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Ask the Vet About Fatty Tumors (Lipomas) in Dogs
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Lindsay Butzer, DVM
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
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Lindsay Butzer, DVM
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Showing 1 - 15 of 89
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01
DateApr 12, 2023
CategoryFatty Tumors
Pet TypeDog
TopicNeed Information

Question:
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?
Answer:
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
02
DateApr 8, 2023
CategoryFatty Tumors
Pet TypeDog
TopicLabrador Puppy 4 month with one Lipoma on right shoulder

Question:
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
Answer:
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
03
DateFeb 21, 2023
CategoryFatty Tumors
Pet TypeDog
TopicCyst

Question:
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
Answer:
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
04
DateFeb 9, 2023
CategoryFatty Tumors
Pet TypeDog
TopicAnalyzing fluid from lipoma

Question:
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.
Answer:
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
05
DateJan 30, 2023
CategoryFatty Tumors
Pet TypeDog
TopicTreatment?

Question:
Are fatty tumors a risk? They don’t bother my dog. What is a hard bump on his shoulder likely to be?
Answer:
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
06
DateJan 14, 2023
CategoryFatty Tumors
Pet TypeDog
Topicnull

Question:
English mastiff has a key wee sized very soft Mass which hangs from a stalk or stem from the back of his right elbow
Answer:
Okay. I dont see a question here. Your veterinarian can examine it and remove it if they think that is necessary. Dr. Lindsay Butzer
07
DateSep 20, 2022
CategoryFatty Tumors
Pet TypeDog
TopicBenign tumors

Question:
Is there any hope, via diet or other measures, to minimize or eliminate lipomas? Thanks.
Answer:
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.
08
DateAug 12, 2022
CategoryFatty Tumors
Pet TypeDog
TopicLump

Question:
There is a large lump on the inside of my dogs back leg what could this be
Answer:
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.
09
DateFeb 4, 2022
CategoryFatty Tumors
Pet TypeDog
TopicMedication for fatty tumors

Question:
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
Answer:
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.
010
DateFeb 4, 2022
CategoryFatty Tumors
Pet TypeDog
TopicSmall lumps

Question:
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?
Answer:
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.
011
DateJan 5, 2022
CategoryFatty Tumors
Pet TypeDog
TopicFatty tumor product

Question:
Is there a product that I can rub on my dog to make his fatty tumor go away?
Answer:
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.
012
DateDec 30, 2021
CategoryFatty Tumors
Pet TypeDog
TopicHow to remove fatty tumor

Question:
How do you remove fatty tumor and prevent more from com
Answer:
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.
013
DateSep 21, 2021
CategoryFatty Tumors
Pet TypeDog
Topicfatty acid tumors

Question:
Hello. I am interested in your information on Ped Meds web site regarding fatty acid tumors in dogs. My dog has one that has grown and keeps growing. But my question is on pet med web site after a search on fatty tumors, the page give short information on treatments. One of which is stated infiltration with calcium chloride. I first saw that on Pegasus.org and I got excited thinking wow, there is something other than surgery. So asked two vets I have seen locally. Both never heard of it before and neither is interested in doing it as not a verified/studied treatment for lack of better wording. Is there someone who actually does this in Wisconsin? Or where is your information from?? are there more studies that have been done other than what is mentioned on Pegasus.org? Please let me know anything. Thank you! Dianna G.
Answer:
I didn't write that article and, like your veterinarian, don't recommend injecting these benign tumors with something that may cause pretty serious problems until more research is done. This is exactly what the article states: "Some veterinarians recommend injection of caustic material (30% calcium chloride) into the fatty tumor. The potential side effects of calcium chloride injection include pain, sloughing of the skin, the death of healthy tissue outside the fatty tumor, and acute inflammation caused by dying fat cells."
014
DateSep 3, 2021
CategoryFatty Tumors
Pet TypeDog
TopicPeppy's options?

Question:
After 2 wks of antibiotic and steroids he is more alert and mobile.Benign tumor went down 1/3 .Only option is surgery or do nothing.He is 13yr malinois. Any suggestions to help him.Tried supples. to drain but n.g.
Answer:
I can't tell exactly what is going on by your description so your veterinarian is definitely the best person to work with and give you advice about this. Like, is he taking the antibiotics and steriods because of a benign tumor? That is very unusual as they do not become secondarily infected very often, and they don't respond to steroids, so be sure it is benign. If it is truly benign, we usually do not recommend surgery. Then if they are unsure if it is benign, we usually do recommend surgery, but he would need to be assessed thoroughly (lots of blood work and chest x-rays, etc.) to be sure he is a good anesthetic candidate.
015
DateJul 3, 2021
CategoryFatty Tumors
Pet Typenull
Topiccat has open sores all over her body. they started off as cysts but still continue

Question:
the vet has no idea what it is. she has had steroids and a shot of anti biotic. what is it and can you tell me how i can help her
Answer:
There are many things that cause sores like that (allergies, mange, ringworm, etc) and most are treated differently so have your veterinarian run some more tests and make a diagnosis. Allergies are most common but if your cat didn't respond to steroids at all, your veterinarian will need to start doing tests for more rare conditions (fungal infections, cancer, etc.) and/or refer you to a specialist.