Removing a wen from a dog at home

Types of wen and their features

There are 3 types of lipomas, which are classified depending on the location:

1. Intermuscular. These neoplasms have diffuse properties - they are able to penetrate soft tissues, causing acute pain and discomfort when moving skeletal muscles. Cannot be treated. If a lipoma occurs in the intermuscular space of the legs, the limb swells and the dog begins to limp.
2. Internal. Appear on organs: liver, gastrointestinal tract, lungs. Pathology can only be diagnosed by performing an ultrasound scan from a veterinarian.
3. Superficial. They are located on the skin in the form of nodules. Soft neoplasms contain only adipose tissue and do not pose a threat to the animal. If the tumor feels like a dense lump, it is made of connective tissue.

In the absence of treatment and unfavorable living conditions, many wen may appear in one place. The accumulation of tumors is called lipomatosis.

What is a wen?

A fatty tumor is a benign tumor that forms in the connective tissue where fat cells form. In exceptional cases, lipomas are located on internal organs.

The neoplasm is not associated with cancer and cannot develop into cancer. It can be determined visually; the swelling under the skin of the animal is easily visible and can have different sizes. A small lipoma looks like a ball; as it grows, the shape spreads out. More often it is mobile and can be felt directly under the skin. In this case, the dog does not have other symptoms:

• changes in body temperature;
• lethargy;
• disorders in the digestive system.

There is a type of wen that is “pedunculated”, then upon palpation you will feel the attachment of the ball. Externally, wen can be confused with other phenomena, but there are distinctive features. With an abscess, the skin at the site of infection is hot, with a hematoma, a bruise is visible. In both cases, the tumor is not so soft and mobile.

Causes of wen appearance in dogs

There are causes of lipoma in animals:

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• Hereditary predisposition;
• Unfavorable environmental conditions;
• Unbalanced diet;
• Kidney and liver failure;
• Protein metabolism disorder;
• Diseases of the digestive tract;
• Hormonal imbalance and pathologies of the endocrine system.

Sometimes a lipoma is formed due to blockage of the lumen of the sebaceous gland with sebum or dirt, which causes inflammation. The swelling is subsequently overgrown with adipose tissue.

Diagnosis of lipoma in a dog

To diagnose lipomas and, first of all, for differential diagnosis, if a dog is suspected of having a lipoma, a biopsy is performed. Fine needle aspiration is often the method of choice. This procedure has many advantages, as it is easy to perform, does not require general anesthesia or local anesthesia, and is performed in a short time. The downside is the impossibility of making a final diagnosis only on the basis of aspiration puncture with a thin needle. Microscopy of the resulting lipoma smear reveals a characteristic picture of mature fat cells with abundant vacuolated cytoplasm and monomorphic round nuclei. The cells do not have atypia and can form lobules of various sizes, separated by layers of fibrous connective tissue. Lipomas in dogs are differentiated from other tumor lesions, primarily from mastocytoma, a malignant tumor of mast cells.

Cytological picture of a lipoma in a dog (Litvinov N.V., with the permission of the author)

Complications caused by lipoma

In the absence of external and internal irritants, superficial lipomas do not pose a threat to the life of the animal. In a benign formation, there is a risk of cancerous degeneration of cells. This phenomenon is observed when receiving burns or when an infection is introduced into the site of the lipoma, when the tumor is damaged or due to improper treatment. Wen can transform into a malignant neoplasm called fibrosarcoma. Dogs at risk include:

• With a hereditary predisposition to developing cancer;
• Regularly scratching and biting the wen - constant irritation of the skin leads to cancerous degeneration;
• With metabolic disorders;
• Those who do not receive care and live in unfavorable environmental conditions;
• With dermatological diseases.

The greatest danger is represented by wen covered with dark spots. The latter are an accumulation of melanin. The pigment appears due to the fact that the lipoma absorbs ultraviolet radiation. The risk of a fatty node degenerating into a cancerous tumor increases by 40%. To exclude the possibility of malignancy, a biopsy of adipose tissue is performed.

Sometimes wen can grow under the influence of external factors. A tumor on the skin that increases in size interferes with movement. Internal neoplasms compress blood vessels, nerves and internal organs, complicating the peristalsis of smooth muscles. When nerve fibers are pinched, the dog feels pain.

If the superficial tumor is not removed, it will continue to grow. Subsequently, the wen located on the chest, paws and abdomen begins to curl. The adipose tissue contained in it will compress the vessels that deliver oxygen and glucose to the lipoma. As a result, the part of the neoplasm that does not receive nutrients dies. Necrosis gradually develops, requiring surgical intervention.

Are wen dangerous for dogs?

Since wen in a dog does not transform into a cancerous tumor, such neoplasms do not pose a direct threat to the life of the animal. In most cases, lipomas do not cause any pain to the dog. However, if a dog has a large enough wen, it can sag significantly under the influence of its own weight, which causes a lot of inconvenience to the animal, including complicating its free movement. However, wen, which does not pose a danger, is often confused with a dangerous disease - liposarcoma. In this case, the tumor is characterized by uncontrollably rapid growth, which does not limit anything. Therefore, you should never ignore the presence of a lipoma in your pet; measures should be taken to diagnose the disease and treat the lipoma.

What to do first

It is necessary to recognize the lipoma as soon as possible, and then take the animal to the veterinarian. Superficial lipoma can be detected visually in short-haired dogs. The neoplasm should be examined by parting the hairline and palpated. The wen looks like a small oval-shaped swelling with a smooth surface. Pressing your fingers on the tumor should not cause pain or discomfort in the animal. Lipoma can be either soft or firm to the touch. The neoplasm remains mobile.

Long-haired pets should be examined for wen during water procedures. The thick undercoat will not allow you to examine and palpate the tumor in detail when the dog remains dry.

How to treat at home

Drug therapy and physiotherapy are not prescribed for the treatment of lipoma. Any drugs, electric current and magnetic waves will not be able to destroy the fatty and connective tissue contained in the tumor capsule. Folk remedies are considered ineffective for resolving tumors.

The low results from drug and alternative treatment are due to:

• Increased blood supply to lipoma;
• The location of the tumor in hard-to-reach places: between muscles, on internal organs, in the subcutaneous fatty tissue of the skin;
• High risk of cancerous degeneration of cells.

The effects of drugs lead to tumor growth, so self-treatment of wen is considered life-threatening for dogs.

What is lipoma

Wen are not just inflamed areas of an animal’s skin, but full-fledged benign neoplasms that occur in furry pets. The dog breeder’s question about what it is can be answered: a lipoma is a small nodule, combined from adipose and connective tissue, which is surrounded by a capsule. The density of the neoplasm depends entirely on its content. If it is dominated by adipose tissue, then it will be soft to the touch, if connective tissue will be hard.

Lipomas are common and diffuse. The second type is less common; its difference is that they do not have a capsule of connective tissue around the node. Regardless of the type, the main property of the wen is growth. The increase in size occurs quite slowly, but it is accompanied by the fact that the tumor presses and pushes apart the tissues that are closely adjacent to it.

Wen, in most cases, threatens an obese animal, as well as pets who can no longer be considered young. Lipoma has a formidable “twin”, a malignant tumor - liposarcoma, which requires rapid surgical intervention. However, this type of cancer differs from a wen in that it grows very quickly and aggressively. The muscles of the limbs and the area behind the peritoneum of the dog are particularly vulnerable to such sarcoma. If the owner does not want to risk the health of his furry friend, then when the first signs of a tumor appear, you need to show the animal to a veterinarian. Next, we will try to determine the reasons why wen appears on the body of dogs.

What to do if the wen is inflamed

If the tumor swells and gradually increases in size, it will need to be removed as soon as possible. It is prohibited to get rid of wen at home using a knife:

1. Violation of the integrity of the capsule leads to infection. If pathogenic microorganisms get inside the tumor, a purulent abscess will begin.
2. Excision of the skin to remove large tumors without the use of painkillers leads to the development of painful shock. When getting rid of small wen, the dog will experience discomfort and acute pain, constantly tear and run away from the owner.

What does the disease look like?

There is also a formation on the skin called papilloma. Papillomatosis in any breed of dog manifests itself in a latent form when an infection enters the animal’s blood. When papillomas appear in a dog, this is the first symptom of the disease. Papillomatosis is unlikely to be confused with a lipoma, since papillomas are localized on the surface of the skin, lipomas - only in the subcutaneous fatty tissue and the skin above them has a normal surface.

Such tumors, unlike wen, do not reach enormous sizes and appear on the pet’s mucous membranes - on the nose, lips or directly in the mouth. Papilloma in all dog breeds looks like a pimple with a rough surface and can appear alone or in groups; you can see more details in the photo.

The wen usually grows slowly, gaining volume and increasing in size. At first it looks like an oval seal with a lobed, smooth surface; when palpated, such a seal seems clearly defined and movable. At the beginning of its development, the tumor is absolutely painless for the animal, but as it grows and increases, it begins to compress neighboring tissues, affecting the nerve endings in them, and the dog may begin to experience pain.

If a dog's wen becomes too large, then it begins to hang down under the weight of its own, in which case the blood flow of the tissues worsens, they begin to die and become inflamed.

Diagnosis of lipoma in a veterinary clinic

To determine the type of tumor, a specialist uses diagnostic methods:

• Performs an external examination: excludes tissue pigmentation, identifies other neoplasms on other parts of the body;
• Palpates the skin;
• He takes a piece of tissue for a biopsy: using a syringe, the veterinarian pierces the wen capsule and collects cells from the deep layers of the lipoma for analysis;
• Excises the tumor with a scalpel if necessary.

The last diagnostic method is used only if the wen capsule has been damaged. The veterinarian strives to obtain information about the tumor quickly, because an infection could have entered the open wound. If the tissue begins to fester, the dog requires urgent surgical intervention.

Diagnostics

Fine needle aspiration will indicate whether the lump is a benign lipoma, or something more dangerous that mimics a lipoma. If aspiration is unsuccessful, surgical removal or histopathology may be required.

Infiltrating lipomas may require a computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging scan to accurately determine the location of the lump. This can be important information for the surgeon when deciding which lump can be removed and what approach should be used for surgery.

How is a wen removed?

Lipoma is treated with surgery. The operation is performed in a hospital and is not complicated - the dog is sent home immediately. The cost depends on the size of the tumor and its location. Veterinarians often set prices from 1,500 to 4,000 rubles for removing a wen.

Small tumors are removed using a local anesthetic, larger tumors are removed under general anesthesia. In order for the operation to proceed without complications, the dog should not eat food the day before the procedure. You can give your pet water.

The surgical intervention takes place in several stages:

1. The veterinarian disinfects and excises the skin over the tumor. The wound is washed with water to remove excess blood.
2. Adipose tissue is located in a capsule, which is penetrated by many capillaries. After excision of the skin, the specialist separates the lipoma from the vessels and surrounding skin.
3. The main vessel supplying the tumor is ligated.
4. After cleaning the capsule from adipose and connective tissue, the skin is sutured. Air is first removed from the cavity and washed with antiseptics.

Intermuscular and internal lipomas require layer-by-layer dissection of soft tissue. To detect this form of neoplasm, veterinarians use ultrasound. After surgery, the tumor may reappear. Relapse of the disease can occur as a result of stress received during surgery or metabolic disorders in the dog’s body.

During the postoperative period, the owner must follow the recommendations for caring for the pet:

• Treat seams with an antiseptic;
• Apply antibacterial and anti-inflammatory ointments to the wound;
• Give the animal wound-healing drugs, vitamins;
• Put a collar on your dog to prevent him from biting or licking the stitches.

If the size of the lipoma does not exceed 1 cm, then the operation is not performed. Swellings do not cause pain or discomfort and have a low risk of degeneration into a malignant tumor. Surgical intervention is not performed on puppies and elderly pets - they may not survive anesthesia. Old pets are prescribed intramuscular injection of Ligfol in an individual dosage. The drug helps reduce the rate of tumor growth and prevents cancerous degeneration of cells.

Why does it appear

Wen most often appears in older dogs and overweight animals. Common places for such tumors to appear are the chest, abdomen, and upper paws. Such formations can also grow on internal organs - the heart, lungs, uterus (mastocytoma in dogs), and digestive organs.

It is also believed that wen can appear in animals with metabolic disorders or with a genetic predisposition to the occurrence of such formations.

How common is the disease?

Tumors called wen are quite common not only in dogs; they can also occur in other animals: cattle, horses, cats. Even hamsters and pet rats sometimes have small, mobile balls under the skin.

Prepare before going to the vet

In the office, you may have to provide the veterinarian with all possible assistance (hold the animal while they take blood for analysis, give an injection, extinguish aggression, calm your voice, scratch its ears, stroke it). If you know that you are terrified of blood, IVs, or definitely cannot withstand the type of medical interventions, then perhaps you should ask a friend or relative for help.

Find a veterinary certificate, veterinary passport.

Take:

• Leash;
• Collar;
• Muzzle;
• Carrying;
• A pack of napkins;
• litter;
• Bowl, water (at the veterinarian's discretion)

Prepare answers to possible questions from the veterinarian:

• Are all vaccinations up to date on the animal?
• Pet’s behavior in recent days, appetite;
• His diet;
• What drugs and medicines did you give to the animal;
• Latest test data (if available).

It’s better to make an appointment in advance - you’ll save time and be able to calculate when you’ll have to take time off. This does not apply to life-threatening situations where you will have to take an animal to a veterinary clinic without an appointment.

Be affectionate with your pet, play, talk to him. You can take his favorite toy with you so that while you wait for your turn at the reception, you can distract your friend from the new environment.

Furry, feathered or scaly ones also need to be prepared. No matter how much you want to treat your little one with something tasty, remember: you need an empty stomach. Feeding is prohibited!

You can wash your animal without using detergents. But it is important not to touch your pet if there is nasal discharge, watery eyes, salivation (salivation), dandruff, scratching, rashes, skin scabs, loss of hair/feathers/scales, wounds and other external manifestations of a potential disease.

If the veterinarian has instructed, collect the animal’s urine in a sterile container, and pick up the feces with a stick (no blades of grass, specks, or debris). Transfer the feces into a sterile container. Send to the biochemical laboratory within 6 hours. The feces are examined for eggs of roundworms, pinworms, tapeworms, liver flukes, echinoccus, alvecoccus, pork tapeworm, bovine tapeworm, and gastrointestinal bleeding is detected.

At the veterinary hospital, the animal’s blood will be analyzed for antibodies to allergens, viruses, bacteria, and parasites.

Choosing a veterinary clinic

We determine the veterinary clinic where you plan to go. A big PR company doesn't promise quality. The price is explained by the huge amount of money invested in advertising and “signboarding” of the establishment.

It’s great if you can ask your friends about clinics where their pets were treated “humanely.” If you travel far from them, it may be worth sacrificing time for the health of your pet.

A few more tips on how to spot an unverified veterinary clinic:

1. Refusal to provide certificates and licenses for veterinary activities.
2. Strange and suspicious behavior of the veterinarian (inconsistency, flattery, attempts to intimidate, shouting).
3. Prices are too low (compared to other organizations).
4. Refusal to freely visit the veterinary clinic.

“We have a sanitary day”

Beware of scammers!

When you contact the veterinary clinic, you are informed: “we cannot accept you at this address, sanitary day/repair/inspection.” How much intelligence does a dispatcher have? The client is persuaded to have a veterinarian come to his home. The price does not change.

A veterinary clinic can exist purely nominally. And the invited “Aibolit” will not bear responsibility. There is a high probability of running into a person without a veterinary diploma or simply an unprofessional.

It is better to find time to visit the veterinary clinic on your own. This is safer for the animal.

Games on feelings

In real veterinary clinics there will be elements of “divorce”.

Veterinarians say that this is often determined by the client’s wallet. The greater the opportunity to pay for services and the more the owner worries about his pet, the more likely the animal will be prescribed additional immunostimulants, dietary supplements, water-soluble and fat-soluble vitamins, and special food. There are cases when this is really necessary (pedigreed, show animals, weakened after a serious illness). But it will be good if you ask your veterinarian in detail about the need for each appointment. Find out in detail about the results of the examination and analysis of your pet’s condition. Be persistent. Do not give in to attempts to intimidate you, be consistent in your questions. Consult a specialist who does not work at this veterinary clinic. If it turns out that half of the prescriptions are prescribed to enrich the veterinarian’s pocket, and not for the health of the animal, feel free to leave. And do not forget to leave a negative review about the organization - other owners may also suffer.

How to find out the truth

Another possible way for veterinarians to make dishonest money is to conceal the diagnosis. Let's say a veterinarian discovers a malignant tumor in a cat. But if he says that the tumor is benign and treatable. A housewife who dotes on her pet will give money for already useless procedures, medications and surgical interventions.

The veterinarian may deliberately “downplay” the diagnosis in order to earn more money. If something doesn't add up, insist on clarification. There is no need to be intimidated by unfamiliar terms - take a short break and try to find information on the Internet.

You are free to leave (or threaten to do so) to another clinic at any time.

Make sure that the veterinary clinic is honest - get tested in an independent laboratory.

Justice

What to do if an animal was injured as a result of unprofessional actions of a veterinarian:

• Write an official complaint addressed to the head of the clinic.
• File a complaint with the city veterinary department.
• You can contact Rospotrebnadzor.
• Contact a lawyer for help

The Law “On the Protection of Consumer Rights” and Article 245 of the Criminal Code “Cruelty to Animals” are the grounds for considering claims regarding the work of veterinary clinics.

Saving

What to do if funds are limited and your pet needs medical care:

• Some procedures can be carried out independently. Giving a drug injection to a cat or dog is not difficult. Dressing uncomplicated wounds is also sufficient. Ask your veterinarian to teach you.
• How to properly give a pill to an animal: hide it in a lump of tightly rolled minced meat. If the animal bites through the decoy, you can crush the tablet and dissolve it in water, milk, liquid porridge, or food.
• If an animal has been prescribed a course of vitamins or some other non-medicinal but expensive drugs, it may be worth finding analogues at a lower price.
• There are various benefit programs in which you can participate. This could be, for example, sterilization, castration, or vaccination of an animal.

Important points

1. Refusal to vaccinate. This is dangerous for the animal and all those who will come into contact with it (people). Vaccination is a scientifically proven method of preventing many infectious diseases. Get your animal vaccinated by a trusted veterinarian (or with his approval yourself). It is important to get vaccinated against rabies - this is a fatal disease induced by the Rabies lyssavirus virus, which cannot be cured, but can be prevented.
2. Anesthesia - inhalation, intravenous, anesthesia - epidural, conduction. They are necessary so that the animal does not suffer, to prevent painful shock. The veterinarian’s “hands on” are important here - both overdose and weak anesthesia lead to serious consequences (shock, poisoning, death) for the animal.
3. Sterility, antiseptic. If you see that the veterinarian does not follow the rules of antiseptics (reuses disposable syringes, diapers, bandages, does not treat hands with antiseptic after contact with the previous animal), the best choice would be to contact another veterinarian.
4. Important medicines:
5. Antibiotics - amoxicillin, tilozil, trimethoprim, sulfadiazine, lincomycin, marbofloxacin;
6. Antipyretics - paracetamol, salicylic acid preparations, antipyrine, butadione, amidopyrine;
7. Anti-inflammatory drugs - vedaprofen, choline salicylate cycloferon, aspirin;
8. Anesthetics - novocaine, lidocaine, dicaine, trimecaine;
9. Hemostatics - fibrinogen, thrombin, vikasol, phytomenadione, calcium chloride, etamsylate;
10. Antiparasitic - praziquantel, aversectin, albendazole, ivermectin, fluralaner.

If you care what happens to your pet, you should not neglect appointments.

Don't let unverified veterinary clinics endanger your pet and profit from their owner's feelings! If you have time and desire, it is worth trying to achieve justice in case of violation of ethical or legal standards.