dog’s cycle is usually 6 months.  So, we scheduled Tara for another appointment with our panel vet.

The vet did a thorough physical examination on Tara but nothing showed.  Another swab was taken and this time there was some bloody mass.  The vet told Annee to do two things for a week before bringing Tara back.  (1) Check for changes in Tara’s breasts.  (2) Monitor Tara’s water intake.  These would help the vet determine if the cause of the problem was stump pyometra or something related to her heat cycle (which indicates the presence of remaining ovarian tissue). 

Yesterday was Tara’s follow-up appointment.  Based on the monitoring of (1) and (2), the vet ruled out stump pyometra.  The next step was to do a vaginoscopy where Tara would have to be sedated.  This was done, and finally, the cause was identified.  

Tara has TVT (Transmissible Venereal Tumour), and the growth is as big as a cauliflower!  It was located rather deep inside and that is why it could not be detected in the earlier swabs.  

Finally, we know what was wrong and what was causing the bleeding.  For TVT, the treatment would be chemotherapy injections for 4 weeks.  TVT is one of the most treatable cancers in dogs.  However, the injections are extremely toxic, and Tara has a weight problem.

The heavier the dog, the larger the dosage of the medicine would have to be, and the medicine would be stored in the fats.  Also, due to her weight, there also is a problem in locating a suitable vein for the injections. 

Hence, the plan for Tara now is to lose weight for a month before starting on the chemo treatment in January 2011.  The vet says we can wait for a month since the TVT does not seem to be spreading quickly.  

Tara must have contracted the TVT while she was a stray or when she was at the pound (which was in Dec 2009).  TVT is transmitted through mating and contact of the genital area.  In some dogs, the TVT spreads quickly and can be detected fast.  For example, Sweetie was rescued together with Tara and her TVT was detected shortly after that.  Sweetie was treated, recovered completely and has since been rehomed.  But Tara did not show any signs of TVT at all until last month when she suddenly started bleeding.  This shows that the TVT in her is probably growing very slowly, which is rather uncommon.  

A blood test was taken yesterday to check Tara’s white blood count as well as other indicators.  This was necessary to ensure that Tara is fit enough to be administered with the chemotherapy injections next month. 

Tara’s blood test and treatment today is sponsored from our funds. 

So, Tara has to lose some weight now, and treatment for the TVT will begin next month.