Fatty Tumors in Dogs

Are you concerned about the soft, fatty lump under the skin of your canine? Don't worry. The lump may just be a benign tumor that is common among old and overweight dogs. However, somehow female dogs that are overweight seem to be specially at higher risk of developing fatty tumors. Although a dog owner who is concerned about his dog's health may not like his pet having a tumor, fatty tumors in dogs is a very common occurrence. Unless it grows rapidly, becomes hard or causes problem with movement (in case the lump is close to a joint), veterinarians do not suggest it to be removed surgically.

What are Fatty Tumors in Dogs?
Fatty tumors in dogs are also known as lipomas. These are benign tumors that are formed as a result of uncontrolled cell division. One can suspect a tumor to be a sign of dog cancer, only if it is malignant. However, fatty tumors in dogs are generally harmless and do not spread to other parts of the body. They are not painful and do not cause irritation or redness of the skin. They occur, most commonly, in the upper legs or in the belly region. Although all dog breeds can develop fatty tumors, Labrador Retrievers, Doberman Pinschers, Miniature Schnauzers and dogs of mixed breed have been found to be more prone to fatty tumors in dogs.

Fatty Tumors in Dogs - Diagnosis
It's true that fatty tumors in dogs are not harmful. However, in order to ensure proper dog health, a pet owner should take his pet to the veterinarian the moment he feels a lumpy growth in any part of the canine's body. Avoid making your own conclusions about the tumor. Let the vet examine the lump and determine if the tumor is benign or malignant. In order to do that, a vet may carry out a palpation of the growth. He may further suggest a fine needle aspirate or biopsy to confirm if it is a lipoma.

Once confirmed that it is a fatty tumor, it is important to monitor the growth of the lipoma. This should be done at regular interval of two weeks. The size of the tumor should be filed away with proper dates for future reference.

Fatty Tumors in Dogs - Treatment
Mostly, fatty tumors in dogs do not require treatment. Most vets do not suggest surgical removal of these tumors unless it is absolutely necessary because of the risk associated with the use of anesthesia and complications due to surgery. These risks are not worth being taken considering the benign nature of these lumps. Also, in rare cases, a dog may develop what is known as infiltrative lipoma. These lipomas invade the surrounding tissues to a greater extent than the simple lipomas and are known to have regrown in 50% of the cases in which they had been removed surgically.

Although the specific cause of fatty tumors in dogs is not clearly known, it is probably due to the imbalance caused when a dog's body is unable to get rid of the materials it is supposed to. This imbalance can be reduced by dietary changes and nutritional supplements, although the fatty tumor cannot be cured completely. In certain cases, a low fat diet has resulted in the lump to shrink. Giving oily table scraps to a dog having fatty tumor should be avoided. Lipomas are fatty deposits and dog obesity is directly related to fatty tumors in dogs. Probably, that's the reason why a low fat diet works for dogs with fatty tumors.

Herbs like alfalfa, dandelion root, garlic and milk thistle strengthen the immune system and are helpful in managing all types of tumors in dogs. In case of tumors that grow fast and become invasive, radiation therapy may be required.

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Fatty tumors in dogs rarely pose danger to a dog's health. However, this statement should not be interpreted as dismissing every lump on your dog's body. The moment you detect a tumorous growth on your dog, get it diagnosed by a vet. Besides taking one's dog to the vet when an abnormality is detected, regular visit to the vet is an important component of dog care. Another point to be considered is that the approaches to treat fatty tumors in dogs that have been discussed in this article may work on some canines while they may not work for others. It is best to spare your dog self-diagnosis and follow the instructions of the vet. Your dog's health is just as precious as any other member of your family, isn't it?