Fatty Tumors on My Sheltie

[BigBlueHen53]

My beagle has a fatty tumor on her side by her front leg, it doesn't bug her so we are leaving it alone. She's not sick or anything and vet said it's nothing to be concerned with unless she starts acting sick. They said most fatty tumors on dogs are nothing and that usually tumors you can't feel are the ones that you should be concerned with (like ones in throat, lungs, and other areas)

Your dog is fine! You won't lose her. My beagle has had hers for 2 years and she's perfectly healthy and happy. Don't stress or be sad because your dog can feel your emotions and they feed off them. Head up! She's good.

Thank you, that's good to know! I'm bipolar though, so telling me not to emote is a bit like telling me not to breathe .... information really helps though, so all you guys telling me about your dogs and your experiences is VERY calming! I'm breathing again! It will be a couple of hours before I leave for the vet, and a couple more hours after that before I pick her up again. .. and I don't know if I'll even get the lab results from the needle aspirates today ... but I knew you guys would help, so thank you all SO MUCH!!

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Generally fatty tumors are just unsightly. Good luck, and try to relax.

Thanks, trying, lol!

 

[FortCluck]

Thank you, that's good to know! I'm bipolar though, so telling me not to emote is a bit like telling me not to breathe .... information really helps though, so all you guys telling me about your dogs and your experiences is VERY calming! I'm breathing again! It will be a couple of hours before I leave for the vet, and a couple more hours after that before I pick her up again. .. and I don't know if I'll even get the lab results from the needle aspirates today ... but I knew you guys would help, so thank you all SO MUCH!!

Lucy says Don't Worry, Be Happy...

 

[21hens-incharge]

My Sheltie, Gracie, has had what seems to be a lipoma (fatty tumor) on her left flank for quite some time. She is aboit 10 years old. It has been getting larger in the last few months, going from about the size of a walnut to now it fells almost the size of a lemon. But also I am feeling more of them. There is one on her right pectoral muscle (breast) and one on her left rib. There may also be one on her right rib, but this one feels different. It's flat and hard. None of them seem to bother her.

So I'm taking her to the vet later today to get some needle aspirates. But .... BYC family, I need some support from you guys. What should I expect? Is this horrible news, or should I take a deep breath and just chill? Am I going to lose my sweet girl? Please help, I'm crying already, thinking the worst. My Catastrophic Thinking is kicking in! Thanks! View attachment 1946708

My old guy is quite lumpy. He was seen last Tuesday and I had them give the lumps a check.
Most are fatty lumps. He has 3 that are flat and hard but not something to worry about. I forget what name the vet have those.......

My guy is a BIG dog at 32" at the shoulder and 105#. He is 11 now and we expect a couple more years at least.

I had a dog many years ago that developed a big lump in a foreleg. We had it removed because it was seriously tennis ball sized. It was benign. Later in her life there was cancer but it was much later and she had already been living with lifelong health issues from age 2 onward.
She still lived a long life for her size. She was 15 years old when she left us. The cancer did not take her....It was old age.

What I am trying to say....I am really hopeful for your Gracie.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Gracie is so pretty! Always good to have a check. Please keep us posted on you furbaby

Thanks, @glassdragonfly ! Hopefully I will have something to report later today.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

My old guy is quite lumpy. He was seen last Tuesday and I had them give the lumps a check.
Most are fatty lumps. He has 3 that are flat and hard but not something to worry about. I forget what name the vet have those.......

My guy is a BIG dog at 32" at the shoulder and 105#. He is 11 now and we expect a couple more years at least.

I had a dog many years ago that developed a big lump in a foreleg. We had it removed because it was seriously tennis ball sized. It was benign. Later in her life there was cancer but it was much later and she had already been living with lifelong health issues from age 2 onward.
She still lived a long life for her size. She was 15 years old when she left us. The cancer did not take her....It was old age.

What I am trying to say....I am really hopeful for your Gracie.

Thanks, @21hens-incharge , that really helps! I am not ready to lose my Gracie yet! She is a PITA in some ways but I love her with all my heart. I appreciate all the encouragement here. I feel so much better! I don't know what I would do without my BYC family!

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Lucy says Don't Worry, Be Happy...

View attachment 1946724

Thanks, Miss Lucy!

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Well, we are back home, and we have news. I didn't know whether to say "good news and bad news..." The really good news is is that, as you all indicated, there is no cancer, so whew! The other news is that because of where they are located and the size of them, at least two of them do need to come off. She's scheduled for surgery on Wednesday, Nov. 6. They are located in joint areas and are soon going to interfere with her action. This one is located kind of in her groin. She is lying on her right side and the vet has lifted her left rear leg. You can see the lump, but that's only part of it. I didn't even know that was there. When she's standing, I can feel a lemon-sized tumor on her left side between her ribs and her hips. The tumor shown in the first picture here is an extension of the one on her side, so it's pretty extensive. The vet says if it wasn't for the location he wouldn't mess with it.

If it comes out easily and quickly he says he'll also try and get the one on her pects, but I am not hopeful.

Edit: deleted second pic.... and description of it. Sorry, sorry!

 

[CatWhisperer]

Good news, sorry she has to have surgery but better now than later when she is older and the lipoma is bigger and more invasive.

 

[NHMountainMan]

Bummer on the need for surgery but glad they remain benign. Hope the surgery goes well- and please let us know!