Three basic types of tumor are: 

• benign fatty tumor (lipoma) 
• malignant mast cell tumor (liposarcoma)
• malignant hemangiopericytoma 

The Look And Feel Of A Fatty Tumor Vs. Cancer

Most benign lipomas grow pretty slowly, and are usually found on the trunk or upper legs.  When you touch them with your fingers, they are relatively firm but will slip and slide under the skin easily. Fatty tumors usually appear once a dog reaches at least middle age, sometimes older. The size can vary dramatically.

Unless it is positioned in a place on the body that can be irritating, such as near a joint or between a limb and the trunk where it is rubbed during movement, there is no need to have it removed.

Most vets will advise just watching it.

In addition, benign tumors are not painful, don’t cause inflammation or hair loss. 

Malignant tumors (called mast cell sarcoma or liposarcoma) on the other hand, can appear in the same areas as a fatty tumor but tend to be fixed and grow quickly. They are considered an aggressive cancer that is difficult to remove.  

Another tumor which is malignant is hemangiopericytoma. It is usually found on a leg, causes hair loss and sometimes ulceration (open wound). It is uncommon for this type of cancer to metastasize to other parts of the body, but it tends to reoccur after surgical excision, even more invasive than before it was removed.

If you want to monitor the rate of growth, there are several ways to measure it. 

• Use a measuring tape across the diameter
• Place some paper over the tumor and draw the circumference of the tumor on the paper
• Take a Sharpie (magic marker) and mark the skin directly.

Check the size every few weeks to see the growth pattern.

Fatty Tumors Like Company

Usually, if you find one lipoma, chances are, over time you will find more.

Diagnosis Whether It Is A Fatty Tumor or Cancer

A definite diagnosis requires a needle biopsy. So while your fingers might tell you it’s a fatty tumor, you might feel better going to the vet and get that second opinion. The vet’s fingers might tell him the same and put your mind at ease.

Treatment Of A Fatty Tumor

With allopathic vet medicine, the only treatment is surgical excision. With the natural approach to care, there are herbs that can be used to reduce lipomas.

Two herbs listed as anti-tumor are: 

• Tumeric Root powder which aides in reduction of fatty tumor size, aids in fat metabolism and increases production of bile which breaks down fat.
• Cats Claw powder which is an anti tumor herb.

Giving  1/8 -1/4 tsp to a 10-20 lb dog or ¼ – 1 tsp to a 20-50 lb dog daily is the normal dosage. Now if you buy normal Tumeric powder only about 2% of it contains the active ingredient, Curcumin. If you buy the Tumeric Extract Powder, it is 95% Curcumin. So you use much less, hence the higher price. So adjust the dose above.