News & Information

WIN THIS COLLAR FOR YOU DOG BY ENTERING OUR FACEBOOK CONTEST!

CLICK HERE FOR MORE DETAILS.

What do these Papillomas look like?
Viral papillomas are round but often have a rough, almost jagged surface reminiscent of a sea anemone or a cauliflower. They occur usually on the lips and muzzle of a young dog (usually less than 2 years of age). Usually they occur in groups rather than as solitary growths.

How is this Virus Transmitted?
The infection is transmitted via direct contact with the papillomas on an infected dog or with the virus in the pet's environment. The incubation period is 1 to 2 months. This virus can only be spread among dogs. It is not contagious to other pets or to humans. To become infected, the dog generally needs an immature immune system, thus this infection is primarily one of young dogs and puppies. Beyond this, transmission details are sketchy. It is not known whether the infected dog must actually show visible lesions to be contagious, nor how long after lesions have regressed that contagion is still a concern.

Are Viral Papillomas Dangerous?
Not really. They should go away on their own as the dog's immune system matures and generates a response against the papillomavirus. Typically, it takes 1 to 5 months for papillomas to regress.
Sometimes oral papillomas can become infected with bacteria from the mouth. Antibiotics will be needed in such cases to control the pain, swelling, and bad breath.

Treatment
In most cases, treatment is unnecessary; one simply allows the papillomas to go away on their own.
A topical medication called imiquimod has been used in canine infections to help boost immune-mediated inflammation and thus facilitate destruction of the virus by the body. Imiquimod is being prescribed increasingly for dogs with viral papillomas.
Effective therapy for viral papillomas has been elusive though recently (May 2008) a study was published by a veterinary research group in Turkey. They found that a 10-day course of the antibiotic azithromycin was able to remove all lesions within 15 days with no recurrences during an 8-month follow up period. This therapy is readily available in the U.S. and is likely to become treatment of choice.