During a regular brushing or quiet time petting your dog, you notice a little, raised bump that looks like a tiny wart. This bump is most likely a dog wart and it’s commonly called “canine papilloma” virus.
Dog warts referred to as papillomas, are not unusual. However, you do want to know what dogs are susceptible to and how to care for them.
In this article How to Get Rid of Dog Warts at Home, we will cover the following areas:
- What are dog warts?
- The causes of dog warts
- Dogs that are most susceptible
- Caring for your dog’s warts
- How to Get Rid of Dog Warts at Home
- When to seek professional care
How to Get Rid of Dog Warts at Home: What are Dog Warts?
Before we can learn how to get rid of dog warts at home, we need to know more about dog warts.
Canine Papillomas (dog warts) is a virus that is specific to dogs. It’s likely you do not know if your dog has it, as it can take many months before it shows up one day as a wart(s). Papillomas or dog warts can vary in size, color, and numbers.
Related Articles:
- How to Obedience Train Your Dog
- How to Leash Train Your Dog
- How to Housebreak or Potty Train Your Puppy
- How to Clicker Train Your Dog
Interesting wart fact: There are over 100 different human papilloma virus strains. The most common papilloma virus in humans shows up as plantar warts. Other species that have their own strain are cats, birds, rabbits, and cattle to name a few.
Dog warts usually appear on the lips, eyelids, throats, legs, and between the toes on the paws. Although they can appear in other places such as the genital regions as well.
The appearance of dog warts has been described as a little cauliflower head. The texture is rough to the touch. If it’s on the eyelid it can easily blend in with the dog’s coat, which means you will want a professional to remove it.
Related Articles:
- A Review of the 5 Best Waterless Shampoos for Dogs
- A Review Of The Top 5 Best Halloween Costumes for Dogs
- How to Stop a Dog from Pooping in the House at Night
- How to Potty Train an Older Dog in an Apartment
- How to Grind Your Dog’s Nails
How to Get Rid of Dog Warts at Home: The Cause
After you discovered a wart on your dog, the big question is how did it pick up this papillomas virus?
Dogs transfer papillomas virus’ to other dogs.
It’s known to be highly contagious. You often see this in dogs that have been exposed at dog parks, daycare or boarding facilities.
The canine strain cannot spread to other animals or humans.
Basically, it’s a virus that invades your dog’s cells. The papillomas virus upsets the normal process of cell division, meaning the cells divide abnormally making it a collection of abnormal cells.
Related Articles:
- How to Stop a Dog from Pooping in the House at Night
- How to Potty Train an Older Dog in an Apartment
- How to Grind Your Dog’s Nails
- How to Get a Dog To Take a Pill
- Learn The Secrets Of How to Clip a Dog’s Nails Safely!
Dogs can be exposed to infected dogs through interaction, food dishes, water dishes, bedding, and toys. Once your dog has been exposed to another infected dog it could take one to two months before a wart will show up on your dog.
The virus can show up as three different types of papillomas, Oral Papillomas, meaning it shows up in the mouth or throat, Skin Papillomas where it shows up in the eyelids or between the toes, and Genital Papillomas, where it surfaces near the genital area.
Before proceeding with how to get rid of dog warts at home, we’ll want to know what dogs are most susceptible to the papillomas virus.
Related Articles:
- A Review of the Top 5 Best Dog Bones For Aggressive Chewers
- How to Get a Picky Dog to Eat
- A Review Of The Top 5 Best Bone Broths for Dogs
- How to Keep Your House from Smelling like Dog
How to Get Rid of Dog Warts at Home: Dogs Most Susceptible
Just like a human virus, the papillomas virus likes weakened immune systems. There are three categories of dog’s that are more likely to contract the virus that shows up as dog warts.
- Puppies or dogs that are under two years old that still have developing immune systems.
- Older dogs that might have auto-immune issues, canine diseases, or general weak immunity.
- Dogs that have a reduced ability to fight infections, either due to stress, poor nutrition, high toxicity load or previous illness.
Related Articles:
- A Review Of The Top 5 Best Dog Whistles
- A Review of the 5 Best Dog Muzzles
- A Review Of The Top 5 Best Dog Clickers
- How to Build an Outdoor Dog Potty Area on Concrete
How to Get Rid of Dog Warts at Home: Caring for Dog Warts
In general, dog warts are harmless. However, you will want to check on them daily for any signs of irritation, bleeding, inflammation, and infection.
The location of the wart can pose a problem for some dogs. Dog warts that show up in the throat could interfere with their swallowing. They can be in a location that irritates your dog causing them to scratch, bit or lick the warts.
Will the wart disappear on its own?
Yes. Once your dog’s immunity is built up the virus will disappear and eventually the wart will also disappear. This process could take between one and five months.
Related Articles:
- A Review Of The Top 5 Best Carpet Cleaner Solutions for Dog Urine
- A Review Of The Top Best Silent Dog Whistles
- A Review Of the Top 5 Best Artificial Grasses For Dog Potty
- A Review of the Top 5 Best Dog Carrier Backpacks
- A Review of the 5 Best Dog Frisbees
When should I be concerned about my dog’s warts?
If you have an immune-compromised dog, you want to build up their immunity through species-appropriate nutrition.
It’s good to remember that warts by themselves are harmless, it’s when they break open allowing infection to take place that will concern you. If your dog’s warts become infected contact your veterinarian.
When is it time to learn how to get rid of dog warts at home?
Remove the wart at home or have a veterinarian surgical remove it if it’s inhibiting your dog’s quality of life.
Related Articles:
- A Review Of The Top 5 Best Salmon Oils for Dogs
- The Best Canned Dog Food for Dogs with Sensitive Stomachs
- How to Cook Liver for Dogs
- A Review of the 5 Best High Fiber Dog Foods For Anal Gland Problems
How to Get Rid of Dog Warts at Home: Three Home Treatment Options
If the wart is bothering or irritating your dog to the point that they keep scratching, licking, or even biting the wart(s) it’s time to seek a way to reduce irritation or remove the wart.
Before you learn how to get rid of dog warts at home, you want to make sure is the dog does not have any inflammation or infection in the area. If the wart is in an easy-to-remove location such as the paw or leg you can proceed with at-home treatment options.
Related Articles:
- A Review of the Top 5 Best Brooms For Dog Hair
- A Review of the 5 Best Peanut Butters for Dogs
- A Review of the 4 Best Dog Shampoos for Itchy Skin
- A Review of the 5 Best Dog Brushes For Short Hair
- A Review of the 6 Best Dog Harnesses for Hiking
Apply Castor Oil.
This ancient remedy oil has been used for thousands of years, and it’s still used today for numerous maladies in humans and animals. You will need castor oil and a clean cotton swab.
Step 1: Use a cotton swab with castor oil on it and apply it to the dog’s wart (s).
Step 2: Repeat one time a day.
Step 3: The wart will soften and eventually dry up.
This method of how to get rid of dog warts at home can take a while. The biggest reason to use castor oil is it allows the dog to experience less itchiness and irritation. It is important your dog leaves the wart alone.
Related Articles:
- Ultimate Guide: How To Take Care Of A Puppy
- Ultimate Guide: How To Take Care Of A Dog
- Ultimate Guide: How To Take Care Of A Senior Dog
- The Benefits of Owning a Dog
- Top 12 Tips for First Time Dog Owners
- How to Train a Dog
Apply Apple Cider Vinegar.
You will need a petroleum-type jelly, a small eyedropper, and apple cider vinegar (with the culture), and clean gauze.
Step 1: Use a petroleum jelly product to rub around the wart but not on the wart.
Step 2: Pour a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar (ACV) into a small dish. Make sure your eyedropper is clean and sterile.
Step 3: Position your dog so that the wart is facing up and easy to treat. Carefully drop one-three drops of ACV onto the top of the wart. Once it’s absorbed, dap any access off with the clean gauze pad.
Step 4: Allow your dog to stay calm for ten minutes.
Step 5: Repeat 2-4 times each day. (One suggestion is to apply right before mealtimes and bedtime.)
Step 6: Once the wart dries up and falls off, you’ll need to keep the wart site clean with warm water and clean gauze. Dog owners like to apply an anti-bacterial ointment or use coconut oil.
Note: If your dog has difficulty staying still, use a lick pad with peanut butter on it or hold a favorite chew toy like an elk antler to keep them quiet.
Also, it is possible that parts of the wart will dry up and fall off. You need to continue treatment until the entire wart, roots and all have dried up. This may cause some localized discomfort to your dog.
Relevant Articles:
- A Review Of The Top 5 Best Tactical Dog Harnesses
- How to Potty Train an Older Dog in an Apartment
- How to Measure a Dog for a Harness
- A Review of the 6 Best Dog Harnesses for Hiking
Thuja 30C: homeopathic medicine.
This natural remedy is derived from the northern white cedar tree, meaning “tree of life”. It has multiple uses for canine-related issues. Thuja is considered the #1 remedy for canine warts.
It’s a safe and effective treatment for canine skin issues, especially warts. You can purchase it in pellet or liquid form.
Instructions: Give 3-6 30C drops by the mouth up to three times daily.
If you do not see improvement in two to four weeks, consult your veterinarian.
The three common ways to learn how to get rid of dog warts at home are Apple Cider Vinegar, Castor Oil, or Thuja.
Related Articles:
- How to Train a Dog to Run Next to a Bicycle
- How to Teach an Older Dog New Tricks
- How to Train a Deaf Dog
- The Top 12 Fun and Easy Dog Tricks
How to Get Rid of Dog Warts at Home: When to Seek Professional Care
After learning how to get rid of dog warts at home you can use the methods listed above or seek professional care.
The most important factor with treating our pets at home is knowing when it’s appropriate to see a veterinarian.
Related Articles:
- A Review of the 5 Best Slow Feed Dog Bowls
- A Review of the 5 Best Retractable Dog Leashes
- A Review of the 5 Best High Fiber Dog Foods For Anal Gland Problems
- The 5 Pawsitively Best Dog Nail Grinders
Consult with your veterinarian for the following:
- You are uncertain if it’s a viral wart.
- The wart (s) are in the mouth, throat, or near the eyes.
- It is irritating your dog and interfering with their quality of life.
- The wart is infected.
- It changes shape or color.
Every dog is affected differently by the papillomas virus. The longevity of the dog wart really depends on the strength of the dog’s immune system.
You will know how to get rid of dog warts at home if it will assist your dog in not licking or scratching at the warts. Remember as your dog matures, and their immunity develops the warts should disappear on their own.
As always when in doubt, seek professional care from your local veterinarian.
“Dogs do speak, but only to those who know how to listen.” By Orhan Pamuk
Please read our Legal Disclaimer