Introduction to dog lipoma

I don’t know if you have ever encountered such a situation. Your dog suddenly developed a raised lump, which feels a little soft to the touch. Generally, this situation is likely to indicate that the dog is suffering from lipoma.
Although lipoma sounds very scary, because with the word "tumor", it is easy to think of cancer. But there is no need to panic. Lipoma is a common canine tumor. It is actually a collection of fat accumulated under the skin. Usually older dogs and obese dogs develop lipomas. It generally grows in the soft tissue layer under the skin such as the neck, thighs, armpits, and trunk. Lipomas in dogs are actually more common than we think and are generally not something to be overly alarmed about. Unless a lipoma suddenly grows a lot in a short period of time, it may be an acute exacerbation of the lipoma.

Causes of lipomas in dogs

The causes of lipomas are very simple. The most common and main reason is obesity. Obese dogs have much more body fat than dogs of the same breed. The more fat there is, the higher the chance of developing lipoma. Another reason is that there is a problem with the dog's metabolism. Lipomas may be caused by excessive proliferation of fat cells. Of course, some dogs are naturally prone to such problems, such as Labradors, Dobermans, Schnauzers, etc. Dogs of these breeds should pay more attention to their physical condition.

How to judge whether a dog’s lipoma is benign or malignant

The simplest and most direct method is to take the dog to the pet hospital for a biopsy, which has a small error and is fast. Of course, some dog owners are unwilling to take their dogs to the hospital for examination for various reasons. In this case, the only way to judge is through visual observation. Generally, benign lipomas grow slowly, while malignant lipomas expand rapidly in a short period of time. Of course, this observation may be misjudgment due to the owner's lack of experience, so it is best to take it to the hospital for examination.

Does lipoma need to be removed in dogs?

This depends on the nature of the lipoma. If it is a malignant lipoma, it must be removed. In addition, corresponding processing should be carried out. If the lipoma is benign and grows in a location that does not interfere with the dog's normal life, it may not be removed. The biggest risk with lipoma removal is anesthesia, so it's impossible to say that lipoma removal surgery is completely safe.
If intermuscular lipoma and infiltrative lipoma are formed due to growth, these two lipomas may cause clinical symptoms due to growth compression or local invasion, and will require surgical removal; or When the tumor ruptures on its own or due to external force, it must be taken to an animal hospital as soon as possible to treat and disinfect the wound to avoid secondary skin infection and suppuration.

How to prevent lipoma in dogs?

In one sentence, thenIt’s “weight control.” Eat a balanced diet, reduce carbohydrate intake, and consume more low-fat, high-fiber, and high-protein dog food. Optimizing your dog's diet can not only control your dog's weight, but also improve your dog's physical fitness. Make dogs healthier. In addition to controlling your diet, you can also stay healthy through moderate and consistent exercise. For the health of your dog, it is best to take your dog out for a run every day. In addition to keeping dogs healthy, exercise can also slow down the aging rate of dogs and avoid diseases.