A Growing Skin Tag on a 10-Year-Old Jack Russell's Cheek
by A reader
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From your description, it could be a skin tag, a wart, a cyst or a benign skin growth, all of which are common in older dogs and often feel neat and well defined. But some growths that are not benign can also look like this, and the fact that it has clearly grown over a month or two means it's worth having checked.
A rule many veterinary cancer specialists use is to sample any lump that is pea-sized (1 cm) or larger and has been there for a month. At about 2 cm, this one meets that rule. Your vet can usually start with a quick needle sample, which often doesn't need sedation and costs much less than surgery. If it does need to come off, smaller growths on the face are easier to remove completely.
In the meantime, measure it every couple of weeks and take a photo. Go sooner if it grows quickly, bleeds, opens up or starts to bother him.
See warts and skin tags on dogs and lumps and bumps on dogs.
This is general information, not a diagnosis. Please follow your own vet's advice.
