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Edited on Tue Jan-27-09 02:06 PM by BattyDem
fatty tumors and/or benign cysts don't need to be removed unless they're bothering the animal or interfering with their activities in some way.
Since you believe it's causing her to limp, I would definitely discuss it with the vet. Certain growths can be drained, others have to be surgically removed. It depends on the type. She's 14 and I don't know if she has any health issues, but your vet may not want to put her under anesthesia. You may have to weigh the risk of anesthesia against the amount of discomfort the cyst is causing. Again ... discuss it with your vet. You may even want to get a second opinion from a vet who specializes in arthritis. The difficulty walking may not be the cyst at all - it may just be pain. With the right medication and treatment (whirlpool, acupuncture, etc.), you may see a huge improvement.
My poodle had arthritis in his back and legs, which caused him a lot of pain during the last year of his life. My vet recommended whirlpool treatments, but I thought that would stress him out too much. He had several health problems and he didn't handle new situations well. I found that putting him in the bathtub and spraying very warm water (almost hot) over his back and legs while massaging them helped a lot. He loved it! I had a shower hose that connected to the bathtub faucet. I held it in my mouth and aimed it at his back. While the water hit him, I massaged him with both hands. It made a huge difference. :-)
Good luck! :hug:
edited: typo :blush:
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