Dogs, like humans, can develop skin tags on various body parts. Most are benign. These fibrous growths typically affect older dogs, though puppies can also experience them.
Skin tags can become cumbersome, especially if they grow large. Understanding these growths is crucial for dog owners, helping them distinguish between benign and potentially harmful lumps.
Many seek veterinary advice for their dog’s skin tags, which usually appear as soft, flexible growths. They may emerge suddenly, transforming into a soft, noticeable bump overnight.
For those unfamiliar with dog skin tags or their origins, this article provides essential information.
What Do Dog Warts Look Like?
Caused by the canine papillomavirus, warts are benign bumps that generally resolve within months. They resemble a cauliflower’s surface, varying in color but often appearing as bumps lighter or darker than the surrounding skin. Warts can appear anywhere but are most common near the dog’s mouth, eyes, and toes.
Contagious among dogs, warts can spread through your pack, particularly affecting older dogs and puppies due to their weaker immune systems.
It’s crucial to distinguish warts from malignant growths; therefore, consult your vet for any new lumps.
How Do Dogs Get Skin Tags Appear?
Skin tags are benign growths that commonly occur on dogs, especially in giant breeds and older dogs. While the precise cause remains unclear, they are often associated with persistent skin irritation or pressure.
Common sites for skin tags include the chest, lower legs, and face, areas where the skin frequently rubs together. Obesity may also contribute to their development. These growths are typically small, flesh-colored, and hang from a delicate stalk. They can be smooth or lumpy and may grow as large as a grape.
Distinguishing Dog Warts from Skin Tags
Warts and skin tags on dogs present as small, flesh-colored bumps, yet they exhibit distinct differences. Warts are generally rounder with a solid base attached to the skin, resulting from a viral infection.
They primarily appear on the face and feet, areas prone to interaction with other dogs. In contrast, skin tags, often tear-shaped and hanging from a thin stalk, develop in areas experiencing friction or discomfort, such as between the legs or on the chest and lower legs.
A definitive diagnosis between warts and skin tags can be achieved through a biopsy, where a small sample is taken and analyzed microscopically by a veterinarian.
Understanding Dog Skin Tags: Identification and Action
Identifying Symptoms If your dog has a growth resembling a skin tag, monitor its characteristics—size, shape, and color. Should the tag remain stable and your dog shows no discomfort, a routine check-up at your next scheduled veterinary visit may suffice. However, if you notice any alteration in the skin tag’s appearance, consult your veterinarian promptly for further examination.
Characteristics of Skin Tags Skin tags often appear as soft, slightly elevated, flesh-toned bumps or flaps. Unlike warts, they are neither fully round nor dark. Some may contain dense hair follicles, while others, known as hexal hamartomas, are hairless. In contrast, follicular hamartomas present as hairy nodules.
Types of Growth Pedunculated skin tags hang from a stalk, differentiating them from flat growths. This stalk-like protrusion typically signifies a skin tag.
Complications from Friction Skin tags can become irritated or bleed if they rub against your dog’s collar, harness, or body. Excessive licking or chewing of the tag can lead to inflammation, further complicating the condition.
For any concerns, immediate veterinary consultation is advisable to prevent complications and ensure your dog’s comfort and health.
What Causes Dog Warts?
Dog warts arise from infections with canine papillomaviruses, distinct viruses that trigger specific conditions (e.g., warts around the mouth or on the feet). A dog becomes immune to the virus it has encountered but remains susceptible to other types.
Transmission occurs through direct contact or environmental exposure, as the virus can linger for weeks outside a host. Symptoms usually manifest two months post-infection.
When The Dog Skin Tags Are a Reason for Concern:
Monitor skin tags closely for these signs to ensure timely veterinary attention:
- Location near the mouth or lips
- Any bleeding or discharge
- Pain upon contact
- Changes in size, color, or shape
- Tags that look rubbed or irritated
- Persistent scratching or discomfort
Indicators of Concern for Other Dog Bumps
Prompt veterinary care is crucial if you observe any of the following in bumps like fatty tumors, mast cell tumors, or warts:
- Rapid changes in size, shape, color, or form
- Increasing discomfort
- Itching
- Thickening at the bump’s base
- A texture unlike the surrounding skin
- Bleeding or ulceration
These guidelines help maintain your dog’s health and ensure issues are addressed promptly with professional care.
Dog Skin Tag Treatment: Essential Practices
If your dog develops a skin tag, resist the urge to remove it yourself. While you might manage such tasks at home, doing so for your dog is risky, as it can cause pain and provoke a defensive reaction.
Skin tags on dogs are generally benign and often require no medical intervention. When treatment is necessary, the method depends on the tag’s size:
Small skin tags
Small, pain-free tags may be treated by your veterinarian through numbing and removal while the dog remains awake. Methods include snipping or freezing, often utilizing laser or electrocautery techniques.
Larger skin tags
Those that are larger or located in sensitive areas typically require sedation or general anesthesia for removal, especially if your dog is already undergoing a procedure that includes these measures.
Post-operative care includes keeping the area clean and dry, with potential stitches needing removal. Monitor for signs of infection such as inflammation or discharge, and consult your veterinarian for professional removal and aftercare guidance.
Treating Dog Warts
Typically, as a dog develops immunity to the wart-causing virus, the warts disappear on their own over a few months. Sometimes, however, veterinary intervention is necessary.
For isolated or few warts, surgical removal is preferred. Techniques include using a scalpel, laser, or cryosurgery—intense cold that destroys the wart tissue.
When multiple warts cause issues, medications might be needed. Yet, as most dog warts resolve naturally, the efficacy of these treatments is uncertain.
Veterinarians have explored several treatments:
- Interferon: A drug that boosts the immune system, available in oral or intravenous forms.
- Cimetidine: An anti-inflammatory drug that potentially influences the immune response.
- Azithromycin: An oral antibiotic that showed promise in one study.
- Autogenous vaccination: Crushing a few warts to release viral particles, or using a vaccine derived from the dog’s own warts, to stimulate an immune response.
Cost of Removing Dog Skin Tags
The cost for removal varies widely based on the clinic’s location, the chosen procedure, any complications, and factors like your dog’s size and health.
Cryosurgery might be cheaper for a small, calm dog compared to a larger or more active one. More sedation and anesthesia are needed for larger dogs, increasing costs.
Removing a skin tag from a sensitive area such as the eyelid is more complex and expensive than from less sensitive areas like the paw. Sending the removed tissue for laboratory analysis to rule out cancer also incurs additional costs.
While most canine skin tags are benign, removal is usually considered on an individual basis. Nonetheless, if your vet is concerned about a skin tag, it’s advisable to heed their advice.
FAQ
Why Do Dogs Develop Skin Tags or Warts?
Skin tags in dogs can arise from friction, persistent irritation, or injury, often located in areas like body folds or pressure points such as the elbows. They can also result from hyperactive fibroblasts, which are cells that produce fibers and collagen.
What Are the Signs of Malignant Skin Tags in Dogs?
Malignant melanomas typically present as raised, often ulcerated lumps within the mouth or as gray or pink nodules.
How Large Can Dog Skin Tags Grow?
These benign growths are generally soft, flesh-colored, and small—usually less than one centimeter. They often form on a stalk and are found on areas like the lower chest and upper legs, especially in middle-aged and older dogs, and sometimes on the face.
When Should Skin Tags on Dogs Be a Concern?
While typically benign and more of a cosmetic concern, skin tags can become entangled or injured during grooming, leading to bleeding, pain, or discomfort. In such cases, surgical removal may be necessary to prevent further distress.
Conclusion
When addressing dog skin tags, many owners might consider home remedies. However, such methods often fall short—they don’t tackle the underlying issues and can result in harmful outcomes. Most home remedies are neither vet-approved nor safe.
Many online sources might suggest that it’s possible to remove dog skin tags using DIY methods, but proper removal requires veterinary intervention. This process demands a sterile environment and appropriate pain management, which cannot be replicated at home.
There are numerous reports of regret from owners whose dogs suffered severe complications following at-home removal attempts. The safest and most effective method is to have a veterinarian remove the skin tags in a controlled, sterile clinic setting, ensuring your dog remains comfortable and pain-free.
*photo by PantherMediaSeller – depositphotos