Tick or Skin Tag on Your Dog? How to Tell Up Close
Look for legs. A tick has eight legs (six in the tiny larval stage) right where it meets the skin, because it is attached head down by its mouthparts. A skin tag is a soft flap of skin, usually skin-colored, with no legs, and it does not grow over a few days. Part the fur, light the bump from the side and magnify it to check. Do not pull at a bump you are not sure about; if it is not clearly a tick, ask your vet.
Tick vs skin tag on a dog: the quick check
| Check | Tick | Skin tag |
|---|---|---|
| Legs | Yes: eight (six on a larva), at the end that touches the skin | None |
| Attachment point | Attached at one small point, head buried, body often angled away from the skin | Grows out of the skin, often on a narrow stalk of skin; no gap or head |
| Color | Red-brown to dark brown or black; grey, grey-blue or tan when full of blood | Skin-colored, pink, or slightly darker than the skin around it |
| Feel | Hard or firm, separate from the skin | Soft, moves with the skin |
| Over a few days | Grows as it feeds, then may drop off | Stays the same for weeks or months |
| Both sides of the body | Random spots, no matching pair | Random spots; a matching pair in a line on the belly points to nipples |
If you can see legs, it is a tick. If you see none at 5x to 10x with good side light, and the bump is soft and part of the skin, it is not a tick.
What a tick looks like on a dog's skin
A tick on a dog looks like a small flat seed or a swollen bean stuck to the skin at one end. It feeds head down, so the legs and mouthparts are at the skin and the body sits up or at an angle. The size and color depend on its life stage and on how long it has been feeding. Sizes below are approximate and vary by species.
| Stage | Approximate size | Color | Shape | Legs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Larva (seed tick) | Under 1 mm, like a grain of sand | Pale tan to light brown | Tiny, round and flat; sometimes several close together | Six, very hard to see without magnification |
| Nymph | About 1 to 2 mm, like a poppy seed | Light to dark brown, sometimes slightly see-through | Flat teardrop | Eight, visible at 5x to 10x |
| Adult, unfed | About 3 to 5 mm, like a sesame or apple seed | Red-brown to dark brown or black; some species have white or silver markings on the back | Flat teardrop or oval | Eight, easy to see around the front half |
| Adult, engorged (female) | Up to about 10 mm, sometimes more; like a coffee bean | Grey, grey-blue, greenish grey or tan; the body looks stretched and shiny | Round, smooth bean; the small head points into the skin | Eight, small and bunched at the end touching the skin, easy to miss |
A nymph that has fed swells a little and turns greyish. Male ticks stay small and flat even while attached. You may also see a small red ring on the skin around the bite.
Ticks usually attach where the skin is thin and the fur is short or sheltered: in and around the ears, around the eyes and face, under the collar, in the armpits, between the toes, in the groin and under the tail. A bump in one of these spots after a walk in long grass or woods is more likely to be a tick.
Tick, skin tag, nipple, wart or scab?
| Bump | Legs | Color | Attachment | Changes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tick | Yes, near the skin | Red-brown to dark brown; grey or bluish when full of blood | Attached at one point, head end buried | Grows over days as it feeds |
| Skin tag | No | Skin-colored or slightly darker | Part of the skin, often on a narrow stalk | Stays the same for weeks |
| Nipple | No | Skin-colored or pink | Flat or slightly raised, part of the skin | Stays the same; has a matching one on the other side |
| Wart (papilloma) | No | Pale or pink | Firm, rough, cauliflower-like surface | Common on the lips and muzzle of young dogs |
| Scab | No | Dark red to black | Flat and crusty, lifts at the edges | Flakes off as it heals |
How to check the bump
- Get good light. Room lighting is rarely enough in thick fur. Hold a flashlight to the side so the bump casts a shadow.
- Part the fur with your fingers or a comb so you can see where the bump meets the skin.
- Look at the base. That is where a tick's legs and mouthparts are. On a skin tag, the skin carries on smoothly into the bump.
- Magnify. At 5x to 10x, the legs on even a small tick are easy to see. A phone magnifier leaves both hands free to hold the fur.
- Check for a twin. If the bump is on the belly or chest, look for a matching one on the other side. Pairs in a line are nipples.
- Touch gently, do not squeeze. A tick feels hard and separate from the skin. Squeezing a tick can push its fluids into your dog.
- Take a photo. If you are still not sure, a clear photo helps your vet and lets you compare in a few days. A tick grows; a skin tag does not.
Signs it is an engorged tick
A tick that has fed for a few days swells into a smooth grey, grey-blue or tan bean, sometimes as large as a coffee bean. The legs stay small and are bunched at one end against the skin, which is why an engorged tick is easy to mistake for a skin tag. Look closely at the end that touches the skin: you will see a small dark head and legs.
If it is a tick
Remove it promptly with fine-tipped tweezers or a tick removal tool. Grip it as close to the skin as you can and pull straight out with steady pressure. With tweezers, do not twist, jerk or squeeze the body; if you use a tick hook, follow its instructions. Do not burn the tick or cover it with petroleum jelly, nail polish or oils, which delays removal. Clean the spot, wash your hands, and note the date. Keep the tick in a sealed container or take a clear photo of it, in case your dog becomes ill and the vet wants to know the type. Our guide to checking your dog for ticks covers where ticks hide and the removal steps in more detail.
When to call the vet
- You cannot tell what the bump is.
- A skin tag or lump grows, bleeds, changes color or bothers your dog.
- Part of a tick stays in the skin and the area gets red or swollen.
- In the weeks after a tick bite, your dog seems tired, lame, feverish or off food.
This page is general information, not veterinary advice. Your vet can examine any lump, and some need a sample to identify.
Checking regularly
A quick look after walks in long grass or woods catches ticks before they swell. Focus on the ears, around the eyes, under the collar, the armpits, between the toes and under the tail. LoupeLens keeps the light on while you zoom, so you can look into fur and ears at night and save a photo for the vet. See also how to check your dog's ears and checking pets with a magnifier.
Frequently asked questions
What do ticks look like on a dog's skin?
A tick looks like a small flat seed or a swollen bean attached to the skin at one end, with tiny legs at the skin. Nymphs are about 1 to 2 mm and brown, unfed adults about 3 to 5 mm and red-brown to dark brown, and engorged adult females can reach about 10 mm or more and turn grey or grey-blue.
How can I tell if it is a tick or a skin tag on my dog?
Look at where the bump meets the skin. A tick has small legs there and is attached at one point. A skin tag has no legs and is part of the skin. Side light and magnification make the legs easy to see.
What does an engorged tick look like on a dog?
A smooth grey, grey-blue or tan bean shape, up to about 10 mm or sometimes larger, with small legs and a dark head bunched at the end touching the skin.
Do skin tags on dogs have legs?
No. Skin tags are flaps of skin with no legs. If you see legs, it is a tick.
Should I pull off a skin tag on my dog?
No. Skin tags have blood vessels and can bleed. If one bothers your dog or changes, ask your vet.
Could the bump be a nipple?
Yes. Both male and female dogs have two rows of nipples along the belly and chest. If there is a matching bump on the other side, it is likely a nipple.
How big is a tick on a dog?
It depends on the life stage and how long it has fed. Larvae are under 1 mm, nymphs about 1 to 2 mm, unfed adults about 3 to 5 mm, and an engorged adult female can be about 10 mm or more. Sizes vary by species.