Vet Blog: Information and Advice from Dr. Eric Barchas, DVM

02/24/08

What should I do about a growth underneath my dog’s jaw?
Dr. Eric Barchas, DVM

Hi Dr. Barchas,

I adopted my retired racing greyhound, Flame, in
2002. She is 7 years old and she has been a
fantastic friend and an extremely loyal companion.
About two months ago, I noticed a drooping
portion of skin beneath her lower jaw and about
half way back towards her throat. I was able to
touch it and it’s very soft to the touch. Flame
does not seem discomforted about it at all.
Yesterday I noticed that it looked quite large.
When I touched it, it almost felt like there was
liquid inside. She didn’t seem to be acting
any different. Same great personality, still
smiling and going after her chew toys.
I was curious if this is common for a Greyhound
(or any dog)? Should I take her to the vet?

Thank you in advance for your advice. I appreciate
it.

Jenna
Millersburg, OH

The situation you are describing is common in middle-aged and older dogs of all breeds. Based on your description, the swollen area is probably not something serious. It could be a lipoma (we discussed lipomas on the blog a few days ago), a cyst, a seroma (an accumulation of fluid underneath the skin), or a large number of other things. Most of them are not serious.

However, there is a small chance that the irregularity could be something more serious, such as an inflamed lymph node or a tumor. Although these possibilities are not likely, you should still have a vet check the area. He or she will probably want to run a test such as aspiration to make sure that there is no reason to worry.

See related Vet Blog entries:
Categorized Vet Question and Answer.Tagged askavet, lipoma, lymphnode.
02/21/08

Are fatty tumors dangerous?
Dr. Eric Barchas, DVM

Our yellow Lab/Golden Retriever was diagnosed with
a fatty tumor approximately 4 years ago. The vet
said it was benign with no reason for removal
except for cosmetic purposes. The lump has
continued to grow. He will be 12 years old in
September. Are fatty tumors ever a reason for
concern? He’s very healthy and active for his
age. He is only fed Eagle Pack Holistic Senior
food.

Darlene
Mt. Pleasant PA

Fatty tumors, or lipomas, almost never cause problems in dogs. That is a good thing, because they are incredibly common. They occur in all breeds, regardless of weight or diet.

Lipomas are technically tumors, but don’t let the t-word scare you. In practice, lipomas are nothing more than balls of fat that develop under the skin. In most cases, they are completely harmless. In fact, I once met a Labrador with a lipoma the size of a basketball on its side. The dog was fine, and the people who brought him to me decided not to remove the lipoma.

Although lipomas are generally harmless, it is important to verify that the mass on your dog is, in fact, a lipoma. This is best done using a procedure known as aspiration, in which a needle is inserted into the area to harvest some of the mass for analysis. Aspiration usually can be done without sedation or anesthesia.

As well, any mass that grows precipitously or shows a dramatic change in firmness or shape may be undergoing a change in its nature. If your dog’s lipoma has changed appreciably since his last checkup, you should have your vet take a look at him.

See related Vet Blog entries:
Categorized Vet Question and Answer.Tagged askavet, dogs, lipoma, tumors.