I noticed that my dog has fatty lumps, and I don't know how or when they developed, or how to stop them from growing... is there a reason this happened? What should my next steps be??
This sounds like tumors that you'll want your vet to be aware. The vet will note the location, measurements size, and quantity. Likely, this will not require surgery, but a good vet will continue to monitor at regular exams.
These fatty lumps, also known as adipose tumors, lie just beneath your dog's skin. Any breed or type of dog can get them, and they become more common with age. As opposed to a malignant tumor, which is hard and stationary, lipomas are soft and you can move them around with your fingers. Of course, you shouldn't assume a lump you find on your dog is benign—always check with a vet to make sure. Your vet will use a fine needle to aspirate the lump or perform a biopsy. She'll continue to check the lump when you go for regular checkups to see if it has changed or gotten bigger.