Dog lipomas?

[Crankyshank]

My friend is a mess right now so I am turning to the DIS for advice.

She has a 10yr old female beagle/shepard mix that's a bit on the portly side. About 2yrs ago, the pup developed a lipoma on her stomach. It's a good sized one, but she had it tested last year and it's benign.

Recently, the lipoma got bigger. Not much bigger, but it is noticeably bigger to the touch. The dog is acting 100% normally - eating, drinking, eliminating, sleeping - her normal lazy princess of the castle self. The lipoma is not causing her any discomfort or issues moving. She is concerned that the lipoma "turned" malignant. Can they do that? I thought it was normal for them to get bigger as the dog ages - my beagle has one that grew slightly over the past 6 months.

She can't get to the vet until Monday, so she's a bit on edge. Any advice?

 

[Christine]

I had a German Shephard that had several. One of them was on the back of her leg and they did remove that one because it was in a spot that could eventually cause a problem with walking. All the rest stayed and some of them got quite large.

My beagle/hound mix now has one on her chest (on the sternum) and it freaked me out. I had it biopsied also and it seems to be fine but it is enlarging.

 

[LakeAriel]

I have a golden retreive who is about to turn 14 and has had lipoma's most of her life. My sister's collie also had huge one. I also have numerous ones, one near my pancreas that worried me to death a few years ago. I have been told fatty tumors do not turn malignant. Tell her not to worry her pooch will be fine!

 

[laurie31]

Another vote for growth is not only normal, but to be expected, and they cannot "turn" malignant.

I have one that I had removed two years ago and I was told it would likely grow back...and it has I think I'm leaving it this time. Since it was benign, my insurance didn't want to pay to have it removed and I had to pay cash.

Doggie will be just fine

 

[Crankyshank]

Thanks
I sent her the link here, so hopefully she'll relax a bit. She was beginning to make me second guess my lack of concern for my own dog

 

[Missy Mouse]

My friend is a mess right now so I am turning to the DIS for advice.

She has a 10yr old female beagle/shepard mix that's a bit on the portly side. About 2yrs ago, the pup developed a lipoma on her stomach. It's a good sized one, but she had it tested last year and it's benign.

Recently, the lipoma got bigger. Not much bigger, but it is noticeably bigger to the touch. The dog is acting 100% normally - eating, drinking, eliminating, sleeping - her normal lazy princess of the castle self. The lipoma is not causing her any discomfort or issues moving. She is concerned that the lipoma "turned" malignant. Can they do that? I thought it was normal for them to get bigger as the dog ages - my beagle has one that grew slightly over the past 6 months.

She can't get to the vet until Monday, so she's a bit on edge. Any advice?

Lipomas are benign by nature. They are literally just fatty masses. Any cell in the body has the potential to turn cancerous at any time. I would say the lipomas are at no more risk than a regular cell.

 

[MosMom]

My dad has a yellow lab that has several. They do grow as he ages and he is checked regularly to make sure they aren't pressing on any of his organs. He has had a couple removed to help mobility but he is living a happy life with them. He is about 12 now and has had them for a couple years now.

 

[Blondie]

Both of my Weims had benign lipomas at various locations on their bodies. They look worse than they actually are. I remember the first time I saw one I automatically thought it was an enlarged lymph node or tumor.

I hope it's nothing more than a benign lipoma for your friend's dog.