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.
I have a golden retriever that will be 8 in august gave her a fur cut for summer to keep her from over heating and four days later my boyfriend and I noticed a lump next to one of her hind legs its about size of a two dollar coin. It moves around butit soft and hard in different spots of it . she doesn’t seem to be bothered by it and is drinking and eating normally. I am very very worried that it is cancer and if so how am I suppose to tell my son who is special needs that mine and his dog is very sick.
Hi Shannon,
You don’t tell your son anything, and you don’t worry until you know what you’re dealing with. That’s simply a waste of energy, and brings to mind a quote that I love: “Worry is a prayer for what we don’t want”. Get to a vet and ask to have a biopsy done. The vet may suggest a fine needle aspirate, but they’re not very accurate. If the lump is as easy to get to as you describe, the best course of action is to ask to have it completely removed, with clean margins, and biopsied properly. You may get a result that it was a benign, fatty ump — time to celebrate. But again until you have it checked by the experts, you don’t know. It would be a very good idea to look at improving your dog’s nutrition as much as you can… get your free Dog Cancer Diet download from the blog page. Even if the biopsy comes back all clear, getting her diet a good upgrade will do wonders for her in every way. Good luck! We’re thinking of you.
Today I took my 12 year old Golden to the vet as she has a mass on her right leg. At her yearly check up in February I had pointed it out and the vet said it is probably fatty tissue and not to worry about it unless it grows. Well It did and that is why I took Honey to the vet. While there another was found on her left leg near her chest. The vet has recommended having them removed as she was very concerned at where they were. I made her an appointment to have them removed on Wednesday, but I find myself goggling and wondering if I am doing the right thing because of her age. The anesthesia she will get concerns me. I have had her since she was 8 weeks old and can not imagine being without her at this time. Am I doing the right thing?
Hi Shelly, Here’s the thing. If you don’t get the lumps properly checked, and that means surgery and biopsy, you (a) won’t know whether you’re dealing with a benign fatty lump or something more serious, and (b) sounds like there would be a risk of a growing lump interfering with the function of her leg and perhaps restricting blood flow or nerve action. That’s going to cause her pain. If your girl is otherwise healthy and well in herself, and the vet thinks she’s a good candidate for surgery, you will (a) know what you’re dealing with and (b) have the lumps either removed or reduced. I understand you’re worried, and you’re scared. Your girl is 12, and part of you fears that this could be serious. It’s your decision, you’ve got the responsibility. But you’re her mom, and for sure, she is going to be feeling your anxiety. You’ve done a great job recognizing the lumps and getting them checked. If you decide to do nothing at this time everything may be OK, but if they continue to grow it will be more difficult later on. So I’m afraid it’s down to you. I always feel it’s better to know what you’re facing, and face it. Talk to your girl, stay positive, don’t feed that fear. This is just a part of taking care of her. And don’t do too much searching on the internet. You can find anything you look for; and if you look for bad news you will surely find it. We’ll help in any way we can, and even if the surgery comes back with scary results, don’t despair. There is so much you can do, and you’ve already taken the first steps just by getting this far. Good luck. Please give her a hug from all of us, and one for you.
Nikki, I know this is scary and depressing, but hang in there. There is so much you can do. The only thing that is set in stone is that Bennie is with you right now. I’ve had two dogs with cancer and both exceeded the prognosis with Dr. Dressler’s full spectrum treatment help. I’m glad you’ve got Apocaps on the way. Please get the Dog Cancer Survival Guide book, it’s invaluable, and get started on Bennie’s diet. We’re hear to help with information and support. Give Bennie a big cuddle from Team Dog, and you take care of yourself.
Does the Apocaps, help with a fatty tissue build up in a dog? My dog has a fatty tissue build up under his arm pit and the Vet took a blood sample. He did seem to think it was cancerous but he did feel it would grow rapidly. My dog has had a limp since he’s had this fatty tissue build up. Do you feel the Apocaps, will help my dog? My Vet recommended surgery but if that’ snot necessary then I’d like to try the Apocaps,.
Hi Nikki,
Do you mean your vet DIDN’T think it was cancerous? Just confirming. So, to answer your question, there is some incidental evidence that Apocaps may help with benign fatty lumps, but it wasn’t formulated for that purpose, and no hard data is being collected as to whether it may or may not help. So, that’s a vague answer, I know, but I can’t tell you yes, Apocaps will help and you invest your time and money on a remote possibility. In the meantime, your dog’s lump is growing rapidly. Now the situation with your dog is, (a) your vet cannot be certain whether the lump is cancerous without surgery and taking a biopsy of the lump and having it tested. And (b) that area of the body isn’t designed to hold extra lumps. If your dog is already limping or favoring the leg, the lump is either making him uncomfortable, in a bit of pain, or interfering with the blood or nerve supply under his leg. You really don’t want that to continue. Please have another chat with your vet and talk about all the options. The sooner you really know what you’re dealing with, the sooner you can stop worrying about vague outcomes and take action. If it is cancerous, you want it out before much more time goes by. Partner with your vet and make the best plan you can. I do urge you do loo at your dog’s diet and get some real, natural food into his meals, which will help with everything. All the best to you both. Give your boy a cuddle from all of us on the Team.
Thank you for your reply and your honesty. Right now my vet has him on an anti inflammatory and pain pill he gets once a day. When he takes this pill, he’s almost like a 100% again except he does still hold his paw up when he walks. He’s scheduled for the 14th of May to have his “tumor” removed. The vet did say he did NOT believe it be cancer since the test result came back showing it was more fatty tissue than anything. He said this type of “tumor” is normally found in German Sheppard’s and my dog is not a German Sheppard. He’s more of a Lab-a-doodle with Schnauzer in him. He’ll be 8 in November. I’m going to look at the diet and start him on it right away.
Nikky, that all sounds great. I know it’s a worry, but at 8 he should be able to have this op and recover really well. Some years ago I found a similar lump in the “leg pit” of a friend’s whippet. There had been no sign that it was developing, but once found she had it checked immediately. It was removed, not cancer, and the vet said had it been left it could have caused all sorts of problems. So, be glad that you caught it and I’ll bet your boy sails through the treatment. It’s a good time, and a good age to get him on a plan of nutrition and regular checks. Please have a look at http://www.everpup.com, as that’s a wonderful supplement for him, and it has some of the apopotogens that Apocaps has. Good luck to you both!
Thanks. Interesting I was just speaking with someone and they mentioned their dog had a limp like mine. Every single symptom their dog had, mine has. Come to find out, with their dog, it had an inner ear infection. Can an inner ear infection cause a dog to limp or their their paw? I notice sometimes with my dog he seems a little off balance.
Oh gosh Nikki, the causes of a limp can be many, many things, small and large. Get your vet to give him a good, thorough check-over, including ears. The lump definitely needs to be taken care of and it sounds like your vet wants to manage that. We’re sending you good wishes that it will all be resolved easily for your both!
Just got word from the doctor as Bennie went into surgery this morning. The tumor doubled in size in 2 weeks time. The tumor is cancerous and he is not sure if it is the kind that spreads to other parts of the body. He was able to get 80% of the tumor out but told me, this type of tumor will grow rapidly. He said if it is the kind of cancer that doesn’t spread then he can amputate the leg, and he will be able to live a happy, healthy life. If it is the kind that spreads, then it would not be fair to Bennie to put him through the amputation knowing the cancer will ultimately end of taking his life. The test results for the tumor come back in 2 weeks. My heart is breaking.
Hi Nikki, I’m holding you both in my heart. I know how scary this is, and how heartbreaking. But you hold it together now. Bennie is with you and there are things you can do.
Have you or your vet consulted with an oncologist? You need that expertise.
Did your vet do a biopsy on the tissue to confirm that it’s cancerous?
You really, really need a specialist involved and don’t be afraid to ask. Another thought, if the growth is believed to be very fast growing, you need to move fast too. Don’t wait until test results come back to move forward where you can. Two weeks with a fast growing tumor is a long time. There really isn’t a “type” that spreads or doesn’t spread, it’s not black or white, though of course some do more than others. But you already know this is moving fast. Often the most likely spread is to lungs or lymphatic system. Your vet should be able to carry out tests now to get the answer.
Also, it’s not your vet’s decision about what is fair to Bennie, Sweetie. It’s yours. Your vet is available for information and opinion, if you want his opinion. He works for you and is an expert in veterinary medicine. YOU know your boy. Now, many, many, many dogs who have an amputation absolutely thrive! I’ve seen them happy and running around 2 days post surgery. If it is osteosarcoma (bone cancer) or another type that is believed to be confined to the leg, then really the best way to stop it in its tracks is to amputate. But that’s not as bad for dogs as for people. They have 4 legs to our two, and Bennie is already using 3 legs as the 4th has been uncomfortable. Check out http://www.tripawds.com. If it’s likely to go this way, the sooner you make the decision, the better. Even if you amputate and there is a possibility of spread, it ain’t over till it’s over. Bennie is not a statistic. There are many, many things you can do.
You really need to be comfortable talking with your vet; have a pad of paper, or record on your smart phone so you can remember the answers to the questions you have. Check out that Tripawd website. Ask your vet what the name of the cancer is… if he’s not sure yet ask him the name of the type he suspects. You can get all the latest information by searching for that in this blog. What treatment Bennie is going to have from today…. NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatories)? Antibiotics? Pain med? Any side effects to look for? If you want to consider amputation, does your have a lot of experience performing that surgery and providing rehabilitation or do you need to consult with someone else? These are bits of information you can get now.
Take a deep breath, let it go. Get determined. Fill your heart only with a mother’s love for Bennie and get busy. You’ve got a job to do, and there’s no one better to handle it.
I really recommend you get the Dog Cancer Survival Guide book, available as part of the wonderful Dog Cancer Kit (www.dogcancerkit.com) or on its own. Check out http://www.apocaps.com. Apocaps are also part of the kit, and have been designed specifically for dogs with a cancer diagnosis. The website describes how they work. You are about to become an expert in “Bennie” and what he’s going through. You can do it, and we’re here to help.
Don’t hesitate to contact me if you need further help or information. My direct line is 808-568-3252.
Hang in there!
can Bennie take the apocaps if he is on other meds?
Hi Nikki,
Yes he can. Apocaps is a nutraceutical, not a prescription drug, and made from all natural ingredients. While they are powerful and effective, and there are some situations where you would wait to use Apocaps, or use a lower dose, they can work hand-in-hand with most conventional therapies. There are some situations where we’d advise taking a lower dose, for instance if he in on NSAIDs, because Apocaps have an anti-inflammatory effect themselves. We don’t have data that dogs have had problems, but it makes sense not to use too much anti-inflammatory meds. Usually it means that he’d either have a lower dose of the vet prescribed NSAID, or a lower dose of Apocaps. This would be coordinated with your vet of course. There is a lot of info on the apocaps website which I gave you, and your if your vet has any reservations, he can check in through the veterinary portal. You’d also not give Apocaps before surgery, and would wait till healing is complete to resume. And in any case that the dog is vomiting or has liver or stomach problems you would stop Apocaps until that situation resolves.
I hope this helps Nikki.
Thank you. He is sleeping now in front of the couch while I’m on the couch. He has 2 meds one is for pain and the other is for pain and anti immflamatory . I noticed when we got home he was really hungry. Also, the vet did complete blood work before surgery today and all was normal. They gave me a copy of his blood work. He has to wear a cone for 2 weeks and Ghent he goes back in to have the stitches (staples) removed.
Thanks for the information Nikki. Love him and cuddle him and tell him you’ll both get through this. Will you give him a special nuzzle from me? 🙂
Yes of course. And let everybody else know too that when then he came home from the hospital he had that big plastic cone on his head and he was really stressing out so one of my friends recommended the kind that you blow up inflatable kind and soon as I put that on him the inflatable kind hundred and 10% better he’s not panicking he’s calm now and is actually sleeping now
Got the test results back from the vet today on Bennie’s tumor. The vet said it is the kind that will spread. He said Bennie’s life expectancy is between 1 to 2 months depending on fast the tumor will re grow. I’m going to order the apocaps today and see if this will help him.
Hi Nikky, I did respond to your first msg. Plase double-check for it.
Hello Elizabeth, Bless your heart for rescuing that pup and giving her a loving home! Her youth is on her side, but there is honestly no way of being completely sure without your vet examining the lump. Perhaps you can phone your vet office, explain the situation and ask them what the fee schedule is for a routine appointment to get it checked. If you need to wait a little bit and save up, then find a way to measure the lump. By that I mean, can you compare it to something… is it the size of a pea? a dime? Make a note of that and then check once a week using the same measuring idea. Don’t massage it or try to make it disappear. If it changes then get that appointment more quickly. Stay aware of it, but please don’t fill your mind with worry. She needs your love and your laughter and I’ll bet that’s easy when you’re together! Good luck! Please give your pup a cuddle from us all. Susan
My puppy is only a few months old. I recently rescued her off the streets. We wormed her and gave her her shots. She seems very healthy. I found a lump slightly larger than a pea underneath her armpit, it doesn’t seem to bother her but I’m really concerned. Also, it is moveable. Can someone help me? Should I take her to the vet? I’m only seventeen and don’t really have the funds for a very expensive vet bill, but I love my dog and I am really worried.
Hi Steve,
I know this is tough. And this is a tough subject, but you’re doing a good job to be thinking about it now. Do you have the Dog Cancer Survival Guide book? If not, I really recommend it. There is an entire section devoted to End of Life Choices and Care. Plus, chapters on dealing with the different types of cancer, a full section on the best nutrition, and real food will go a long way toward helping your girl. There is also a section in the Dog Cancer Blog (video and text) at https://www.dogcancerblog.com/blog/how-to-know-when-its-time-to-say-good-bye/#.UxSWfvTV_X0
Bottom line, you know your dog better than anyone. Our dogs are full of joy in their lives. They may cope just great with an annoying limp or an inconvenient growth even when we, in our further knowledge of what’s going on, think “wow, is this fair?” So, here you go. Your girl right now is a :little lame” and in “good spirits”. I’ll bet she has a great appetite. That’s wonderful. You know what makes her happy. Make a list of the things that she loves… everything from eating to chasing a toy to going for walks to cuddling to sitting with you when you watch TV, to all the weird and wonderful stuff that makes her, her. Then over time keep a reality check on how much of that she can still do and enjoy. Maybe she won’t be able to chase a ball, but she still loves playing with the ball with you; like that. If you see more things going off the list than staying on, and you know your girl, it will give you a scale to worth with. Most animals will eat less, or quit eating for several days when they are in pain or too weak, or feel the end coming. And honestly, most of our dogs will give us a look when they have passed a certain level of coping. We know the look, because we know them. We just need to be willing to see it.
I really hope you check out the book. You didn’t mention the type of cancer it is, or what the stage is. Do you and your vet have a treatment plan? There is so much you can do. So take a deep breath and give her a cuddle, and keep gathering information. We’re here to help. All the best.
My friend has a 9 1/2 year old Black Lab Mix more like the size of a decent pit bull, up until 4 or 5 days ago he has been going like a bat out of hell, all of a sudden we had a heat spell in April upwards of 95+, he became lethargic and could not roll over onto his feet. Initially it looked like his right front upper leg was swollen, which it was slightly, so his human picked him up under the belly and I thought the world was coming to an end, he screamed and hollered to beat hell. That is when we noticed the mass. Turkey (dogs name btw) loves sleeping on his back with all fours dangling in the air funny albeit but we never have noticed that lump before. Now it is very prominent and has only showed it ugly head within the last 2 to 3 days. So either it is a fast spreading cancer or a lump of fat. We are praying the latter but the speed this is growing leads me to believe the fore. Any Ideas? Sad in Long Beach
Hi, This needs an urgent trip to the vet. For a dog to express that much pain and discomfort, somthing acute could be going on. Yes, it may be cancer that’s suddenly reared, but it’s also very possible that the dog was injured, stung by something, and/or has a local infection in the area. All of those scenarios have the possibility of getting much worse. A lump of fat by itself will not cause that degree of pain. Please get your friend to get Turkey to the vets as soon as possible. Don’t wait. Give them both our best, and bless you for trying to help. We’re keep our fingers crossed that it’s an easy fix.
Hello ,
My friend’s dog has had this lump on the back of her neck. The fam had it checked and it was a fatty type of lump but it grew bigger. Now it is oozing and there is a little blood coming out…the puppy may have scratched it as it is clearly large and she won’t let anyone touch it really. You think it is best to get it removed ? it is the size of 1/3 of an egg (lacking better comparison). In addition she has been having itching problems…black spots on her belly and bumps on her skin while it is not my dog I worry every time i see her and they seem to think it is ok….am I worried for no reason ?
I think you’re worrying for good reason. Lumps and bumps can be anything from scratches, infected scratches or punctures from thorns or rough play, cysts, plain fatty lumps to actual cancer. Oozing and blood is not normal in healthy tissue. The fact that the dog doesn’t want anyone touching the lump indicates there is real discomfort or sensitivity involved. If an infection is present, left untreated it might go internally and cause real problems. The black spots and bumps could be another worry… whether the dog came in contact with an irritant or toxin. Bottom line, only a vet can really check all of this out. I know vet visits can be expensive, but left untreated there could be a bigger problem brewing. Is this an adult dog we’re discussing? I hope you’re able to encourage your friend to have the dog vet checked; it may be a very easy fix and everyone will be more comfortable. Good luck.
thank you for the response. Yes she is 7 years old. She has had this itching problem for 7 months now and the bump for about 5…they had it checked and it was fatty tissue and said to watch it should it grow bigger and such. It did…its big. I will try and push for a vet visit. thank you again.
OK, thank you for the additional information. Itching with lumps may indicate Mast Cell Tumor, but there could be other possibilities. Good luck encouraging your friends to get that dog to the vet. I understand and share your concern. It’s tough when it’s not our dog. Bottom line is, the longer they wait to find out what’s wrong, the more expensive and difficult it will be to help their dog. Early detection and treatment is always worth the effort.
I have a 9month old Doberman puppy. He has a lump in its neck almost 3cm. I’ve never noticed anything,but yesterday I saw he lump,but it wasnt that big,and then later that afternoon when my husband came home it was a lot bigger and the skin around it looked like it was sagging or swolen sortoff,its hard,but can move a little and doesnt seem to be painfull when you touch it. Also i noticed about 4 days ago that he has a bad odour,but i dont know ehere the smell is coming from! The only thing that has changed in the past week or so is that we had a heat wave and were swamped with flies(they are mean,they are biting him a lot) and ive been pouring a bit of oil onto his food in the evenings,because he doesnt seem to eat as much as he used to(now he does) so i’m scared that the lump could be an infection from the flies or worse larvae or is it just lipomas. He is so young,thats why i dont how it could be lipmas.
Hi. Can you get your dog to a vet to be checked? It SOUNDS more like a cyst or local infection, but there’s no point worrying yourself until you know. A vet visit is in order. Good luck!
Hi, our 9 year old border collie has a large soft lump on her lower right abdomen about the size of a rugby ball shaped orange. I noticed it a few weeks ago and it’s gradually getting larger. It does move and feels like it could be fluid filled. It’s not causing her any discomfort and she’s still her usual happy excitable self. Do you think we need to take her to the vets? Thanks 🙂
Hi Dani, Well done for catching this, especially on a long-haired dog. You’ve noticed that it feels like fluid and it moves, which could indicate it’s not attached to underlying muscles. The bottom line is, unless you have a vet check it and do a fine needle aspirate (where they take fluid with a syringe and have it checked at the lab), you really will not know what it is. It could be a fatty lump, an abscess, an infection or possibly an indication of cancer. We always recommend getting lumps and bumps checked by a vet as soon as you notice them. It will give you an answer, and save the worry of not knowing. If you wait until it does seem to affect her health it could be too late to do anything about it. So if you can, take her in and if the vet rules out abscess or infection, ask for a fine needle aspirate. Good luck!