by Dr. S. Rigby
A lipoma is a benign cancer of fat cells. It is probably the most OVER DIAGNOSED tumour in dogs. It seems to occur most commonly in Dobermann Pinchers, Labrador Retrievers and Cocker Spaniels, with middle aged, overweight female dogs being at higher risk.
Lipomas usually occur singularly but can be multiple. They are usually soft, round and non painful masses. Lipomas can vary dramitically in size and location - they can occur on the skin - that we can easily see or inside in the chest or abdomen which are much harder to diagnose.
No vet can be 100% sure that the lump is a Lipoma without doing a F.N.A (Fine Needle Aspirate) - this involves putting a needle into the lump and 'sucking' up the cells. The cells are then stained at looked at under the microscope. There is an adage in Veterinary Science that says: "Your fingers are NOT microscopes!" If you are worried about the lump, make sure your vet performs a FNA. Would you be happy if your doctor felt a lump and just said - "It's nothing to worry about!" without an ultrasound scan/Mammogram or taking a sample?
Once a diagnosis of a Lipoma has been confirmed they can easily be cured by surgery. The Lipoma should definately be removed if it is ulcerated (bleeding), affecting the way your dog walks or moves, getting bigger or if you want it removed. Once it is removed in the ideal world it would be good to send it to a pathologist to make sure it is not an "Infiltrative Lipoma". The Infiltrative lipoma is subset of Lipomas that can be difficult to remove and can often come back.
So please remember - It may look like a fatty lump, feel like a fatty lump - but make sure it is a fatty lump and not another cancer e.f. Mast Cell Tumour.