Lipoma and Liposarcoma in the Dog: Fatty Tumors
Dr. Demian Dressler is internationally recognized as “the dog cancer vet” because of his innovations in the field of dog cancer management, and the popularity of his blog here at Dog Cancer Blog. The owner of South Shore Veterinary Care, a full-service veterinary hospital in Maui, Hawaii, Dr. Dressler studied Animal Physiology and received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of California at Davis before earning his Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from Cornell University. After practicing at Killewald Animal Hospital in Amherst, New York, he returned to his home state, Hawaii, to practice at the East Honolulu Pet Hospital before heading home to Maui to open his own hospital. Dr. Dressler consults both dog lovers and veterinary professionals, and is sought after as a speaker on topics ranging from the links between lifestyle choices and disease, nutrition and cancer, and animal ethics. His television appearances include “Ask the Vet” segments on local news programs. He is the author of The Dog Cancer Survival Guide: Full Spectrum Treatments to Optimize Your Dog’s Life Quality and Longevity. He is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, the Hawaii Veterinary Medical Association, the American Association of Avian Veterinarians, the National Animal Supplement Council and CORE (Comparative Orthopedic Research Evaluation). He is also an advisory board member for Pacific Primate Sanctuary.
Updated: May 15th, 2024
Summary
Is that soft squishy lump on your dog something to worry about? It depends.
Many times dog lovers will arrive in my hospital and point out that their canine companion has a bump. They are soft, kind of like very firm jello. “Doesn’t seem to be causing any pain,” they say.
Hmmm. Well, it could be a “fatty” tumor. This is simply a tumor made out of fat. Yes, a big glob of fat, the same stuff that makes us chubby.
Some clients have used natural means to help their dogs with these tumors. I have had my clients say they have had luck with curcumin given by mouth. Curcumin is a part of the spice turmeric. In The Dog Cancer Survival Guide, I wrote about this bioflavonoid. It can be purchased as an ingredient in Apocaps, and also by itself as a sole agent.
Many dog lovers have heard of fatty tumors, and have been told by their vets that there is nothing to worry about. And many times, they are right.
Not every time, though.
Some Fatty Tumors Are Cancers
Here’s why: first of all, not every soft tumor is a “fatty” tumor. Remember mast cell tumors, the Great Imitators? Some mast cell tumors are aggressive, life-threatening cancers. And they can feel just like a benign fatty tumor.
Your vet can differentiate between a fatty tumor and a mast cell tumor with a simple fine needle aspirate. This is an easy outpatient procedure where the vet takes a sample with a needle and sends it to a pathologist. Many of us will review the slide right in house.
Another soft gushy tumor, especially on the limbs, in called a hemangiopericytoma. This is an unfriendly tumor, folks.
Because two dangerous tumors can look like fatty tumors (lipomas) I recommend that all such tumors get aspirated.
Some Fatty Tumors Are Dangerous In Other Ways
Secondly, not every tumor made out of fat is truly benign. Most are, and they are called lipomas. However, a small portion of them grow aggressively. They invade surrounding tissue. They often grow fairly quickly, over months, and expand. These fast growing lipomas have crossed the line and become what are called liposarcomas.
Get the Dog Cancer Survival Guide to learn more on how veterinarians diagnose and stage cancer in Chapter 9
The reason it matters is that they can become quite large. And you remove them and they will often regrow, since they are difficult to remove. You think you got ’em, and they come back.
Liposarcomas are not good news. So again, if you have a rapidly growing, fatty tumor, get it out. You might be dealing with a liposarcoma, and they can be tough. Have the vet biopsy the edge, and make sure they include adjacent muscle, or the path folks may complain they don’t have enough data to make a call.
Best to all,
Dr Dressler
Dr. Demian Dressler is internationally recognized as “the dog cancer vet” because of his innovations in the field of dog cancer management, and the popularity of his blog here at Dog Cancer Blog. The owner of South Shore Veterinary Care, a full-service veterinary hospital in Maui, Hawaii, Dr. Dressler studied Animal Physiology and received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of California at Davis before earning his Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from Cornell University. After practicing at Killewald Animal Hospital in Amherst, New York, he returned to his home state, Hawaii, to practice at the East Honolulu Pet Hospital before heading home to Maui to open his own hospital. Dr. Dressler consults both dog lovers and veterinary professionals, and is sought after as a speaker on topics ranging from the links between lifestyle choices and disease, nutrition and cancer, and animal ethics. His television appearances include “Ask the Vet” segments on local news programs. He is the author of The Dog Cancer Survival Guide: Full Spectrum Treatments to Optimize Your Dog’s Life Quality and Longevity. He is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, the Hawaii Veterinary Medical Association, the American Association of Avian Veterinarians, the National Animal Supplement Council and CORE (Comparative Orthopedic Research Evaluation). He is also an advisory board member for Pacific Primate Sanctuary.
5 yr old Choc Lab, spayed female. 2 yrs ago large soft fatty growth on top of right front leg / chest wall. Grapefruit size. Vet diagnosed as fatty tumor/mass and we had it removed. Growth returned within a year and was about same size. Had removed for the 2nd time. Vet said it would likely return and could invade the muscles in the chest area, etc. Its back again and about the same size or slightly larger. Soft and lumpy. Seems to change size slightly like some internal drainage perhaps? Your thoughts / recommendations appreciated.
My year old Yorkie has small lumps on her breast. They feel like stones and don’t seem painful. Any idea what they could be?
I have a spayed 1 1/2 year old cocker spaniel and just found a very tiny lump in her chest area. I have an appointment but while I wait for that I was wondering about the chance of this being a lipona… but also thought she seemed so very young for this?
Thoughts?
Our black labx just turned 8 and I recently found a lump on the inside of his left leg right below his hock. We immediately took him to the vet on a Wed. and they did a needle aspirate as well as a full panel of bloodwork. The needle aspirate indicated round cells so he was put on the Fri. schedule for xrays and surgery. All bloodwork came back normal. We did xrays of his chest and abdomen to make sure the leg tumor was primary and not secondary. The xrays were clean so we went ahead with surgery to remove and biopsy the tumor. The tumor was wrapped around his tendon and went into the muscle so it could not be totally removed and obviously no possibility of clean margins. The pathology has come back as liposarcoma, grade 2 (medium). We purchased The Dog Cancer Survival guide and switched his food from California Natural to Blue Buffalo, and are looking into Apocaps. We are picking up the films, pathology report, and other information and will be scheduling an appt. for an oncology consult at Tufts Veterinary Hospital or Angells. Tufts is much closer but I’ve heard excellent things about Angells. I’m fearful that a combination of amputation/radiaton will be the recommendation. We are hoping we can do more of the holistic approach and wait to see if it reoccurs before considering such a step. He is so young acting, healthy and fit otherwise. He certainly doesn’t know he’s sick and we’re trying to keep it that way!
Dear Lisa
these are very tough tumors I am afraid. Do what is listed in the Guide for best results, along with your vet. Having said that…a blog post that might help (now or in the future)
https://www.dogcancerblog.com/blog/canine-osteosarcoma-amputation-and-life-quality/
and see
http://tripawds.com/
All my best
Dr D
[…] Dressler, DVM at The Dog Cancer Blog has a great article about lipomas and liposarcoma. I highly recommend […]
I just found a lump on my 11 month old yellow lab. It is right below her shoulder blade, but when she plays she rolls and yesterday she rolled onto that shoulder blade. I am going to call the vet tomorrow since they are closed on Sundays, but what are the chances that it is just bruised tissue or something like that?
I found this website, because I was looking for info on Fatty Tumors. My 6 year old, Coconut, was diagnosed 4 months ago with a tumor growing on her hind leg. They did a biopsy and said it was a Fatty tissue, not cancer, to just watch it. They said many dogs live years with them and no problems. It grew SO FAST, and I took her back and they were shocked! They said we have to do surgery immediately. They did the surgery today and it took almost 5 hours. They took off her leg, thigh and part of her Pelvic bone. It was a long complicated surgery and the vet said the tumor had grown around everything. Her concern is that is is Liposarcoma… I wish they would have removed it when they first found it. I’m not sure why they didn’t. It was pretty good size then. My heart breaks for her, but I’m hoping she recovers well and it doesn’t come back. but chances are high that it will…They “think” they got it all….Time will tell… I love my vets and I trust them. I don’t think they expected it to grow that fast, but my recommendation to anyone who experiences this is to do surgery before it gets too big. I feel guilty that I did not pressure them to do it sooner…She’s my family and I can’t bear the thought of losing her, but I want her to have the BEST Quality of life….
My dog has a few under the skin fatty lumps. I can actually feel that they are not attached and I can move them freely. I am taking her to the vet in the morning. She is older and I know they are common. Keeping my fingers crossed they are nothing to be worried about.
My fingers are crossed too Tonya
Best
D
I am so glad I found this site. I have been searching for an answer which seems like forever. I just read the comment from KJ and it sounds so much like what we are going through with our dog (a 10 year-old Jack Russel). We have taken him twice to see a vet and a biobsy was done and it turns out it is a fatty tumor and not cancerous. It is very, very large and just like they told KJ it would be a very difficult surgery and that part of his leg would have to be removed.
Reading this has given me hope. I just hope I can find the right person to do the surgery.
Dr. Dressler…..
I have ordered your book and have ordered 6 bottles of Apocaps and a months supply of k9 Immunity Plus for my Border Collie that had the Infilitrative Lipoma removed on August 29th.
I am anxiously awaiting these products to begin a preventive program to hopefully avoid the Radiation Rx that was suggested.
I haven’t been able to find any information whether Apocaps is used for this application? Although my hope is that this is a great first step.
If you have any other suggestions ….please send a comment my way.
Thank You…
John J