title: Carbon dioxide laser treatment of extensive pigmented viral plaque lesions in a golden retriever dog.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Canine pigmented viral plaque (PVP) is an uncommon skin disease, associated with papillomavirus infection. Lesions are usually small (<1 cm diameter), pigmented macules to plaques on the ventral abdomen and medial thigh.
  
  
  METHODS
  An 8-year-old male, neutered golden retriever dog presented with numerous dark plaques forming cohesive plaques on the ventrum extending down the medial aspect of both hind legs. The plaques were associated with significant pruritus.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Histology confirmed a diagnosis of PVP and PCR amplified Canis familiaris papillomavirus 4 from a formalin fixed plaque sample. The PVPs were completely resolved by two courses of CO2 laser treatment. There was very minimal postoperative discomfort and no relapse or new lesion development within a 12 months follow-up period.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Extensive PVPs have not previously been described in a golden retriever dog or previously reported to cause pruritus in dogs. Due to the large skin area involved, surgical excision was not feasible in this case. However, two rounds of treatment using laser were completely curative for both focal pedunculated and plaque-like PVP lesions. Additionally, compared to surgical excision, laser treatment is expected to result in less postoperative discomfort, reduced surgery time and fewer postoperative infections. This is the first report of successful treatment of canine PVPs using a CO2 laser. The success of this treatment in this case suggests that laser provides an excellent treatment option for extensive PVPs in dogs.
authors.affiliation: Dermatology for Animals, 263 Appleby Road, Stafford Heights, Qld, 4053, Australia. evie.knight@live.com.au.
authors.forename: Evie C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Knight
authors.affiliation: Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences, Massey University, Tennent Drive, Palmerston North, 4442, New Zealand.
authors.forename: John S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Munday
authors.affiliation: Queensland Medical Laboratory, 11 Riverview Place, Murarrie, Qld, 4172, Australia.
authors.forename: Brett M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Stone
authors.affiliation: Dermatology for Animals, 263 Appleby Road, Stafford Heights, Qld, 4053, Australia.
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Shipstone
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D004285:Dogs; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D054020:Lasers, Gas; D008297:Male; D012837:Silver Sulfadiazine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017193:Skin Diseases, Viral / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy / Q000662:veterinary*
chemical_list: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D012837:Silver Sulfadiazine