Ask the Vet About Fatty Tumors (Lipomas) in Dogs
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What can I do to reduce and to relieve the pressure of a fatty tumor. This tumor has grown to massive size and is now causing much complications. It has effected her ability to walk and now seems to be causing her pain. It is located on her right side, from behind the right leg about 8 inches in length, looking like a football protruding from her side. She was diagnosed with early Kidney disease a little over a year ago, but now is thriving, with all numbers in the normal range. I'm told there is nothing we can do for her. Please help me if there is a last resort. She has been a very happy, playful fur baby, but this tumor is bringing her down fast. Today seems to be a very bad day, related to this tumor. Please help if you can. Thank you!
Hey! You might want to talk to your vet again about having the growth removed! If it interferes with her life that much, it might be worth the risk to go to surgery! -Dr. Lindsay Butzer
What are your thoughts on omega-3 and Natura Petz lumps and bumps supplements for dogs prone to lipomas? Thank you.
Hey! Omega 3s are great for the skin and coat! As far as the Natura Petz supplement, it can't hurt to try! -Dr. Lindsay Butzer
My German shepherd mixed pug has a soft squishy lump at the side of his abdomen that appeared suddenly . Can you advise
Hey! A growth could be a lot of different things! Something like that would need to be seen by your vet to be tested to know what it is! It sounds like it might be just a fatty growth but it would need some diagnostics to know for sure. -Dr. Lindsay Butzer
I'm not sure if Free Form Omega-3 fish oil is necessary on a daily basis for a 10-year black lab who is in good health. She has a few fatty lumps which are non malignant. Is there a more preferred maintenance item for my girl Sammie-Sue?
Hey! Simple glucosamine and fish oil supplements are great to give your lab. Keeping her weight normal and exercise daily is all she needs and alot of love! I would have a routine check up with your local vet yearly to do a physical exam and some bloodwork and that's it. I hope this helped! Dr. Lindsay Butzer My YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBvlURdNKSJ2oRbzUB1_JQw
Hi Doctor , my 4 month puppy labrador has a Lipomas on the right shoulder that tends to increase in size with body weight gain .Can you please suggest me the way forward . With thanks and regards , Jean-Dominique Rosette
Hey, Lipomas are very rare to occur at 4 months old. I would advise you to go to your local veterinarian and have them do a hands on physical exam to let you know what is going on and what treatment approach to take. Might be nothing at all! I hope this helped. Dr. Lindsay Butzer
My 13 year old female german rottweiler/ border collie mix has a hard open wound between her shoulder blades .It will not heal , I have used witch hazel, peroxide and it stays the same .It is a hard lump and a open wound .Is this a cyst ? Tyia
Hey! Do not use Peroxide or Witch Hazel on this wound. This is too strong and burns and slows healing. You need to go to your local veterinarian and have them look at it. It could be cyst but could also be a tumor, which would need surgery to remove it. Your dog most likely also needs antibiotics to help it heal. I hope this helped. Dr. Lindsay Butzer
Can the vet tell enough just by looking at the fluid from the needle aspiration or does it need to go to a lab? My vet just looked at it and said it was clear fluid and therefore a lipoma, not malignant, but it seems like it would need to be analyzed under a microscope to be sure. I have an 8 yo female pug with a golf ball-sized lipoma near her front armpit.
Hey! If it feels like it and is characteristic of it then a clear greasy slide is safe to say this is just a fatty tumor "lipoma". If it was bloody and firm hard with lumps then I would want more aspirates and send to lab for pathology review. I hope this helps! Dr. Lindsay Butzer
Are fatty tumors a risk? They don’t bother my dog. What is a hard bump on his shoulder likely to be?
Hey! If the lump is HARD then I would have your local veterinarian do an aspirate of this lump and send out for cytology. It could be cancer. I don't want to scare you, but I recommend getting it checked. If you search on my Doctor Lindsay Butzer YouTube channel I have a whole youtube video on "how to check your dog for lumps and masses" LINK HERE:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2CygTHVGLmI I hope this helped! Dr. Lindsay Butzer
English mastiff has a key wee sized very soft Mass which hangs from a stalk or stem from the back of his right elbow
Okay. I dont see a question here. Your veterinarian can examine it and remove it if they think that is necessary. Dr. Lindsay Butzer
Is there any hope, via diet or other measures, to minimize or eliminate lipomas? Thanks.
I get this question a lot and no, there doesn't seem to be anything as it is just a genetic predisposition as far as we can tell.
There is a large lump on the inside of my dogs back leg what could this be
Lumps can be benign, malignant and everything in between. It is impossible to tell, just by looking at a mass, what kind of cells it contains. Have your veterinarian check it out - they will usually do a "fine needle aspirate" - a little mini-biopsy where they stick a small needle in it and suck some cells out and either look at it right there in their office or send it off to a pathologist. Then you can make a plan for it - if it is definitely benign, your veterinarian may recommend doing nothing.
Our almost 10 year old overweight female English Pointer developed a number of fatty tumors last year & we seem to notice more every month or so. We've started to cut back on her food & our holistic vet has suggested we start using CBD Hemp Oil which is no problem but doing research I find other products mentioned. Omega 3 fish oil, turmeric powder, digestive enzymes supplements, probiotics etc. Can you recommend a product thru PetMeds that may help us as I'd like to get started ASAP. Thank You Michael Lang
There are no proven medical treatments for fatty tumors. Surgical removal is the only cure, BUT since they are benign (if diagnosed correctly with testing) and not bothering her at all, surgery may be unnecessary as they are only a cosmetic problem at that point. If she is overweight, losing weight is a good idea - that may help shrink them, but they won't go away entirely.
We have noticed small lumps (not necessarily tumors) on our 5 year old female golden retriever. Is this common in this type of breed and what do you recommend?
Yes, these are fairly common, but need to be checked. Masses can be benign, malignant and everything in between. It is impossible to tell, just by looking at a mass, what kind of cells it contains. Have your veterinarian check it out - they will usually do a "fine needle aspirate" - a little mini-biopsy where they stick a small needle in it and suck some cells out and either look at it right there in their office or send it off to a pathologist. Then you can make a plan for it - if it is definitely benign, your veterinarian may recommend doing nothing.
Is there a product that I can rub on my dog to make his fatty tumor go away?
No, unfortunately the only way to get rid of them is surgical removal, BUT if it has been diagnosed definitely as benign at your veterinarians, it may not need removing.
How do you remove fatty tumor and prevent more from com
Surgical removal is done under general anesthesia, BUT if it has been tested at your veterinarians and determined to be benign, that may be unnecessary. Less is known about prevention but preventing your dog from becoming overweight can help.
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