Skin Tags on Poodles

Skin tags on poodles are common. They can appear at any age. Some people do not know dogs can get skin tags and mistake them for skin cancer.

  1. Benign

    • Skin tags on a poodle are benign (non cancerous) most of the time. They rarely cause discomfort for the dog. The poodle is probably healthy and only genetically wired to grow skin tags.

    Causes

    • It is unclear why poodles get skin tags, but they can develop anywhere on their body and they usually have more than one. Skin tags generally occur where two pieces of skin rub together.

    Concerning skin tags

    • If you find a skin growth developing on the lips or mouth of a poodle, it may be malignant (cancerous). It is best to seek the advice of a veterinarian if you find this in that region.

    Removal

    • If you find a skin tag on your poodle, there is no reason to have it removed. If the skin tag is irritating your dog, perhaps because of excess rubbing, you can seek the advice of a veterinarian. If necessary, the doctor may perform a simple procedure to remove the skin tag and relieve the discomfort.

    Observation

    • Keep an eye on your poodle if skin tags are not removed to make sure they do not change size and color. Even if they are usually benign, making sure changes in the skin disorder do not occur are key to quick preventive medicine and maintaining a healthy pet.