Dog Warts: What Owners Need to Know

Just like people, dogs get warts. They can pop up almost anywhere on the body. I remember my grandmother's dogs would get them sometimes. One of her dogs, Jasmine, had one right near her eye. So far, my dog does not have any warts, but were always check him over to make sure none have popped up. It's just one of those things that an owner has to watch out for.

Description of Dog Warts/Symptoms

According to Organic Pet Digest, a dog wart is the singular form of tumors known as papillomas. Typically, they cluster in an isolated area on the body and are not widespread. Typically, they occur in older dogs (my grandmother's dog was over ten years old when she got one). In most cases, dog warts are not dangerous and most are non-cancerous. In most cases, they give the dog minor discomfort. A benign wart is the same color as the skin and it looks like a small mushroom or a small protruding finger. It is a good idea for a dog owner to keep an eye on the appearance and size of the wart because if it grows there could be something wrong. If a wart really starts to grow in size and turns blackish in color, then that could be a sign of malignant melanoma. If this happens, the warts have to be surgically removed immediately. If my grandmother's dogs got a wart, she always kept an eye on them and took them to the veterinarian to have them checked out.

Papillomas are different in that they typically occur in puppies. They can be found in and around the mouth and they typically look like cauliflower. These are viral in nature and are usually not dangerous in any way. In most cases, they clear up after a few months because the dog's immune system is able to fight them off. Still, if people feel that their dog is having a hard time with them, then they can take them to a vet to get them removed. If there are too many in and around the mouth, it could be uncomfortable for the dog.

Treatments for Dog Warts

There are several optional treatments for dog warts that are noncancerous. One way is to apply Vitamin E directly to the wart for a period of a month and a half. You can do this by taking a Vitamin E from a capsule. If there is no improvement, you may want to take your dog to the vet to get checked out.

Another option for treating the warts is to apply Castor oil to them. This will soften the warts and make take some of the irritation away.

There are ways to help maintain skin health and help prevent man's best friend from getting dog warts or papillomas. The best option is to give your dog a dose of skin and coat tonic. This stuff is known to strengthen the dog's immune system and help certain organs and glands function better. Also, it improves skin health. It can be given to a dog in whole capsule form or the capsules contents can be put into drink or food. Skin and coat tonic is natural and is safe to use.

Follow these tips and your dog will continue to live a happy and healthy life.

Sources:

"Dog Warts: Types and Treatment." Organic Pet Digest.

"Healthy Skin and Coat in Dogs and Cats- Relief for Dry or Itchy Skin." PetAlive.com.