Lipoma is a soft and pliable concentration of fat below the dog's skin which can occur in varied sizes. These are not painful and very rarely, can become harmful for dog's health. Lipoma are commonly found in older and overweight dogs, though younger dogs can also have them. Lipomas lie just below the skin surface and feel soft and rounded when touched. They are painless and can occur in more number. That condition is referred to as lipomatosis.

Lipoma Diagnosis

If you notice such a sudden lump formed in your dog's body, it is best to take him to a vet. Once your vet examines this lump carefully, its size and location is checked. The same is documented and further regularly checked for a few days. If its size increases rapidly or creates a problem with mobility, vet will perform its biopsy. A small sample of the cells will be examined by a pathologist. This will help confirm the diagnosis of lipoma. Vet will usually recommend you to wait and observe it for some days. If it is not growing too large or if not moving in areas which can be problematic for dog's movements, it is best to leave it as it is.

Lipoma Removal in Dogs

Lipoma removal in dogs is not recommended if it is not causing any problem in the dog's movement and if it is small in size. Remember there is no use of lipoma removal just for cosmetic reasons, so as to make your dog look better. Usually, it is suggested if it becomes a painful tumor in areas like armpit which restricts your dog's movements. This will make it difficult for your dog to walk or perform any activity if its size increases. So, before its size increases, a smaller surgery is best to opt for. There are some risks associated with anesthesia and some surgical complications may arise, which is the reason veterinarians usually discourage lipoma removal in dogs. Remember that the lipomas are a common growth that are not usually harmful.

For lipoma removal surgery, skin incision is made using a laser beam. This helps in less bleeding and less swelling after lipoma surgery is performed. Once the lipoma is removed, the space where the tumor had resided is free now, this is closed to ensure that no fluid accumulates. Also, usually a drain is placed in the deepest part of the space which was occupied by the tumor. This drain is later removed after 4-5 days and the stitches are removed after two weeks of surgery.

Remember that if the vet suggests that there is no need of a lipoma surgery then you must ask him for the precautions and dog care you must follow for his proper health. He might suggest you to keep track of sizes of the lumps and see if any new lumps are developing. You can take him for regular check-ups as recommended. Remember that you should not worry about this dog health problem as lipomas are just fatty tumors in dogs. A strict check of your dog's diet will be generally recommended by the vet in order to control the lipoma growth. A low fat dog food is best to be included in his diet. Also you can increase his physical activities to ensure that there is no excess fat stored in his body.

On very rare occasions, a lipoma may become malignant. If you see any such swelling or lump under your dog's skin, it is best to take him to the vet. He will prescribe the right course of treatment for the same and decide whether lipoma removal is really essential.