sobesmom Posted December 4, 2009 Share Posted December 4, 2009 I noticed a lump about a week ago, while petting him. It's about a half inch past the corner of his jawbone, in my mind, about where you'd feel a lymph node on a human. The place on your kid's neck that you feel when they say they have a sore throat. I mentioned it to DH, and he said "yeah, I noticed that a couple days ago" . Gee, thanks for mentioning it! Anyway, it was Thanksgiving, so I decided to check it out, watch him and wait a bit. I normally try to take a "wait and see" attitude now. So I measured it with my fingers, it was about 3 fingers wide, oval shaped. He's got no other symptoms at all. I checked it Monday, and it seemed smaller, so - I decided to "wait and see" a bit longer. Still no other symptoms. He does seem to "hack" occasionally - like a cough.... just one at a time, and only randomly. When DH and I talked about that - DH remembers that Sobe started that a couple weeks ago. Apparetly I just didn't pay attention. Tonight I checked it, and it seems to be smaller still.... a finger and a half wide, and now round instead of oval, and not sticking out as far. So - is it possible that it was just a swollen lymph node? Do dogs have lymph nodes in the same place people do? From some virus or cold or bug or something? Do dogs get colds? He's still normal as always. I'll keep an eye on it, but right now, I'm still doing "wait and see". I have NO problem taking him to the vet. I just don't want to run there for nothing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest eaglflyt Posted December 4, 2009 Share Posted December 4, 2009 It could be several things, but my first thought is that it might be a problem in his mouth. Perhaps a bad tooth/teeth, a sore area in his mouth that has been infected, or perhaps a wound from something he chewed, or even some type of bite. Any of those things can certainly cause this type of swelling. However, it could be something completely different, too. Does he have any fever at all? Pain in the area or in his mouth? A friend of ours took their dog to the vet for something similar and the vet advised a dental cleaning. During the dog's dental, the vet found an entire large paperclip that had lodged itself completely around one of the large back molars and slipped under the surface of the gum. It could only have been found during a dental or perhaps an x-ray of the jaw. Thankfully, after the dental and a short course of antibiotics, all is well. The owners also never saw the dog anywhere near a paperclip, so they were baffled as to when or how this happened. If the lump continues to stay the same, becomes sore, enlarges, or if your boy has any temperature elevation, I'd suggest a vet visit right away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sobesmom Posted December 4, 2009 Author Share Posted December 4, 2009 OK - stupid question. How do I take his temp? In the recum I assume, as the vet does. Can I just buy a normal thermometer? How long do I leave it in? What's a normal temp? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest mcsheltie Posted December 4, 2009 Share Posted December 4, 2009 (edited) Buy a digital rectal thermometer. It will beep when it is done cooking. Normal temp is 101.5 But it can vary a bit, usually lower than higher tho. A thermo meant for the mouth is not accurate rectally. It sounds like you felt a lymph node. But the causes of why it is swollen can be many. Anything from a dental problem (infection), to viral, to a disease process. I would just keep an eye on it. Along with getting smaller it should be getting softer too. Roo had aspiration pneumonia this fall. My husband freaked out when he felt her lymph nodes until I reminded him of that. I'd watch him like a hawk for any other symptom. With the coughing he might have a mild case of flu or Bordetella. Edited December 4, 2009 by mcsheltie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest eaglflyt Posted December 4, 2009 Share Posted December 4, 2009 If you have a regular rectal thermometer, just shake it down and lubricate it on the end with a little petroleum jelly or KY jelly. Place it gently in the rectum (about an inch or a bit more) and wait 2 to 3 minutes. Hold onto the thermometer while it's cooking ... you don't want to accidentally *lose it in there*, or for it to fall out and break. Remove it gently and check the temp. Then clean it well. ; ) Normal rectal temp. for a dog is 100.5 - 102.5 F. If it's 103 F, or above, it's time to go to the vet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest FullMetalFrank Posted December 4, 2009 Share Posted December 4, 2009 (edited) Here is hoping it is nothing. Just curious, and I am sure someone else knows this, but isn't there a salivary gland back there, too, right by the lymph node? Any chance that could be swollen? I thought that lymph nodes usually swell bilaterally.... Still, if it ere me I'd go to the vet if it does not resolve itself in a couple more days. Edited December 4, 2009 by FullMetalFrank Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nyGreys Posted December 4, 2009 Share Posted December 4, 2009 Sending prayers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest momto5greys Posted December 4, 2009 Share Posted December 4, 2009 Yes, dogs do have lymph nodes there. I only know this from my experience with Cammi. Hers have been noticeable but then she has been living with a carcinoma (which I've been told is stable) for 2 years. The vets call hers reactive. They have been biopsied and have been OK. Dunno how much longer that will be though as she now has a lump under her chin about the size of an almond. Good luck with Sobe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest OurLacyandJax Posted December 4, 2009 Share Posted December 4, 2009 Good luck to you Sobe - hope it's nothing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cmc333 Posted December 4, 2009 Share Posted December 4, 2009 Gypsy has a lump in her neck that is smaller than a golf ball. Took her to the vet and it is cancer of the thyroid. Other possibilites can be blocked/torn salivary gland, infection of the lymph node (are any other lymph nodes swollen?), abscess of a bad tooth, or a foreign object being stuck. Good luck. Connie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greytdecals Posted December 4, 2009 Share Posted December 4, 2009 We are going through this with Petey right now...only his lumps are in his face above his mouth and they are bi-lateral. I would go to the Vet and have a fine needle aspirate done to see exactly what you are dealing with. You would definitely not be running there for nothing. Any lump, IMHO, that does not belong is not normal. Petey's are reactive lymph nodes caused by infection. Good luck Sobe! Quote Suzie Collins Owner/Artist Skinny Hound Designs Greyhound decals, magnets and signs. Fur kids: Isabelle and Petey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest mybabies3 Posted December 6, 2009 Share Posted December 6, 2009 I noticed a lump about a week ago, while petting him. It's about a half inch past the corner of his jawbone, in my mind, about where you'd feel a lymph node on a human. The place on your kid's neck that you feel when they say they have a sore throat. I mentioned it to DH, and he said "yeah, I noticed that a couple days ago" <img src="http://forum.greytalk.com/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/eek.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="eek.gif" /> . Gee, thanks for mentioning it! <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/angryfire.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="angryfire.gif" /> <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/rolleyes.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="rolleyes.gif" /> Anyway, it was Thanksgiving, so I decided to check it out, watch him and wait a bit. I normally try to take a "wait and see" attitude now. So I measured it with my fingers, it was about 3 fingers wide, oval shaped. He's got no other symptoms at all. I checked it Monday, and it seemed smaller, so - I decided to "wait and see" a bit longer. Still no other symptoms. He does seem to "hack" occasionally - like a cough.... just one at a time, and only randomly. When DH and I talked about that - DH remembers that Sobe started that a couple weeks ago. Apparetly I just didn't pay attention. Tonight I checked it, and it seems to be smaller still.... a finger and a half wide, and now round instead of oval, and not sticking out as far. So - is it possible that it was just a swollen lymph node? Do dogs have lymph nodes in the same place people do? From some virus or cold or bug or something? Do dogs get colds? He's still normal as always. I'll keep an eye on it, but right now, I'm still doing "wait and see". I have NO problem taking him to the vet. I just don't want to run there for nothing. My experience in the past two weeks is as follows: My 9yr old male was acting fine, eating fine and still had all of his energy. I noticed that his lymph nodes were swollen on both sides of his neck and behind both of his back legs. I only let it go for two days before I took Schultz to the vet. I too thought it was a dental infection or abcess tooth due to him having poor teeth. The first look from the vet I knew it wasn't his teeth. He said he thought it was lymphoma. Two days later I took Schultz to an oncologist and with x-rays, bone marrow testing and blood work it was confirmed that it was lymphoma. He started chemo that day. He had his 2nd round of chemo yesterday. Hopefully with just one side of your friends dogs being swollen it is not the case and it is face something other then what Schultz has however, when in doubt, act immediately. Thank God, based on all of the tests it has been caught in the early stages. If it wasn't for the swollen nodes I would have never suspected anything wrong with Schultz. The vet said 9 times out of 10 the swollen nodes are the only tell tale sign of the disease. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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