Help regarding dog advice please/fatty lump

[April Snowflake]

I have a dog whom we decided about 2 weeks ago to rehome soon due to the fact that he won't leave our four cats alone. Back in June this year I noticed that he had a small lump on his head and so took him to my vets to be checked. The vet said that it was nothing to worry about and that as it wasn't bothering him, she wasn't concerned.
The lump is still there and still is no bother. I think it worries me more than anything else as I don't feel that there should be a lump there.

Anyway, with me deciding to rehome him, of course I don't want him to leave us without a clean bill of health. So tonight I took him to my vets again. She inserted a needle four times into it and then said its nothing to worry about as its a fatty lump and we can leave it be as its causing him no bother. However I don't like the idea of rehoming him with it and told her that I wanted to rehome him but I was worried about the lump. She said they can surgically remove it but it isn't necessary.

I've since been researching as much as possible and confused myself on the issue. Would it be better to get it removed before rehoming him, do you think? Or as it seems to be a cosmetic thing only am I being wrong by him to think about making him go through that - anaesthetic, stitches and the stress of being away for the day?

Obviously I want what is best for him so he's not going anywhere as yet, until I decide on what to do?

Still confusing myself, I know I need to make a decision but I want it to be the right one for him - do I get it removed or leave it be?

Thanks for any help/advice

G

[corny girl]

One of my Dogs has a fatty lump, Vet told me that if its removed 5 will grow in it's place . If those 5 are removed then there will be 25 etc.. So needless to say she still has her fatty lump, it doesn't bother her even though it's on her shoulder. If he's happy & otherwise healthy i wouldn't bother (he'd look more horrible with 5 of them!!!).

[Amazon29]

I have just rehomed a dog with 2 fatty lumps, 1 of wich was quite large. It is best not to remove unless they become a problem- getting caught on things which makes them bleed etc.
If you are worried what the new owners will think, ask your vet to put it in writting or give the new owners the vets number so they can be reassured.
I would also let people come and see him before you tell them, this may put them off for no reason.
Also- please make sure he goes to a good home...

[SilverSteno]

Fatty lumps are usually no problem, my aunts jack russel has them all over the place. She did have them removed a couple of years ago as one was on her chest that and was becoming a problem as it was affecting her breathing when running, but it wasn't long before they started to reappear.

If it isn't causing a problem, it isn't worth putting the dog through surgery.

[April Snowflake]

Thanks so much That's a great help. I was worried about trying to rehome him with them as I've not noticed anyone advertising any dogs with anything like this and worried it would put them off. Although I spoke to the vet yesterday evening about it, she wouldn't guide me either way although her first response was to basically leave it be. I am more bothered about the dog's best interests than anything else.
I would give any new owner or owner to be, my vet's details/contact regarding this if they wanted it and of course would offer it up front.

Now I need to find the best way to rehome him and decide whether or not I ask a fee for him. He's currently insured, has all his vacs up to date until July next year, was wormed last month and is microchipped. Any advice would be great, obviously I want to ensure that he gets the best home possible.

This is the first time I've ever come across a fatty lump on one of my dogs and I'm really grateful for all your advice

Thanks again
G

[thalie_knights]

Rather then ask for money for him, why not just make clear on the advertisement that all possible homes with be vetted etc? To be honest, asking money for him wont provide a more 'decent' customer - just vet the possible home until you are absolutely happy that it will be the correct environment for the dog.

[fenwoman]

Originally Posted by April Snowflake

I have a dog whom we decided about 2 weeks ago to rehome soon due to the fact that he won't leave our four cats alone. Back in June this year I noticed that he had a small lump on his head and so took him to my vets to be checked. The vet said that it was nothing to worry about and that as it wasn't bothering him, she wasn't concerned.
The lump is still there and still is no bother. I think it worries me more than anything else as I don't feel that there should be a lump there.

Anyway, with me deciding to rehome him, of course I don't want him to leave us without a clean bill of health. So tonight I took him to my vets again. She inserted a needle four times into it and then said its nothing to worry about as its a fatty lump and we can leave it be as its causing him no bother. However I don't like the idea of rehoming him with it and told her that I wanted to rehome him but I was worried about the lump. She said they can surgically remove it but it isn't necessary.

I've since been researching as much as possible and confused myself on the issue. Would it be better to get it removed before rehoming him, do you think? Or as it seems to be a cosmetic thing only am I being wrong by him to think about making him go through that - anaesthetic, stitches and the stress of being away for the day?

Obviously I want what is best for him so he's not going anywhere as yet, until I decide on what to do?

Still confusing myself, I know I need to make a decision but I want it to be the right one for him - do I get it removed or leave it be?

Thanks for any help/advice

G

leave it be if it's a fatty lipoma. Why no train the dog to leave the cats, then you can stop him having to go through all the trauma of being bounced about once again and causing yet more behavioural issues?

[fenwoman]

Originally Posted by April Snowflake

Thanks so much That's a great help. I was worried about trying to rehome him with them as I've not noticed anyone advertising any dogs with anything like this and worried it would put them off. Although I spoke to the vet yesterday evening about it, she wouldn't guide me either way although her first response was to basically leave it be. I am more bothered about the dog's best interests than anything else.
I would give any new owner or owner to be, my vet's details/contact regarding this if they wanted it and of course would offer it up front.

Now I need to find the best way to rehome him and decide whether or not I ask a fee for him. He's currently insured, has all his vacs up to date until July next year, was wormed last month and is microchipped. Any advice would be great, obviously I want to ensure that he gets the best home possible.

This is the first time I've ever come across a fatty lump on one of my dogs and I'm really grateful for all your advice

Thanks again
G

Just out of interest, what breed is the dog and how old? Is it neutered and how long have you had it? Are you definately commited to get rid of it or would you work on it with a view to making it behave with the cats? If the latter, I for one would be happy to try to offer advice as I'm sure would others on here with similar levels of experience.

[April Snowflake]

Thanks for your kind offer to help(((thanks, I do appreciate it))) but we haven't decided on this lightly and have been discussing it since July this year, so its not a quick decision. We've tried to work with him during the past five months with this and it's been getting worse. I have an elderly cat which I worry about with it a lot. It's a problem that has started this past summer and its got even to the point where he is urinating on the cats when they are laying down!
He tries to round them up and also gets randy with them, nasty with them at other times.

None of us are happy with the situation and the family have agreed that it would be better for him to be rehomed by himself where he'd be the only dog, preferably with someone who wants a great little lap dog. This dog was great to start with but then has seemed to get over obsessed with all the animals around him. He doesn't focus on us at all when animals are about, just them. And when I have him alone and away from here, at my mum's for example, he's back to being that great little dog. I don't want to sound like I'm making excuses or anything but there is only so much time to give entirely to him here as I have the others to think of too who also need my time. And here the problem just seems to escalate.

I have him insured as a pappilon cross though I've been advised by the grooming parlour that he seems more phalene pappilon, the type with the ears down? It's been suggested that he's not much of a cross or he's maybe pappilon x cav. He's three years old and tri colour. We've had him for a year and a half. He's not neutered though we have discussed that with our vets also previously.

G

[feorag]

I'm no expert, but I would have thought, judging by the behaviour you are describing that neutering would have been one of your first options to try and start sorting him out??