# Treatment of a Canine Oral Papilloma With Topical Molecular Iodine: A Case Report With Implications for Antiviral Therapy in Humans

## TL;DR

A dog's oral papilloma was successfully treated with molecular iodine, suggesting it could be a useful antiviral therapy for humans.

## Contribution

Demonstrates the efficacy of topical molecular iodine in treating canine oral papillomas, with potential implications for human antiviral therapy.

## Key findings

- A canine oral papilloma nearly regressed within three weeks of molecular iodine treatment.
- Complete mucosal healing was observed after four weeks of treatment.
- No recurrence was noted after one and a half years post-treatment.

## Abstract

This case study presents the successful treatment and resolution of a canine oral papilloma using the topical application of molecular iodine. The observed efficacy of molecular iodine in this canine model raises translational relevance for human papillomavirus (HPV) and other viral infections, where current therapeutic options remain limited. Iodine has been shown to inactivate both bovine and HPV, the etiologic organisms responsible for papillomas in these species. A two-year-old dog exhibited nearly complete regression of a papillomatous lesion within three weeks of twice-daily application, and complete mucosal healing was observed clinically at four weeks. Molecular iodine is known to be virucidal against a wide range of viruses, including papillomavirus (PV). A canine oral papilloma was treated with a molecular iodine concentration of 300 ppm for one and a half minutes twice daily on a saturated paper towel. The papilloma steadily diminished in size until it was no longer detectable by clinical examination at four weeks. No recurrence was noted after one and a half years. This non-invasive, localized treatment may offer a simpler alternative to traditional surgical or systemic treatments for canine oral papillomas and underscores molecular iodine as a potential adjunctive therapy with implications for both animal and human health.