A rare and highly contagious form of canine cancer has been confirmed to be actively spreading within the UK for the first time in more than half a century, prompting urgent warnings and guidance from veterinary experts. Researchers at the University of Cambridge have urged British veterinarians and dog owners to remain vigilant following the resurgence of Canine Transmissible Venereal Tumour, known as CTVT. While isolated cases have emerged in Britain over the years, experts have now confirmed that direct dog-to-dog transmission is taking place across the country. Unlike conventional cancers that develop within a single animal's body, CTVT is one of only a handful of known contagious cancers in the world, spreading directly through the transfer of living cancer cells during mating or close physical contact such as sniffing, licking, or biting infected areas. The disease was once widespread in Britain during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries but was successfully eradicated more than fifty years ago through stringent legislation, the elimination of free-roaming stray populations, and widespread neutering programmes. Today, its reappearance is strongly connected to the rising number of rescue dogs brought into the UK from overseas, particularly from areas in Eastern Europe with significant stray dog populations. Because current border and import inspections do not test for this specific cancer, infected dogs can arrive undetected and transmit the disease to local pets. Since CTVT has been absent for decades, most practising UK vets have never encountered a case first-hand. To avoid misdiagnosis, the University of Cambridge Transmissible Cancer Group has established a national pilot study allowing vets to submit tissue samples for complimentary specialist PCR testing. Experts emphasize that owners should not panic, as the disease is rare, highly treatable, and seldom spreads to internal organs, responding remarkably well to standard chemotherapy such as vincristine. Dog owners are encouraged to monitor their pets carefully, especially those rehomed from abroad, and to consult a vet immediately if they notice unusual lumps or bleeding. Source: WalesOnline #DogHealth #UKPets #AnimalCancer #VeterinaryScience #UniversityOfCambridge
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