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My dog has a papilloma. Is surgery the only treatment option?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed | Male | neutered

My dog developed a pea size wart next to his mouth 2 months ago. It has grown in size and is now a lot bigger but has seemed to stabilize. I took him to the vet yesterday and they immediately said that it is a papilloma and they want to remove it. I have researched and it says that there are other treatment options and that surgery is a last resort .. should I have the surgery done ?

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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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

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Other Answers

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    Answered By David Elbeze, DVM, MRCVS

    Veterinarian

    Published on

    Papillomas often tend to resolve without treatment, it just takes some time (several months). There is an antibiotic called zithromax that can be used, sometimes with good success. In some cases, when it doesn't disappear, it might then require surgery.

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