They look awful, but luckily they're often benign and treatable. Warts or tumors on the surface of the skin that are caused by the canine oral papillovirus. These are not the same type of warts or lesions that humans can contract, they are found primarily in canines who have been infected with the virus.
The lesions are often circular shaped, with a rough texture and can appear dark or even black in color. They're most commonly found inside the lips, mouth or tongue; but may also sometimes be found near the genitals, eyelids and even toes. Most dogs around the age of two or younger are most susceptible to getting CPV and displaying the proper symptoms. Despite their sometimes horrendous appearance, the warts are often benign and don't pose a deeper, more dangerous risk to the health of your pet.
You may be wondering how your pet got these ugly things. First off, they're spread through contagion; so if your dog had prolonged interaction with another dog that carries CPV, chances are that's the culprit. They may also pick it up from exposure in an environment where other dogs with CPV have spent some time, such as a dog park or grooming parlor.
Luckily, these papillomas often go away on their own. But some veterinarians may choose to biopsy some lesions on your dog in extreme cases. If there are an inordinate amount of warts, especially around the mouth, and eating or other basic functions are hindered; your vet may choose to remove them surgically or frozen off cryogenically. Follow-up visits will be required to monitor any existing lesions to make sure they don't turn malignant or get infected. Antibiotics may be necessary if any of the lesions show signs of bacteria.
So don't worry, while these things are horrible to look at and not too comfortable for your pooch to put up with...they are can be treated or removed.
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