Dogs With Warts Around Their Eyes: Recommended Treatments
Did you know that dogs can get warts too? Warts are benign superficial skin tumors. They can appear on many parts of the body, such as the mouth, muzzle, ears, armpits, abdomen, genitals and around the eyes.
Dogs aren’t the only ones who can suffer from them, they also show up in other animals. This doesn’t just happen in mammals: birds, for example, can also have warts on their bodies.
Warts around the eyes: why do they appear?
Warts are usually caused by a type of virus, the papillomavirus, which is specific to each species; in dogs, it is the canine papilloma. Therefore, warts are not contagious to animals of different species like us.
This virus can attack any dog at any age, although it is more common for it to occur in animals that are older or have low immunity.
Causes of warts in dogs
Canine papilloma is contagious by direct contact. It is often common in oral contact, in water an infected dog drank from, or on your objects.
However, contagion does not mean that the animal will develop the warts ; in fact, it will depend on the state of your immune system at that time. The incubation period is usually long, between one and two months.
The virus usually affects young, old or immunodeficient dogs due to a disease such as cancer, some infection or congenital immunodeficiency, typical of some dog breeds.
There are types of warts that do not have a viral origin, such as sebaceous adenomas, which appear due to a malfunction of the sebaceous glands, especially in elderly dogs. These adenomas are usually located on the eyelids or feet.
How are warts?
Warts have a rounded shape, with an irregular surface similar to a small cauliflower. They are easily detectable when they reach a certain size, especially around the eyes or mouth.
In general, warts are not usually painful, but they can be in areas that end up being uncomfortable for the dog. It’s also not normal for them to bleed, unless the dog himself licks or scratches them frequently.
Treatments for Dogs with Warts
Warts grow to a certain extent. The most normal is that they are not serious and simply end up drying and disappearing with time. Generally, its presence has no harmful effect on the animal and, therefore, treatment is not indicated.
However, if you notice any different coloring or apparent changes in shape or size, it is recommended that you visit your veterinarian to rule out the possibility that it is a case of a malignant tumor, as many cancerous tumors present in the form of wart.
In this case, a tissue analysis will be performed: the liquid from its interior is aspirated with a kind of needle and the cells present are observed under a microscope.
Veterinary surgery or cryosurgery
If cancer is suspected, or if the wart prevents the animal from seeing, eating, walking, or if it tries to pull it out and causes bleeding, it is recommended to eliminate it, but always with a professional in a veterinary clinic .
You can perform a minor surgery to remove the warts or use cryosurgery, which freezes them until they disappear.
In addition, it will be necessary to treat the dog with medications that strengthen its immune system in order to fight the virus.
Never try to reduce or eliminate warts on your own. Do not try to apply homemade recipes or products for humans to the animal’s warts, especially if they are located around the eyes, as you can injure the skin and cause eye damage if the product enters the animal’s eye.
