What's this crusty black spot on my dog's skin? Wart or skin tag?

Hello and thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. It looks like a skin tag. However, the fact that the area is bald suggests that Tripp has been scratching or biting on it. Please, monitor the area for a few days. If you notice that the tag is getting bigger or if it is bothering Tripp, you should get him checked by your local vets. In that case, surgical removal of the wart may be necessary.

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. Based on the picture, I suspect that this is a pustule that ruptured and crusted over. This could be due to a localized skin infection or this could be a fungal infection such as ringworm. The vomiting is likely unrelated so I would not worry about that as long as he is improved. For the skin, I would recommend having a veterinarian examine the area so that the most appropriate diagnostic and treatment recommendations can be made. A topical and / or oral medication may be needed for treatment. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It always COULD be cancer - the only way to diagnose for sure is to remove it and send it to the lab. But I doubt it based on its current appearance. FAR more likely is that it’s a completely harmless “skin tag”. I’m not surprised at the color; even though her fur is fawn, you can see that Gracie’s actual skin is blackish in that area. Keep an eye on it. If it becomes suddenly big, hard, or seems to bother Gracie, get it checked out. Best of luck to you and Gracie!

Even though a picture would help to understand better the underlying cause, this presentation could be due to a localized persistent spot of skin infection (likely to be caused by bacteria). A check up, appropriate disinfection and possibly antibiotics (oral, topical or in a shampoo formulation) are needed to solve the problem. Disinfection may be started at home with very diluted hibiscrub or betadine or salted water baths. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further. If this answer was helpful please let us know, this will be used to improve our service!

That could be the result of a traumatic skin injury of potentially a spot of infected skin. I would recommend not to remove the crust and keep the area clean with salt water bath (10 teaspoons of salt in 1 liter of water twice daily) for the next 3-4 days. If not resolving by then a check up would be needed. Please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation (where you can post pictures ) if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

Without seeing it in person it is hard to know for sure what the growth is. It is not likely a wart. Warts are caused by viruses and often seen in the mouth of dogs. This may very well be a benign skin tag/growth, but with any lump an evaluation by your veterinarian at your earliest convenience is recommended. They may take a small needle sample and look at the cells under the microscope to get more info and make sure it is nothing to worry about. They can also discuss options for removal if it is growing or if it is bothering pogi.

Hello, & thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. It is always a good idea to seek a hands on veterinary visit, especially as a dog ages & new questions about health arise. Based on your pictures, it is possible that the discolored areas are indeed a reaction to the heat rash. Dog skin will often respond with the production of dark pigments ( melanin ) especially when a condition becomes chronic. As long as the area is not showing signs of a moist dermatitis & there is no significant redness or inflammation, then you can continue to treat the area topically. Skin tags are a common benign polyp, again fairly common as dogs age. The discharge also is probably a benign & normal accumulation of secretions. If each or any of the above become more concerning, then it really is in Nemo's best interest to have things thoroughly looked at & dealt with early on. Take care.