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Warts in dogs are infectious in nature and can spread to other dogs through physical contact. Warts in dogs are epidermis tumors that are caused by many different types of viral infections. Asking pet health questions form an important part of dealing with warts in dogs. Warts in dogs come in two broad categories. Warts infecting older dogs are the most common ones. By nature, warts are benign and only threaten pet health if they get infected or become larger in size. However, warts can damage pet health in younger dogs as they are infectious in nature.

Medically warts are known as Canine viral papilloma. Spread by physical contact with other dogs, your dog can contract this infection rather easily. Small and shaped like cauliflowers these warts populate the muzzle, tongue, eyelids, and lips in dogs, but they can also invade the skin around the rectum or vulva in some others. Warts take about 1-2 months to grow from the time of the contact.

In general, warts are harmless if few in number. They tend to stay on the skin of older dogs, while disappear in younger dogs on their own as the immune system can fight the virus properly. In some dogs, warts can create havoc with pet health and lead to problems in breathing and eating.

Symptoms of Warts in Dogs

1. Halitosis (bad breath)

2. Excessive drooling/ salivating

3. Oral bleeding

Diagnosis of Warts in Dogs

Since papillomas are distinct and pathognomonic in nature, they don’t require diagnostic testing. Nevertheless, in some cases, diagnosis may be necessary to ascertain the extent and depth of the infection as it would reveal the damage done to pet health. Two of the more important diagnostic tests that require to be done are:

F A complete blood count or CBC test, urinalysis, and biochemical profile is necessary for dogs that have lost appetite and have poor pet health as well as prolonged discomfort due to difficultly in food intake.

F In some cases, the dog may be subjected to surgical biopsy for a proper confirmation. However, it may be required in most cases.

Treatment of Warts in Dogs

Warts don’t require any particular treatment as the viral papillomas disappear on their own. However, in come cases, especially when the warts are located in an area that causes discomfort, or when pet owners demand removal of the warts to restore pet health, treatments can be initiated.

These treatments include:

1. Surgery: cryosurgery, electrocautery are the two main surgical procedure implemented for removal. The former involves destruction of the damaged tissue by liquid nitrogen, while the later is the use of laser to kill the papilloma.

2. Another treatment involves crushing the papilloma physically to stimulate an immune response from the body of the pet as this helps restore pet health and expedites the disappearance of the warts.

3. If the dog has failed to relapse after more than 5-6 months, then systemic chemotherapy can help in varying degrees to successfully restore pet health.