Hi - I'm a bit worried about my springer/cocker cross. She's 6 years old and I found quite a big fatty lump on the front of her shoulder at the weekend. We took her to the vets yesterday and it was thought not to be serious. The vet felt her all over, but couldn't find anything else. I've since had a good feel and found another one on her rib cage, and another near her hip on her back, just at the start of her groin. I don't know whether these have come up in the last day or so, but I thought the vet would have found them. All the lumps appear to be the same - fatty, smooth and fairly moveable - although the one on her rib cage isn't very moveable. Do you think I'm worrying unnecessarily? Anyone else out there with the same problem - springer/cocker owners especially? Thanks for your help!

Hiya
If you can move them, even just a tiny bit, then you have nothing to worry about. Fatty lumps come up all the time on dogs who are reaching " that age". She isnt old, but she also isnt young any more.
Spaniels are prone to lumps and warts as well. You may find little nodules on her, often on the lip.
This is nothing to worry about. A vet would remove it is if was uncomfortable to the dog...or unsightly....but it does not sound like a tumor, and that would be your main worry I would imagine.
Have a think wether you want them removed. They probably will get bigger but it is a matter of personal choice...of course, if your dog is having trouble moving around or cleaning etc...then I would get them removed anyway.
good luck
steph
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Steph - thanks so much, you've really made my day!!! I will keep a check on them to make sure they don't change, and I WILL BELIEVE MY VET IN FUTURE!!!!!!! I love my little girl so much that I hate it when anything happens to her, and always think the worst. What a daft devil I am, but I am sure we all feel like this!

I really really appreciate the time you have taken to get back to me so quickly.

Kind regards
Wendy

Taz will be 10 years old in October and he has a couple of them also. My vet took a little sample and let me look at it under the microscope. Just fatty cells, nothing to worry about.

ttfn :)

My Clover has a small fatty lump, about the size of a hazelnut, on her shoulder. We first noticed it 3 or 4 years ago, and it hasn't changed at all since then. I was told that if it's mobile enough for you to feel underneath it when you lift the skin, there's nothing to worry about. If it's firmly anchored in the underlying muscle, there is the possibility of it being more serious.

Hope this helps.
:)

As my bitch had a small (carcinoma) Mammary tumour when she was five, I have had two lipomas removed in the last few years, one on her chest, and this year (she is now 11 1/2) in the groin.

I have recently found a small one on her ribs on one side, and have decided not to have it removed, as tghe others were entirely benign.

So if it is unlikely to be a cancerous mass, I would trust your vets opinion.

Hi Wendy, thats no problem. It doesnt hurt to get a second oppinion. It shows how much you love her. But, Im glad to have put your mind at rest. I used to work as a veterinary nurse and fatty lumps were so common..but its good that you acted quickly just to make sure. Your dog sounds like a very lucky girl to have such a caring mum.
Take care
steph
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I'm so grateful to you all for replying to me. This is the first time I've used this forum, but it's going to be in my "favourites" from now on!! Much better the surfing the net and scaring yourself half to death!

Does anyone know what causes these lumps. I'm always going to be slightly concerned, obviously, as a new one appears (let's hope they don't), so would love to do something to prevent if at all possible. She's very slightly overweight (always has been - spaniels love their food!!) - do you think this has anything to do with it?

Once again, thank you very very much!!!
Wendy
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Hiya
Lipomas (fatty lumps) are mostly common in overweight female dogs. Usually not until they reach at least middle age. Basically they are liable to arise anywhere on the body where there is fibrous connective tissue, often in the subcutaneous tissue (loose skin.)
They are not dangerous but often grow to an uncomfortable size, when I worked as a vet nurse, I saw some enormous ones, a GSD cross came in with one which was the same size as her body again, so she was twice the size she should have been, but it was all on one side. On that occasion it was vital that the dog have it removed, but it had been left for so long that it was a very touch and go procedure. If you see it growing, and getting uncomfortable, I would seriously suggest getting it removed, but for the time being, it wont be causing her any trouble.
Hope this helps
steph
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Thanks - right, she's on a really serious diet now!! We've been "playing at it" for a couple of months - feeding her the right amounts, then little tit bits here and there too, which is naughty.

It's so lovely to get something "from the horse's mouth" Steph - and somebody who doesn't make you feel daft!!

Thanks, and Rosie sends you all a woof!
Wend
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Hi everyone.

This is my first time on the forum.

I was playing with my dog, a 7 1/2 yr old Border Collie called Fly, last night, when I noticed a strange lump just bellow her ribs.  I didn't really sleep last night and called the vets first thing this morning.  I was quite worried as the word 'lump' sounds so sinister.
Anyway, the vet was very calm about it all and said it was just a Lipoma.  I did wonder if it was something like that, because she is still eating, drinking, going to the toilet and generally acting fine.  Quite full of energy really.
We are so relieved but it was so scary.  We just have to monitor the said lump now and see how she goes.
It was really helpful reading all of your comments, as when you know how common these things are, you don't feel so intimidated about the situation.
Fly is currently sleeping.  It's been a traumatic day!  Hopefully I will sleep better tonight now too!
Annette.
 

Thats great news :) I myself have numerous fatty lumps, some been checked out, some I have not but none have changed in last 5 years an all the doctor knows about!!! So I know first hand the worry,
Also my old Rottie cross had one just by her wind pipe that was asperated when she went in for pyo, and found to be safe so seen it from all angles,
It is SUCH a relief to know that it is just a fatty lump :) :)
BTW WELCOME TO THE FORUM ANNETTE :D
Lea :)

my old lad had one on his back, it never gave him any bother and i've one on my knee :)

Got one myself scared me to death its just a benign cyst thought i was done for!!! I found a huge lump on my pup, me and Oh squished it and rushed him to the vet - he shaved off a large slug.. When he finished laughing we went home. But they are like our "babies" so and we love them so your fear was normal and I do hope you got a good nights sleep.

My old girl is full of lumps now.  Found one the other day that I'm not too happy about but she's nearly 15 and don't want to put her through surgery etc.  She's still full of life and very fit so I doubt it's anything serious.

My dog has had a couple of fatty lumps in the past.  I just massage them between my finger and thumb every day and within a week or so they completely disappear :).

Thanks everyone for you replies xx.
I did manage some sleep thanks - and now almost the weekend - hooray!

If I wasn't convinced Fly was fine before, she proved it was earlier.  I attempted jogging :( !! Don't try it, it's nasty!  I did about 2 miles (stopping to walk lots on the way!), yet the dog I was so worried about at the start of the week, just ran triple that at top speed!  She was only 'just' tired too!

Interesting what you say about massaging them Lois.  I didn't know whether to meddle or not.  As it's in the early lump stages I am going to give it a go.  Touching it certainly doesn't hurt her.  I will keep you posted!

I will try and work out how to put a pic of said Fly on the site at the weekend.  No one would believe I work on computers all day??!!

my boy has a lump on his flank, and I've been feeling round it, I can feel the skin under it etc, and when he had his booster the vet had a quick feel and agreed it could just be a fatty lump and just to monitor, I think it's got a bit bigger tho, and I'm not sure what to do. It doesn't bother him, so I think I will just keep monitoring it.....

Dearlady - it might be worth trying the massage method. The lump my dog had on his shoulder was a fair size but by gently rolling it between my finger and thumb it gradually got smaller and smaller and eventually disappeared.  Needless to say this wasn't recommended to me by a vet, it just felt like the right thing to do somehow :)

My late springer Joy, had lumps.  She had a couple removed and biopsied at 6mths of age, and it was nothing.  She didnt get any more really, until she was around 9 or so.  She had a couple on her chest, and then one on her neck. 

We didnt get them removed, but maybe should have had the one on her neck removed.  It was in the spot that the collar was rubbing it, and it split open quite frequently.  But we had to outweigh the risks of anesthisia (sp?) in an older dog, compared to a sore that we could keep covered and put ointment on until it healed.

From what I heard, like others have said, if the lumps can move around when you are touching them, its not to much to worry about. 

Take care!