Brace to support dog lipoma

[Weezer]

Hello all,

My 14 year old dog has a large lipoma just in front of his back left leg. He’s not a candidate for surgery so we’re managing it. It doesn’t seem to bother him or slow him down. We go for 5KM hikes almost daily and I do worry that the weight of that thing swinging around may be putting extra strain on his joints. He has also torn the CCLs in both back legs in the past so although he’s moving very well these days, I’m alert to potential leg injuries.

I’m wondering if I should try to rig up some sort of sling to support the lipoma on hikes? Anyone have experience with this sort of thing? It doesn’t seem to slow him down, but the lipoma has also grown significantly over the last year.

My husband says just let it be and he’ll tell us when he’s not up for hikes anymore. But my experience with beagles is that their desire to sniff and hunt will always beat out signals to avoid pain.

[NaturallyHappy]

I don’t really have any good ideas…could you wrap it w vet wrap and go over his back…sort of like stifle ice boots?

[RhythmNCruise]

Vet wrap was the first thing I thought of too!

My concern with any sort of brace fashioned to hold the lipoma is that it might add pressure to other parts of his body. He’s probably made his own adjustments to compensate for the lipoma on his own due to dealing with it as it has grown. But something added to hold the lipoma might interfere with his hip, back, etc. and cause more of an issue than it helps.

Maybe if he wears a harness and you can somehow use the vet wrap around the lipoma and then attached it to his harness? As long as it isn’t causing pressure on the harness that might impede his shoulders or back, etc.

I’d feel a vet out on this plan and see what they suggest.

[MissusS]

I’ve seen someone using what looks like a harness but for the hind/underside for a very active dog who has a large limpoma very similar to your dogs. I would ask your vet for recommendations, or see if they can refer you to someone who could help customize something for you.
I’m happy to hear your senior still loves his walks. I’d love to see a photo of his front side too!

[Weezer]

Hi all,

Vet wrap is a great idea! He does wear a harness on walks so I could try rigging something to that.

But I also hear what you’re all saying that he may have sorted it out and I could risk making things harder for him if I tinker with it. Maybe I’ll try something once and see how he react.

Here’s a photo of him with his sidekick. She has learned all the beagles’ worst habits, including howling

[Bluey]

Beautiful dogs. Beatle don’t look like has slowed up any, is ready to boogie there.

Since is getting bigger, maybe ask vet again, ask if a referral to a university vet program may want to look at him, see if they have any idea how they could address that?

[moonlitoaksranch]

They have post surgical clothing for dogs. I have three outfits for our 13 year old spaniel because of incontinence issues. One might help support it.

[Weezer]

The vet school idea is a good one, however we are several hours from either of the two vet schools in our area.

[Weezer]

That’s a great idea, I’ll look into it.