Lump Beneath Jaw On One Side

[CareyJ]

Last night I noticed that Leila (19 month old GSP) has a lump beneath her jaw on one side. It has a diameter about the size of a 5 c piece. A search couldnt find any others, only the one. I have made an appointment to take her to the vet tomorrow but wondering what tests we should do. I'm sure they will recommend what ever is needed but I dont want anything missed out.

She has no change in activity levels (still crazy!), no change in appetite (always wanting food!), no change in condition except to put on a bit of weight over the last week or two because I added some mince. She is regularly wormed (last 2 weeks ago) and revolution each month.

The only other thing we have noticed is she has had weepy eyes on and off for the last 3 or 4 weeks - just when I start to think I should take her to get it checked out it clears up! I have just also remembered she has been reverse sneezing a bit over the last couple of days too.

Her diet consists of:

- Nutro Lamb (around 3 cups daily)

- Lamb neck - daily

- Chicken wings – daily

- Carrot – regularly

- Pumpkin

- Sardines in oil – every couple of weeks (last on Sunday)

- Whole raw egg - maybe once a week

- Peanut butter, philly in kong once of twice a week

- cheese or chunkers as training treat

The only place different she has been is at our new house on sunday and she spent the day running around in long grass and then playing on freshly cut lawn.

I'm not panick but want to ensure I give the correct info to the vet and get the tests done which are needed - i always find I walk out and remember all sorts of things I maybe should have told them!

Edited September 22, 2010 by CareyJ

[aussielover]

Definitely a fine needle aspirate for cytology (to see what types of cells are in the lump)

Possibly, and perhaps based on the FNA results, a biopsy might be required, if a diagnosis can't be reached by the FNA.

Bloods would probably be useful as well, to see if there some kind of systemic response.

What does the lump feel like?

[persephone]

The lump is definitely a lymph node swollen?

I was thinking it could be lots of things- from an allergic reaction to a sting/bite..to a little cyst, to a healing reaction to a splinter/prickle which has invaded the skin , to a lymph node reacting to allergy/infection....

Whatever- hope your fears are allayed soon

[FHRP]

There are heaps of glands in the neck, not just lymph nodes. Having had two three dogs now with neck/throat swellings, one being a foreign body grass seed, another a salivary gland infection (maybe from foreign body?) and the other being unidentified even after two episodes, years apart, I'd suggest the vets may choose to do all sorts of things depending on how it presents and what they suspect is going on! If it's associated with the weepy eyes, the vet might suspect there is some allergy reaction going on and a reactive gland and on initial visit may not even want to do an aspirate, but prefer a wait and see or anitbiotics. Having run through long grass recently could suggest either allergy or foreign body! However, Polo's grass in his neck presented as huge swelling before the nice little lump presented for removal

If you trust your vet, be guided by what they suggest in regards to tests. I prefer not to rush in with invasive tests if not necessary and thankfully my vets have the same approach.

[Staranais]

Depends what they find on their clinical exam.

[CareyJ]

Thanks for the ideas. I actually dont know if it is a lymph node - probably should have said gland...I'll change the title

The more I think about it, it could also be grass seed. But allergies seem to be highly likely - especially with the reverse sneezing going on and weepy eyes.

The lump is quite hard, round and definately under the surface - not attached to the skin. It isnt causing her any discomfort as we were prodding around and playing with it last night after I found it.

I do trust the vet, its just I always forget details to tell them. I also like to be informed and be able to ask questions like "why would you or why would you not do this?" Its the scientist in me!

[persephone]

The vet will most likely have a good idea after visual/palpation then they will probably suggest other avenues if needed.

[Rottsup]

I agree with FHRP - our Rotti bitch had a lump just as you describe, moveable under the skin in roughly the same place and roughy a similar size as your GSD. Our vet operated on it, removed the lump and we paid for it to be sent away to pathology. It turned out to be a blocked salivary duct but the object blocking it was unidentifiable. The vet said it could be a tiny piece/slither of bone or a piece of wood (she chews at the tree branches every now & then)

Our girl did not have any symtoms at all, just he lump.

Let us know the diagnosis when you know. Good luck, I am sure your vet will sort it out in no time at all.

There are heaps of glands in the neck, not just lymph nodes. Having had two three dogs now with neck/throat swellings, one being a foreign body grass seed, another a salivary gland infection (maybe from foreign body?) and the other being unidentified even after two episodes, years apart, I'd suggest the vets may choose to do all sorts of things depending on how it presents and what they suspect is going on! If it's associated with the weepy eyes, the vet might suspect there is some allergy reaction going on and a reactive gland and on initial visit may not even want to do an aspirate, but prefer a wait and see or anitbiotics. Having run through long grass recently could suggest either allergy or foreign body! However, Polo's grass in his neck presented as huge swelling before the nice little lump presented for removal

If you trust your vet, be guided by what they suggest in regards to tests. I prefer not to rush in with invasive tests if not necessary and thankfully my vets have the same approach.

[persephone]

Wondering how things went at the vets?

[CareyJ]

It's kennel cough apparently!

Sorry it took me a few days to get back on with the diagnosis.

OH took her to the vet so it is second hand info... no scratch on eyes or blocked ducts - was tested with a green dye which OH was very impressed with :p She has got eye drops and the weeping has improved already.

Although she hasnt been coughing regulary, the vet tested her throat and it made her cough (again OH was impressed!) and she has inflamed tonsils. She wasnt picky with her food up until she heard the vet say she should be on soft foods for a few days and now turns her nose up at buscuits but will happily eat soggy weetbix and honey! She is still more than happy with a chicken wing. She always has had a sweet tooth! She got a short course of antibiotics (5 days) but I'm not sure how necessary they really were.

The vet commented that she had great eyes (even though they were gunky), great teeth and strong ACLs but is too skinny! I'm quite happy with her weight now though although a couple of weeks ago she was too skinny.

And the vet is quite young and attractive so I think OH might volunteering to take Leila back if necessary! Boys

Edited September 12, 2010 by CareyJ

[Erny]

Active Manuka Honey UMF 20+ minimum (ok ..... 15+ if you're really pushed to find higher - but the higher the better). This is anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial. Does wonders for the sore throat.

I used AMH on my boy when he contracted Canine Cough as a pup. He had a sore throat with it too and didn't like to eat anything scratchy. The honey really helped with that aspect as well.

I had no case of secondary infection so there was absolutely no need for antibiotics. In fact, my local Vets in Beaconsfield were really good that way - they were the ones who suggested it probably wasn't necessary at that point. Makes a refreshing change from hearing Vets dishing them out "just because".

My boy's dose of Canine Cough was either really mild or I got on to it so quickly (or both). Cough was gone in 24 hours and he was completely over it inside 72 hours total. I kept him on the honey dosage for the whole of the week. He didn't mind that at all .

Hope yours recovers from it just as quickly, CareyJ

And it will save your OH from having the excuse for taking Leila back to the Vet's, LOL.

Edited September 12, 2010 by Erny

[Rottsup]

So did the vet say what the lump under her jaw was? Guessing she thinks it is inflamed lympth nodes or something.

[CareyJ]

So did the vet say what the lump under her jaw was? Guessing she thinks it is inflamed lympth nodes or something.

A gland. She checked all the other gland locations and none were enlarged. It is still up 4 days later.

I've got Jarrah honey - cant get manuka over here (WA). She loves honey and will happily lick it off the spoon!

We have noticed she isnt as crazy as she usually is and isnt too interested in getting out of bed in the morning. I suppose it is similar to the flu I had a couple of weeks ago and it will just run its course, with the best we can do is manage the symptoms.

[CareyJ]

Leila still hasnt recovered fully- been back to the vet once since just as she finished her course of antibiotics as the gland in her neck was still up. But tonight I got home and her stomach was all distended. I rushed her to Murdoch Uni emergency vet and they are keeping her for tests.

Just waiting now...

[RallyValley]

Fingers crossed for her! It's so scary to have to rush them to Murdoch. :rolleyes: Sending positive thoughts your way.

[persephone]

Oh :rolleyes: Thinking of you .

[CareyJ]

The emergency vet just called and although she was very good in explaining, there is still a lot I dont understand and I feel so helpless.

Based on the tests, the symptoms are diffuse organomegaly, enlarged liver and spleen based on initial ultrasound so she will need a specialist ultrasound. Two lymph nodes in her chest are also enlarged and these wouldnt have appeared on any physical exam. There is some fluid in her abdominal cavity and they have taken a sample and checked blood clotting but it is apparently in the normal range - the high end of normal but still in the normal range. They have taken samples from the lymph node near her jaw and the back of her right leg and have prepared them but the vet said she couldnt tell if the cells were normal or not.

At this stage she is not in any imediate danger and will stay there over night and be monitored. She has had to have some drugs to calm her down because she is stressing a little - of which I am not surprised about at all. It appears that it may (or may not) be lymphoma. How does this happen in a 21 month old dog?

I am desperately trying to stay off google and trying to encourage that OH does the same thing in Melbourne.

I dont really understand and I'm feeling so numb and helpless. How can it go from something as common and treatable as kennel cough to something so much more serious?

[Mas1981]

The emergency vet just called and although she was very good in explaining, there is still a lot I dont understand and I feel so helpless.

Based on the tests, the symptoms are diffuse organomegaly, enlarged liver and spleen based on initial ultrasound so she will need a specialist ultrasound. Two lymph nodes in her chest are also enlarged and these wouldnt have appeared on any physical exam. There is some fluid in her abdominal cavity and they have taken a sample and checked blood clotting but it is apparently in the normal range - the high end of normal but still in the normal range. They have taken samples from the lymph node near her jaw and the back of her right leg and have prepared them but the vet said she couldnt tell if the cells were normal or not.

At this stage she is not in any imediate danger and will stay there over night and be monitored. She has had to have some drugs to calm her down because she is stressing a little - of which I am not surprised about at all. It appears that it may (or may not) be lymphoma. How does this happen in a 21 month old dog?

I am desperately trying to stay off google and trying to encourage that OH does the same thing in Melbourne.

I dont really understand and I'm feeling so numb and helpless. How can it go from something as common and treatable as kennel cough to something so much more serious?

So sorry to hear this - will hold thumbs for you that it turns out not to be lymphoma.

[CareyJ]

I have just spoken to the vet again and she said that they are not immediately concerned but they have to do more tests to confirm what is happening. She was quite surprised that she was so young.

The enlargement of the liver and the spleen is of the most concern and the fluid in the abdomen. The fact that her lymph nodes are up is not so significant because that could come from an infection but she said it is strange that the one under her neck is so firm. They have already aspirated her lymph nodes and are proposing to also aspirate the liver and spleen with a fine needle (the size of a vaccination needle) the risk from this is haemorrhage but the benefits very much outweigh the risks which are really low.

I asked about the results of the blood work and she said it was quite unremarkable - everything is normal except for one protein (which I can’t remember the name) mabybe albamin? but that isn’t that much of a worry. Her white blood cell count is only a little bit elevated but she didn’t seem that concerned about it. They have tested the fluid in her abdomen and it is not consistent with haemorrhage because there weren’t many red blood cells. So they are do a specialist ultrasound.

So, it is quite inconclusive. She is stable and her cardio system is normal so they are not worried about anything happening in the short term.

It is very strange...we just have to wait...

[RallyValley]

I hope all is well! DON'T GOOGLE Fingers crossed for you guys! Also if you go and visit take tissues cause if your anything like me you will be bawling your eyes out the whole time!