Almost all warts in dogs are benign and do not need to be removed. Removing them for no reason could, in fact, create unnecessary stress in the animal and even trigger the growth of other warts. However, if you decide to take them off, there are some holistic remedies you can try before taking your furry friend to the vet and having to spend money on professional surgery.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Observe the Wart
Step 1. Check if the growth is a wart
Warts in dogs are benign skin masses that affect these animals over the years, much like moles form in people. There may also be other abnormal growths that form on the skin of our four-legged friends. Examples are skin tags, mast cell tumors, histiocytomas, hair follicle tumors, collagen nevi, and fibroids.
If you're not sure if the growth on your faithful friend's skin is a simple wart, see your vet. He will be able to take a sample of the growth and analyze it under a microscope to give you an accurate diagnosis
Step 2. Examine the appearance of the wart
True warts are caused by the papilloma virus and most often form in puppies or older dogs who have an imbalance in their immune system. These warts look a bit like cauliflower and are easier to see around the nose, lips or gums. They generally disappear on their own after a few months, when the immune system strengthens, but they can be contagious and cause the dog some difficulty in swallowing and breathing.
- The most common and benign warts are small, flesh-colored; they look a bit like little mushrooms.
- If a benign wart starts growing or looks inflamed to you, it needs to be removed. You can't always tell if a growth is cancerous or not by just looking at it. Many times a cancerous wart is black, grows fast, and is inflamed. It usually forms around the eyelids or on the lips and should be removed as soon as possible.
Step 3. Monitor the growth of the wart
As long as it does not increase in size or change in appearance, there is usually no need to take it off. However, let your vet know about any new wart that develops on your dog so that he can check for it.
Many warts go away on their own, but even persistent warts are usually not dangerous
Step 4. Assess whether or not the wart is causing any problems
You may decide to remove it for purely aesthetic reasons, but surgery is not usually recommended for this reason alone. However, if it starts to give some problems, causes itching, the dog continues to scratch or otherwise shows discomfort, it may be advisable to have it removed.
Your vet can also advise you on the desirability of a removal. If it causes irritation and your pet continues to scratch or rub the wart against the collar, it is best to remove it to prevent recurrence of infections and inflammation. Sometimes itching can also be an indicator of a cancerous wart that needs to be removed
Method 2 of 3: Treating Wart with Holistic Remedies
Step 1. Take note of the improvements after each treatment applied
Start monitoring the growth the day before starting treatment. Take a picture of the wart (or mole) for a reference point. Use a ruler to calculate its length in millimeters. Write the date you took the photo, mark on the calendar the first day you start the treatment and write down all references and measurements.
If you are sure your dog only has a benign (non-cancerous) wart, you can try some of these holistic remedies. For most of them, not many studies have been done to define their real effectiveness, but they can be helpful for the dog
Step 2. Try the Thuja
It is a homeopathic remedy that is derived from one type of tree and is considered safe for most dogs. It is available in liquid or granule format and must be administered orally.
- Only a single dose is needed. However, if you do not notice any improvement after the first two weeks, you should give him a second dose.
- Keep in mind that Thuja is a homeopathic remedy that is also given to dogs suffering from vaccinosis, which is a vaccine disease. There are some hypotheses about the possibility that warts are caused by this pathology; if you think this is the case with your pet, the Thuja proves even more effective.
- Know that it can induce abortion, so don't give it to your furry friend if it's a pregnant female.
Step 3. Psorinoheel is a supplement that contains psorinum and sulfur, in addition to Thuja
All these ingredients perform an antiviral function.
Step 4. Strengthen your faithful friend's immune system with vitamin supplements
The wart could be the indicator of a weak immune system, so it could go away on its own if you can fix this. Supplements that support the immune system contain several elements such as arabinogalactan, lutein and shiitake mushrooms.
Step 5. Give the dog L-Lysine
It is available in tablets; give it 500 mg twice a day until the wart disappears.
Step 6. Apply Vitamin E to the wart
Use a sterile needle or knife to break the compress and apply vitamin E directly to the affected area using a clean finger or cotton ball. Repeat this process three to four times a day for three weeks, until you start to notice improvements.
Step 7. Rub castor oil on the wart
The common one you find in most supermarkets can soften the wart and greatly reduce irritation so your dog doesn't scratch or break it. Use a clean finger or cotton wool to apply the oil directly to the area. Repeat this process once every day or two, or as needed, to reduce irritation until the wart is gone.
Step 8. Try apple cider vinegar
This is a very effective remedy for removing warts or moles. It is not painful at first, but continuing with the treatment can cause a slight stinging tingling as the acid eliminates the growth. Absolutely avoid applying apple cider vinegar around your dog's eyes or genital area.
- Pour a small amount of vinegar into a cup.
- Smear some petroleum jelly around the wart to protect the surrounding skin.
- Have your dog sit or lie down so that the wart is right in front of you. Take a dropper and apply two or three drops of apple cider vinegar to the wart and let them act. If a little liquid wets the surrounding skin, pat it dry with a paper towel.
- Distract the animal with a toy or stroke it while letting the wart soak in vinegar for 10 minutes. at the end let the dog go.
- Apply this remedy three to four times a day. As the treatment progresses, the animal may begin to experience a stinging sensation on the tip of the wart, which begins to flake off; but continue with the procedure 3-4 times a day until you reach the "root". Eventually the wart will dry out and fall off.
- When the root dries up, it leaves a red spot or blister on the skin. Gently wipe it off with warm water or a damp washcloth and then apply coconut oil to the area once a day until the blister heals. Coconut oil has antifungal properties and promotes healing by regenerating skin cells.
Method 3 of 3: Remove the Wart with Medicines
Step 1. Give your four-legged friend azithromycin
This is a type of antibiotic that is prescribed to treat bacterial diseases in men, but is also used in the veterinary field to combat warts. It is essential that it is prescribed by the vet. The formulation is for oral use (the dose is calculated based on the dog's weight) and should be administered once a day for up to 10 days.
Step 2. Consider interferon treatment to be given subcutaneously if the wart is caused by a viral infection
It is an antiviral therapy that is prescribed by the veterinarian and that must be implemented when the wart does not resolve with other remedies or if it is particularly extensive. The vet injects the drug into the dog's body several times a week or will give you instructions and show you how to do the injection yourself.
- This treatment can last up to eight weeks.
- While you want to avoid surgery and the risks associated with it, be aware that this procedure has several side effects, including fever and loss of appetite.
Step 3. Ask your vet to perform electrocautery
During the surgery, also called electrosurgery, the vet uses a small instrument that spreads a minimal concentrated amount of electricity onto the wart. Electricity burns the diseased tissues in order to remove the wart.
The procedure is usually done under local anesthesia, so it's a good solution if you're concerned about the risks that can come from general anesthesia
Step 4. Discuss cryosurgery with your vet
During this process, the doctor uses a specific tool to freeze the wart. Freezing destroys diseased tissues, significantly reducing the wart and, in many cases, causing it to disappear completely.
Like electrocautery, this procedure is also performed under local anesthesia, so the dog does not have to be completely sedated
Step 5. Opt for excision
This is the most traditional method for warts, but general anesthesia may be required in this case. During the surgery, the vet cuts the wart and diseased tissues using a scalpel.
The doctor may decide to postpone the surgery the first time the dog needs to be sedated, as this type of anesthesia is quite invasive and it may not be worth the risk to simply remove a wart
Step 6. Try laser ablation
Choose this treatment if the wart is particularly stubborn and does not reduce with other treatments. Also in this case, general anesthesia is necessary, but laser ablation directly affects the root, thus proving to be the most effective procedure against particularly resistant or recurrent warts.
