Fatty Tumors In Dogs: Should You Be Worried?
Fatty tumors in dogs are also called lipomas and your vet may use this term if he or she feels a fatty lump when examining your dog. These fatty tumors are benign or non-cancerous. They are very common, especially in older dogs and dogs that are overweight. Most dog owners have felt one on their dog at some time. Vets generally don’t advise removal unless, for some reason, they are causing a particular problem.
Causes of Fatty Tumors in Dogs
Fatty tumors in dogs are growths that are composed of fat deposits. They are usually found in an unusual location which makes them stand out, such as a dog’s chest or on the rib cage. They are nearly always located in the dog’s subcutaneous tissue which is just below the surface which makes them easy to feel. These lumps or growths feel firm, not squishy, and they can be moved around a little. They do not cause your dog any pain. They do not lead to any kind of infection or sore and there is no loss of hair around the lump. They are simply a place under the skin where your dog’s body makes a fat deposit.
Symptoms of Fatty Tumors in Dogs
Symptoms of a fatty tumor are a firm lump which can be of different sizes. Some can be large while others are small. You will probably notice the lump before it gets too large. The growth is just below the skin. It can be pushed around if you touch it. The growth is not painful to your dog. There is no lesion or sore and your dog does not lose any hair. If you feel the lump it feels like a lump of fat under the skin.
Diagnosis
Any time your dog has a new lump or bump you should take it seriously and have your veterinarian check it out, even if you believe the growth is a harmless lipoma. It’s best to be safe. Your veterinarian will talk to you about the growth and your dog’s veterinary history. Then he or she will palpate the growth to see how it feels. Your vet will probably tell you to watch it carefully to see if there is any change to it. In most cases there is nothing to be concerned about unless the lump starts growing fast or interferes with your dog in some way (i.e., a lump on the rib cage grows and interferes with your dog’s leg movement). Your vet may also suggest aspirating the lipoma (using a needle to take some cells), or performing a biopsy to take some tissue in order to confirm that it is a fatty tumor.
Treatment for Fatty Tumors in Dogs
In most cases no treatment is necessary for a fatty tumor. Most fatty tumors pose no health risk and they are not noticeable unless you are looking for them. It is usually best to leave the lipoma alone and simply monitor it rather than putting your dog under anesthetic to remove it. However, if your dog is going to be under anesthetic for another reason, such as having his teeth cleaned, you could have the growth removed at the same time.
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