Fatty Lumps

[Firstthreewords]

Hello,
my dog (9 year old JRT) has a couple of fatty lumps. One is under his leg and has remained small, but one is on his chest and has got much bigger. It is now very noticeable (about size of small egg). The vet tested them at the surgery and said they are benign but to monitor for growth. I took him back recently as I am worried about the larger one. Vet said it had got bigger but as dog is so old (?) it is better just to leave it as he may not survive an anaesthetic.
the dog is only just 9 (JRTs can live to 15) and is in rude health apart from his fatty lumps. I don’t want him to end up with a massive growth.
does anyone have any experience of this? Can I/should I press to have the lump removed before it gets any bigger?

I think it can be quiet common for older dogs and usually not dangerous if they aren't bothering the dog leave them alone

You can see lump here.

My mums lab has a fatty lump, vet said the same thing basically. He is also an old boy now. I'd leave it be unless it becomes ridiculously big

You can absolutely have it removed - but some insurance companies might view it as a 'cosmetic' procedure rather than a medical one and therefore being funny about paying out.

I had one removed from my girl (it was high on her inner thigh so when she ran it rubbed and got sore) and the insurance said it wasn't covered.

If you're worried then do it for your peace of mind - but I'd ask a second vet for another opinion before you push ahead with surgery as there may well be something with your JRT that is making your vet cautious (and they might just be facing to adequately explain it to you!)

He's so cute!! :)

If you aren't sure of the advice you were given, you can always see a different Vet for a consultation and see what they'd advise?

Personally if it's been confirmed via a fine needle aspirate that it is a Lipoma; and it is not bothering him or affecting his movement / affecting him at rest - I'd leave it.

He is an older chap but you're right, not that old! But considered senior and so that doesn't mean he wouldn't make it through the anaesthetic AGE IS NOT A DISEASE; it just means he may need more support whilst he's under. For example bloods beforehand to make sure all is well, and fluids and blood pressure monitoring whilst he's under anaesthetic.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

By the time my dear old dachshund died at over 16 he had lots of fatty lumps of various sizes. He had a couple of other lumps which were removed but the fatty ones had been tested and were benign so they were left alone.
He had an anaesthetic when he was 16 for a small tumour on a toe and was fine... 9 certainly doesn't seem 'old' for a jrt. It's probably one of those risk/benefit things where there's a small possibility of problems but really very little if any benefit to the dog of removing this lump.

Thanks all for your advice.
i was a bit disconcerted by the vet’s attitude to be honest. She was talking like he is an ancient frail old dog but he’s such a little toughie! We had never met her before and I think she was fooled by his old man whiskers (which he has had since he was young!

My 9 year old lab cross has several fatty lumps which are benign. We were advised to just leave them. They don’t seem to bother her.

If you want them removed then you could ask for a second opinion?
9 isn't old for a jrt!
Your dog is very cute!

We had this with our 12 y/old Beagle, she had a lump in the middle of her front leg on the joint and eventually got so big it broke the skin and bled. Sadly the only option was to amputate leg so we had to have her pts as it was obviously bothering her and she wouldn't leave it alone

Ahhhh he's lovely. I'd leave alone if they're harmless I've seen loads of older ones with massive ones, some well bigger than that x

my dog had a lump which was shown to be malignant, and despite this the vet thought she was rather old, jrt of 11,
we had the operation regardless.