Q: My dog has a few lumps on his chest under his skin. We have had these checked by the vet, and they are lipomas (fatty lumps). Our vet has recommended that we leave these at the moment as they do not seem to be bothering our dog, and they are only very small. However, I do know a few people who have these removed from their dogs, and I’m wondering if I’m making the right call.
A: Fatty lumps or ‘lipomas’ can be left alone, providing they are not affecting your dog’s usual way of life and the vet doesn’t have any concerns that they may develop into something more serious. As these lumps are not usually a cause for concern, many owners, like yourself, choose not to put their dogs under anaesthetic due to the associated anaesthetic risks. These anaesthetic risks are very real, and if your vet doesn’t feel the lumps need removing, then we would advise you to follow their advice. However, if in future your dog requires an anaesthetic for another reason, such as for dental work, you can request for the lumps to be removed at the same time.
