In many cases, dog warts are harmless and do not require surgical removal. Removing warts unnecessarily can cause stress on your dog and might even trigger a fresh outbreak of warts. If you do decide to eradicate warts on your dog, it is crucial to know the best way how to get rid of warts on dogs. There are several holistic interventions that you can try at home before bringing your dog to the vet and paying for expert procedures.
Signs of Dog Warts
Any dog can get warts. But it is more common in younger animals. It is also typical in immunosuppressed dogs. You might find that warts in your dog resemble cauliflower. However, rarer types do exist, which include inverted papilloma. It can be described as a lump with a dot in the middle. It is dark and scaly with an irregular surface. Warts might also develop around the mouth area and the eyes. Warts can also develop in between the toes. It can grow anywhere. In a majority of cases, a vet can identify warts on a dog with just a physical checkup.
If your dog only has a negligible number of too small warts, it might be easily overlooked. In other cases, large regions of the dog’s body will be covered with warts of varying sizes. If warts develop in the mouth area, it may be difficult to eat and drink. Warts on the feet can result in difficulty walking, especially if it is infected and traumatized.
Causes of Dog Warts
A papillomavirus causes warts. Keep in mind that warts are contagious and other dogs might become affected. However, it is harmless to other species of animals and humans. Canine papillomaviruses are of several types. Once the dog has been infected with a kind of wart or papillomavirus, he will develop an immunity to it but not to others.
Canine papillomavirus develops from breaks in the skin after exposure to dogs with the virus. This can live in the skin for several weeks. It is possible for a dog to leave the wart virus in an environment where other dogs can pick it up later. It takes up to a couple of months for warts to develop after a dog has been infected.
Treatment – How to Get Rid of Warts on Dogs?
Warts will fade on their own within several months as the dog’s immunity fights off the virus. But in some cases, veterinary intervention is crucial:
Warts are so numerous and large. It is located in areas that cause secondary difficulties such as lameness, eating and drinking problems, and irritation.
These warts cause bleeding and become a breeding ground for bacteria.
In some cases, warts do not disappear and progress into cancerous tumors. Overall, warts that are visible for up to five months should be treated.
Dogs who are taking immunosuppressive prescriptions or have other serious illnesses cannot fight warts without help.
If only a single or several warts is the cause of concern, the best treatment is surgical removal. It can be done with either a scalpel, laser, or via cryosurgery.
Medicating is crucial when there are a huge number of warts that cause problems for the dog. However, it is difficult to predict how effective these treatments are since a majority of dog warts fade on their own. Veterinarians often utilize the following medical therapy interventions:
Interferon
It is an oral, injectable treatment that stimulates immune system function.
Imiquimod
This is an antiviral and antitumor medication applied topically.
Cimetidine
This medication is taken orally and has an impact on the immune system function.
Azithromycin
This treatment has proven effects in studies. It is an antibiotic taken orally.
Autogenous vaccination
In this case, the treatment of the virus is harnessed from warts itself. A vet may crush warts to release virus particles. They might develop a vaccine developed from a dog’s own warts. It helps stimulate the immune system function to fight off the virus.
Reduce immunosuppression
In this case, it is crucial to reduce the doses of immunosuppressive medication and treat diseases that weaken your dog’s immune system.
Preventing Wart Spread
There are several things you can do to mitigate the development of warts on your dog. One of the most obvious is to forbid your dog from playing with other dogs who have warts. Once the protective features of your dog’s skin are weakened from conditions such as wounds or rashes, or if their immune system is not optimally functioning, avoid taking your dog to areas where they will come in contact with other dogs.
If your dog develops warts despite your best efforts, make sure to isolate him from other dogs in your household until all the warts are eradicated.
Removing Warts on Dogs
Step one
Examine whether abnormal growth is indeed a wart. Dog warts are a form of benign skin mass that might appear on dogs as they age. It is similar to moles on humans. Other growths may appear on the dog’s body. A few examples are mast cell tumors, hair follicle tumors, and fibromas.
If you’re doubtful if the growth is indeed a wart, it is crucial to consult a vet. Your vet will examine the cells from the growth through a microscope and give you an accurate diagnosis.
Step two
Check the features of warts. Warts are caused by papillomavirus and usually develop in puppies and older dogs with a compromised immune system. These warts resemble cauliflower and typically grow on the nose, lips, or gums. These warts fade after several months as the immune system learns to fight them off. However, they can be contagious and can cause discomfort in your dog. Your dog might have difficulty swallowing and breathing.
Typically, benign warts are small and flesh-colored. They resemble small mushrooms.
Once a benign wart becomes inflamed, you need to remove it at once. You cannot judge by merely looking at it if the wart has progressed into a cancerous tumor. In many cases, cancerous warts are black colored, quickly appear, and inflamed. It grows around the eyelids and lips and should be removed at once.
Step three
Examine the growth of the wart. If the wart is not increasing in size or changing shape, you don’t need to remove it. However, tell your vet that your dog has warts so they can keep track of it. A majority of warts fade on their own. Even those that persist are generally benign.
Step four
You might want to judge whether the wart causes a problem. You might want to remove the wart for cosmetic reasons. However, it is not recommended to perform the surgery without expert help. If benign warts cause discomfort, such as getting snagged or cause your dog to become itchy, you may have to remove them.
Your vet can guide you on whether to remove warts or not. Warts need to be removed, especially in the areas where you put on the collar, to mitigate infection and inflammation. There are times itching can mean that the wart is cancerous and must be removed.
Natural Remedies for Warts
How to get rid of warts on dogs? There are at least two popular holistic remedies to eradicate papillomas or warts. The first is applying vitamin E. The second is to apply a homeostatic intervention called thuja. The only preparatory step you need is to have the wart diagnosed with a vet to ensure it is not a cancerous tumor.
Vitamin E method
- Prick a vitamin E capsule.
- Apply the contents of the capsule directly to warts.
- Put vitamin E on the affected area twice a day for up to three weeks until the papilloma is healed.
Thuja pellets
- Give up to 6 to 10 pellets each day to your dog 20 minutes prior to a meal.
- The pellets must be placed directly in the mouth and not at the throat.
- Repeat this process daily for up to one week.
Effectiveness of natural remedies of warts on dogs
How to get rid of warts on dogs? Because these treatments are holistic and natural, there is not enough scientific evidence to determine their efficacy. But a majority of dog owners report that the methods mentioned are incredibly effective in reducing the size of the wart in just several weeks. But the effects are not permanent, especially with older dogs who will develop new warts as they age. These remedies are only proven effective in treating existing warts but does not serve as a permanent cure for future papillomas.
How to get rid of warts on dogs? An alternative method for treating papillomas is surgery. A majority of vets will recommend getting all these warts removed surgically to mitigate the risk of tumors. It is a highly effective method in fighting off papillomas. However, these procedures are costly and come with the downsides associated with surgery.
Natural wart remedies for dogs
Because of the noninvasive feature of natural remedies, dogs will not require recovery time from the treatments. You should see signs of improvement within a week when warts reduce in size. Depending on the size of the wart, expect it to be completely healed within a month. There should be no need to consult a vet unless the wart has grown or changed. The only maintenance required is to examine new warts and diagnose them to make sure they are not cancerous tumors.
Cost of natural wart treatments in dogs
Natural treatments are of low cost. One box of vitamin E capsules is available for only a few dollars. Thuja pellets of a pack of 60 are available for $10. Prices might vary if you have numerous warts to treat. But both natural remedies are cost-effective.
In contrast, surgical removal of warts costs more. The process might require you to shell out between $100-$800. The overall cost will depend on the vet’s experience and the number of visits required. The complexity of removing the warts is also a factor, as well as the wart’s location. Although surgical removal has proven successful, it is a costly solution to a benign problem.
Considerations in natural wart remedies for dogs
Natural remedies provide more advantages than disadvantages. Although dogs may develop papillomas in the future, it cannot be prevented even if you go the surgical removal route. In contrast, natural remedies are completely safe for the dog. It is effective in reducing the size of the wart until it is totally gone. Additionally, it causes zero risks in terms of long-term effects. Overall, warts are painless. Natural remedies are a great solution to a common problem.
Tips on How to Get Rid of Warts on Dogs
Since warts occur naturally, there are limited methods to prevent them. Papillomas in dogs can be contagious, so isolating your dog from infecting other dogs is one measure you can take. It is especially true if your dog’s immune system is compromised. Avoid taking them to areas where there is a dense population of dogs, such as dog shows and dog parks. This can be a preventative measure but does not entirely prevent the occurrence of warts.
Corticosteroids
Utilizing corticosteroids must be kept to a minimum. Long-term use of steroids can compromise the immune system and reduce a dog’s ability to fight off infections such as warts. An excellent way dog owners can mitigate warts is by feeding their dog healthy and balanced nutrition. It helps build up the dog’s immune system, which can help them fight off any infection. However, even this can only have a limited effect on preventing papillomas.
Strong immune system
Make sure your dog has a strong immune system. Keep them away from densely populated areas, and minimize the use of steroids. Currently, vaccines for papillomaviruses are being developed. It may be the most effective preventative measure you should keep an eye out for.
Final Thoughts – How to Get Rid of Warts on Dogs
It is crucial to know how to get rid of warts on dogs. Warts are unsightly and, in some cases, cause discomfort to your dog. If the warts are small, you might want to consider natural remedies that are low cost and effective. However, when it comes to huge warts, your dog might require surgery. It is crucial to be vigilant about warts and detect any changes which might imply a more severe health condition.
