tumor options

Question
Hi there!

My name is Lindsay and I have a 15 year old Beagle that has a few fatty tumors. Actually, he has 7 total. They're very small and we've had a biopsy done on all of them and thankfully, they are all just fat tumors. Anyway I heard from a friend that there is a shot that can be injected in to the tumors where it can break them down. Is this true or is my friend just telling tall tales? Thank you for your help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Lindsay:)

Answer
Hi Lindsay,

If your dog's fatty tumors are not in an area where they are being irritated, causing mobility issues, or have grown really big, then there's no reason to have them removed. They are purely cosmetic, though they should be checked if you see any signs that they have changed. For a 15 years old dog, it's really common to see these kinds of lumps and bumps.

I think the procedure you've describing is injecting saline into the lipomas and thus causing them to shrink without surgery. You can certainly ask your veterinarian about this. I don't know how well it works.

I know is that sometimes these tumors can be drained, it's called a "fine needle aspirate". It can be only temporary though, as the tumors have a tendency to refill again with fluid. It's possible that when they refill they get bigger than they were before the needle aspirate procedure. It's also possible for the tumor to grow scar tissue if they're drained often. Given your dog's age though, this might be an option.

Having fatty tumors surgically removed isn't a cure-all either. If a dog is prone to develop these growths, they will reappear somewhere else. At 15 years old, your dog is probably too old to undergo the stresses of surgery.

Best of luck,

Patti