Q&A with Dr. Meagan Painter: Oral Papillomas

Meagan R. Painter, DVM, DACVD
dermatology@angell.org
angell.org/dermatology|
617-524-5733

What age can dogs get oral papillomas/warts?
It’s most common in dogs under age 2 as their immune systems develop, but older dogs can get them, too.

Do I need to treat warts around the mouth?
They usually resolve on their own after 1-2 months and don’t require treatment. In severe cases where it impacts the dog’s comfort or ability to eat, they may need to be removed medically or surgically. Treatment also involves removing the potential cause of the papilloma, as some medications can cause these lesions to appear. It is best to talk with your veterinarian about best steps for treatment given the size and number of lesions that your dog has.

Surgical removal of oral papillomas

Are they contagious?
They are highly contagious among dogs, but they do not spread to humans or other species from dogs.

How do they spread to other dogs?
They spread through physical contact or sharing chews, food, or water bowls.

Should I keep my dog away from other dogs when they have oral warts? How long are they contagious?

Post-op

As long as your dog has a papilloma, they are contagious. So, it is best to keep them away from direct contact with other dogs (socially distance!) to prevent spread while there are active lesions. Exposure does not necessarily mean that the dog will become symptomatic. Many dogs are able to fight off exposure to the virus that causes these papilloma on their own. But, some cannot and will develop lesions.

Dr. Meagan Painter is a Board Certified Veterinary Dermatologist. She graduated Tufts University Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine in 2014 and completed a one-year internship in small animal medicine and surgery at Angell in 2015. For the three years thereafter, she practiced as a resident in veterinary dermatology with Veterinary Healing Arts in East Greenwich, RI and the Animal Dermatology Group in California. Upon completion of her residency, she achieved Diplomate status with the American College of Veterinary Dermatology. Prior to coming home to Boston, she practiced for two years in San Francisco, CA at the San Francisco Veterinary Specialists.

For information on Angell’s Dermatology service, please visit angell.org/dermatology