Fibrosarcoma in a young dog treated with injectable Viscum album therapy
Case report
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31533/pubvet.v19n03e1747Keywords:
Integrative therapy, parasitic infestation, veterinary oncology, young dogAbstract
Fibrosarcoma is a malignant tumor characterized by a high recurrence rate and resistance to conventional treatments in dogs. This case report presents a case of fibrosarcoma located in the esophagus, diagnosed in a young dog, potentially linked to a chronic inflammatory response triggered by a parasitic infestation. The patient was treated with injectable homeopathic Viscum album as monotherapy, given the constraints imposed by the tumor's location and the priority of preserving the dog's quality of life. After six months of treatment, the dog exhibited a clinical progression unlike the typically expected for this condition, with no evidence of tumor growth. Viscum album extracts, recognized for their immunomodulatory and cytotoxic properties, likely contributed to the observed positive clinical response by promoting cellular apoptosis and enhancing the patient's immune function. This case underscores the potential role of integrative therapies in managing sarcomas in dogs, suggesting that Viscum album may offer a promising alternative for controlling refractory tumors. Additionally, the absence of significant adverse effects highlights the safety and feasibility of this therapy, particularly in young animals. Nonetheless, further research is required to elucidate the mechanisms of action of Viscum album and its broader applications in veterinary oncology.
References
Avallone, G., & Helmutt, G. (2012). Fibrosarcoma in young dogs: Etiology, treatment and prognosis. Journal of Comparative Pathology, 146(4), 450–458.
Biegel, U., Ruess-Melzer, K., & Klocke, P. (2011). Orally administered Viscum album Quercus dilutions in the therapy of feline fibrosarcoma in cats. Phytomedicine, 18. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phymed.2011.09.057
Gardner, H., Fidel, J., Haldorson, G., Dernell, W., & Wheeler, B. (2015). Canine oral fibrosarcomas: A retrospective analysis of 65 cases (1998–2010). Veterinary and Comparative Oncology, 13(1), 40–47. https://doi.org/10.1111/vco.12017.
Looney, A. (2010). Oncology pain in veterinary patients. In Topics in Companion Animal Medicine (Vol. 25, Issue 1). https://doi.org/10.1053/j.tcam.2009.10.008.
Lucena Júnior, L. C., Lopes, E. B., Santos, C. M., Valois, A. A. C., Menezes, N. J., Santana, S. S., & Lima, I. S. S. (2021). Tratamento integrativo homeopático e farmacopuntura com Viscum album em carcinoma mamário canino: Relato de caso. PUBVET, 15(6), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.31533/pubvet.v15n06a835.1-9.
Martano, M., Iussich, S., Morello, E., & Buracco, P. (2018). Canine oral fibrosarcoma: Changes in prognosis over the last 30 years? The Veterinary Journal, 241, 1–7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tvjl.2018.09.005.
Moore, A. S., & Ogilvie, G. K. (2001). Feline oncology: a comprehensive guide to compassionate care. Trenton: Veterinary Learning Systems, 191–219.
Ogilvie, G. K., & Moore, A. S. (1995). Managing the veterinary cancer patient: A practice manual. Managing the Veterinary Cancer Patient: A Practice Manual.
Schermerhorn, T., & Foster, D. (2016). Management of canine sarcomas. Veterinary Surgery, 45(2), 203–212.
Schwartz, M. (2017). The role of parasitic infections. Cancer Immunology Research, 5(3), 292–300.
Stein, G. M., & Kummer, M. (2012). Therapeutic use of Viscum album in veterinary oncology: Mechanisms and clinical application. Veterinary Journal of Oncology, 3(2), 77–83.
Vail, D. M., Thamm, D. H., & Liptak, J. M. (2019). Withrow and MacEwen’s Small Animal Clinical Oncology-E-Book. Elsevier Health Sciences.
Valle, A. C. V., & Carvalho, A. C. (2022). Integrative oncology using the viscum album therapy improves quality of life in a dog diagnosed with oral fibrosarcoma - Case report. Brazilian Journal of Development, 8(3), 17732–17754. https://doi.org/10.34117/bjdv8n3-149.
Valle, A. C. V., Valle, M. L. P. V., & Carvalho, A. C. (2024). Terapia Viscum album injetável no tratamento e sobrevida de paciente diagnosticado com carcinoma hepatóide. PUBVET, 18(3). https://doi.org/10.31533/pubvet.v18n03e1560.
Valle, A. C. V, & Carvalho, A. C. (2021). Homeopathic Viscum album on the Treatment of Scamous Cell Carcinoma Lesion in a Dog (Canis familiaris) - Case Report. Integrative Journal of Veterinary Biosciences, 5, 1–3. https://doi.org/10.31038/ijvb.2021523.
Withrow, S. J., Page, R., & Vail, D. M. (2020). Small animal clinical oncology. Elsevier Health Sciences. https://doi.org/10.1201/9781315381855
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Ana Catarina Viana Valle, Maria Luiza Viana Valle
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Você tem o direito de:
Compartilhar — copiar e redistribuir o material em qualquer suporte ou formato
Adaptar — remixar, transformar, e criar a partir do material para qualquer fim, mesmo que comercial.
O licenciante não pode revogar estes direitos desde que você respeite os termos da licença. De acordo com os termos seguintes:
Atribuição
— Você deve dar o crédito apropriado, prover um link para a licença e indicar se mudanças foram feitas. Você deve fazê-lo em qualquer circunstância razoável, mas de nenhuma maneira que sugira que o licenciante apoia você ou o seu uso. Sem restrições adicionais
— Você não pode aplicar termos jurídicos ou medidas de caráter tecnológico que restrinjam legalmente outros de fazerem algo que a licença permita.
