Page 879 - The Veterinary Care of the Horse
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Verrucose warts
These warts are also known as grass or milk warts. The small grey or pinky-white lesions
VetBooks.ir tend to occur around the muzzle and on the lips of older foals and young horses at grass.
They are also seen on the nose, around the eyes and in the genital region. They may be found
in small groups or extensive clusters (Figure 18.29). On close inspection they have a
cauliflower-like appearance.
Figure 18.29 Papillomas
Verrucose warts tend to develop over a period of 2–4 weeks. They can be unsightly but
rarely worry the animal. If a wart is knocked and bleeds, it should be cleaned gently.
Treatment is rarely necessary as in most cases they spontaneously disappear after 3–4
months. When they drop off, they infect the pasture and the virus can survive from one year
to the next. Recovered animals are usually immune to further infection but the virus will
