Adrienne is a certified dog trainer and former veterinarian assistant who
partners with some of the best veterinarians worldwide.

Are dog lipoma lumps cancerous?

Tony Alter, Flickr, Creative commons

Characteristics of Dog Lipomas

Lipomas in dogs are growths composed of adipose tissue, also known as body
fat. For this reason, lipomas are often called “fatty growths,” “fatty skin
tumors,” or simply “fatty tumors.” These generally painless growths are
basically deposits of stored fat that for some reason aren’t broken down
properly and metabolized by the body. The fat is kept solidly in place because
it’s contained within a thin capsule.

Lipomas are commonly found in middle-aged dogs that are overweight. Certain
breeds are predisposed to them. Examples are Labrador Retrievers, Doberman
Pinschers, Miniature Schnauzers, Cocker Spaniels, Dachshunds, Poodles, and
Terriers. If your dog was diagnosed with a lipoma, rest assured you’re not
alone—actually, you are in great company.

The issue of lipomas is quite widespread; indeed, according to the Whole Dog
Journal, 1.7 million dogs in the United States alone are treated for lipomas
each year!

These growths tend to share some basic characteristics. Because of these
characteristics, some dog owners may feel tempted to diagnose their dog on
their own at home, but in the next paragraphs, we will see why this is a risky
practice. Here are the main traits you will generally notice when you’re
dealing with a lipoma.

Soft to the Touch

Because lipomas are accumulations of fat under the skin, they will feel like a
soft, blob of fat. In some cases, they may feel more on the rubbery, solid
side because of the presence of fibrous tissue or inflammation. Even when
lipomas grow to great dimensions, their consistency tends to remain the same.

Small, Roundish Shapes

When you palpate a lipoma, it’ll likely feel roundish or oval in shape. The
size generally varies from the size of a marble to the size of a marshmallow,
but it’s not unheard of for a lipoma to become as large as a golf ball, with
some very large ones even reaching the dimensions of a baseball! In some
cases, they may even develop long and wide. I’ll never forget the day a vet I
worked for called me in the surgery room just to show me a ginormous lipoma
almost the size of a small watermelon!

Easily Movable

Because lipomas are fatty, they’ll feel squishy under the skin as you palpate
them. If you try to press one with your finger, it’ll probably move about
rather than stay put. This happens because they are typically not attached to
the dog’s skin or underlying muscle or tissue.

Slow Growing

A lipoma tends to grow slowly and you’ll likely notice it as it grows. In most
cases, you won’t likely see it one day the size of a pea and the next few days
the size of a lemon. However, according to CJ Puotinen and Mary Straus, in
some cases, lipomas may develop rapidly. If you notice rapid growth, it’s best
to play it on the safe side and have it checked out by a vet sooner than
later.

Generally Painless

As mentioned previously, lipomas generally do not cause pain, infection, or
hair loss. However, we will see in the next paragraphs a case where a lipoma
may actually cause discomfort and pain.

Preferred Locations

These growths seem to have some preferences when it comes to location. They’re
commonly found near the upper legs, armpits, neck, and along the chest and
abdomen. Technically, they can appear just about anywhere.

Enjoy Good Company

If you just found a possible lipoma in your dog, don’t stop looking. Chances
are good that you’ll find another one. Indeed, lipomas seem to enjoy each
other’s company. If you still haven’t found another one, your treasure hunt
isn’t likely over; chances are, your vet may have better luck through a
thorough inspection.

The Bottom Line

Just because you have found a lump that shares these traits, doesn’t mean it’s
necessarily a lipoma. For instance, just because a growth is soft, it doesn’t
mean it’s benign. While it’s true that several malignant growths are firm and
compact to the touch, there are cancers that may appear soft as well. And just
because the lump you are looking at is easily movable, doesn’t mean it’s
benign as well. While it’s true that many malignant tumors attach to muscles
and bones, some may still feel movable. So are dog lipomas cancerous? Read on
to learn more.

So Are Dog Lipomas Cancerous? The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

We often assume that when a vet suspects a lipoma, we’re on the safe side, but
the truth is that there are other things that should be ruled out. This is why
after declaring the presence of a suspected lipoma, vets recommend having a
fine needle aspirate done to play it safe. Following are answers to the big
question of “are dog lipomas cancerous?”

The Good

Despite their unattractive appearance and sometimes large sizes, lipomas
aren’t life-threatening. Yes, cosmetically they aren’t great to look at, but
they are benign, and unless they grow so big as to interfere with your dog’s
natural movements, your vet may simply tell you to just let them be . A
vet’s recommendation to follow a”wait and see” approach, where you keep an eye
on the growth, is only normally given after your vet has ruled out a possible
malignancy after doing a fine needle aspiration. Once the pathology report
confirms its benign status, your vet may then tell you to just keep an eye on
the growth and report any changes.

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The Bad

In some cases, a lipoma may become more invasive. They may invade the
connective tissue found between muscles, tendons, bones, nerves, or joint
capsules, and, depending on their location, they may cause interference with
normal functionality. In some cases, they may be painful, and they can even
cause muscle atrophy, and interfere with movement causing lameness.

Such lipomas are known as “infiltrative lipomas” and they can be found on the
dog’s legs, thorax and abdomen, head and perianal regions. They are often seen
in Labrador Retrievers and Doberman Pinschers. While these tumors don’t
metastasize (spread to other body parts as malignant cancers do) they can be
locally invasive. When these tumors aren’t properly removed, they are quick to
grow back in about 50 percent of cases, according to Veterinary Partner.

The Ugly

Don’t just rely on how your dog’s lump looks and feels to assume it’s just
another fatty tumor! Truth is, there are sometimes growths that look like
lipomas, but are actually cancerous! An example is mast-cell cancer, a
malignancy known by veterinarians as “the great imitator.” Why? Because these
cancers may “look like anything they want, even lipomas” according to Michelle
Gray, a veterinarian working at Woodland Animal Hospital in Carmel, Indiana.

Other malignant growths known to resemble lipomas include sebaceous adenomas,
hemangiosarcomas, and hemangiopericytomas. Consider reading this story where a
vet diagnosed a dog’s lump as a lipoma simply by touch and sight alone, until
Dr. Dressler steps in and finds out it’s actually a large hemangiosarcoma!

At times, what looks like a lipoma may also turn out to be a liposarcoma—a
cancer that forms from fat cells. This growth, even though quite rare, pretty
much behaves in a similar fashion as soft-tissue sarcomas. In cases of low- or
intermediate-grade liposarcomas, the risk for spreading is less than 20%
according to Veterinary Partner; however, in the case of higher-grade
liposarcomas, the risks for metastasis increase significantly.

Why Do Dogs Get Lipomas in the First Place?

Holistic vets believe that lipomas are a sign of a potential imbalance. The
body has a hard time eliminating toxins through the kidneys, liver, or
intestines, so it discharges toxins towards the skin. Veterinarian Stephen
Blake compares the dynamics to sweeping a lump of dirt under the rug “when you
don’t know what else to do with it.” According to Chinese medicine, a lipoma
is caused by a stagnation of bodily fluids.

Many veterinarians believe that culprits include unhealthy, commercial diets,
vaccinations, and exposure to chemicals such as pesticides and flea and tick
preventatives. However, this seems to be a subject of controversy, and we may
never really know the exact culprits. Veterinarian Tia Nelson, DVM, of Helena,
Montana, claims: “I can show you plenty of lumpy dogs who were holistically
raised on grain-free raw food and minimal vaccinations, including some of my
own. The simple fact is that some dogs are going to develop lipomas no matter
what you do.”

In human medicine, the subject of causes of lipoma is also prone to
controversy. Some doctors believe there may be a genetic component, while
others believe they erupt when minor injuries take place; indeed, they are
often called “post-traumatic lipomas.” However, this link remains
controversial.

The bottom line? We may really never know exactly what triggers these
unsightly growths. All we know is that we must keep an eye on any lumps and
bumps and should have them checked out by a vet to play it safe.

This article is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge. It
is not meant to substitute for diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, prescription,
or formal and individualized advice from a veterinary medical professional.
Animals exhibiting signs and symptoms of distress should be seen by a
veterinarian immediately.

Questions & Answers

Question: Our Labrador has had a fatty lump on his leg for three years,
and all of a sudden it has grown drastically in size and turned a dark red
colour. Could it have turned cancerous?

Answer: Any changes in size and appearance warrant investigation. A fine
needle aspirate is not exceedingly expensive and can give quick results.

© 2014 Adrienne Farricelli

Comments

Adrienne Farricelli (author) on December 03, 2014:

I am happy you found it useful. Best wishes for a speedy recovery!

MarieLB from YAMBA NSW on December 02, 2014:

The doggy ‘map’ that I printed off here, was a tremendous help in identifying
the spots. Some were easy, but the other two would sometimes”hide’. I marked
them on the map and then used texter to mark them on Goldie for the vets. She
looks fine but is not eating, which is not a problem as she has always eaten
well, so she can survive a couple of days without quite well. She looks bright
but not looking for play. My vet would not have bothered with the cysts except
that I was getting panicky, just in case. . .!

Adrienne Farricelli (author) on December 02, 2014:

Sounds like good news! My girl’s 3 lumps turned out to be two lipomas and a
cyst. Vet told me to keep an eye on the sebaceous/follicular cyst for signs of
infection and an eye on the lipomas if they grow bigger. Funny thing is that
the lipomas I have a hard time finding them and feeling them as they’re under
the skin, and the previous vet even missed them altogether, go figure! I guess
if they grow bigger they should become more noticeable, hopefully I’ll be able
to take notice.

MarieLB from YAMBA NSW on December 02, 2014:

Hi Alexadry, Goldie has had all four lumps removed. At present she looks a bit
battle-scarred, but she is doing well. The Vet said two were Lipomas [fatty
tissue] and the other two were Sebacious glands, and he assures me there is no
need to send them to the lab. He is an old experienced country vet, so I feel
comfortable with his diagnosis.

She also has what looks like skin that is slightly pendulous skin right on her
chest, between the forelegs. His view is to “keep an eye on it”.

Would you be happy with that kind of diagnosis?

Adrienne Farricelli (author) on December 02, 2014:

Sorry to hear about your dog ladyguitarpicker. Sounds like the lipoma was in
an area that was difficult to remove and there were concerns over operating
due to age. I am sure he had a wonderful life, 15 is quite a achievement!

stella vadakin from 3460NW 50 St Bell, Fl32619 on November 29, 2014:

My dog Sam got a lipoma when he was 13 on his chest it was small then. The vet
told me it was a fatty tumor aspirated it and said it was not cancer. I wanted
it taken off but they said the dog was to0 old and the tumor was in a
dangerous place. To make this long story short the tumor got so big I had the
dog put to sleep at age 15. A very good and informative hub. Stella

Adrienne Farricelli (author) on November 23, 2014:

Thanks MarieLB, when I took my dog to the vet for the small lump, she actually
found 2 larger ones under the skin. They felt like lipomas but are waiting on
the fine needle aspirate to make sure as there’s always those chances for
cancer. I hate the wait….

MarieLB from YAMBA NSW on November 22, 2014:

Hi Adrienne, thank you so much for this interesting article. For us dog-owners
such information is invaluable, and you have distilled the information of a
lifetime into this article. Thank you.