3/29/2010 3/30/2010 3:47:01 AM
Warm Weather & Dog Warts
Dog parks are in full swing with the warm weather
Young puppies as well as older dogs are very susceptible to dog warts. Dog warts are usually round, small skin tumors and are nearly always non-cancerous. Some warts can be caused by a virus and many are just signs of old age. It's important to have any changes in a dogs appearance checked out in order to ensure that it is not something serious. Your vet is likely to aspirate, or in some case biopsy the area to ensure it is not something serious. In certain instances your vet may know immediately that is something that is caused by a virus and in this case they will likely do nothing.
Most warts on a dog are cause by the virus known as papillomavirus. They tend to look like a white cauliflower and are often found in the facial area. More specifically, the mouth is a common area as well as inside the mouth. Less common are ones that are seen on the eyelids or in between the toes of the dog. Expect them to occur in a group, rather than as a single growth.
Warts that are caused by a virus have normally been transmitted to your dog by another dog. It's hard to tell who the offender might be as it can take a month or two before any symptoms show. While not contagious to humans, dogs will spread it to other dogs so it's important to keep your pet incubated for at least 2 months.
Most often this condition is seen in young puppies that have a weakened immune system. It can also occur in older dogs whose immune system becomes weakened as they age. Keeping your pets immune system healthy is the main way to avoid this condition. Some people have had good results with Flexpet for dogs. This product helps to build up their immune system and keep it strong throughout their lifetime. As a dog gets older, they can also receive health benefits from the glucosamine and chondroitin that is in this product. It will help to keep ligaments strong and lubricated, thus protecting dogs from arthritis.
Once a dog has contracted the virus and the warts appear, the best course of action is to simply wait for them to go away. It is extremely rare for them to develop into a malignancy but it is possible. The best course of action is to boost their immune system so they can fight it more easily. Oral warts will normally disappear sooner than other areas, which can take up to 5 months to regress. The main thing to watch for is infection. Due to the bacteria in a dog’s mouth these warts can become infected. If this happens your dog will more than likely have very bad breath. If this happens you need to see a vet as soon as possible and have the dog put on antibiotics. This will help to control any pain or swelling in the infected area.
The important thing to do is boost your dog’s immune system and keep it boosted. This will help them to fight off any further infections, as well as helping them while aging. Also you need to be aware that many dogs these days are over vaccinated and this too can be a cause for concern. New guidelines have changed vaccination schedules and it's important to research this and discuss it with your vet.
