Liposuction For Fat Dogs? Why Not?

Liposuction for humans is usually performed for cosmetic reasons, and only occasionally for reasons of health.

Liposuction for dogs, however, is almost entirely for medical reasons. In canines, the surgery is carried out to remove masses of fat, called lipomas, which are benign tumors composed of adipose tissue.

Lipomas are most common in older dogs, particularly older Labrador Retrievers, Doberman Pinschers, and Miniature Schnauzers. Overweight female dogs are especially prone to developing these tumors and most older or overweight dogs have at least one lipoma. In dogs, lipomas usually occur in the trunk or upper limbs.

Although the lipomas are benign, the operation to remove them used to be quite invasive and required as many as 30 stitches to close the wound. The reason that removal is advised by veterinarians is because, if they grow too large, they limit a dog’s ability to walk.

Liposuction is regarded as non-invasive since it requires only one incision; recovery time from the procedure is usually around two days. It also requires less anesthesia than the older procedure, which makes it safer for older animals.

One of the veterinary hospitals offering this service is the Animal Clinic Northview in North Ridgeville, Ohio. The cost varies from $850 to $1,100 for dogs weighing over 51 pounds (23 kilos).

Tracy Thompson, practice manager at the clinic, told the Daily Mail, “This procedure is very fascinating and a great alternative to the traditional method of removing lipomas, which involves a larger incision, is more painful and has a longer recovery time for the patient.”

The popularity of the new procedure can be measured by the fact that the clinic has already completed 35 of them, and many pet owners have traveled from other states for the treatment.

In 2011, a study was undertaken to analyze the results of the liposuction procedure. It found a success rate of 95 percent regarding the removals, but did point out that the lipomas could return in some cases.

Liposuction for dogs sounds like a joke. It isn’t!

But will the next request be for Botox?

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