My Rottie is about 5.1/2 years old. We rescued him from a very respectable and caring kennels and he is a good quality dog, in excellent health, beautiful coat and micro-chipped as received.

We got him last October. He has what vets call a skin tag hanging down between his front legs on his chest. It is like a deflated floppy balloon just over an inch long. Black in colour and soft to touch. It does not appear to trouble him.

Before we had him, two vets had said it is nothing to worry about. Our own vet said the same on his initial check-up. Adding that it is merely cosmetic, does not need removing, but he will do so if the dog has to be anaesthetised for some other reason, just keep an eye on it.

Has anybody had experience with similar growths, whether professionally or with their pets ?

Useful comments would be gratefully appreciated.

John Bull - UK

PS - I did search the Forum, but nothing came up for Skin Tags

In humans it is possible to 'tie' them off with cotton thread and they fall off after a week - haven't done it myself but a friend has. Would not concider doing it to my dog. Sorry not much help.

Hi John both from a professional and personal opinion, skin tags are harmless and do not require any intervention. While they cosmetically may appear unsightly if in an obvious area, it will not bother your dog. They are very simply removed and if your dog were sedated for say a dental or something and the skin tag bothers you, it can be snipped off. It will have sensory nerves though so the dog would either require local anesthetic or sedation. Hope this helps.

I had an old collie cross rescue who came to me with what looked like a sore tumour (about three inches long and as you describe, a deflated balloon), it was a bit further back under her tummy and off to one side, she was also overweight and underexercised with very bad joints, not in the best of condition!  She used to nibble at the skin tag, possibly initially from boredom, and it had become very red and sore, so the vet decided in her instance to remove it, she was making herself ill and was off her food with an infection from it.  She recovered absolutely fine and was much happier without the infected skin tag, had she not nibbled at it and made it so sore, I'm sure it wouldn't have been a problem, so hopefully, your boy will leave his well alone. 

Hi,

My Lab gets them occasionally... his grow, then shrivel up, then fall off.  This may be too much information, but same happens with the ones I get :-)

Clare

I am astounded by the replies so far, they are all extremely comforting to me and supply very sensible, important and practical information.

Your remarks back up what the vets have said. Yes, like one of you said - I hate to see this flabby parasitic bag hanging down under my beautiful dog, he does not deserve it, but as it is apparently harmless, I suppose it stays until it can be removed as an auxiliary measure during some other problem. I am paranoid about anaesthetics, since I had a cat die many years ago during a simple teeth cleaning operation. I have also had close friends die the same way.

I must say that the posts so far have been the most intelligent and constructive that I have ever had from any Forum.

Thank you all very much.
John Bull

My name is Kaiser and I am also very grateful to you all for your kind and comforting response.

I promise not to scratch this awful thingy dangling under my chest, but it is very tempting. I can just get my back leg there if I try.

Click this and I`ll give you a Rottie smile and for a Rottie, that sure is difficult :-
http://i876.photobucket.com/albums/ab327/johnbull17/Kaiserxxx.jpg

Love to you all
Kaiser

Post Scriptum to above. Edit time had expired - sorry.

Here is my best friend, bang in the middle  :-

http://i876.photobucket.com/albums/ab327/johnbull17/SkinTag.jpg

Kaiser

Wow Kaiser you are a very handsome boy indeed. Dolly and Daisy agree with me, but my skinny beastie Dave wasn't so keen.

Welcome to both you and your devotee to the forum.

T

Kaiser you are beautiful, such a handsome boy :)

I tried unsuccessfully to remove one which rubbed on my bra strap.  I thought I could do a diy job after some internet research:

Firstly I bought a wart remover thing and tried to freeze it - badly, I might add, and managed to give myself a freezer type burn
Once that healed up I thought I'd try the cotton trick and tie some thread round it.  Bloomin' 'eck that was painful!

Self removal was obviously a daft and silly idea and it eventually just went on it's own.  Based on my experience I'd suggest you don't try a home fix and wait until you have an opportunity at the vets.

In the meantime, he's a very handsome boy who looks like a 70's dude wearing a medallion :)

Hi  dogs a babe,

OUCH ! You made my eyes water describing your DIY job and Kaiser bolted upstairs, I have`nt seen him since.

Thanks for your kind comment about my old chap.

John