How to remove dog skin tags

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There are many kinds of canine skin bumps, growths, lumps, tumors, and “tags”. Some skin tumors in dogs are benign (noncancerous) and some skin lumps are cancerous. A dog skin tag is a type of skin growth that can occur anywhere on the body but are common on the face, head, neck, elbows, and/or chest. Skin tags are common in humans and also commonly occur on the face, head, face and upper chest. Dog owners frequently have questions about dog skin tags wondering if they are cancerous, a problem that can turn cancerous, or no problem at all.

Below we will discuss what is a dog skin tag, how to determine if it is a dog skin tag vs wart, how to tell a skin tag from a cancer bump in dogs, and steps for dog skin tag removal. Before deciding if a skin tag is a problem or not, let’s look at exactly what is a dog skin tag.

The medical terms for a skin tag is an acrochordon or acrochorda (pleural) and is also known as fibroepithelial polyp. A skin tag is a small flap of skin with a small base often about the size of a grain of rice but can be bigger or smaller. Some dog skin tags can be the size of a grape or even larger and appear to “dangle”.

Dog skin tags most often occur around the face, head, neck, armpits, elbows, and eyelids, but can occur anywhere on the body. Some deep chested large dogs will get clusters of skin tags over the chest area.

A true skin tag is generally painless and harmless. They generally do not change over time into something cancerous.

They are often diagnosed when combing or brushing your dog. They are easier to see on dogs with dark hair coats as they are often pink, fleshy, and protrude brightly. It is common for some pet owners to mistake a skin tag for an attached tick.  Collars, leashes or grooming procedures such as combing or brushing your dog, can irritate dog skin tags.

Why Do Dogs Get Skin Tags?

You may be wondering…“Why do dogs get skin tags”?  The cause for skin tags is largely unknown although but is considered to be genetic. There are some breed predispositions such as they are more common in bulldogs, boxers, and Great Danes although they can occur in any breed. Dog skin tags appear to be more common in dogs as they get older. Dogs that get skin tags will often have more than one.

Dog skin tags are most commonly diagnosed by your veterinarian after examining the growth. The classic appearance of a dog skin tag is a small raised soft piece of skin with a small base often referred to as a pedicle. It should not be ulcerated, inflamed or bleeding unless it is being irritated by a collar or by grooming.

Skin tags in dogs are not dangerous. Dog skin tags are generally permanent and do not regress. Generally, the only way they go away is by surgical removal.

If your dog has a skin tag and it is red, inflamed, draining, pigmented, then please see your veterinarian. Either the skin tag it is infected or not an actual skin tag and a different type of tumor or cancer.

Dog Skin Tag vs. Warts — What’s the Difference?

Is it a dog skin tag vs wart? This is a common question that dog owners ask.  Dog skin tags can appear similar to warts but there are differences. Warts, like skin tags, can grow anywhere on the body and dogs that get one will generally get more.

The biggest difference between a skin tag and a wart is the appearance of the bump. Skin tags generally are small, soft, thin, flesh-colored, floppy, and have a stalk or pedicle base.  You can generally move a skin tag back and forth with your finger. Warts, on the other hand, are thicker and attached to the skin over a broader area. They are generally flatter. Warts, known by the medical term as viral papillomas, are benign, non-cancerous tumors caused by a virus in dogs and other pets. Warts are more common in young dogs and often are around the mouth commissures of the lip or are in the mouth. Learn more about Canine Viral Papillomas (Dog Warts).

Another common question pet owners ask about dog skin tag is “How do you prevent dog skin tags?” The answer is that there is nothing you can do to prevent dog skin tags.

Can Skin Tags Turn Into Cancer Bumps on Dogs?

Can a dog skin tag turn into a cancerous bump? The answer is no. Skin tags are considered harmless and are not considered “precancerous”.

There is nothing that a skin tag tells you about your dogs underlying health. In humans, there have been some associations of skin tags with hormones in pregnancy, a risk of diabetes mellitus, and risk of Crohn’s disease. However, these associations have not been made in dogs.

If any bump or lump on your dog changes, grows, becomes ulcerated, bleeds or you notice any other changes that are of concern, please have your dog evaluated by your veterinarian.

Take These Steps for Dog Skin Tag Removal

May pet owners want to know about dog skin tag removal.  As we discussed above, dog skin tags are harmless and not a problem. The primary reason for removal is for cosmetic reasons or because they are in a location that interferes with function or causes irritation.

For example, some dog skin tags on the neck can rub on collars causing the skin tag to bleed or to become infected. Some dog skin tags are on the elbow where a dog lays and can rub on the floor causing irritation. Other examples of skin tags that cause problems is one on the eyelid that rubs the eye or one by the mouth that can accidentally be bitten by the dog when eating. Some skin tags are accidentally cut or damaged during grooming procedures. The main reason to have a skin tag removed is if it really bothers you cosmetically or is it is in a location that causes irritation or infection.

We recommend that you see your veterinarian for surgical removal of skin tags. They can disinfect the skin, use sterile surgical tools, and have the ability to control unexpected bleeding should it occur. You vet can choose to remove the skin tag under general anesthesia or with local anesthesia. This decision will be determined by the location of the mass, your dog’s overall health, your dog’s personality and the size of the mass.

For example, a small mass on the neck of a calm dog with underlying health issues may do well with skin tag removal under local anesthesia. Another example is that most masses on the eyelid need to be removed under general anesthesia as it is critical for a dog to stay still when doing surgery in that area.

When general anesthesia is used, it is common that remove skin tags in combination with other procedures such as a dental cleaning. Once a pet is under anesthesia, skin tags are generally removed with a surgical laser or with a scalpel which both work well.

Some veterinarians will remove skin tags with a local anesthetic such as lidocaine to numb the area followed by removal with a scalpel or scissors. Once the area is numb, a suture is commonly placed over the base of the skin tag to cut off the blood supply.

What can you do at home for dog skin tags?

The best thing you can do is to see your veterinarian to ensure that the lump is indeed a skin tag and to have them remove it properly.

The bigger the skin tag, the better it is to have your veterinarian look at and evaluate the lump. Some of the larger skin tags have a good blood supply and trying to take them off at home can cause unnecessary bleeding and risk of infection. Small skin tags can be taken off at home with special care. The procedure most often performed is as follows:

What you’ll need:

• Grooming Clippers
• Scissors
• Dental floss or suture
• Soap and water
• Isopropyl alcohol
• Gauze, clean towel, or paper towels
• Hydrogen peroxide

Procedure to remove a dog skin tag at home

• Shave a small amount of hair around the skin tag. Take special care not to accidentally cut your dog as this can be easy to do.
• Carefully clean the skin tag area with soap and water.
• Disinfect the skin tag with isopropyl alcohol.
• Pull the skin tag gently away from the skin. This should allow you to easily see a stalk.
• Using the dental floss or suture, tie it around the base of the skin tag. Get as close as you can to the skin. Tie firmly at the base using 3 to 4 knots.
• At this point, you can cut the stalk if you want to completely remove it or wait for the skin tag to fall off. The ligation will remove the blood supply to the skin tag. Over the following 2 to 5 days, the skin tag will turn black, dry up and often fall off. If you cut the stalk, use gauze or clean paper towel to gently dab the blood. Be careful not to cut below the suture.
• You can gently clean the blood around the site with hydrogen peroxide. Do not aggressively rub or you can rub off the suture.
• Monitor the area twice daily for 14 days. Ensure the dental floss or suture comes off when the area has healed.
• Do not allow your dog to chew, lick or scratch at the skin tag site. If needed, depending on the area of skin tag removal, use a bandage or e-collar to prevent your dog from licking.

We hope this article gave you more information about what is a dog skin tag, how to determine if it is a dog skin tag vs wart, how to tell a skin tag from cancer bumps in dogs, and steps for dog skin tag removal.

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It can be unsettling to find a skin tag on your dog. They’re not only gnarly looking, but they’re scary too — skin growths can occasionally be cancerous.

However, most run-of-the-mill skin tags are completely harmless growths. They may cause your dog a minor bit of irritation or look a bit gross to you, but that’s about it.

Obviously, you should take your pup to your veterinarian for evaluation any time you notice anything unusual, but skin tags are common, and rarely require treatment of any kind.

• Some dogs occasionally get skin tags. Skin tags essentially look like small warts, though they can vary a bit in appearance. Some skin tags are darker in color than the surrounding skin.
• True skin tags may cause a bit of irritation, but they are completely harmless. However, there are a few similar-appearing growths, which can represent more serious health issues. Accordingly, it’s a good idea to point them out during your pup’s next vet visit.
• Skin tags can usually be left alone, but they can be removed if they’re bothering your pet. Typically your vet will anesthetize the area and then cut the tag off, but some vets prefer to freeze the tags off instead.

What Is a Dog Skin Tag?

Technically speaking, skin tags are growths called fibroepithelial polyps or acrochordons.

Most skin tags are the same color as your dog’s skin, although they may also be a bit darker than his base skin color. They can be flattened, but they usually extend outward from your pet’s body. Unlike warts, which are firmly attached around the base of the raised area, skin tags are usually connected by a relatively small bit of tissue, and they are easy to move around.

Humans get skin tags all the time – some authorities claim that nearly half of the human population has at least one skin tag. As when they occur in dogs, they rarely represent a serious problem or require treatment, unless their size or location causes discomfort. They are most common among people who are older, overweight or diabetic, and they may occur in increased frequency with dogs fitting these criteria too.

What Causes Dog Skin Tags to Form?

No one knows exactly why skin tags occur or the mechanisms that lead to their development. Some of the potential suspects include:

Because they most commonly occur in skin folds, some scientists suspect that friction is part of the underlying cause. This is also thought to be the case for humans, as humans normally experience skin tags on their neck, shoulders and armpits – all of which are high-friction areas. Accordingly, it is important to make sure that your dog’s collar or harness fits properly.

Some research has demonstrated a link between papilloma viruses and skin tags in humans. While the viruses involved would be different in dogs, it is possible that viruses are at least partially responsible for the development of canine skin tags too (however, it’s important to note that true canine papillomas are slightly different from skin tags, once again illustrating the importance of having your vet examine any unusual growths).

Some authorities believe that skin tags are the result of parasite attacks. In such cases, it is hypothesized that the skin heals improperly following the feeding damage of fleas, ticks or similar pests. This is yet another reason that it is important to discuss on-going flea and tick prevention with your vet.

Poor hygiene habits may encourage the formation of skin tags. This can occur if you wash your dog too often, fail to wash your dog often enough, or use inappropriate soaps or shampoos. For the record, most authorities recommend bathing your dog about once per month, with a shampoo formulated specifically for dogs.

Others suspect that environmental factors are to blame. Proponents of this line of thought typically point to things like pesticide exposure or irritating clothing and collars.

Genetic predisposition may be part of the reason some dogs suffer from skin tags. This would help explain why skin tags are often common throughout familial lineages. However, this is probably only one small part of the overall cause.

At the end of the day, it may be ultimately determined that several different factors interact to spur the body to produce skin tags. Only further research will reveal the truth.

Need Veterinary Help Fast?

Don’t have easy access to a vet? You may want to consider getting help from JustAnswer — a service that provides instant virtual-chat access to a certified vet online.

You can discuss the issue with them, and even share video or photos if need be. The online vet can help you determine what your next steps should be.

While talking with your own vet — who understands the ins and outs of your dog’s history — is probably ideal, JustAnswer is a good backup option.

Although vets can usually identify skin tags visually, biopsies are occasionally warranted to ensure that the tag isn’t cancerous. But once your vet is confident that the growth is, in fact, a skin tag, he or she will most likely lay out a few different treatment strategies.

Most will probably recommend leaving the tag as-is, unless it is causing irritation or pain. Skin tags are generally harmless and rarely cause problems for most pets, so many vets prefer to leave well-enough alone.

If your vet does recommend removal, he or she will usually provide your dog with a general anesthetic to keep your canine calm and eliminate any potential pain. Then, the vet will remove the tag with a scalpel or surgical scissors. The resulting wound will be cleaned appropriately, stitched up if need be, and you’ll be sent on your way with instructions to monitor it carefully.

Some vets may prefer to use cryotherapy techniques, which basically means they’ll freeze the tag off. Others may prefer to cauterize tags, by using a heated tool or laser to “burn off” the tag.

In this video, Dr. Ruhland described a bit more about how cryotherapy works:

There are a number of home remedies posted throughout the shallow end of the internet, but attempting to remove your dog’s skin tags at home is a bad idea. Simply visit your veterinarian and have him or her perform the procedure correctly, safely, and – most importantly – in pain-free fashion. You may have access to a pair of surgical scissors, but you probably don’t have access to an anesthetic.

Some people recommend removing skin tags by wrapping dental floss or tiny rubber bands around the growths. But once again, this is a bad idea. The floss or rubber band may cause an additional wound or fail to work, leaving a potentially infected skin tag behind.

Some advocate using diluted apple cider vinegar to remove the tag. This is usually done by affixing a vinegar-soaked cotton ball to the tag. Over time, the acidic nature of the vinegar may eat away at the tag, eventually causing it to fall off. However, while diluted apple cider vinegar is probably not going to hurt your dog’s skin, it doesn’t always work for skin tags.

Accordingly, the best plan of attack is to simply have your vet perform the procedure. You’ll have to go in and have the growth properly identified anyway, so just go ahead and have your vet remove it while you are at the office. If you are inclined to try a home remedy, be sure to discuss it with your vet beforehand.

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Has your dog ever developed a skin tag? Did you just leave it in place or did you have it removed? Let us know how it went in the comment section below.