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Thread: Lipomas

  1. #11
    Best Friend Retriever LucyTudeOn4Feet's Avatar
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    Well, anesthesia at 10 vs. 12 years old was definitely a huge difference for my dog regarding coming out of it and returning to feeling normal. So I agree with your vet on that account. I don't know the answer about the lumps; those are pretty big. Best of luck, let us know how recovery goes.

  2. #12
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    Quote Originally Posted by BentleyCub View Post
    Thanks barry581. She is doing the bloodwork on Thursday morning and has assured me if any of the numbers are not right, she will not perform the surgery. Our vet is good and kind; I'm the one trying to accept having Bent go through this. Did you experience any side effects......did your lab have any noticeable personality changes afterwards......and one more, did you have the drainage tube (we are not)? Again, thanks.
    Fannie did not experience any side effects other than being a bit groggy from the anesthesia. She never had a drain as most of hers were pretty small, the biggest was about the size of a tennis ball on her side. The smallest was the size of a pea, but right on her knee. Overall these were pretty simple procedures, with no issues.

  3. #13
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    Scully had probably a dozen lipomas in varying locations by the time we lost her at 15+, but only one was to the size your pup’s are. It was on the side of her head near her ear and not a good place to remove one from, so we left it. It did seem to weigh her head down a bit but otherwise can’t say it bothered her. Mulder only had one or two (he also lived to 15+) but one was in his armpit so we kept a close eye on it in case it got big enough to impede movement, but it never got bigger than golf-ball size and didn’t seem to bother him at all.

    In your case, I’d be torn between the - they’re not in spots that really bother him so lets leave them alone and - they’ve already gotten quite large and he’s only 10. My concern with the surgery would be less how he’d tolerate it (as if his overall health is good he should be fine) and more the fact that these things often grow back, so are you putting him through it unnecessarily? I don’t know what I’d decide in your shoes.

    Is there maybe another vet you can see for a second opinion? I think some vets tend to be more likely to recommend removal regardless than others.
    Annette

    Cookie (HIT HC Jamrah's Legally Blonde, UDX, OM2, BN) 6/4/2015
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    And remembering:

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  4. #14
    Chief Pooper Scooper JenC's Avatar
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    It's one of those things....We had a grapefruit sized one removed from Hudler because it was impeding his hind leg movement. The surgery (at 11 y/o) was easy and he recovered just fine. It was one that was growing though.

    Grace is 11 now and has a large one in her front arm pit. It's not growing but it's large. Our vet doesn't want to remove it due to nerves in the arm pit.

    My MIL had a bunch of them removed off her sheltie and they ALL came back.

    Your call in the end.

  5. #15
    House Broken black_paws's Avatar
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    First and foremost, GOOD LUCK!!!

    I’m not sure of the exact position of the lumps, but you might consider an athletic tank top/ sports bra as a way to combat fluid retention. Yes, it sound weird, but it worked the nuts when one of mine went thru a lipoma removal on her side.

    My older two (Ruby age 14 & Emmy age 12) both have lipomas.
    Ruby developed hers on her belly about age 8, we opted out of surgery and they have grown slowly over time to about baseball size. She’ll lay directly on them, so they don’t appear to bother her.
    Emmy has had 2 lipoma removal surgeries. First was in 2012, it was on her side. No drain, it did retain fluid, self drained once it was too full, and that’s when we got the idea of taking an athletic top which she is the same size as me in the chest. Worked like a charm. The second surgery was in 2014, and was on the top of her rump, which was about the size of a grapefruit cut in half. She was discharged with a drain, which she ripped out by “rutting” against the couch.

  6. #16
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    First, thanks Jen C, Annette47, Kgigleena, POPTOP, Java, LucyTudeon4Feet, & black_paws for commenting. I spoke with my vet this morning, and she is cool with waiting a couple of months while I try holistic approaches (i.e. turmeric, massages, etc) to try and reduce the lipomas. She doesn't believe this approach will work, but she gave me her blessing to try. I am home at lunch right now to walk Bent. Because the lipomas are continuing to grow and his age (10) leads my head to say have the surgery (my vet reiterated the safety of the procedure, and I do believe her). It's my heart, and perhaps me being selfish (not wanting to see him go through something that may/may not be necessary) that leads me to try a different approach (albeit one that will probably not get rid of the lipoma) and delay the inevitable. I need to do what's right for him, and that seems to point to having them removed. My vet gave me 24 hours to make a decision for Thursday (she was quick to want to cancel the appointment when she heard my concerns to not rush me). I will ponder further this evening and through the night. Black_paws: the atheletic tank top is an interesting idea and I will run that by my vet (although that will be a challenge and wrestling meet to get it on Bentley). LucyTudeon4Feet: the age factor, as you mentioned, is a point for getting them removed now vs later. Again, thanks for the responses; I really just need to vent this out and although a message board may seem crazy, hearing other's experiences with their best friends does help.

  7. #17
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    My Daisy was 12 when she had surgery to remove a lipoma in her armpit. My decision was a bit easier because it was affecting her ability to go down the stairs which was becoming a safety issue. We did the pre-surgery bloodwork - it was normal. She came through it beautifully. I did not fare as well because I was worried sick about her the whole time. I wish you well in your decision.

  8. #18
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    Thanks Molly. You are right: because one is on his chest and the other is on his side (both just jiggle and especially when he swims/runs) they aren't directly impeding his movement.......for now. I totally get why you were so worried sick and thanks for sharing.

 



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