More Than Just a Bump: An In-Depth Look at Skin Tags on Dogs

As a veterinarian and lifelong dog lover, I know firsthand how concerning it can be to find an unexpected lump or bump while petting your furry friend. Our minds often jump to the worst-case scenario, like cancer. But in many cases, that newly discovered protuberance is nothing more than a harmless skin tag.

What Exactly Are Skin Tags?

Skin tags, medically known as acrochordons or fibroepithelial polyps, are small, fleshy growths that hang off the skin by a thin stalk. They are made up of a core of collagen fibers and blood vessels covered by skin. Skin tags can range in size from tiny 1-millimeter nubs to larger 2-centimeter long danglers.

The most common variety are pink skin tags. This simply means the overlying skin has a pink hue, which is the natural color of a dog‘s skin where hair is sparse. However, skin tags can also be the same color as the surrounding skin or even darker brown or black.

Where Do Skin Tags Tend to Develop on Dogs?

Any place on a dog‘s body where there are skin folds or where friction occurs is a prime spot for skin tags to pop up. The most common locations include:

• Eyelids and face
• Neck and chest
• Armpits
• Groin area
• In between toes

Certain breeds with ample loose skin like Pugs, Shar Peis, Bulldogs, and Mastiffs are particularly prone to skin tags. It‘s the nature of their wrinkly skin and folds.

What Causes Skin Tags to Form?

The exact biological mechanism behind skin tag development is still unknown. But veterinarians and researchers have identified several risk factors:

• Friction and irritation: When skin repeatedly rubs together or experiences abrasion from a collar or harness, it can cause a small area of skin cells to multiply abnormally, resulting in a skin tag.

• Genetics: Some dogs simply have a hereditary predisposition to developing skin tags, often seen in wrinkly-skinned brachycephalic (flat-faced) breeds.

• Hormonal imbalances: Endocrine system disorders like hypothyroidism and Cushing‘s disease can alter the skin‘s collagen production and lead to skin tag growth.

• Obesity: Extra body fat, especially in skin folds, creates more skin-on-skin friction.

• Allergies: Repeated itching and scratching can traumatize the skin over time.

• Age: Just like in humans, skin tags become much more common in dogs as they get older.

One study published in the Journal of Small Animal Practice examined the prevalence of skin tags in a sample of 1,000 dogs over age 6. They found that 35-46% had at least one skin tag, with the odds increasing with age. Another study in Veterinary Dermatology compared skin tag rates between normal weight and overweight/obese dogs. The results showed obese dogs had a 13 times higher likelihood of having skin tags.

Data sources: Miller et al. (2013), Journal of Small Animal Practice; Müller et al. (2016), Veterinary Dermatology

When Should You Be Concerned About Skin Tags?

As a general rule, skin tags on dogs are no cause for panic. They are considered benign, non-cancerous growths that do not metastasize or invade other tissues. The vast majority of the time, skin tags don‘t bother dogs or impact their quality of life.

There are a few exceptions when a skin tag warrants veterinary attention:

• If the skin tag is getting repeatedly irritated or infected
• If your dog excessively licks or chews at the skin tag
• If the skin tag is interfering with normal movement
• If you notice sudden changes in the skin tag‘s size, shape, color or texture

As part of my practice, I always encourage clients to have me examine any new growths they notice on their dogs so I can confirm it is a benign skin tag. This allows me to monitor the skin tag over time and determine if removal is medically necessary or not. In general, I don‘t recommend putting a dog through the stress of surgery to remove a skin tag for purely cosmetic reasons. The risk usually outweighs the benefit.

Differentiating Skin Tags From Other Bumps

To the untrained eye and fingers, many growths on dogs can feel similar. But there are a few key characteristics that help veterinarians distinguish skin tags from other common bumps:

• Warts – Caused by the papilloma virus, these growths often have a rough, raised "cauliflower" or "sea coral" texture. They usually pop up around the mouth, eyes, or paws.

• Sebaceous cysts – These fluid-filled sacs arise from oil glands in the skin. Cysts are often round, soft, and moveable. They may have a small pore in the center.

• Lipomas – Benign fatty tumors that grow in the subcutaneous tissue layer beneath the skin. They tend to be soft, squishy, and moveable. Larger lipomas sometimes require surgical removal.

• Skin tumors – Cancerous growths like melanoma, mast cell tumors, and squamous cell carcinoma can be mistaken for skin tags. Warning signs include rapid growth, redness, swelling, bleeding, or oozing.

If you‘re ever unsure what a bump on your dog is, always get it checked out by your vet. We have the training and diagnostic tools to properly identify skin growths. Taking a small tissue sample for histopathology is a great way to get a definitive answer if the bump is worrisome.

Removing Skin Tags: Yay or Nay?

Since most skin tags are completely harmless, removal is not medically necessary. I have many patients in my practice with multiple skin tags that have never caused any problems.

However, there are situations where skin tag removal is recommended:

• The skin tag is frequently getting injured, irritated, or infected
• Your dog is excessively biting or scratching at the skin tag
• The skin tag‘s location interferes with your dog‘s vision, eating, or movement
• A biopsy is needed to definitively diagnose the bump

Removing a skin tag is a quick, simple surgical procedure performed under local anesthesia or light sedation. The vet carefully excises the base of the skin tag‘s stalk, controlling any bleeding with pressure, electrocautery, or sutures. Another less invasive option is cryotherapy – freezing off the skin tag using liquid nitrogen. Most patients recover just fine with some rest and an E-collar to prevent licking at the incision site.

Keeping an Eye on Skin Tags at Home

As a loving dog owner, you are your pup‘s first line of defense when it comes to health issues. Make a habit of feeling your dog all over for any new growths during your snuggle sessions and jot down your findings. This will help you catch any worrisome changes early.

When you do find a new bump, here are the characteristics to note and monitor:

• Location on the body
• Approximate size (measure with a ruler)
• Color
• Texture (smooth, rough, soft, firm, scabbed, etc.)
• Shape (round, elongated, flattened, irregular, etc.)
• Symptoms (itchiness, bleeding, redness, swelling, pain, etc.)

Keep written notes and take photos so you can show your vet. Don‘t hesitate to book an appointment if the skin tag appears to be bothering your dog in any way.

The Bottom Line

As both a vet and a devoted dog mom, I understand the fear that comes with finding an unexpected growth on your canine companion. But please know that skin tags are incredibly common, especially in older and larger breeds. They are simply a side effect of the normal aging process for many dogs.

In my professional opinion, skin tags are nothing more than a cosmetic nuisance in most cases. They may not be pretty, but they are rarely a health threat. I advise my clients to accept these small fleshy imperfections and focus their energy on keeping their dog healthy in more important ways – namely through proper nutrition, exercise, preventive care, and lots of love.

Of course, you should always have your vet take a look at any new bumps that crop up. But if it turns out to be just a run-of-the-mill skin tag, you can breathe a huge sigh of relief. Your precious pup may not be flawless, but he is still perfect in your eyes, skin tags and all.