Bumps & Skin Tags on Dogs

Skin irritation is a common health issue for dogs. From red, itchy bumps caused by allergies or skin tags, your dog's skin needs to be maintained, moisturized, cleaned and checked on a routine basis for irregularities. When you come across suspicious bumps or skin tags on your dog, it is important to take your pet to the veterinarian's office for a professional to make a diagnosis and recommend an effective treatment.

  1. Skin Tags

    • Skin tags are growths of extra skin that look similar to warts. They are noncancerous, but it is a good idea to get them removed so they do not irritate your dog. You can identify a skin tag by looking beneath your dog's coat of fur and inspecting the surface of the skin for growths. Skin tags are thin and can flap side to side, which is how you can tell they are not warts.

    Bumps

    • A variety of bumps can present themselves on a canine. Vet Info explains some bumps can be abscesses, cysts and tumors. Bumps can occur under the surface of your dog's skin or topically. You might notice your dog has a bump on its skin if it scratches one part of its body more than others, tries to chew at the skin or reacts sensitively when petted on that spot. You will have to move your dog's fur to be able to spot skin bumps if you have a long- or medium-haired breed.

    Causes

    • Your veterinarian can help you decipher the cause of the a tag or bump. Skin bumps can occur for many reasons, such as allergic reactions, infections, side effects from vaccinations or medication or due to cancer. Skin tags, according to Vet Info, are thought to be caused by allergic sensitivities or genetics. Either way, it is necessary to get your dog checked out by the vet so he can identify the underlying cause of your dog's skin problem and offer the appropriate treatment.

    Treatment

    • You can treat your dog's skin tags by getting them removed. It is not always necessary to have skin tags removed, however, since they are benign and typically do not cause the dog discomfort. If the skin tag looks irritated or damaged from your dog biting or scratching it, it's recommended to have the skin tag removed prior to it becoming infected. Bumps, depending on the cause, can be treated with topical skin ointments, steroid medications, chemotherapy or radiation. They also can be surgically removed.