Lipoma or wen in dogs and cats – causes and treatment

What is a lipoma (wen)?

Almost all lipomas are benign adipose tissue tumors. (fat). These tumors are usually treated by complete surgical removal. Rarely can they grow and cause problems. due to its size and infiltration into adjacent organs and tissues. Some tumors (liposarcomas) are low malignancy and relapses may occur. Spread to other parts of the body (metastases) are very rare, but multiple tumors called lipomatosis.

What is known about the causes of lipoma?

Reasons why a tumor develops in a particular animal, like and with any cancer, it’s difficult to determine. Cancer is often the culmination of a number of circumstances that occur with an individual to animals.

How common is lipoma?

A benign form of fatty tumor is relatively a frequent occurrence in animals of middle and old age. Tumors in two times more common in females than in males and more often in animals with overweight. Lipoma is rare in cats, although it is also more common in obese animals.

Infiltrative fatty swelling is very rare in dogs, and in cats. It can occur in young dogs. Most Labradors reported cases. Lipomatosis may occur in both cats and dogs. Malignant tumors occur rarely.

How can a tumor affect a pet?

These tumors, as a rule, form a soft lump (lump, tumor) under the skin, although they can also occur in the abdominal cavity. They are rarely cause discomfort if the size is small enough. Ulceration and bleeding is rare, but large lipomas may be affected necrosis, and, in the case of large size and toxic effects, can cause malaise.

How is a lipoma diagnosed?

Clinically, this tumor has a typical appearance but for identification with greater confidence you need to get a sample tumors. To obtain a sample, various procedures, including aspiration, biopsy or research surgery (for tumors in the abdominal cavity). Next, the sample should be studied using cytology and / or histopathology, which will help determine the nature of the tumor, benign or malignant.

How is lipoma treated?

Lipoma treatment consists in surgical removal.

Can a tumor disappear without treatment?

Lipoma rarely disappears without treatment, but its development may stop at some stages. Decreased blood flow to tumors are not uncommon. It will allow her to die, but the dead tissue will still require surgical removal. Own the body’s immune system can kill cancer cells, but it rarely has high efficiency.

What care is needed for an animal with a lipoma?

To reduce inflammation, friction must be prevented, scratching, licking and any other possible effect on the tumor. The ulcerated area of the body should be kept clean.

After surgery, surgical incisions must be kept in cleanliness. Any problems with sutures or bleeding should be reported to the veterinarian. If you need additional help or postoperative care tips, then again, in advance consult your veterinarian.

How to find out that the tumor is completely removed and cured?

The veterinarian, after examining the tumor samples, must give a diagnosis type of tumor. A veterinary pathologist can usually give a prognosis that describes the likelihood of relapse or metastases.

Most cases of lipomas are benign and successful. are treated surgically. Tumors of the infiltrative type sometimes hard to remove. If the lipoma could not be removed, or if it recurred, it indicates that the tumor of this type. Additional surgery is successful in prevention of relapse and further spread of more than half of the cases of this type of cancer.

Like other soft tissue sarcomas (sarcoma is malignant tumor), liposarcoma often have a relapse after operations. They rarely metastasize or spread to other body parts.

Is there a risk to family or other pets?

No, lipoma (adipose) is not an infectious tumor and is not transmitted from animal to other pets or to man.