My dog has warts on her mouth. They look like baby cauliflowers. What should I do?
These are viral warts caused by the papilloma virus. By far the most common type of viral papilloma in dogs is near the mouth. They are round but often have a rough, almost jagged surface reminiscent of a sea anemone or a cauliflower. They occur usually on the lips and muzzle of a young dog (usually less than 2 years of age). Less commonly, papillomas can occur on the eyelids and even the surface of the eye or between the toes. Usually they occur in groups rather than as solitary growths so if one growth is noted, check inside the mouth and lips for more.
My dog has warts but where do they come from?
All animals and people carry many viruses asymptomatically (without any clinical signs). However, pets with immature immune systems such as young dogs and puppies, and those that are immunocompromised (have a reduced ability to fight infections), are more prone to developing papilloma warts.
Papilloma viruses are very resistant and can survive for long periods in the environment outside an animal. The virus is transmitted through direct contact from an infected pet or the pet’s environment (e.g., toys, food and water bowls, and bedding) and gain access to the body when the skin becomes softened by moisture, through cuts and abrasions, or with the assistance of ticks or biting insects (e.g., fleas, mosquitoes).
What are the clinical signs of papillomas?
Papillomas may appear as multiple oral (mouth) papillomas in young dogs, solitary cutaneous (skin) papillomas in dogs of any age, venereal (genital) papillomas, eyelid or conjunctival papillomas, and fibropapillomas. There are different viruses associated with different sites and in young and old animals. The lesions are usually inflamed polyps (warts), but they may be flat, scaly plaques, or inward growing hard masses. They may ulcerate (break open) and bleed. Papillomas that grow inwardly may cause pain, particularly if they are on the feet. In dogs, these tumors are most common on the feet or around and in the oral cavity.
In healthy animals, papillomas do not spread to other areas of the body and are usually cured by surgery. Rarely, a tumour will regrow after surgery. If the viral infection persists because of an impaired immune system, additional papillomas may develop.
It is important to prevent your pet from rubbing, scratching, licking, or biting the papilloma(s), all of which can cause inflammation, ulceration, infection, and bleeding. Any ulcerated (open) area needs to be kept clean.
Can I get these warts from my dog?
No, although this is an infectious tumour, the viruses are species specific and not transmissible to humans. The tumours in dogs, cats, and people are not related nor are they transmitted between species.
The patient in this picture is Nutmeg. She is a young, medium-sized cross breed that came in with the most severe case of papilloma virus our clinic has ever seen. Many treatments had been tried but finally she came to us because se could not eat. We removed some surgically but this only brought short relief. After extensive research, Dr Morné found an antiviral drug that had some degree of success in other patients. After just two weeks, Nutmeg is virtually wart-free again
