Potential Removal Of Lipoma?

[Chris the Rebel Wolf]

Zeke went in to get a couple of lumps checked out today and after a needle aspirate the vet diagnoses lipomas. Apart from one on his eyelid which she thinks it a wart, and gave me some tricin cream, on the offchance that will clear it up. Of course I'll see how that goes before making a final decision, but with the swiftness of the wart's appearance I would rather get it removed while it is small, rather than let it get any bigger and irritate Zeke's eye. My vet recommends removal of the two lipomas (one on his side, one one his shoulder) at the same time if they're putting him under for removal of the wart. If I didn't want the wart removed, a 'wait and see' recommendation for all three.

I hoped for some feedback from anyone here who's undergone similar operations with their dogs. How did you dog recover? How many lipomas removed? Would you leave any further ones or remove them as well?

Zeke is an eight year old Lab x Cattle dog and aside from some arthritis in his back legs he has been given a clean bill of health, he is fit and happy. I know any surgery has inherent risks but there is no reason Zeke can't enjoy several years yet with a good quality of life. I'm of two minds about removing the lipomas... my first instinct says do it, as the one on his side it about the size of my palm, and appeared in a matter of days which worried me because its growth was so rapid. But them I wonder am I just overreacting with the general OMG LUMP GET IT OFF reaction and subjecting him to the stress of surgery? Is there really going to be much of a difference between surgery wart removal from the eye VS surgery wart plus lipomas removal?

Advice please?

[Sheridan]

Has the vet done a fine needle aspirate to ensure it is just fatty material?

[Staffyluv]

My old stafford had a few fatty lipomas removed over the years... One was really big (about the size of a golf ball)...

He always bounced back OK.. As with all surgeries there is always a chance of issues but if the lipomas are increasing in size and they are in a position that could be troublesome, then it is best that they are removed...

You want a fine needle aspirate done first. If any removed look suspicious, then you also want pathology done.. Just to be sure all is OK..

Good luck.

[Tassie]

What the others have said. My old BCxKelpie bitch had a few - some on a watch list, some removed becsause of where they were - and one actually got infected and therefore had to be removed. Among the considerations once you know you're dealing with lipomas are comfort, and amount of available skin to close comfortably.

I'd just add, that, because I'm a worry wart, I'd probably be opting for pre-anaesthetic bloods, and for IV fluids - your vet may well encourage you to do this anyway. Mine do for 'older' dogs - 7-8 and up. At the least, the bloods give a good baseline for future reference.

Good luck with your boy. :)

[Sayly]

One of my girls had one of her lipomas removed and recovered fine.

I have seen a very large lipoma removed from an elderly dog, it was bigger than an AFL football and the dog recovered well.

By removing them now, it means you aren't giving them a chance to get too big and impact on movement and comfort. The younger he is when he undergoes surgery to better too, if you leave them he may need one taken off in a year or two anyway, and his body may no be as healthy as it is now. However, they may not grow much at all, and they may never cause an issue, but if you are sending him in to have the wart removed, I would get the other lumps removed at the same time. Better one GA now than one now and another in a few years time.

I would definately go with pre-GA blood tests, and fluids in a dog of his age. They are well worth the money.

[Chris the Rebel Wolf]

Thank you for your advice all :)