Question

My veterinarian told me that the lumps under my dog’s skin are fatty deposits. What should I do?

Answer

Actually, you don’t need to do much of anything. These fatty lumps, called lipomas, are very common, painless, and nearly always benign (that is, not cancerous and not life-or health-threatening). They are simply a clump of fat cells that have become concentrated in one location and formed a bump under the skin. They are most common in older dogs, though they can appear on young dogs or even puppies on occasion. There is no need to treat lipomas, though they can be surgically removed if they interfere with your dog’s ability to move, sit, or lie comfortable.

If your dog has already been diagnosed with fatty tumors, it’s very possible that she will develop more over time. If new lumps develop, you should schedule an appointment with your veterinarian to ensure that they are also lipomas. This can be done through a relatively simple process called a fine-needle aspirate. Your veterinarian will insert a very thin needle into the lump and withdraw a small amount of materialdmuch like giving an injection in reverse. The material can then be checked to make sure it is benign fatty tissue.