My dog has a non-bothersome lump on her back. Is it a fatty tumor?

We would be happy to answer any specific questions you have about fatty tumors on dogs :) In general, I can tell you that they are quite common in older dogs, and most often occur on the sides, chest, and abdomen. They should feel soft and squishy, and are usually freely moveable under the skin - not attached to the underlying tissue. They are benign, and typically do not cause any clinical problems. If Freddie has some lumps that you think may be fatty tumors, it would be best to have them checked by your vet to make sure. If they are fatty tumors, they would not be expected to cause any problems in most cases.

Hello, thank you for using PetCoach. Chances are that this is a sebaceous cyst. Sebaceous cysts are usually harmless, sack-like growths with a lining that is not cancerous. In dogs, most cysts develop from hair follicles. These cysts typically appear as single, clearly defined, firm or soft lumps located in the skin or just beneath it. They are often between 0.5 to 5 centimetres in size and may sometimes have a bluish colour. A cyst can release a thick, gray-to-yellow-brown cheesy substance if it bursts. Other terms for sebaceous cysts in dogs include infundibular or follicular cysts. The lump needs to have a fine needle aspirate (FNA)/cytology to be sure of that diagnosis. Here is a link about the procedure and why it is done. It does not require anesthesia. ( https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/cytology-fine-needle-aspiration-fna ) If it is a sebaceous cyst, it will be very obvious once the vet introduces the needle into the lump. Hope this helps. Best wishes.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I work with cancer daily and I do think there is a good chance that it is in fact a benign fatty tumor as older labs get those frequently. However, it could also be something malignant such as a mast cell tumor, sarcoma, among others. This is most of the time differentiated with a test called a fine needle aspirate which is easy, cheap and pain-free. Sometimes, a biopsy is required for a diagnosis. Have Laya evaluated by your veterinarian to have this test performed to try to sort out what the diagnosis is so that the best course of action can be determined. Keeping my fingers crossed that it is something benign!

I am sorry to hear that you are worried about Lilly. Fatty growths and tumors are both possible, but less likely with such a young dog. I would also worry about an abscess for a cyst. I would encourage you to have her evaluated by your veterinarian soon. A needle aspirate may be done to help determine the diagnosis. Best of luck and I hope she does well. Thank you for using Pet Coach.

If the bump is under the skin, smooth and you can feel almost all of the way around it you are probably feeling a lipoma or fatty mass. If the bump is hard, irregular, firmly attached to the underlying area, getting bigger, or is painful to the touch then I'm more concerned about it being a tumor and I would bring Sammy in for an exam. Most masses you feel in the skin are benign and as long as you are keeping a close watch on it you should be fine to monitor it at home. It also could be from aninjury or insect bite and it may go away on its on in a week or so. If you are still concerned please take Sammy in for an exam. They can feel the bump and remove cells with a needle and look at them under the microscope. That way they can tell if it's fat, infection, inflammation or a tumor, and they can they recommend the appropriate treatment. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Sammy.

It depends on what you mean by "lumps." Lumps and bumps are very common in dogs and can be in the skin itself, sometimes with hair, sometimes without, or under the skin (the skin slides over the lump or you can move the lump under the skin). Lumps can be an infection like an abscess or a granuloma, or they can be a tumor. Lumps that are tumors can be benign (such as a fatty tumor) or malignant (such as a squamous cell carcinoma). The can occur literally anywhere in the body, and there is no one area o the body where they are more common. They can feel firm or soft depending on what their cause is. Most people find lumps or bumps just while petting their dog in day to day life. While its a great idea to make a point once a. month or so to run your hand over your dog to look for anything worrisome, theres no need to be too alarmed or concerned when you are just "on the lookout." If you do see or feel a lump or bump , call your vet and get him in to have it looked at. Thanks for asking Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

This looks like a benign fatty mass. They are common in older dogs and are not attached to deeper tissues usually. I’m glad you are watching it. The only way to know for sure is to have a needle aspirate and cytology done, which I recommend. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Jack.