Lymph lumps?

**RedFawnRising** · 06-26-2008, 05:51 PM

(Say that five times real fast!)

This is Kylie, my fawn rescue girl, who's been with me a few months now:

She came underweight, with a bad UTI, a respiratory illness, a psuedo-pregnancy, and some skin troubles. All that is cleared up now, and she is now spayed.

She's since put on ten pounds of muscle and grown an inch at the withers. (She's guestimated to be a bit over a year old--but had had at least one, maybe two litters of pups.)

Here's what I'd like thoughts/experiences on:

Kylie has two small lumps, symmetrical, just behind her lower jaw line, either side of her head.

Doc says these are swollen lymph glands.

Bloodwork comes back normal.

Kylie looks to be blooming, eats great, activity level a bit too great!

I've had her to a couple different vets, a few times, over these lumps. I lost my first Dobe to cancer--so admittedly I'm a tad paranoid, but.

Options given to me are:

1. Wait six months, see if the lumps remain or if they change in any way.
2. Exploratory surgery.

Does it seem reasonable to wait and see? Or would you have her opened up and biopsied, given the normal bloodwork?

**Burns** · 06-26-2008, 06:01 PM

I would wait and see. Have her rechecked in a week or two and see if the lumps have changed in size at all. Are any of her other lymph nodes enlarged? If her bloodwork is normal, and she seems to be thriving and doing well, I'd just monitor her for now.

**RedFawnRising** · 06-26-2008, 06:08 PM

Thanks Burns--we haven't been able to palpate any other enlarged lymph glands--but these two that are big have been that way for months.

They've been re-checked a few times, no detectable changes.

Still monitor and wait? Whatcha think?

**Burns** · 06-26-2008, 06:13 PM

I would still monitor her. No sense putting her through an extensive surgery if there aren't any other clinical signs. Sounds like she's doing well, so unless something changes, I think you'll be fine monitoring her for the time being. That's what I would do, anyway

**doberkim** · 06-26-2008, 06:28 PM

Why not aspirate them to see if they ARE lymph nodes? Dogs have two salivary glands in the same area, and it's possible that they are enlarged, not the lymph nodes. No sense in putting her through surgery if it's not lymph nodes. I would aspirate them to determine if they ARE lymph nodes enlarged.

reddobes · 06-26-2008, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doberkim

Why not aspirate them to see if they ARE lymph nodes? Dogs have two salivary glands in the same area, and it's possible that they are enlarged, not the lymph nodes. No sense in putting her through surgery if it's not lymph nodes. I would aspirate them to determine if they ARE lymph nodes enlarged.

Thanks Kim, I was thinking the same thing!

Also it is not uncommon for dogs to have mild inflammation of the submandibular lymph nodes w/ any oral infections - how are her teeth?

DLS · 06-26-2008, 07:31 PM

Enlarged lymph nodes - Maltese

Q: I read your section on enlarged lymph nodes but still have a question. Our three year old Maltese has had marble sized nodes come and go for six weeks under the chin. Our vet doesn't know what to think but is not concerned because other nodes are not affected, but we am still very concerned. We have changed food and shampoo. He acts fine. We would appreciate your thoughts

A: The lymph nodes under the jaw (usually at the junction of the jaw and throat, not actually at the chin area) collect lymph drainage from the head region. When they are inflamed it is a good idea to look for problems in this region. Chronic ear infection, tooth disease, sinus infections and problems of this sort are all possible. In some cases lymph nodes enlarge when allergies are present and sometimes they enlarge for no discernible reason. Since it sounds like they have gone down you vet's approach might be best -- worry about them if they enlarge again.

Mike Richards, DVM

**RedFawnRising** · 06-26-2008, 10:10 PM

Thank you Dr. Kim.

I had wondered why neither vet suggested that--perhaps it's not a procedure they are comfortable with doing or have much experience with?

We do have some good, kind vets here, but...it's still podunk central.

I will ask about that. I would love to avoid surgery, if possible.

DLS, thanks for that info.

It leads me to another question. I'm now wondering if head trauma might cause sinus inflammation or extra drainage into those lymph glands?

Kylie has obvious behavioral clues (ducks and squints, seems to expect to get clocked), as well as some pretty severe scarring on her head and face--think she's had some rough times in her past.

Just wondering if that could be related to this?

**RedFawnRising** · 06-26-2008, 10:12 PM

Reddobes--forgot to answer your question--Kylie's teeth are bright white shiny and intact.

Unless we missed something--and I had him take a look while she was under for her spay--I think we're okay, dentally.

alwayshadpets · 06-27-2008, 06:11 AM

I too am wondering why they don`t aspirate? Seems that would answer the cancer question real quick and the cost isn`t that much. They don`t even have to sedate the dog.