Facts About Skin Tags on Dogs & Their Removal (With Pictures)

Adrienne is a certified dog trainer and former veterinarian assistant who
partners with some of the best veterinarians worldwide.

Skin tags on dogs are generally benign, but you should see your vet if you are
concerned.

All About Skin Tags on Dogs

It is common to see many dog owners wondering about skin tags in dogs and
seeking solutions from their veterinarians. The truth is that skin tags do not
really give any warning signs and may pop up out of nowhere; one day it wasn’t
there and then suddenly, there it is: the fleshy, ugly growth.

In most cases, most people that stumble on this skin issue will rush over to
the vet concerned and seek immediate solutions. Cancer is often at the top of
their concerns. Most owners, therefore, don’t actually know what skin tags
are.

What do dog skin tags look like?

When I was working for the vet and asked them over the phone to describe the
growth, some of them described skin tags as being small, like a little grain
of rice attached to the skin. If you are wondering what skin tags are and how
your dog got them, this article will explain what you need to know.

What Are Skin Tags?

So what are skin tags exactly and how did my dog end up with them?

If you are looking for a medical term, skin tags are known as acrochordons.
According to the Merck Veterinary Manual , skin tags are benign, cutaneous
growths which are usually found in olderdogs. Any breed of dog can get skin
tags; it can come as an isolated growth, or appear in company of one another
in various parts of the dog’s skin; their head, face, chest area, torso, legs,
armpit area, rear end, you name it! As ugly as they are, skin tags in dogs are
normally not painful when touched.

What Happens When Your Dog Has a Skin Tag

Fortunately, if you’re truly dealing with a skin tag, you don’t have to worry
too much about this condition. In many cases, they are a minor problem and in
most cases, your vet will just recommend that you keep an eye on the growth of
these tags. On the other hand, there are vets who are more conservative and
will immediately recommend that the owners have their dog’s skin tags biopsied
just to err on the side of caution.

My dog had what looked like a small raisin-like growth which the vet said
looked like a skin tag, so she said we could keep an eye on it but could
eventually have it nipped off when my dog was to have his next dental
cleaning. It really looked and behaved like a skin tag for several months.
Then, it suddenly got larger and started weeping blood. The vet removed it and
we got it biopsied and it turned out to be a melanocytoma. Of course, this is
just one case out of perhaps hundreds of normal skin tags behaving as skin
tags normally do.

Here you can see a small skin tag on a dog’s front leg.

If it looks like a skin tag, it probably is not cancer. However, the only
way to know for sure is to have a biopsy done. If it grows quickly, or
bleeds, or bothers your dog, I would have it checked by a veterinarian.

— Dr. Rebecca DVM

Dog Skin Tags vs. Ticks

Dog owners often wonder whether what they are seeing is a skin tag or a tick.
If you are unsure, there is an easy way to find out. First of all, an engorged
tick looks like a swollen kernel of corn whereas a skin tag is more on the
flaccid side and looks like skin. However, prior to feeding on a sufficient
amount of blood, the tick may appear flat.

In the picture, you can see what an engorged tick looks like. I found it on my
foster dog shortly after getting her from the shelter. But here’s an even
better way to tell a skin tag from a tick. Simply part the dog’s hair to
reveal the skin tag/possible tick and look carefully in a well-lit room. You
may need a magnifying glass. If you see legs wriggling and a head attached to
the skin, it’s a tick.

A tick can be removed by grasping the tick as close to the dog’s skin as
possible (so to grasp the head) and pulling upwards. The goal is to get the
tick’s head out along with the body. If it’s left behind, the dog’s skin
should eventually reject it. Ticks should never be removed using cigarette
butts, matches, twisting them, or using nail polish or other products, as
these methods only aggravate things and cause the tick to secrete more fluids
into the dog’s skin. This can increase the risk for tick-borne diseases. Never
touch a tick directly; use gloves for this procedure.

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If there are no legs wriggling, then it’s likely a growth and you may want to
have it checked by your vet. Don’t try to pull it if you are not sure whether
it’s a tick for sure. If it’s a skin tag, tugging and pulling on it can be
painful to the dog and it may cause bleeding. Again, see your vet if you are
unsure.

An engorged tick buried in a dog’s skin should be removed carefully.

Dog Skin Tags vs. Warts

Another thing skin tags are often confused with is warts. Both warts and skin
tags protrude from the skin. Warts, also known as viral papilloma, are
contagious and commonly seen in young dogs that have been around other dogs.
Warts are often found on a dog’s lips, eyelids, mouth, paws, and in the
genital area. They often appear in groups, whereas in older dogs they tend to
be solitary. Warts are not contagious to people.

Warts tend to have a typical jagged, cauliflower-like appearance. Some people
compare dog warts to sea anemones. While warts tend to go away on their own,
they are often treated with a variety of treatments. According to the Merck
Veterinary Manual , since there are many things that look like warts, a
definitive diagnosis may be important for proper identification.

Skin tags on the other hand, as mentioned appear mostly thin and may be
attached to the skin through a thin stalk. Skin tags also tend to appear flat,
almost as if the skin has been permanently pinched together. However, skin
tags may be covered by a wart-like surface, which can cause them to be
confused with warts. While both warts and skin tags are not cancer, It’s
always best to consult with the vet so to determine the proper diagnosis and
treatment.

Here, you can see a wart in a dog’s mouth.

Joelmills

How Are Dog Skin Tags Removed?

The first thing you should know is that removal of skin tags from your dog is
optional; if your vet says so, you can choose to just let them be, keeping a
watchful eye on them for any changes. However, there are some cases where
removing skin tags rightly is a good idea: For example, it is a good idea to
have the skin tags removed if your dog tends to pester his skin tags such as
rubbing them against the carpet and furniture or scratching or chewing on
them.

Removing the skin tag will prevent the possible irritation and bleeding that
may result from constant pestering of the skin by the dog, which could lead to
the dog’s skin tag getting infected. Additionally, if the skin tags appear in
bothersome parts such as the place where you put the collar or very close to
the dog’s eyes, mouth area or rectum or interfere with movement, you will need
to have them removed so that your dog will be comfortable.

When you book an appointment with a vet and they recommend that you remove the
skin tag, there are various options. If your dog is calm, the skin tag can be
removed through a small surgical procedure which can easily be done using some
local anesthesia with some sedation. Alternatively, the tag can be removed
using total anesthesia. Your vet may recommend laser surgery which helps
minimize the bleeding.

Skin tags on dogs can grow everywhere.

Flickr Creative Commons Army Medicine Veterinarian

If we have a truly benign skin tag we can use laser surgery to remove them,
taking a small amount of tissue around the base so that they don’t regrow.
This has the benefit of little bleeding and inflammation and no stitches
needed postoperatively.

— Dr. Kara DVM

Whatever You Do, Don’t Remove Your Dog’s Skin Tags at Home!

Many dog owners, especially those who have no idea how skin tags should be
removed, use home remedies when trying to treat skin tags in dogs.
Unfortunately, most of these home remedies are a waste of time; they don’t
tackle the root of the problem and risk causing complications. In fact, most
of them are not safe or recommended.

There are various websites which claim you can remove dog skin tags using home
remedies, but dog skin tag removal is not something you can do at home. You
will need a veterinarian to help you as it requires a surgical procedure done
in a sterile environment and with proper pain management. You cannot replace
your vet’s experience and perform a surgical procedure at home!

For example, a veterinarian, Dr. Loretta warns that the practice in which
people tie off the end of a skin tag with dental floss, apply alcohol and cut
the tags off with scissors can be very stressful for the dog. It could lead to
unacceptable (and most of all, unnecessary!) pain for the dog and the skin tag
getting infected.

With this practice, a skin tag, which may appear small and easy to remove,
could actually have a large blood vessel that bleeds which will lead to risks
for infections when cut off. Don’t be deceived into believing that you could
remove a dog’s skin tag at home easily and without any problems. You could be
setting yourself up for a lot of problems than bargained for.

There are stories of people who end up regretting doing this when their dogs
got nasty complications. The best and only recommended way is to get a
veterinarian to remove the tags in a sterile, veterinary environment with the
dog pain-free.

Another Veterinarian, Dr. Deb warns that in her years of practice, she has
seen so many people with the best of intentions trying to get rid of their dog
skin tags at home only to end up giving their dog nasty infections. Forget
what you read, skin tags should not be removed at home!

Dr. Chris, another respected veterinarian, explains in his blog “A Vet’s Guide
to Life” how tying your dog’s skin tags with floss, string or rubber bands is
one of the worst things you can do to your dog’s health condition. It is in no
way a good thing. In fact, there is a very big risk of infection or having
more tissue than desired getting affected.

Moreover, you leave the base in the skin which has a chance of re-growing in
the case of a mass or polyp. The only way you can completely resolve skin tag
problems in dogs is to have a veterinarian cut away the attached skin, not
just remove the dangling part!

Dog skin tag removal

I can understand your instinct to remove this skin tag at the base of her
body by cutting off the blood supply to it with something like dental floss,
but I’d not encourage you to attempt this for the following reason. I’ve
seen such procedures done by owners in the past with the best of intentions,
but I’ve seen some nasty infections associated with these attempts.

— Dr. Deb DVM

This article is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge. It
is not meant to substitute for diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, prescription,
or formal and individualized advice from a veterinary medical professional.
Animals exhibiting signs and symptoms of distress should be seen by a
veterinarian immediately.

Comments

Charles Davis on August 31, 2020:

When I was cutting my dogs hair, I found these two pinkish looking bumps on my
dogs foot and other places. The small one on the foot got cut open while using
the clippers and it bled hardly at all and there was no pain to the dog. And
when I tried to squeeze the big one , my dog did nothing. Is possible that you
can by chance look over this picture and maybe, be able to tell me what this
thing is. And my dog is a Blond Cockier Spaniel about 10 years old his hair
was about 2 inches long and matted in a few areas. Can you please help me?
Thank You very much for your help.

Mw on August 27, 2020:

Way too long and too much bs yapping to get to any info.. non are useful

rylee on February 25, 2019:

my dog has a skin tag and im worried that it migtt be infected because i have
been trying to pick it and get it out of my dog

Jaimi phillips on August 20, 2017:

My dog lady has just always had skin issues but lately she has been getting
skin tags and there are a lot and in multiple locations. She has really bad
anxiety and is allergic to just about everything so I don’t want to bring her
to the vet unless it’s absolutely necessary. She doesn’t seemed bothered by
any of them. She is getting older so I am hoping that’s what is the reason.

Sharon McIntyre on May 27, 2017:

My 13 year old Maltese Shizu has skin tags. They are starting to ooze out a
black sticky substance that has a slightly bad odour.

Is this a sign of something serious?

I will be taking him to the vet asap to get this checked out.

Abbygail Rubio on May 11, 2017:

My dog has a skin like tag on his left front leg. it seems to bother him, I’ve
been doing some research and it says that skin tags only grow a few
milimeters. But my dog had is about 2 to 2 1/2 inches.

Is this a sign of cancer, or tumer, I dont have the money at the moment to
check him up, I’m saving up. I am really worried of the thing I have searched
up, he is only 5 yeas old.

Please someone help.

Adrienne Farricelli (author) on May 07, 2017:

As the article points out, skin tags should not be tied off at home string. It
causes excessive bleeding and potential infections. Please see your vet for
safe removal.

David gordon on May 06, 2017:

My lucy has had this growth for 2-3 yrs and as of last week i decided to tie
it off w/strong string but she scratched it off leading to perfuse bleeding
and the tags still there. My question is in the event of not falling iff do
they bleed so heavly it took over a hour to slow the blood flow. Im ready to
retie a suture string around the tag is there something i should know
beforehand?