Worried about my sweet Golden and his lumps...UPDATE PAGE 2

[SundaeAfternoon]

I have a seven year old Golden Retriever, and have been noticing some lumps on his body. I have already had one checked, and it was a fat deposit. It's the size of a pea and is squishy. I have recently found two more exactly like that, but the one I am worried about is about the size of a half-dollar and more flat. It's on his hind quarters, and is soft, but I am still taking him to the vet this Saturday to get them checked out. Has anybody's dog had a fat deposit that was more on the flat side? Usually they are more raised, but I guess they can be different in different locations on the body. I am trying not to freak out, but this dog is my best friend and my soul mate. I hate to see him get older. You wouldn't know it by his energy level though. He still acts like a one year old!

If you wouldn't mind keeping us in your thoughts and prayers, I'd really appreciate it! His name is Randall.

I hope this week goes quickly. I can't stand the waiting.

 

[Tuffcookie]

OP, My Lab has those fatty lumps too. I was worried, but the vet didn't seem too concerned.

Prayers that your vet will alleviate your fears!

TC

 

[KJ Luvs Pluto]

I have a 12 year old Golden who has these all over his body. He had two removed about 4 years ago - one was the size of a cantalope and one about twice that size. The vet wouldn't remove them until they got big. Now he has dozens - some are about the size of grapefruit and others smaller and quite a few are like the ones you have mentioned - flatter and quarter or nickel sized. He has had most of them checked and they are all fatty deposits. Poor guy must feel like a pin cushion.

I know how worried you must be though - because they feel so lumpy as you pet them and as they get bigger they are really noticable when they walk and the lumps sway. I hope you get good news.

 

[natenapril]

I have a 12 year old Golden who has these all over his body. He had two removed about 4 years ago - one was the size of a cantalope and one about twice that size. The vet wouldn't remove them until they got big. Now he has dozens - some are about the size of grapefruit and others smaller and quite a few are like the ones you have mentioned - flatter and quarter or nickel sized. He has had most of them checked and they are all fatty deposits. Poor guy must feel like a pin cushion.

I know how worried you must be though - because they feel so lumpy as you pet them and as they get bigger they are really noticable when they walk and the lumps sway. I hope you get good news.

Our Golden is 11 and he has had a few of those removed and has more all over his body. The biggest one was the size of a baseball that needed to be removed on his tide. He had several others removed too. They were just fatty tumors. Now that he is older the surgeries are too hard on him so my vet has suggested leaving them alone.
He now glaucoma and is mostly bling and deaf but he is still the best dog we have haver had or seen. We dread the day he crosses the bridge

 

[SundaeAfternoon]

OP, My Lab has those fatty lumps too. I was worried, but the vet didn't seem too concerned.

Prayers that your vet will alleviate your fears!

TC

Oh thanks. I hope so too.

I have a 12 year old Golden who has these all over his body. He had two removed about 4 years ago - one was the size of a cantalope and one about twice that size. The vet wouldn't remove them until they got big. Now he has dozens - some are about the size of grapefruit and others smaller and quite a few are like the ones you have mentioned - flatter and quarter or nickel sized. He has had most of them checked and they are all fatty deposits. Poor guy must feel like a pin cushion.

I know how worried you must be though - because they feel so lumpy as you pet them and as they get bigger they are really noticable when they walk and the lumps sway. I hope you get good news.

Oh my goodness! The size of a cantalope??? Poor guy! Randall is our fifth Golden, and they all had the fat lumps. Glad to hear there are flat fat lumps. Hopefully that's all they are. I really hope he lives to be at least 12, like your angel. Thanks for the support.

Our Golden is 11 and he has had a few of those removed and has more all over his body. The biggest one was the size of a baseball that needed to be removed on his tide. He had several others removed too. They were just fatty tumors. Now that he is older the surgeries are too hard on him so my vet has suggested leaving them alone.
He now glaucoma and is mostly bling and deaf but he is still the best dog we have haver had or seen. We dread the day he crosses the bridge

These fat lumps seem to be a given for Goldens. Such a bummer. We lost our 12 year old Golden last year, and he was almost completely deaf. It was sad.

I know exactly what you mean about the dread. I get thinking about it with Randy and I have to stop myself because it's too much to bear.

 

[elgerber]

When I had a golden he had many of these also. We only ever had 1 removed because it was in the middle of his forehead, and turned out to be larger than an egg. The rest we just left alone, and they never caused him any problems.

 

[Trish Bessette]

Sweet Randall - I'm sure you are ok with them just being fatty pockets.

I have a 4 year old Golden - Bella Wow do they tug at your heart strings! She is our 2nd Golden. Our first love was Woody. Man what an amazing dog. He was having some problems breathing - long story made short the vet/surgeon said he had a twisted lung. Easy operation. He was 9 yrs old. Dropped him off the morning of his operation, never thinking anything could go wrong - got a call from the surgeon saying he had a tumor on his heart - all they could do is put him down.It was my DH boy - his side kick. Broke my heart to call him. Took us over 4 years before we could get another.

So now there is Bella - what a change - a female - she is such a girly girl!! So different from our male. We love her. I can't think of the day she leaves us. I pray she has a little longer than the 9 short years Woody had.

 

[Jockaroo]

First, prayers for Randall. He is a handsome fellow. I had a Scottie that developed a disc shaped place that was about the size of two quarters stacked together. It was on her chest near her ribs. I freaked out and had it checked and it was a fat deposit. My other Scottie had a few lumps (always checked by my vet) in his old age. He lived to be 14 1/2 and they never caused problems or grew too much. A family on my street has a very elderly, very lumpy yellow lab. The family said the places were only removed if they impaired the dog's movement. He has some rather large places, but is still a dashing old man.

My vet said to have these places checked, but typically they are fat deposits or lipomas if they are squishy, movable and have regular boarders. Good luck. And I know I was always on pins and needles until I got the results for my two seniors.

 

[DVCLiz]

My dog has some of these, too, and she is a Golden mix.

Could I ask some of you with Golden experience - how long is the normal lifespan of a healthy Golden? My dog will be 11 in April and I am just trying to prepare myself to deal with what will be coming in the next few years. She is such a sweet dog - I too dread the day...

 

[SundaeAfternoon]

When I had a golden he had many of these also. We only ever had 1 removed because it was in the middle of his forehead, and turned out to be larger than an egg. The rest we just left alone, and they never caused him any problems.

Poor guy! Yeah, I'd have to have it removed if he got one on his forehead.

Sweet Randall - I'm sure you are ok with them just being fatty pockets.

I have a 4 year old Golden - Bella Wow do they tug at your heart strings! She is our 2nd Golden. Our first love was Woody. Man what an amazing dog. He was having some problems breathing - long story made short the vet/surgeon said he had a twisted lung. Easy operation. He was 9 yrs old. Dropped him off the morning of his operation, never thinking anything could go wrong - got a call from the surgeon saying he had a tumor on his heart - all they could do is put him down.It was my DH boy - his side kick. Broke my heart to call him. Took us over 4 years before we could get another.

So now there is Bella - what a change - a female - she is such a girly girl!! So different from our male. We love her. I can't think of the day she leaves us. I pray she has a little longer than the 9 short years Woody had.

They sure do tug at your heart. I loved our other Goldens, but this guy is special. I think of him as my son. We are so close. He sleeps by my side every night.

Poor Woody (sweet name by the way). How terrible you had to lose him like that. I don't know how I'd cope with that.

I hope Bella lives a long time too.

First, prayers for Randall. He is a handsome fellow. I had a Scottie that developed a disc shaped place that was about the size of two quarters stacked together. It was on her chest near her ribs. I freaked out and had it checked and it was a fat deposit. My other Scottie had a few lumps (always checked by my vet) in his old age. He lived to be 14 1/2 and they never caused problems or grew too much. A family on my street has a very elderly, very lumpy yellow lab. The family said the places were only removed if they impaired the dog's movement. He has some rather large places, but is still a dashing old man.

My vet said to have these places checked, but typically they are fat deposits or lipomas if they are squishy, movable and have regular boarders. Good luck. And I know I was always on pins and needles until I got the results for my two seniors.

Thanks for the prayers! You guys are helping me to feel better. The lump your Scottie got sounds similar to Randy's. Keeping my fingers crossed!

My dog has some of these, too, and she is a Golden mix.

Could I ask some of you with Golden experience - how long is the normal lifespan of a healthy Golden? My dog will be 11 in April and I am just trying to prepare myself to deal with what will be coming in the next few years. She is such a sweet dog - I too dread the day...

We lost our other four at 8, 9, 10, and 12. WAY TOO EARLY! Randall will turn 8 in September, so I have started to get more paranoid about it.

 

[KJ Luvs Pluto]

We've had two other goldens, both lived to be 13. The vet told me anything beyond 8 is a gift. All of ours were x-large - more than 100 pounds each and stood very tall as well so they were not fat, just big. And the vet said the larger they are, the shorter the life span as well because they fall into the "giant" size dog rather than the "normal" size golden.

The one we have now is 12 and also x-large. Somehow we seem to get those. Two came from the Humane Society and one came from a family that could no longer keep her.

Golden's hold a special place in my heart and it breaks when I hear of those who have lost theirs. I really hope Randy is okay and lives a very long and happy life.

Mine is laying at my feet as we speak (well, actually on them). He's never far from my side.

 

[Tiggs14]

We have a 10 year old golden that also has them in various places. She's had them for quite some time (many years) and our vet has checked a few of them to make sure they are just fat so far so good. It is scary when you pet them and find that one is much bigger than it used to be...we haven't had any as big as the prevous posters have had thankfully.

Good luck...I hope it turns out to be another fatty deposit.

 

[justcantwait]

My lab had those too. We just called them "old age bumps". Vet said they're nothing to worry about. He'd remove them if we wanted, but suggested we do that before they get too big. I guess when they're big, there's a larger area to close when they're removed, and the skin doesn't close easily. Anyway, Shelby would have been 16 next week, but she left us in Oct. In Dec, we rescued Tessa, our Great Malt Cocka Chowkie (mostly cocker spaniel and chow chow, with some Great Pyrenees, Maltese and Yorkie). She's brought life back into our house. But here's hoping Randall has MANY more good years left in him!

Kathy

 

[SundaeAfternoon]

We've had two other goldens, both lived to be 13. The vet told me anything beyond 8 is a gift. All of ours were x-large - more than 100 pounds each and stood very tall as well so they were not fat, just big. And the vet said the larger they are, the shorter the life span as well because they fall into the "giant" size dog rather than the "normal" size golden.

The one we have now is 12 and also x-large. Somehow we seem to get those. Two came from the Humane Society and one came from a family that could no longer keep her.

Golden's hold a special place in my heart and it breaks when I hear of those who have lost theirs. I really hope Randy is okay and lives a very long and happy life.

Mine is laying at my feet as we speak (well, actually on them). He's never far from my side.

Randy is about 102 pounds. We don't overfeed him, but he could use more exercise. Thanks. I hope he's okay too. I am trying to think positive.

Give your sweetie a pet for me!

 

[SundaeAfternoon]

This one of my favorite pictures of him. He looks so peaceful.

These are our angels waiting for us at Rainbow Bridge:

Left to right: Shana (was 9), Hayley (was 8), and Barney (was 10). Reggie (was 12) is swimming in the background.

 

[Teacher03]

Our golden Riley is nine and is starting to show his age. He has a hard time getting up at times and doesn't move like he used to. I haven't noticed any lumps, but he has an appointment on Friday, so I will ask the vet. He is our first golden retriever and the best dog we have ever owned. Like all of you, I dread the day that he is no longer with us.

I love the picture of all the goldens in the pool!

 

[Kae]

If my 15 yr old German Shorthair didn't have any fatty lumps he wouldn't have any fat on him The Vet said he is ok.

Kae

 

[Disney Doll]

Retrievers tend to develop these fatty lumps. My friend has retrievers and he calls them "Lab lumps" because all of her dogs have had them.

My late dog Ted got them as he aged. I recall the vet telling me if you could "grab: it...ie-get your fingers around it sort of...and move it...wiggle it sort of, that it was probaly a fatty lump.

 

[SundaeAfternoon]

We have a 10 year old golden that also has them in various places. She's had them for quite some time (many years) and our vet has checked a few of them to make sure they are just fat so far so good. It is scary when you pet them and find that one is much bigger than it used to be...we haven't had any as big as the prevous posters have had thankfully.

Good luck...I hope it turns out to be another fatty deposit.

Thanks!

My lab had those too. We just called them "old age bumps". Vet said they're nothing to worry about. He'd remove them if we wanted, but suggested we do that before they get too big. I guess when they're big, there's a larger area to close when they're removed, and the skin doesn't close easily. Anyway, Shelby would have been 16 next week, but she left us in Oct. In Dec, we rescued Tessa, our Great Malt Cocka Chowkie (mostly cocker spaniel and chow chow, with some Great Pyrenees, Maltese and Yorkie). She's brought life back into our house. But here's hoping Randall has MANY more good years left in him!

Kathy

Cheers to that!

 

[SundaeAfternoon]

Our golden Riley is nine and is starting to show his age. He has a hard time getting up at times and doesn't move like he used to. I haven't noticed any lumps, but he has an appointment on Friday, so I will ask the vet. He is our first golden retriever and the best dog we have ever owned. Like all of you, I dread the day that he is no longer with us.

I love the picture of all the goldens in the pool!

Good luck at your vet appointment. Be sure to come back and let me know how it went!

If my 15 yr old German Shorthair didn't have any fatty lumps he wouldn't have any fat on him The Vet said he is ok.

Kae

Aww...that's good.

Retrievers tend to develop these fatty lumps. My friend has retrievers and he calls them "Lab lumps" because all of her dogs have had them.

My late dog Ted got them as he aged. I recall the vet telling me if you could "grab: it...ie-get your fingers around it sort of...and move it...wiggle it sort of, that it was probaly a fatty lump.

I can definitely do that with Randy's lump, so that is a good sign!