I had mentioned on Val's thread regarding the lump that she found on Faith that I too found a lump on Mya last week. It's on her upper back/lower neck and a bit hard to locate, but I took her to the vet anyways to get it checked out.

He told me that he highly believes that it's just a fatty deposit and that at this point he wouldn't want to get it removed because it's still small. He said to give it a month and if it's grown to take her back to him and he'll determine if it needs to be taken out or not.

I guess this is good news, but I still don't like the fact that she has it

That is good to hear, I strongly hope that the vet is right and that it is just a fatty deposit. Fatty deposits are normal, Melissa, most dogs have them whether you can feel them or not.

When we took Faith to the vet for her lump, the vet told us that she could feel a small fatty deposit, not in the same spot as her lump but nearby and it was of no concern to her.

well lets hope the vet is right and she will be fine, sounds like a normal thing but better safe they sorry on having it looked at.

Crossing all of my fingers and toes that the vet is right! I think he is, but I still can't help, but worry. I'm going to be touching it like everyday.

Ack! I'd be nervous about that, too! Especially the wait a month part. It may be worthwhile to get a second opinion just to be on the safe side, as well as your own sanity.

My parent's dog had fatty deposits (and they were LARGE lumps that were really disconcerting at first) all over his abdomen and legs. He started getting them around 9 and had them and continued to get more until he died of old age at 16. They are totally normal. It's good to get them checked everytime a new one appears and to monitor them, but unless she's showing other signs of something being wrong (lethargy, change in appetite, change in vital signs), I personally would have no qualms trusting my vet on it. I'd just be sure to take her in if there were any changes to the lump.

On the other hand, a second opinion clearly never hurts. I wouldn't feel the need to personally here, but I also wouldn't look down upon anyone who did

Glad to hear Mya is okay and keep us posted! You're a good husky-mom for taking her in

I think I'm going to trust my vet on this one. If it gets bigger I'll take her back and if he says it doesn't need to come out then I'll definitely get a 2nd opinion.

Thanks Tori, you'd take Hailey or Koda in right away also =)

Even people have benign fatty deposits that they'll have for a life time, hell I have a big one that runs from just below my rib cage to my belly button.

Beth tells me its from my former beer drinking habits. No way!

Melissa, I'm glad it's just a fatty deposti! Dakota has a growth right under his tail and it freaked me out too! The vet said it was nothing and no sense having it removed when it doens't bother him. I give my two messages all the time so I will be able to tell if there is any differences on their bodies...and they love it!

Well, Mya went for her follow up today and the vet said that it's definitely just sebaceous cyst. WOOHOOO...RELIEF!

She also got micro chipped and didn't even flinch. She was such a good girl all around. She did awesome in the new car. No whining or anything! I did put the back seats down so that she would have more space and I think she loves it!

She laid down looking like the pretty princess that she is..lol




Then at the vet's office there was A HUGE French Mastiff that wanted to eat her, but she remained very calm and sat in between my legs. She's normally wanting to go up to other dogs. Proud momma over here

Definately keep an eye on that, I would never trust a vet on such things again. The former shepherd of my grandpa had several of these deposits like the vet said, in the end he died of cancer.

I'm definitely keeping an eye on it and if I see it grow at all then she's going right back and they're taking it out! Don't care what he says. I trust him though so I think she should be ok =)

That's a good idea Melissa. We're keeping a close eye on Faith's lump. I am so worried that the vet is wrong because Faith's lump is right on her mammary gland and she wasn't spayed until we got her at 4 yrs old. My fear is that it could be breast cancer. I plan on getting a second opinion at a different vet either in December at our old holistic vet when we are visiting FL or in February with a new, different vet at her annual exam. I'd feel much better with a second (or third) opinion from a completely unrelated vet.

MelissaI wrote:

I'm definitely keeping an eye on it and if I see it grow at all then she's going right back and they're taking it out! Don't care what he says. I trust him though so I think she should be ok =)

Did your vet aspirate it at all? If they did, he would be able to tell if it's mostly fatty cells or not.

No, he said he didn't feel the need to. It's small and he felt it for a while and said it was fatty. I'm going to keep on watching it and if it gets even a little bigger I will go for a 2nd opinion. I trust my vet VERY MUCH, he has wonderful reviews online, and all of the patients parents (lol) always speak very highly of him in the waiting room.

Either way, that's my baby girl so I wouldn't think twice about a 2nd opinion if I see it grow even a tiny bit!

Actually, I think it might be smaller. It took me a minute to find it in order to point it out to him. I don't know if fatty deposits shrink or maybe it was just the position that she was in.

Could be the position she wa sin, I noticed one on Anubis a few days ago and yesterday I wanted to check it and I didn´t find it.
But I´m sure fatty deposits come and go.

Hi there
I hope Mya is ok after your concerns about that lump. Not sure if you got anymore confirmation back from vets.

Just to let you know my girl developed a lump also on side of her upper neck two years ago. .We took her to the vet
At first vet said it was benign and nothing to worry about. Then it started to get bigger we took her back to the vet Vet did another aspiration and it identified as malignant mixed tumor growing and cancerous.They removed in May 2010. Vet said that he couldnt give me any guarantees that there were no other cancer cells in her body but her lungs were clear at the time after a exray. He said we would know if the lump re-appeared within 3 months . I did not proceed with chemo anyway as Laska was 13 at the time. Wasnt prepared to put her through chemo but give her best quality of life. Started her on immediately K9 Immunity tablets, transfer factor, DHA fish oil tablets, home cooked dog food best nutrition I could provide and ofcourse daily walks also milk thistle tablet once a week for her liver to keep that healthy. Had her checked up after the op every couple of months that year. All was going well no signs of any new lumps or bumps. Maybe this K9 was working, living in hope ofcourse. Laska become more energetic, apetite returned, eager to go on walks like new release of life. So I thought cancer must have all gone or into remission. May this year 12 months later a new lump same place started to grow, I though the worst things cancer come back . The vet said after feeling it, lets get rid of i immediately. Poor little laska, another operation going on 14 now. Vet couldnt confirm if cancer as aspiration they did, did not show any cancer cells. I did not want investigate, again lungs were checked and clear time. Its now december 2011. Laska is still with us no reappearance of lumps on her neck or anywhere on her body. She is slowing down because arthritus is starting to kick in but as for cancer all I can do is hope that this K9 supplements are keeping cancer cells away. This my story and from my experiences all can suggest is ensure that you always have you dogs lumps checked out and get a second opinion. Laska does have a small fatty lump along her mammory line, she is spayed but we have this lump aspirated regularly and it has not got any bigger. I also give laska Synflex for dogs which is fantastic for oesteoarthritis and also try fish treats with good omega. I dont any dogs to go through what I went through so just some info from my experiences. Ofcourse SIBE is different. Also on another note because laska had cancer I wont give her cartrophen injections. I have read that cartrophen can stimulate some cancers to grow I read it on an MSDS ( Material Safety data sheet) . Cartrophen is used for arthritis. I am not saying dont use it but read up on it before you give it to your dog. I am very analytical now after what I have gone through probably overso but all I can say is that Laska is still with me at 14 and half years of age, walking well eating well sleeping well so I think and hope I am doing something right to keep her strong.

Hi Mellisa
how is Mya doing, any more news on that fat lump you found?

My dalmatian has them all over! When the first one appeared like you I FREAKED out! The vet also told me it was a fat deposit. She has a bunch all over now and each new one does freak me out, but she doesn't seem bothered by them, so we just pretend like they aren't there. Hope you're baby is doing well.

Laura Newson wrote:

Hi Mellisa
how is Mya doing, any more news on that fat lump you found?

Sorry Laura, I didn't see this post before. The lump is the same. Hasn't grown at all and doesn't seem to bother her. We're definitely keeping an eye on it and if I see any changes she'll be going right back to the vet. I'm going to take them both in before we go on the camping trip to have their micro chips scanned (just in case) and I'll have the vet take a look again just because I'm paranoid..lol.

Hayden_69 wrote:

My dalmatian has them all over! When the first one appeared like you I FREAKED out! The vet also told me it was a fat deposit. She has a bunch all over now and each new one does freak me out, but she doesn't seem bothered by them, so we just pretend like they aren't there. Hope you're baby is doing well.

Wow Kelly, all over, huh? I would definitely freak out every time a new one popped up as well

Aw Lauran thats so sad.


My "getting old" (she's almost 11 now) doberman rescue dog has a lump she'll be getting removed on the 3rd of January because it's a malignant tumor It's on the side of her mouth. She's been terribly patient about it as it's been growing in size for some time, but I wanted to make sure our family vet was back in town (i swear i trust you temporary vet!) She's lost a little bit of weight as well as it's been pulling her bottom lip down making it difficult for her to eat.

MelissaI wrote:

Laura Newson wrote:

Hi Mellisa
how is Mya doing, any more news on that fat lump you found?

Sorry Laura, I didn't see this post before. The lump is the same. Hasn't grown at all and doesn't seem to bother her. We're definitely keeping an eye on it and if I see any changes she'll be going right back to the vet. I'm going to take them both in before we go on the camping trip to have their micro chips scanned (just in case) and I'll have the vet take a look again just because I'm paranoid..lol.

Did your vet ever get the lump aspirated? This will definitely tell you for sure if it's just a fatty deposit. With Storm's lump, it was mostly fatty tissue, but there were abnormal cells. The smaller the lump, the less it'll cost to remove, and if it does have abnormal cells, You've at least have caught it way early.

Sorry to hear about all these lumps.

I second what Claudia said. It's easy to get it aspirated and it will put your mind at rest (but maybe you did this already).