Oral Pappillomatosis in dogs isn’t as complicated as it sounds.
This condition refers to little warts (or papillomas) that grow around the dog’s mucus glands on his face. Although it doesn’t look very nice, the good news is that it’s not a serious condition and if generally tends to resolve itself after a few weeks.
That said however…
One should be aware that younger dogs are particularly prone to picking up this infection. Unfortunately, it is easily passed from pup to pup via contact and via interaction with chew toys that have been affected, so if you’ve just recently adopted a new puppy this may be something that you want to be particularly careful of.
Now…
On a nicer note, the pappillomas shouldn’t cause any scarring or pain, and they will typically resolve themselves pretty quickly.
And…
After your pooch has been infected, it is believed that he will be protected from the risk of future contraction.
So…
Even though Oral Pappilomatosis sounds like a terrible, life-threatening disease – it really isn’t. Also, this disease is specific only to dogs so you won’t catch it and neither will any other types of pet.
What is Oral Pappilomatosis and where does it come from?
The Papilloma virus is fairly common among dogs and you tend to find that certain breeds are prone to having them all over their bodies. They are also prevalent in older dogs and often present as little lumps under the fur that will grow to a size and then shouldn’t change shape.
Now…
As with all lumps and bumps it is better to have them checked by the veterinarian to make sure they are not cancerous. Likewise, it is best to see the vet immediately if this condition either fails to clear up within two months or if the warts change shape or size rapidly. If they go swollen, red or black then visit the vet. It is better to be safe than sorry.
Oral Pappillomas simply means…
That these little warts have appeared around your pups’ mouth. This canine oral papillomavirus sports growths on the mucus membranes inside your dog’s mouth and can take months to manifest itself. It tends to affect young dogs more than older dogs but Canine Oral Papillomatosis will not affect cats and other animals.
So…
If your vet has given you this diagnosis it is because they have found lesions or tumors growing in your dog’s mouth or on their tongue. This skin disease is a viral infection that should pass, but you can opt for surgical excision if you think it is necessary.
Affected Breeds
Canine Oral Papillomavirus is not a breed specific condition and can affect any dog. It is worth mentioning that this condition is easily passed through contact with other breeds and can spread very easily. It also has a long incubation period and will not manifest itself for weeks or possibly months after contact with the infected dog has been made.
Fortunately…
This virus won’t spread to cats or other pets, nor will if infect humans, so all the other little hands and paws in your household will be safe. If you have more than one dog it is highly likely that this virus will work its way through them all. The best thing to do in this instance is to consult your vet and wait it out. Surgery is always an option if your vet thinks it is necessary.
Treatment Options
Canine Papilloma will occur as a sink disease in the mouth and around the mucus membranes. Another disease that presents as tumors in the mouth and the digestive tract is squamous cell carcinoma, which is cancerous and will require immediate surgical removal. When your vet has confirmed your Papillomavirus diagnosis then treatment options can be devised.
Normally…
This condition is self-limiting, meaning that the growths will use up all the available space they can and then start to die off. This may leave your dog with skin lesions which have the possibility of infection.
That said however…
Viral Pappillomas do not normally require surgery, but if your dog is in pain or discomfort your vet may want them removed. This is why it’s always best to have your dog checked out by a professional and rely on either expertise when establishing a game plan for treatment.
Also, it’s important to note that…
An autogenous vaccine for this disease is available and may help you if you have multiple pets in one household. The trouble is that this disease has such a long incubation period that you might not know they have caught it. The vaccine can be used if your dog has come into contact with an infected pet but it might already be too late.
There are also…
A number of topical cream medications and anti-viral medicines that your vet may prescribe to ease your dog’s symptoms. All of these are viable treatment plans and your vet will decide what is best. It is worth considering that the risk of infection from surgery might not be worth it for a condition that will effectively clean itself up in a month or two. That being said the decision is yours.
Which brings us to…
Were we like to remind folks that we here at IndulgeYourPet are not doctors, veterinarians or medical professionals. All we are is a bunch of folks who just happen to be passionate about animals and only want what’s best for them.
This is why…
If you feel like your pet may have oral pappillomas (or any other health issue for that matter) the first thing that you’re going to want to do is have him or her check out by a vet ASAP!
Because…
The truth is, an early diagnosis will often lead to the “best” medical outcome for your pet regardless of what is bothering him or her, but beyond that diagnosing a medical condition early could save you a bundle in medical costs!
This is why…
We here at IndulgeYourPet also recommend that any new pet owner take a moment and see what it might cost for you to purchase a pet insurance policy for your new animal.
Now will a pet insurance policy be right for everyone?
No, probably not. But until you fully understand what these policies “will” and “won’t” cover and how much these pet insurance policies cost, how will you know if one might be right for you?
For more information on who we feel currently offers the “best” pet insurance policies out there, we would encourage you to check out our Best Pet Insurance Policies article.
