You may observe an unfamiliar growth on your dog’s body, which could potentially cause alarm, as you might fear it signals a serious health issue. However, it’s crucial to examine it closely to determine whether it’s a severe health problem or merely a benign skin tag.
This article aims to address your uncertainties about skin tags, including the associated costs and treatment methods.
What are Skin Tags?
Skin tags are fibrous tissue formations that present as a single bump or multiple bumps. They are soft to the touch and resemble warts, but it’s important to distinguish between the two since warts are contagious and caused by a virus, while skin tags are not.
Skin tags in dogs are similar to those in humans. Unlike warts, which can disappear on their own, skin tags usually need to be removed. If you’re uncertain whether it’s a wart or a skin tag, consult a vet for professional advice.
There are mainly two types of skin tags:
1. Fibroadnexal or collagenous hamartoma: This is the most common type and is easily identifiable as it doesn’t have any hair on or around it. It’s predominantly found in areas of increased pressure, such as the feet and abdomen.
1. Follicular hamartoma: This type is less common and infrequently seen in dogs. It’s a skin tag with dense hair, generally found in clusters.
Cost of Skin Tag Removal
The cost of skin tag removal varies based on several factors, including the chosen removal method. In many cases, unless the tags are infected, growing large, or causing discomfort to your dog, your vet may advise leaving them alone.
The cost factors include the vet’s fees, whether a biopsy is needed, the number of tags to be removed, your geographic location, and whether anesthesia is required for the procedure.
The cost also varies depending on the type of treatment the vet recommends:
– Ligation: This is a straightforward procedure where the vet ties a thin, sterile thread around the tag, cutting off blood flow. The tag eventually dies due to lack of oxygen and blood and falls off. The cost for ligation is typically around $70 USD.
– Cryosurgery: In this method, the vet applies liquid nitrogen to freeze the tag, which then falls off after some time. However, this treatment can’t be used if the skin tag is on the face. This procedure generally costs around $150 USD.
– Cauterization: This process involves using a laser pen to burn off the skin tag. Your dog will need local anesthesia to reduce the discomfort from the heat. The price for this treatment ranges from $250 to $400 USD. Additional lab tests to confirm the tags aren’t malignant may increase the cost.
– Surgery: Surgery isn’t the first choice but may be required if the tag is large or other methods are ineffective. The vet removes the growth surgically and may send a sample for biopsy. Surgical removal is usually more expensive due to pre-operative health assessments and potential lab tests post-surgery. The estimate for this procedure is around $600-$800 USD.
Conclusion
Your dog’s health should always be your top priority, so avoid attempting to remove tags at home as it could lead to infection. Always seek a vet’s advice before removing any tags, as most are harmless and don’t need to be removed.
This approach can also save you both time and money. However, if your dog experiences discomfort, irritation, or itching, removing the tags may be the best course of action.
