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Thread: Lipomas

  1. #1
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    Lipomas

    Hi. Bentley is 10 years old. He has 2 lipomas--one on his side, the other on his chest--both about the size of an orange. Our vet and I have been moitoring these for 2+ years. The needle aspirate has been negative. In late September we were at the vet for an ear infection, and it was then that she said that we need to consider removing the lipomas. We are scheduled for surgery on Thursday.
    Both lipomas aren't impeding Bent's movement. He does itch his chest sometimes and bites the one on his side often (daily, but not all day). I have had no luck in reading things online (to my satisfaction) about removing lipomas. I know the facts of the surgery. The post op seems a bit concerning with swelling (my vet will not use a drainage tube b/c she is concerned about infection; any swelling I see will resolve itself, per her). Other than the lipomas, he is healthy/crazy/strong/great/etc. I would never have him have a procedure that wasn't necessary (or that would make him better). I'm struggling with this. My vet says it's best to remove them now b/c he will only be older if we wait and if they get too large, she will not remove them. I am a wreck with this decsion. I also am aware that there are pups and people struggling with tougher decsions. I am aware that some choose to just leave them alone. Bent and I have a long life ahead of us. If anyone has made the call to have lipomas removed from their pups I would greatly appreciate to hear from you. Apologizes for the long post, but thanks for reading it thru.......Best to all of you (and most importantly) best to the dogs.

  2. #2
    Senior Dog Meeps83's Avatar
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    I have not had this experience but I wish you the best.

    Have the lipomas grown? Did she give you a reason, other than his age, why she wants to remove them?


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  3. #3
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    They have been slowly growing over the past few years. When we first discovered them, she did say the day would come when we'd have to have the conversation about removal. Her point seems to be that they are now big enough (orange-sized) that they should be removed before they get too big. Thanks for responding and the kind words.

  4. #4
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    I had a yellow girl a few years ago who had multiple lipomas removed between the age of 4 and 14. As she got older I always had the vet do a senior blood panel to make sure she was ok to undergo anesthesia. Other than that these surgeries were pretty straight forward.

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    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.

  6. #6
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    Our first Lab Brutus was a walking lump machine. One of his lipomas was close to the size of 1/2 a flattish soccer ball and it never bothered him...on the side he didn't prefer to sleep on. We/our vet never saw the need to remove any of his lumps.

    Another yellow male...one I knew just from seeing him in the park...kept having a huge lipoma removed from his side...it just kept coming back. He struggled more and more to recover from those surgeries as he got older. He had a drainage tube each time if I remember correctly...at least from the last couple.

    Good thoughts headed your way for Bentley's surgery, if that's the route you take.

  7. #7
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    Thank you SunDance. If I saw he was inconvenienced, or more importantly, in any pain, I wouldn't be struggling as much. Outside of occasionally biting his side (which he would do anyway), he is himself (that is to say his regular energetic self).

  8. #8
    Senior Dog POPTOP's Avatar
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    We home seniors so lumps and bumps are part of life. My opinion, and the vet agreed, that as long as the lump was needle biopsied negative, was not too big and did not hinder movement or comfort, there were left alone. It sounds like Bent may be bothered by these lumps with scratching/biting. You definitely want that irritant gone before an open wound forms. Discomfort would come from the stitches itching and healing so a cone will probably be a necessity since he can reach the spots. Lipomas are usually just under the skin deep surgery is not necessary and since the skin has already stretched to cover it, there is plenty of skin to cover the wound. I have heard of them coming back and have also heard of them not coming back.

    The decision should be based on his level of irritating them and his comfort if they were not taken off. I've had dogs much older have surgery, with pre-surgical blood work done and OK, Bent should do fine. There are risks with surgery at any age so you need to weigh the pros and cons. Have another discussion with your vet and voice your concerns. Please let us know what you decide.
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    Best Friend Retriever Java's Avatar
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    My beagle got pretty lumpy as he aged. He had a big one on his hip that our vet monitored. Each time she aspirated it, results were negative so we left it alone. It grew slowly to the size of a golf ball and became very obvious on first glance. It went through a sudden growth spurt at which point he was constantly worrying with it, so I asked for it to be removed. He was around 10, I think. As barry581 mentioned, my vet also did blood work before proceeding with the surgery. Afterwards, she said it was a good thing we removed it because it was beginning to interfere with a nerve (or something - I'm sorry but I don't remember that part anymore). He didn't have a drainage tube though and was definitely the same personality throughout. The lump was big enough that he had a noticeable dent in his hip thereafter. Luckily, it never returned and none of his other lumps grew like that so no other surgeries were needed.

    Lumps are one of those things you can't predict so I can appreciate how you feel about scheduling the surgery. Sending you and Bentley good thoughts whatever you decide.

  10. #10
    House Broken kaialeena's Avatar
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    Sierra is now 10 and has 4 lumps, but the vet isn't concerned with hers and just told me to keep an eye on them. She only suggests having them removed if they are bothering her or if they impede her movement.

    Sending good thoughts for you and Bentley.

 



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