Dog Warts turned out deadly

Sarsi was a healthy dog for 11 years until some warts popped up on some parts of his body. I asked the advise of a veterinarian, and got two more second opinions (of course vets, too) and all of them said that treatment was not necessary because my dog developed it due to old age. Multiple warts appeared on his body but which did not affect his appetite, though sometimes we saw him limping when the warts started to erupt. I also asked the vet if it can be removed surgically but I was told that he cannot afford to undergo another surgery due to his age, and because he underwent his 3rd surgery early this year (the first two were different minor problems that needed minor surgeries some years ago) . I felt assured that there was nothing wrong with Sarsi until one day his appetite changed --sometimes he ate a lot, sometimes he just tasted his food --and when he totally missed  a meal I brought him to the hospital. Sarsi was confined for three days, but the vet said his vital organs failed (liver and kidney) and they suspected that there were warts on his internal organs, and sadly on the third day he can barely walk. I can't stand seeing him like that so I decided to give him rest, which I was told would be the most humane thing I can give him.

I was guilt ridden for a week, thinking why I gave him up.

Warts on his leg.

Warts below his right eyelid and lower lips.

What is the best solution for dog warts?

There are a lot of reasons for little wart like bumps on dogs. True warts are caused by a virus and will generally go away over time when the body recognizes the virus and produces antibodies to fight them off. Another cause of little bumps like this would be what are called skin tags. These are just little skin projections, usually not very hard, that appear and are not dangerouss or necessary to remove. There can also be little bumps that appear when an oil gland duct gets plugged so that the accumulation of the oily material increases and eventually results in a bump. Obviously turmors, both benign and cancerous, can also cause this appearance, but your veterinarian can get a good idea what the problem might be by sticking a needle in them, pulling out some cells, and looking at the cells under a microscope. Most likely these are not problems and really do not need to be removed, but the next time you are in the veterinary office, just ask for an opinion of what they might be.

Answer provided by Bonnie Beaver, BS, DVM, MS.
Bonnie V. Beaver, DVM, is internationally recognized for her work in the normal and abnormal behaviors of animals. She has given more than 250 scientific presentations to veterinary and veterinary student audiences on subjects of animal behavior, animal welfare, and the human-animal bond, and has discussed many areas of veterinary medicine for the public media. She has authored more than 150 scientific articles and has nine published books, including The Veterinarian's Encyclopedia of Animal Behavior (Iowa State University Press), Feline Behavior: A Guide for Veterinarians (W.B. Saunders Company), and Canine Behavior: A Guide for Veterinarians (W.B. Saunders Company). See her complete profile on WebMd.