AboutDelores Beck Expertise Health, nutrition, and training issues.
NOTICE: I NO LONGER RECOMMEND CANIDAE DOG FOOD. DUE TO A CHANGE IN FORMULA AND MANUFACTURING FACILITIES, DOGS ARE GETTING SICK ON THIS BRAND.
Question QUESTION: Hi I took my 7 year old cocker spaniel to the vets about 5 weeks ago as I discovered a small jelly like lump which moves about internally on her chest it doesn't affect her in any way. The vet said it is probably a fatty lump which they could aspirate but just to leave it for now. I have noticed since then it has doubled in size so have made another vets appointment but don't really want to be told just to leave it again as it is a fatty lump. Does aspirating the lump cause any distress to the animal as I am wondering why they have just told me to leave it.
Would be grateful of your help.
ANSWER: Your vet is probably right and it's a fatty Lipoma. However they can get large enough to be a problem and it's no big deal for the vet to aspirate it to determine exactly what it is. Aspiration is simply an incredibly tiny needle that is inserted to collect some cells to analyze. No distress to the dog at all.
If it's increased in size I wouldn't hesitate to have it aspirated - takes a few seconds and the dog will barely notice. It'll set your mind at ease and that's important too.
At age 7 they do get these types of "lumps" and perhaps when you next have her teeth cleaned they can simply remove it while she's under anesthetic anyway.
The most important thing (and why your vet isn't worried) is that it's an easily "moveable" lump and not attached to anything.
You can do some reading on it - just type in Canine Fatty Lipomas
and that may set your mind at ease.
Delores
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QUESTION: Hi again,
my husband has just taken my spaniel to the vets again unfortunately i couldn't make it and my husband didn't ask the questions i wanted to know so maybe you can help. The vet has just aspirated the lump as he now says he doesn't think it is a fatty lump as it is to hard for this he mentioned the word lymphoma which i belive to be cancer but he didn't elaborated on the subject i am now obviously very worried as reading about lymphoma on the Internet it basically says when the dog has a lymphoma there is nothing you can do for it. The lump is only about 3/4 inch across and on her chest will there be nothing they can do for her if this is what they diagnose?
Answer First of all your vet shouldn't drop scary words to a client and then "not elaborate". So I'd definitely call him and question why on earth he'd leap to that conclusion based on an aspiration of cells no one has analyzed.
Then I'd ask for a referral to a specialist or at the very least get a 2nd opinion. Especially if what he's basically saying is that he doesn't know what to do and "doesn't think it's a lipoma" and "maybe" it's a lymphoma and has nothing concrete to offer. He should have aspirated it the first time.
Don't panic - I know you're worried but the thing to do is get the dog to someone who knows what they're doing. I wouldn't put my dog's health in this vet's hands.
Delores
