Expert: Delores Beck - 1/18/2010

Question
We have a 6 year old cocker spaniel, over the last three months she has developed three small lumps- smaller than pee ( one on her ear, one on right side of body one on the left) How can we tell if they are cancerous?

Answer
At this age dogs are prone to developing fatty lipomas...totally benign.  If they're easily moved and "in the skin" - not anchored - that's undoubtedly what they are.

Your vet can aspirate them (tiny needle removes some tissue to analyze) and check them out.

These are usually not removed unless they're causing some other problem due to size, etc.
And sometimes they can get big and just look awful :)

So your vet can put your mind at ease quite easily.
Delores