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Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed | Male | neutered | 11 months and 21 days old | 15 lbs
Is papilloma virus cureable? Is it necessary to remove the warts?
4 Answers

Answered By Dr. Strydom, DVM
Veterinarian
Published on April 26th, 2018
Answered By Andrea M. Brodie, DVM
Veterinarian
Published on November 3rd, 2016
Not having seen the wart, I can only give you general information. Papillomas are caused by an infection with papilloma virus. They are usually self-limiting and usually occur in younger dogs. Eventually the body will be able to fight it and the wart disappears. That said, if the wart is very big, starts to bleed, causes a problem for the dog, gets infected, it should be removed. Your dog may get more warts, if it is indeed papilloma-virus caused. So treatment is either: wait it out until it goes away, or remove it when it causes a problem or does not go away within a few months. Here is some information: https://www.vet.purdue.edu/vth/sacp/documents/CaninePapillomaVirus.pdf
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Andrea M. Brodie, DVM
Veterinarian
Published on October 26th, 2018
Papilloma warts (benign tumors) will go away by themselves over time as the dog develops an immunity against them. If this wart is bothering Jack so much that he may mutilate himself or that injuring it causes infection, he can take it off with a cauter or surgically cut it out..
Should your dog get many more warts, an autovaccine (a vaccine made from wart material) can help.
There is really nothing you can do to help this wart regress other than try to prevent your dog from scratching or killing it.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Dr. Heidi DVM, CVA, CCRT, CVTP, CVSMT, CVCH
Veterinarian, Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist, Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner
Published on August 8th, 2018
Unfortunately, there isn't anything to do to reliably resolve the warts. It is just a question of time and having the body recognize the warts and take care of them. This can take up to 2 months. The methods that your vet has tried sometimes result in them resolving faster than just leaving them alone. I am attaching a handout with more information below that may be helpful for you.
https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=4951355
Good luck! I hope that was helpful. Thanks for using PetCoach.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful