Understanding Canine Oral Papillomas: What Pet Owners Need To Know

Mrs. R came into the clinic with her dog, Sandy, and boy, did Sandy have some unusual growths on her gums, tongue, and lips! Despite these growths, Sandy was still her bubbly self, eating, drinking, and even growling at me during the visit. Naturally, Mrs. R was worried these growths might be cancerous and fatal. But don't worry; we're here to answer all her questions and yours too.

WHAT THE HECK IS THAT AND DO THEY HURT…?

I agree, tons of growths popping up in a dog's mouth is not something commonly seen or discussed because it is rare. However, growths such as oral papillomas can spontaneously occur in young dogs, and albeit a cause for worry, it does not hurt as bad as it looks.

Oral papillomas are wart-like growths caused by a virus called the canine papillomavirus. These growths can be single sprouts or multiple, like in Sandy’s case. They usually appear on the lips, tongue, throat, and gums of young dogs.

These growths are generally painless and only cause discomfort to the dog when there is plenty in the mouth, interfering with eating and swallowing. However, halitosis, reluctance to eat/drink, and hypersalivation are common in infected dogs. Also, sometimes dogs can chew into these warts when eating, causing them to bleed and promoting infection.

HOW DO DOGS GET THESE…

Dogs generally get these viruses from the environment or from another infected dog. So, say a dog with oral papilloma has salivated all over their feeding plates and another dog comes and licks the same plate scavenging for food. Non-infected dogs can get the disease if they do not have a strong immune system.

This is why young dogs are prone to oral papilloma infection; their immunity is not yet fully developed.

THESE LOOK GROSS, CAN HUMANS GET IT?

Luckily, this is strictly a dog business, and humans cannot get it at all as the virus is one of those specific bugs programmed to only infect dogs. So, pet owners who find these on their dogs can breathe easy and continue to love up on their dogs.

However, since these growths promote bacterial infection, owners are advised to stay away from the saliva of the dog. This includes abstaining from kisses and making sure to wash their hands after touching infected pets.

Finally, even though humans are immune to this virus, other dogs are not. It is therefore advisable to keep infected dogs and everything they come in contact with away from other dogs to avoid replicating this infection and keeping it longer in the environment. Watch the video below: https://www.instagram.com/reel/C-FXdn_qk99/?igsh=MWN0aGIyaTM2Z2kzcg==

TREATMENT

Sadly, there is no cure or treatment for canine oral papillomas. They are like a stubborn flu with a mind of their own.

The good news is that as spontaneously as they come, they resolve on their own after a couple of weeks or months.

All a pet parent has to do is weather it out, ensure the mouth of their furry baby is kept clean, the environment is daily sterilized, and other dogs are kept away till the infection has run its course.

In very severe cases where the papillomas obstruct airways and interfere with feeding, a veterinarian might surgically remove some of the tumors, which might trigger the regression of others. Also, at the discretion of your veterinarian, antivirals and antibiotics may be prescribed to your dog to boost your pet’s immunity and prevent bacterial infection.

In conclusion, dogs with oral papillomas will eat, play, growl, bark, and sleep as normal without showing any signs of illness till the warts dry/fall off on their own.

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