Fatty lumps

[Hacked_Off]

My dog has a fatty lump behind his shoulder on each side of his body. They move quite a bit and are quite squishy. He doesn't seem bothered by them and he had them last time he was at the vets for his boosters. She said they were nothing to worry about, but they seem to be getting bigger. Has anyone else had experience of this? He's an 11 year old lab if that helps.

 

[dilbert]

My old boy had quite a few fatty lumps which didnt seem to cause any problems. He had one of the biopsied before we rescued him but our vet advised to leave the others and we didnt want to put him through the trauma of an op. We just kept an eye on them to check for growing/changing etc

 

[reddie]

Our labx had one just behind his left shoulder. The vet said to leave it. He checked t every year when he went for his booster. ALthough it grew abt bigger, it never bothered him.

 

[Chestnut mare]

It is quite common for older dogs esp labradors to get fatty lumps 'lipoma' they are mobile, benign lumps that cause no problem.
It is impossible to tell what any lump is without a biopsy to be sure. Your vet can do a fine needle aspirate where a small sample of the lump is taken and analysed. This is easy to do and the dog does not need to be sedated.
Keep an eye on the lump and make sure it doesn't grow to big or cause any problems. It's far easier to remove when they are smaller shorter anaesthetic and surgery time .

 

[CorvusCorax]

My old bitch had one on her back, was checked by the vet periodically, did her no harm.

 

[Hacked_Off]

Thanks everyone I'll keep an eye on them and talk to the vet next time he goes in.