He also has a small growth on his back. WE took him to the vet and he said that he seemed happy and healthy so we shouldn't mess with it. It is a solid mass that moves on his underside but doesn't seem to bother him. I don't know if I should get a second opinion. He is the sweetest dog and don't want to lose him. If it is a non cancerous growth should it be removed anyways or is it harmless. Feel naive but don;t want to spend thousands of dollars if dogs can have fatty masses that are not dangerous and don't know if I should just have it biopsied.
2007-05-09 18:08:43 · 15 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Dogs
did your vet take a biopsy? (a sample of the tissue - they usually use a needle or cut a peice out).
they sound like cysts or fatty deposits - and no, unless they start causing pain or other problems such as hitting nerves, they dont need to be taken out.
however, if your vet didnt take a sample and have it tested, I would take your dog to another vet. better safe than sorry.
.
2007-05-09 19:01:14 · answer #1 · answered by raspberryswirrrl 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
As dogs age, it is very common for them to form non-malignant tumors and masses. It is especially common in Labs. An additional test that your vet can do (if they didn't already) is a needle aspiration of the mass. They will take a needle and sample the fluid/tissue in the mass. This can then be viewed under a microscope to determine if there appears to be anything unusual with the cells.
Without seeing the dog, it is difficult to make any diffinitive recommendations. I would watch the lumps that you know about - note any rapid growth or changes and go to the vet immediately if you see any - and keep an eye out for any new lumps that may form.
If you don't have a good relationship with your vet, seek a second opinion. It never hurts and is a lot less expensive than the biopsy and surgery.
Hope this helps.
2007-05-09 18:41:31 · answer #2 · answered by alaskajacks 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Many dogs get cysts located near their armpit area. They can get quite large, and pull on the skin. If the vet or you don't want to remove the mass, when it gets large, I would make a sling to wrap around your dog, to hold the tumor up against his body. I'm guessing your doc feels it is a cyst/benign tumor. I don't think a biopsy is needed, unless the doc felt it could be cancerous. How large an area would be removed, and cost I don't know, thinking several hundred, unfortunately. I've seen dogs with lumps on their necks, armpits, and behind the ear. All just carried on life, like nothing was there. My dog gets bumps/lumbs about the size of grapes. Some will be full of pus, some don't ooze or anything. They just are there. More are added, each month. We just keep an eye on things, so far, so good.
2007-05-09 19:25:56 · answer #3 · answered by fisherwoman 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most likely it is a lipoma (fatty tumor) I would have your vet do a needle biopsy: Place a needle in in to sample the cells. They should be able to tell you right away if it is just fat, or if it has some other cells in it, they could send the slides to a lab for diagnosis.
If your lab needs his teeth cleaned, it is a good time to remove lumps if you are concerned. Best to be safe rather than sorry. Get it all done at once :)
2007-05-09 19:29:36 · answer #4 · answered by lshs91 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Older Labs are prone to growing fatty tumors. But you should
have that verified by a vet. It doesn't take that much money to
have the mass checked out. I just took my dog in and the vet
aspirated a few cells from a small mass under a wart she had
for a while. I am glad she did, as it turned out to be a mast
cell tumor and she had surgery that day. But she also had a
fatty tumor, the vet aspirated some cells from that and confirmed it was benign. So for your peace of mind, ask your
vet to aspirate some cells and make sure .
2007-05-09 18:39:36 · answer #5 · answered by Caiman94941 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Once a dog reaches 5 yrs old he starts to get lumps. Mine had one at his chest. The vet said he could do a needle biopsy and see if it's cancerous but since the lump was quite small we decided to take out the whole lump. It turned out to be just a fatty tumour. They're quite common. Get a biopsy done if you love him a lot and not doing anything will eat at you. If it's malignant, you can still remove it cos at 8yrs, he can still manage the anaesthetic. If you wait till he's too old and find that it's malignant, you can't operate anymore cos he's too old to handle the anaesthetic and that will kill you (with grief and guilt)
2007-05-09 18:43:00 · answer #6 · answered by Sandy 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My dog has two lumps, on just to the right of her tail and one on the right side of her chest.
Her vet was able to put a small needle into each and quickly determine they were both fatty masses and something we shouldn't be concerned about. Any vet with a microscope should be able to do this test very quickly (I'm talking minutes for the entire thing). If your vet isn't able to do it, or not willing to, get yourself a second opinion.
If it is not a fatty mass then you can decide to investigate further.
2007-05-09 18:57:55 · answer #7 · answered by nelgin 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it never hurts to get a second opinion!
have any kind of odd growths, spots, or lumps looked at especially if you have an older dog!
even though im a vet tech i can go to 3 different vets with the same question about a dog and get 3 different answers! 0_o
see if you can have the lump tested? sometimes just looking at it wont tell much! there isnt really a need to remove it if its benign.
2007-05-09 18:41:41 · answer #8 · answered by suicideblonde 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you're not planning on taking her to the vet (which you should) you can try putting very warm compresses on it for 10 minutes on, 10 minutes off. Make sure they are not hot enough to burn her. This may cause the abscess to open and drain. If it does, prepare for one truly awful smell to come from it. NEVER squeeze it once it opens. Try to absorb as much drainage as possible, clean the area and put neosporin on it. Then bandage it with something you can wrap around the cat, such as gauze or an Ace bandage over a gauze pad.
2016-03-19 02:36:35 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
i was in same situation with my dog.. found one on her near her back leg.. she was a yellow lab.. took her to vet and said same thing.. they could have taken biopsy of it, but like you i did not have the money for all of that.. she was happy, not in pain and very active so left it.. although in time i found more and she eventually had growth on her eye as well and glaucoma developed.. but i had her fourteen years and i just figured let her be, she does not seem to be suffering or in any pain , is just somethin i think that is common in those dogs.. it wasnt' until i'd say the last year i had her that more growths started showin up.. i noticed in that last year she'd be uncomfortable when touchin them.. and was worried the kids , at that time one year old and six yrs old may hurt her or the dog might hurt them, so put her down.. it's up to you what you do, i know they are amazing dogs.. and as long as he's ok.. maybe just leave him be.. best of luck..
2007-05-09 18:41:39 · answer #10 · answered by rootzgirl34 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
See another vet. Ask folks in your area for a recommendation.
We lost our Yorkie because our vet turned out to be an incompetent boob.
When I finally took Chaz to Dr. Andy Johnson, he took one look and knew the little fellow had one of two problems, an over night stay and some tests confirmed Cushing's Disease. Thanks to Hillard Lawler, the incompetent boob, it was too far advanced to treat.
Good luck with your pal.
Doc
2007-05-09 18:42:24 · answer #11 · answered by Doc Hudson 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋