My dog has skin tags on his rib cage. What are they? Are they harmful?

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor guy! Without seeing a picture it is hard to know if it is a skin tag or not. Since he is young it could be a histiocytoma, which are pink hairless button like growths on the skin. They are benign and tend to regress in 2-3 months. Skin tag are also benign. It is likely genetics and chronic trauma/pressure that cause them to form, as most skin tags are on the underside and legs where dogs lay on. They are normal in some dogs like boxers, pit bull and pit mixes, great danes. If you want to post a picture I'd be happy to look at it. Have a great day!

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Thank you for the pictures. Sadly I do not think the growth is a skin tag. I don't like the color or the bubble protuberance. It still could be benign but it doesn't have the typical skin tag appearance. I would have it removed and biopsied. I wish you and Bam the best!

Hi and thank you for reaching out about Roxy. The pictures you have provided for Roxy appear to be benign "skin tags" ("skin warts"). They do not cause Roxy any pain and generally are not a problem for dogs. The treatments you have asked about/mentioned will not remove them. Her fur coat looks very healthy and these skin tags generally do not cause any problems. If you would like them removed it must be safely done with a very small surgical removal performed by her veterinarian. Otherwise, we usually have you continue to monitor them at home unless they start to bother Roxy.

These growths look like skin tags in the pictures. We can never be 100% certain without a biopsy. If they keep breaking open and bleeding then I recommend removing them. The reason for removing them is just to stop him from scratching them and having them break open. Otherwise just keep the growths clean. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hi, I'm Dr. Johnson! Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. It's great that you posted pictures because they can be very helpful. The only thing I can't tell from the picture is where the skin bump is located on Arny's body. If it is on his belly it could be an irregular nipple. Otherwise to me it doesn't appear to be a tick. Skin tags are more dangly. It looks like a dermal (on top of the skin) bump. There are many types of skin bumps that can affect dogs- a lot are harmless: skin tags, hair follicle cysts, sebaceous adenomas, etc. And some are more concerning. Sadly a lot of the time we can't tell from just looking at them. If it suddenly appeared or grows rapidly, having it aspirated by your Veterinarian can give you a better idea of what it might be. An aspirate is a quick procedure where your vet uses a needle and syringe to suck cells from the bump. Then slides are usually sent to the lab for a pathologist to look at. If it comes back concerning then it could be removed. I hope I could help! Have a great day!

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question. It does look like a skin tag, but I can't say for 100% certainty without seeing Luna in person. It is worth getting checked out by a vet just to make sure it is a skin tag and not something more serious. I hope this helps!

Hello. Skin tags are very common & often develop on mammary tissue. Just watch this & if it enlarges, bleeds or causes any discomfort for your pet, please consider seeing your vet for possible removal. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.