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Dr. Joel Todd Leroy Prince brings over 25 years of experience to his role as a veterinarian at several animal care clinics in Illinois, including as a partner with Elmhurst Animal Care Center. To stay up-to-date with the latest in veterinary science, Dr. Joel Todd Leroy Prince attends continuing education classes in excess of 100 hours every year. He takes a special interest in veterinary oncology.
Adipose, or lipoma, tumors grow in the fat tissue of many pets. Most common in older dogs, especially Labrador retrievers, lipomas are twice as likely to appear in female than male dogs. Cats get this type of tumor rarely, but any obese pet is at a higher risk.
Most adipose tumors are benign and tend to grow slowly enough that they don’t necessarily cause other problems. Benign adipose tumors can sometimes grow large enough to cause pain or problems with other tissues in the body, and can usually be surgically removed successfully. Rarely, this type of tumor will metastasize to other parts of the pet’s body. Liposarcomas are malignant adipose tumors that may be surgically removed, but can recur in the same place later.
Pets with suspected adipose tumors will need a biopsy to discover whether the tumor is malignant or benign and to decide on the best course of treatment for the individual pet.
Joel Todd Leroy Prince 