Lipomas
Natural Remedies

  1. Home
  2. Pets

Natural Remedies for Lipomas in Dogs and Cats

| Modified on Jun 18, 2024
Add New Post Comments

Lipomas are fat deposits that are located under the skin and above the muscle. They are not hard lumps but have a dough like consistency. Lipomas do not usually cause pain, unless they are pressing on a nerve or affecting the movement of a joint. If they grow large, they can become irritating to your pet. While often considered harmless, lipomas can be a symptom of toxicity in the body. Natural remedies for lipomas include turmeric, apple cider vinegar, iodine, and dietary changes.

What Causes Lipomas in Pets?

There are many theories about the causes of lipomas in pets. Toxins in the environment, poor quality of diet, chemicals in drinking water, and vaccines may be causes of lipomas. Certain breeds seem to get lipomas more frequently than others. Older dogs are more likely to have lipomas than younger dogs.

Traditional Treatment of Lipomas

Surgery is sometimes suggested for lipomas, especially if they are causing trouble to your pet. However, surgery can be stressful to your pet, expensive for pet owners, and does not solve the root cause of lipomas.

What Natural Remedies Can I Use for Lipomas?

There are many natural remedies that are effective to heal lipomas.

Dietary Changes

Commercial dog food often contains chemicals, additives, msg, and food dye. Many dog foods also contain wheat and grains, which are not part of a dog's natural diet. Look for a higher quality of kibble that is grain free and chemical free. A homemade raw diet is also an excellent choice, though it does take more time to prepare.

Tap water usually contains fluoride, chlorine and other chemicals that have an adverse effect on your pet. Filtered water or spring water are better options for your pet's drinking water.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Raw and organic apple cider vinegar can be added to your dog or cat's food or water bowl. Some animals will drink it readily. Others may need to have it mixed into their food a couple of times a day.

Try adding 1-3 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar to each quart of water your give to your pet.

Turmeric

Turmeric can be added to your pet's food easily. For more information about turmeric dosages, see this page.

Turmeric can also be mixed with coconut oil or olive oil and applied topically to lipomas once or twice a day. Turmeric does stain clothing, bedding and furniture. You may wish to treat the lipoma at night and cover it with a bandage. Cohesive tape will keep many pets from getting a bandage off.

Iodine

Iodine can be painted on to the lipomas twice daily. Regular iodine will stain the skin an orange color and can stain bedding or furniture while it is still wet. Your pharmacy may also sell decolorized iodine if the staining is a concern.

Have you tried any natural remedies for lipomas? Please send us some feedback!

The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
Sort by Default New Loved

Castor Oil, Tea Tree Oil, Frankincense Oil

1 User Review
4 star (1) 
  100%
Write a review
Posted by Darlene (A) on 07/09/2017
 ★★★★☆

My Samoyed has had a Lipoma that started out the size of a golf ball. It was round on all sides, including where it is attached under his skin. After researching online I started following a castor oil+frankincense oil+tea tree oil regime. It did break out of the 'skin' sheath leaving exposed raw lipoma. I did it once a day, and got the lipoma down to a large mushroom cap size with a 'stem.' It is now hanging by a flap of skin but still attached, smells ghastly, but oozes the 'matter' daily.

I have been bandaging it because it is messy. Are those of you who are achieving success bandaging or leaving it open? How much castor oil are you applying? Are you drenching the area or just a few drops? Are you doing 1X a day, 2X a day; 3?

Help!

Getting discouraged as this has gone on for a few months now...

Dietary Changes

1 User Review
4 star (1) 
  100%
Write a review
Posted by Amcken3 (Wyoming, US) on 06/23/2014

Re: Lipomas and Diet: DOGS DO GET THEM...and when they are taken off a a grain diet they STOP getting them. I'm starting to think they are from GMO sugar, wheat, corn, soy, rice etc.

Replied by Linea
(Mi)
07/28/2018

My dog has been on a grain free diet for many years and he still gets them

Replied by AllieBee
(Maine)
11/27/2023

Unfortunately, this is not true at all. In fact, my wonderful rescue greyhound died from heart issues related to her 'wonderful' grain-free diet of very expensive food. My vet has now stopped recommending that food, nor any grain-free diets to cats or dogs because they cause heart issues and early loss of your pets.

Dietary Changes
Posted by Maggiem (Alexandria, Va, Usa) on 09/17/2012
 ★★★★☆

Hello, I just would like to share my experience. I have a 15 year old Lab who has had fatty tumors/lipomas most of his life. Last month (late July 2012), one of his largest tumor (the size of baseball) got ulcerated and infected; his back leg was swollen too. The vet put him on antibiotics. The medicines helped curb the infection, but the wounds were still open till now despite using the powder (PreDef) that the vet gave me. Anyway, I started to look for alternative medicines with minimal side effects.

First, I change his diet from dry kibble to no-grain kibbles. I also made his wet food using chicken, celery, carrots, and sweet potatoes. I made sure that the percentage of protein to vegetables was approx. 80%-20%. I've found an easy recipe for this on the net. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFs9Mto3bJE. I substituted rice with sweet potatoes and mixed the wet food with his dry food. I also put 1 teaspoon turmeric per meal. I also put the mixture of castor oil and almond oil on his tumor but NOT on the open wound; only the sides which are not infected.

By week two, my dog has lost 10 lbs and I noticed the tumor has shrank about 30%; but the wound was not closed and actually got worse. I went to vet again and he was put on another antibiotic; at this time, I had to stop giving him turmeric because it does conflict with the antibiotic. By this time (week 4), I change his diet to completely raw food and give him yogurt between meals and one tablespoon of manuka honey to help fight the infection. I also put raw active manuka honey (I bought it at whole food) on his open wound. Three days later, the wound started to close. I've read on many threads that manuka honey is the best for closing wounds that have been resistant to antibiotic. Just do further research online regarding this. I also give 1 teaspoon of ACV in his water bowl daily. I take what he is taking too with the exception of raw meat.

The ulcerated lipoma is noticibly getting smaller, the wound starts to close; however, another side of the tumor is starting to look as if it will "burst". I don't know whether it is the effect of putting castor oil daily or it is the sign of something is working because all of those above. I'm encouraged though and will update later. I know it will take time and patient to see whether all the treatments actually cure his problem, but it is moving to the right direction. Thank you for all of people who have posted natural remedy, I'm benefitting the results.

Turmeric

3 User Reviews
5 star (3) 
  100%
Write a review
Posted by Allie (Maine) on 11/27/2023
 ★★★★★

I make Golden Paste for my dogs once they reach middle age to keep them in great shape as they age (hopefully gracefully! ) Well, my lab spaniel mix has just turned 7, but right around that time, we noticed she had 2 small lipomas. One as right under the skin, and one was on the muscles near her rib cage. Both were around the size of a half golf ball, but our vet obviously said they were fine and we would only drain them if they got big enough to cause problems. For all the wonder and love of labs, lipomas are super common!

However, after starting her 'new' supplement of golden paste (my recipe below) both are actually incredibly hard to even find after 2 weeks of around 1/4tsp a day, sometimes twice a day.

We also had a rescue greyhound many years ago who went very lame and arthritic in her back legs, and I swear this golden paste recipe is what kept her running laps around the yard, even in the winter (safely! ) until she died in her sleep at 13.5 years old!

Recipe for dogs: (people can take it too! )

  • 1/2 cup of water
  • 1/4 ground turmeric
  • 1/2 tsp of black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon unrefined coconut oil
  • 1 tablespoon of peanut butter

Directions: Simmer water and turmeric with the coconut oil for a few minutes, stirring constantly to combine and heat it up enough. Add pepper (pinch of cinnamon too if you'd like! ) and peanut butter and stir in well while still warm but not cooking anymore. Store in a glass jar in the fridge, it lasts around a month. You can also freeze small portions.

Offer 1/4 teaspoon at a time and work your way up if you have a larger dog. I drizzle with a little raw honey on top to make it more of a 'treat' for the dogs. But all of my dogs have LOVED this recipe and devoured it, especially with the peanut butter in it.

Blessings to you and your furbabies!

Replied by Adrienne
(Kildare)
11/30/2023

Hi Allie, I look forward to trying this! But is it 1/4 tablespoon or teaspoon of turmeric?

Replied by Sherry
(NC)
06/18/2024

How much turmeric is in the recipe? It just says 1/4 ground turmeric. I wasn't sure if it was 1/4 tsp or 1/4 cup. Thank you

Turmeric
Posted by Vj (Victoria, Bc, Canada) on 10/02/2011
 ★★★★★

Editor's Choice

Just wanted to pass on the great success I had with turmeric and our dog.

Our 7 year old shepard husky cross had about a 6" x 3" fatty lipoma on his right side, just under the shoulder blade (confirmed by vet by drawing fluid out of it). It was very noticable. Looked like he was fatter on one side. I had read about turmeric on this site and shortly after went to the health food store and bought a scoop of tumeric from the bulk herb section. Cheap... don't buy the capsules, way more expensive.

I simply sprinkled about 2 teaspoons of it on his dry food and mixed it up with a little olive oil, twice/day. Within 3 weeks I could not believe how much it had shrunk. Another 3 weeks later... completely gone! Amazing! I have never before seen the benefits of a natural herb/spice work so well & so quickly.

I actually have a small fatty lipoma on my leg, and I'm trying it. You're supposed to mix it with black pepper so I just mix it up in a little water and down it quickly. Hope it works for me. All sorts of other benefit of it as well. In fact I can't believe how much more energy I have. vj

Replied by Mike
(Fl)
01/27/2017

My Miniature Schnauzer is almost 12 years old. He weighs about 20 lbs. and is in excellent shape. He's on a good feed and exercise program. He has a number of small to larger lipomas that I would like to try using tumeric to heal rather than surgically remove. Has anyone tried using a capsule form of tumeric rather than the powder? I'm thinking that might be an easier way than have to worry about getting a staining powder in his beard and having him run around the house wiping it off like he does when I add Fish Oil to his feed. If so, what brand would you recommend and dosage? My dog also gets Apple Cider Vinegar in his water every day. That has not had any effect on his lipomas. This is my first post to this site. I would be grateful for any help and suggestions that you might have for my dog.

Replied by Michelle
(Penzance , Cornwall , Uk)
06/13/2018

Turmeric needs to be taken with a little fat (Coconut oil )as it is fat soluble. Also a little black pepper for absorption.

Replied by Carol
(Pennsylvania)
08/10/2020

Love turmeric and how it worked on your dog. How much would say for a 25 lb Boston terrier?

Turmeric
Posted by Lisa (Columbus, Ohio) on 03/24/2010
 ★★★★★

I wanted to share with anyone else out there trying to use turmeric for tumors or cysts. First, have some patience, give it time to work and don't think that more is necessarily better. I first used turmeric powder (a generic store brand kind costing about $3 for a jar) on my sheltie for a cyst about the size of a small pebble. It took 3 weeks for the tiny cyst to burst. She still gets turmeric with her food as maintenance, the cyst has not come back since she's had turmeric daily. I feed her 1/2 cup of dog food twice a day. She gets 1/8 tsp of turmeric sprinkled over the food, mixed with a little warm water, enough to create a 'gravy'.

After seeing this work on my sheltie I decided to give it to my then 12 yr old lab (who weighs 80 lbs). In 2007 she had a cancerous tumor removed from her chest. At the time I started giving her turmeric (Sept 2008) she had about 13 fatty tumors (lipomas) all over her, one was especially large around her shoulder, about the size of a tennis ball. I have read on this site that others are saying these lipomas have burst and oozed, which is a little disturbing and scarey. This did not happen with my lab, they simply shrank in size OVER TIME. My lab gets about 1/4 tsp of turmeric powder twice a day with her food mixed with warm water and over the year and a half her lipomas have either shrunk considerably or are gone completely, but a few have remained the same size. The large one on her shoulder is now about the size of a gold ball. I recently counted her lipomas, I could only find 6. I just wanted to caution those using turmeric for this, just using a little may be enough, and it takes time!

Replied by Peggy
(Fond Du Lac, Wi)
07/03/2017

How many mg do you give your dog daily. I have a 65 lb springer with 6 fatty tumors that I would like to try this on. He just had a 2.5 lb pound mass removed that was a fatty tumor and do not want to put him thru this again in 4 weeks for the rest. Vet could not do all the same time of the large mass removal.

Turmeric, Coconut Oil, Castor Oil

Posted by Kathryn (Ks) on 08/27/2017

Lipoma on my lab/pitt

I'm using grocery store bought turmeric powder and coconut oil for a base in her dogfood. I'm also placing a hot towel on the mass, then slathering castor oil over the entire length and width of the mass. Once a day.

EC: Hi Kathryn, best of luck! Please report back if these remedies worked so we can apply a 1-5 star rating to your post. Thank you!



Please note that we use cookies necessary for the functioning of our website, cookies that optimize the performance. To learn more about our cookies, how we use them and their benefits, please read our Privacy Policy