ASKDQ

Q: My dog has a few lumps on his chest under his skin. We have had these checked by the vet, and they are lipomas (fatty lumps). Our vet has recommended that we leave these at the moment as they do not seem to be bothering our dog, and they are only very small. However, I do know a few people who have these removed from their dogs, and I’m wondering if I’m making the right call.

Fatty lumps or ‘lipomas’ can be left alone, providing they are not affecting your dog’s usual way of life and the vet doesn’t have any concerns that they may develop into something more serious. As these lumps are not usually a cause for concern, many owners, like yourself, choose not to put their dogs under anaesthetic due to the associated anaesthetic risks. These anaesthetic risks are very real, and if your vet doesn’t feel the lumps need removing, then we would advise you to follow their advice. However, if in future your dog requires an anaesthetic for another reason, such as for dental work, you can request for the lumps to be removed at the same time.

Q: What can you do for a dog with reoccurring Helicobacter pylori bacteria in his stomach that give him acid reflux?

This condition requires a discussion with your vet as it is a tricky issue to manage effectively. If the initial diagnosis was made, and the treatment was not effective, your vet may want to refer you to a specialist in order to carry out more in-depth diagnostic tests such as an endoscope or biopsy of the stomach and digestive tract. These procedures are vital to ensure that the bacteria have been correctly identified so that they are treated with the appropriate medication to maximise the chances of success.

As well as appropriate medical treatment, it has been suggested that easily digestible diets can help manage the condition and reduce the likelihood of reoccurrence. Your vet will be able to advise you on the best overall course of action to help aid with recovery.