What Are Canine Fatty Cysts?

Canine fatty cysts are fatty lumps under the skin. Most of the time they are harmless or benign. It is very rare, yet not impossible, for a fatty cyst to be malignant. The best thing you can do for your dog is monitor its skin. If you notice any new bumps or lumps, make an appointment with your vet to have it checked out. Understanding canine fatty cysts, or lipomas, makes monitoring your pet a little easier.

  1. Higher Risk Dogs

    • Fatty cysts tend to be found most on middle-aged to older dogs. This could be because they are not as active as younger dogs. Females are at higher risk than males, and overweight or obese dogs are more likely to get lipomas than lean dogs. Doberman pinschers, miniature schnauzers, Labrador retrievers and mixed breeds seem to lead the list of dogs with fatty cysts. Lipomas are not believed to be a genetic defect.

    Location

    • Lipomas can be found anywhere on a dog's body but are mainly found on the chest, stomach or lower abdomen area and upper legs. They are usually just under the skin, but occasionally one can end up meshed with muscle or connective tissue. Most tumors grow very slowly and do not spread over the entire body. Check these common sites on your dog every few weeks. If you notice a new growth, let your vet check it out to make sure that it is just a fatty tumor and not a malignant mass.

    Characteristics

    • Fatty cysts are usually round lumps that move freely under the skin. The edges of the tumor are usually smooth. Your dog will not lose hair around the fatty tumor or feel any pain when it's touched. The skin will not be irritated or red. The size of these cysts is not consistent. They can be very small or grow to be the size of a bowling ball.

    Treatment

    • Canine fatty cysts are generally not life-threatening or painful, so veterinarians usually prefer to leave them alone. The slight risks and possible complications that are associated with surgeries are not worth risking your pet's health. If you're dog is going to be anesthetized for something already, they may go ahead and remove the tumor at that time. Usually the cyst is monitored by the pet owner on a monthly basis. If there is a sudden change in it's appearance, it begins to bleed or gets so large it impacts the dog's movement, your vet may decide to remove it.