My dog has a skin tag on her nipple. Is this normal or concerning?

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. You are correct, this is a skin tag, but a bit bigger than a tag. At this point, you have a pedunculated mass. About 99% of these are totally benign, but we do recommend removal just because they can continue to grow & become traumatized. Removal is curative. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! If this has already been determined to be benign then it does not need to be removed unless it is affecting Millie in anyway to improve her quality of life. However, if this has not sampled, a biopsy should be performed. I agree that it is most likely a skin tag but it is not possible to know unless it is sampled. Good luck and have a great day!

Hello, and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. While I cannot comment on the specific skin lesion Cali had without seeing it myself, yes - dogs get many of the same types of skin lesions that humans get, and are prone to developing benign skin lesions such as skin tags, warty growths, and cysts, as well as more concerning cancerous growths. Just like in human medicine, the best way to tell these apart is to have them seen by a vet, who will often get a small sample with a needle and look at the cells on a slide to evaluate the cause of the growth. I hope this helps!

I agree that it looks like a skin tag. Around the mouth is a common place to see them, and they usually do grow a little bit, but not usually very much. I think it is most likely a benign skin tag but the only way to know for sure would be to remove it and send it out for biopsy. If it changes dramatically then I would recommend this. Best of luck and thank you for using Pet Coach.

Hello, thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I do not think this is anything to be worried about right now. Just point it out to the vet at Skippy's next veterinary appointment. Sometimes these skin tags will change colors but that doesn't necessarily mean it is a problem. Rarely will skin tags turn into a malignancy. Of course, if you are worried about it there is no harm in having your vet check it out now. Hope this helps. Best wishes.

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.