Skin Tags on Dogs: What Every Pet Owner Should Know

If you’ve ever been petting your dog and suddenly noticed a small bump or flap of skin, it’s natural to wonder if it’s something to worry about. In many cases, these growths are simply skin tags—a common and usually harmless part of aging in dogs.

Knowing what skin tags are, how to monitor them, and when it’s time to call your veterinarian can help you keep your furry friend healthy and comfortable.

What Are Skin Tags?

Skin tags are small, soft growths made up of normal skin tissue. They often appear as flesh-colored or slightly darker flaps that hang from the skin by a narrow stalk. They can vary in size from just a few millimeters to over an inch in diameter.

Skin tags are considered benign, meaning they are not cancerous. They don’t spread to other parts of the body and, in most cases, don’t cause your dog any discomfort.

Where Do Skin Tags Appear?

Skin tags can develop anywhere on a dog’s body, but they’re most commonly found in areas where there’s frequent friction, including:

• Neck
• Chest
• Armpits
• Legs
• Belly
• Groin
• Eyelids (less commonly)

Older dogs tend to develop skin tags more frequently, although younger dogs can also have them.

What Causes Skin Tags?

The exact cause isn’t always known, but several factors may contribute to their development:

• Aging
• Genetics
• Repeated rubbing or friction
• Obesity, which creates additional skin folds
• Chronic skin irritation

Unlike some skin conditions, skin tags are not contagious and cannot be passed between pets.

How Can You Tell If It’s a Skin Tag?

A typical skin tag is:

• Soft and flexible
• Attached by a small stalk
• Similar in color to the surrounding skin
• Slow-growing
• Usually painless when touched

However, not every lump or bump is a skin tag. Warts, cysts, insect bites, abscesses, and even skin tumors can look similar. That’s why it’s important not to diagnose a growth based solely on appearance.

Caring for a Dog with Skin Tags

Most skin tags don’t require any treatment. Your role is simply to monitor them during your dog’s regular grooming sessions.

Here are a few care tips:

• Check the tag periodically for changes in size, color, or texture.
• Keep the area clean and dry.
• Prevent your dog from excessive licking or chewing if the tag becomes irritated.
• Be cautious when brushing or clipping around the area to avoid accidental injury.

If a skin tag is located where a collar, harness, or grooming tools repeatedly rub against it, reducing friction may help prevent irritation.

Should You Remove a Skin Tag at Home?

No.

It can be tempting to clip or tie off a skin tag after reading home remedies online, but removing any skin growth yourself can cause:

• Bleeding
• Infection
• Significant pain
• Delayed diagnosis if the growth isn’t actually a skin tag

Even experienced pet owners cannot reliably distinguish all benign growths from more serious skin masses.

When Should You See Your Veterinarian?

Although skin tags are usually harmless, any new lump should be evaluated by your veterinarian, especially if your dog has never had one before.

Schedule an appointment if you notice:

• Rapid growth
• Bleeding
• Ulceration or open sores
• Redness or swelling
• Discharge or foul odor
• Pain when touched
• Persistent scratching or licking
• A change in color or shape
• Multiple new growths appearing suddenly

Your veterinarian may recommend a fine-needle aspirate or biopsy if there’s any uncertainty about the diagnosis.

When Is Removal Recommended?

A veterinarian may recommend removing a skin tag if it:

• Is repeatedly traumatized or bleeds
• Becomes infected
• Interferes with movement
• Rubs against a collar or harness
• Obstructs vision (such as one on the eyelid)
• Cannot be confidently identified without laboratory testing

Removal is generally a straightforward procedure and may be performed under local anesthesia or sedation, depending on the tag’s size and location.

Can Skin Tags Be Prevented?

There’s no guaranteed way to prevent skin tags, but maintaining your dog’s overall health can help support healthy skin.

Helpful practices include:

• Maintaining a healthy body weight
• Feeding a balanced, high-quality diet
• Regular grooming
• Routine skin checks at home
• Annual or semi-annual veterinary wellness exams

Early detection of any skin changes makes diagnosis and treatment much easier if a problem does arise.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are skin tags cancerous?

No. True skin tags are benign. However, because some cancerous skin tumors can resemble skin tags, every new growth should be evaluated by a veterinarian.

Do skin tags hurt dogs?

Most skin tags are painless unless they become irritated, infected, or are repeatedly snagged.

Can skin tags fall off on their own?

Occasionally, a skin tag may dry up and detach naturally, but this isn’t common. Never try to force one off yourself.

Do dogs get more skin tags as they age?

Yes. Older dogs are much more likely to develop benign skin growths, including skin tags.

The Bottom Line

Finding a new bump on your dog can be unsettling, but skin tags are one of the more common—and usually harmless—skin growths seen in dogs. While they often require nothing more than routine monitoring, it’s always safest to have any new lump examined by your veterinarian to ensure it isn’t something more serious.

Regular grooming, monthly skin checks, and routine veterinary exams are the best ways to stay on top of your dog’s skin health. When in doubt, it’s always worth asking your veterinarian for guidance. Catching changes early provides peace of mind and helps ensure your dog stays happy, healthy, and comfortable for years to come.