Treatments for Dog Warts

Dog warts are caused by a viral infection which creates a pale colored bump with the texture of cauliflower. Although most warts go away on their own, they do cause discomfort to the dog, especially if they’re in the mouth or eyelids. Warts can also turn into malignant cancer growths, so it’s best to keep an eye on warts and seek treatment for dog warts if you’re worried that they are irritating your dog. The following is a small list of remedies for dog warts. Some are homeopathic, some are more chemical, but they can all be effective for your dog and it’s matter of experiment a little to find one that you and your dog like.

Treatments for Dog Warts

Castor Oil

Castor oil does seem to be the cure all for the homeopathic remedies. Castor oil, when applied directly to the wart, lessens its size and perhaps more importantly to the dog, decreases the itching. You can find castor oil at any drug store or some health food stores.

Vitamin E

Break open a capsule of pure vitamin E supplement, such as you might buy at a pharmacy. Then apply the liquid directly onto the wart two to three times a day. You should see improvement within a few weeks. Vitamin E strengthens the skin as well, making it more resistant to other viral attacks.

Cryosurgery

Cryosurgery isn’t as scary as it sounds. It involves freezing off the wart with liquid nitrogen. It’s completely safe and highly effective. The process utilizes a local anesthetic so that the dog doesn’t have to go to sleep and a coolant, usually liquid nitrogen, administered so the wart freezes, dies, and goes away after a time. Cryosurgery has to be done by a vet and can be expensive. It can also be nerve wracking for the dog, but the procedure itself is easy and painless.

Interferon

Interferon is a more extreme remedy for dog warts and should only be administered if the case is severe. Interferon is an oral remedy for warts which has antiviral properties and an immune stimulant. Interferon is very effective at getting rid of difficult warts, but it also carries a number of side effects including nausea and dizziness, which will be very uncomfortable for you dog. The drug has to also be administer orally which, as most dog owners can attest, is easier said than done.

The Best Treatment – Taking Good Care of your Dog!

The best way to deal with warts is to prevent them by taking good care of your dog’s skin and coat so that he can fight off the viruses which cause warts before they even enter his system. You can do this by making sure that your dog has a good diet of food with plenty of protein and vitamin E in it. You also want to make sure to brush your dog daily so that the oils in the dog’s coat are distributed evenly and dead skin flakes can be removed. Do not over bathe your dog as this will dry out your dog’s skin and make it more susceptible to viruses. Finally, always be vigilant to your dog’s health and keep an eye out for warts. Although most are benign and go away on their own, occasionally, they can turn into something much worse and the sooner you get to a vet, the better things will be for your pet.