Wart-Like Growth in Dog's Gum Line

by Karen
(New York, NY, USA)

Three days ago I noticed a pea-sized growth just below my dogs lower teeth, in the gums. It appeared so fast. It looks like a wart, but I don't know if I should take her to the vet or not.

Her name is Maddy, I adopted her from a rescue shelter. She is a Papillon/Sheltie mix, about 17 months old and weights 11 lbs.

As you can imagine, I'm concerned. Can you identify what this growth is based on the pictures? If so, is it something I can treat at home or do you recommend I take her to the vet?

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Wart-Like Growth in Dog's Gum Line

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My Online Vet Response to Wart-like growth in dog's gum line
by: Dr. Carol Jean Tillman

Hi Karen,
Maddy does have an oral wart. The technical name is Oral Papillomatosis. It is commonly seen after vaccinations.

It will eventually go away on its own, but you may see new ones appear before they all go away.

Oral papillomatosis is a contagious disease (it is not contagious to humans) caused by a virus that produces growths or warts in the mouth and or the tongue, lips, eyelids and nose. The growths appear about one month after the animal contracts the virus. Dogs under 4 years of age are most commonly affected.

Warts are pinkish white and generally quite small, though they may occur in clumps, giving a cauliflower-like appearance. Generally these warts do not affect the animal's health unless their size or location interferes with the animal's ability to eat or breathe.

The disease usually does not recur, and recovered animals are usually immune.

To make sure her immune system is strong, it would be best to make sure she is on a good wholesome diet. Check out our page on the 10 Best Dog Food Options.

It would be best to only give the minimal vaccinations. See our Dog Vaccination Schedule page for more information.

A local holistic veterinarian would be able to guide you along, if the wart does not go away.

Please keep us posted by coming back to this page and clicking the 'click here to add your own comments' link below.

Take care,
Dr. Carol Jean Tillman

DISCLAIMER: This educational advice is based on the depth of your question and the picture you submitted. The above should never replace the advice of your local veterinarian, as they have the ability to evaluate your dog in person.

Incubation Period
by: Karen

Thank you Dr.Tillman,

Can you tell me how long Maddy will be contagious for? Is she contagious for as long as the wart is visible? I'm assuming I need to isolate her from playing with other dogs. Can I apply something like liquid band-aid over the wart to prevent another dog catching the virus?

Maddy is very active at the dog park and I don't want her to pass the virus along to other dogs.

Thank you,
Karen

My Online Vet Response for Wart-Like Growth in Dog's Gum Line
by: Dr. Carol Jean Tillman

Hi Karen,
Maddy will be contagious until you notice the wart is shrinking. In the meantime, she may develop more warts before this one goes away over the next 2-3 months. (I have seen some warts present for 6 months before the owner came in for help!)

Liquid band-aid is not that useful in animals. And it is by contact with other dogs that she will spread the virus. Especially, when dogs 'wrestle', and are grabbing the same ball, or toy, and their mouths come into contact. If she just passes by a dog, she will not be contagious.

If you seek out a holistic veterinarian, you may be able to shorten that time, and get her 'healthy' at the same time. There had to be a weakness in her immune system (disease) that made her susceptible to developing this wart. Therefore, it would be best for Maddy to make her as healthy as possible, with a good wholesome diet, minimal vaccinations, holistic veterinary care and lots of love!

To find a holistic veterinarian in your area click on the link below
find a holistic veterinarian in your area

Please keep us posted by coming back to this page and clicking the 'click here to add your own comments' link below.

Take care,
Dr. Carol Jean Tillman

P.S. If you've found this service or our web site helpful, please "Like" us by clicking the like button at the top of the left margin. Thank you!

DISCLAIMER: The above should never replace the advice of your local veterinarian, as they have the ability to evaluate your dog in person.

Related Pages:
- Dog Warts,
- Dog Skin Conditions,
- Ask a Vet Online Library - Dog Warts, Cysts and Strange Growths Section

Treatment
by: Karen

Thank you Dr. Tillman! I have made a trip to my favorite holistic pet store in Manhattan. Bill set me up with the following three products:

U.S Animal of Vermont OLI-250 -supports immune response function

RX Vitamins For Pets Immuno Support

Washington Homeopathic Products - Thuja Occ 30C for warts

With this, I'm hoping to suppress additional warts from popping out and decrease the duration of the one she has. I'm keeping my fingers crossed!

Thanks again, Dr. Tillman.

All the best,
Karen

wart gum line
by: Mindy

My dog Mo has something similar but it does not look like a wart or like that picture... it's a large pea shape but pink like her gum does not seem to bother her.

Any advice?

Wart Like Growth In Dogs Gumline
by: Karen

Hi Mindy,I have to tell you, with the naked eye I did not know Maddy's growth looked like this. It was only when I took the close-up picture that I could see all the detail. Maddy's was pink as well and then turned a grayish color. If you have a digital camera I suggest you take a picture so you can see a close-up view of it.

I found Dr Tillman to be very helpful and she was spot on with her diagnosis. Although I'm not a vet I'm happy to to answer any questions about Maddy's experience with this virus.

All the best,
Karen

mouth growth
by: Anonymous

Hi, my dogs get the same thing, although some of them repetitively. We live in a 3rd world country and their immune systems are usually bad from birth. Can I cut the wart off?
C in Nicaragua

Wart Like Growth in Dogs Mouth
by: Karen

Hello C, no no no, don't cut it off yourself. Although I am not a vet,I was told there is no health risk the dog. If you cut it off yourself you will risk infection and a huge amount of pain for your dog. You will cause much more harm to your dog, just let it go away by itself. Be patient, sometimes it can take a few months. When its ready it will shrink in size and fall off.

I hope this helps. Please let me know if you have any other questions.

5 dogs- 2 warts
by: Mandie

I came across this first when I googled wart like growth on dog's gum line. The pic of Maddy's looks EXACTLY like what my little dog Annabelle has. Except she hasn't had any vaccines since last year (she's due Dec) and is an indoor dog that never comes in contact with other dogs other than the one's she lives with. I noticed it 3 days ago so of course after reading the post I was like, "well then HOW did she contract it?" Then today, I notice a tiny wart like bump in the middle of my foster dog's nose (who is supposed to be meeting a potential adopter AND her dog in two days). Uh-oh...
To top it off, I have 3 more living here as well. I know it said they usually show the warts about a month after being infected, and I remembered my other dog (just now while typing) had one show up on the end of his snout below his nose a while (over a month) ago that ended up going away. So I know they said that more can show up before they go away, but once they DO all go away, can they just keep reinfecting each other or is it just a one time thing they get? If so, then I guess my only option is to keep them all 'quarantined' at home from other dogs till they all cycle.

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