Worried..swollen lymph nodes.

[Lil Bits Mama]

I would appreciate any information of where the other lymph nodes are located on Yorkies. My Lil Bit was not comfortable tonight..just wasn't his peppy self. He is 19 months, 4 1/2 lbs. He did eat his dinner fine. No vomiting, but draggy. He kept moving on my pillow and I got up and took him out. Putting his sweater on, I checked to see if nose was dry. It was. As I checked him further, found his lymph nodes in neck are quite swollen. Only thing that has recently changed was he started snoring a few weeks ago. He never snored before. Not sure where to feel for other lymph nodes. Vet is closed tomorrow, but if still swollen may drive to another town if he seems ill or in any discomfort. Any suggestions or comments?

[lillymae]

Swollen Lymph Nodes are a sign of something going on , usually near the area of the swollen gland. Not really something to mess around with. I would take him in to see the vet as soon as possible.

[Rachael x]

Lymphadenopathy in Dogs


Lymph nodes (or glands), are small masses of tissue that can be found throughout the body. They play an integral part in the functioning of the dog's immune system, acting as filters for the blood, and as storage places for white blood cells. Consequently, they are often the first indicators of disease in the tissues.

When tissues become inflamed, the regional lymph nodes that these tissues drain into will also become inflamed and swollen in response. This swelling is due to a reactive increase in white blood cells (hyperplasia) due to the localized presence of an infectious agent. This is medically defined as reactive hyperplasia: when white blood cells and plasma cells (antibody secreting cells) multiply in response to a substance that stimulates their production (antigenic stimulation), causing the lymph node to enlarge.

Lymphadenitis is a condition in which the lymphatic glands have become inflamed due to infection. Neutrophils (the most abundant type of white blood cell, and the first to act against infection), activated macrophages (cells which eat bacteria and other infectious agents), and eosinophils (cells which fight parasites and allergy causing agents) will migrate into the lymph node during an episode of lymphadenitis. This convergence of cells results in the swollen feel and appearance of the nodes.

Cancerous cells may also be found in a lymph node biopsy (tissue sample). Cancer cells may be primary, originating in the lymph node (malignant lymphoma), or may be there as a result of the spread of cancer from another location in the body (metastasis).

Symptoms and Types


Lymph nodes can usually be detected by touch, but sometimes there will be no clinical symptoms. Swelling can be felt in the area beneath the jaw (submandibular), or around the shoulder. Swelling in one of the legs is also possible as a result of swollen lymph nodes at the back of the leg (popliteal), or near the joint of the leg (axillary – correlating with the armpit). Swollen nodes in the area near the groin (inguinal) may make defecation difficult for your dog. Your dog may also lose its appetite due to nausea, and have an urge to regurgitate when it does eat. You can also expect your dog to feel a general malaise as its body fights off the infection. If your dog has severely enlarged lymph nodes it may have trouble eating, or have difficulty with breathing.

Causes


Lymphoid hyperplasia: when lymph nodes react to an infectious agent by producing an excess of white blood cells, but are not themselves infected
Lymphadenitis: when the lymph nodes themselves are infected either primarily or secondarily
Infectious agents:
Sporotrichosis: fungal infection of the skin, acquired from soil, hay, plants (most notably, garden roses); affects the skin, lungs, bones, and brain
Bacterial:
Rickettsia: transmitted by ticks and fleas
Bartonella spp: transmitted by biting flies
Brucella canis: sexually transmitted; acquired during breeding
Pasteurella: transmitted through the respiratory system
Yersinia pestis : transmitted by fleas and possibly rodents; also known as the plague
Fusobacterium: infection of the mouth, chest, throat, lungs
Francisella tularensis: tularemia; transmitted by ticks, deer flies, and by the dispersion of gases from an infected animal carcass (frequently occurring during lawn-mowing)
Mycobacterial: transmitted by infected water supply
Non-infectious agents:
Allergens: lymph glands respond to an allergic reaction in the body by producing more cells – usually occurs in the lymph nodes near the site of the reaction
Immune-mediated disease: the body’s immune system over-reacts to an invasion, or reacts inappropriately
Eosinophilic infiltration: multiplication of white blood cells responsible for controlling allergy response, or for fighting parasitic agents
Canine hypereosinophilic syndrome: excessive eosinophils, may be associated with leukemia, blood marrow infection, asthma, or allergy

[Rachael x]

Diagnosis


Your veterinarian will perform a thorough physical exam on your dog. A complete blood profile will be conducted, including a chemical blood profile, a complete blood count, an electrolyte panel, urinalysis, and a blood smear.

Lymph node aspirates (liquid) will also be taken for microscopic (cytologic) examination. Abnormal tissue growth, or tumors (neoplasia), and fungal infections can also be confirmed via cytologic examination of lymph node aspirates.

You will need to give a thorough history of your dog's health, including a background history of symptoms, and possible incidents that might have precipitated this condition. The history you provide may give your veterinarian clues as to which organs are causing secondary enlargement of the regional lymph nodes.

Other useful blood tests include serologic (blood serum) tests for antibodies against systemic fungal agents (Blastomyces and Cryptococcus), or bacteria (Bartonella spp.). Radiograph and ultrasound imaging will allow your doctor to visually inspect the affected lymph nodes, and may also enable detection of lesions associated with lymph node enlargement in other organs.

Treatment


Your veterinarian will prescribe medication dependent on the underlying cause of the lymph node enlargement.

Living and Management


Some infections are zoonotic, meaning that they can be transmitted to humans. Systemic diseases, like sporotrichosis, Francisella tularensis, Yersinia pestis, and Bartonella spp, are zoonotic. If your dog has one of these zoonotic diseases, ask your veterinarian what precautions you will need to take to avoid infection.

[Lil Bits Mama]

I really appreciate the information! My Lil Bit did not sleep well all night, but did eat a small portion for breakfast - with no vomiting or obvious nausea. His swollen glands were not swollen this morning!? I was pleased and wondered about allergies as a front did blow in yesterday.. But now the glands are swollen again!? I called the vet knowing he was out today, but made an appointment for tomorrow to have him checked. Will post after his check up. Thank you again for the info.

[Patti]

Good luck at the vets tomorrow.

[Rachael x]

Good luck at the vets, I hope Lil Bit is feeling better soon.

[Lil Bits Mama]

My Lil Bit does not have swollen glands today! I am so relieved as my vet is still out w/the flu.. I do intend on taking him in as soon as vet returns as the swelling went back and forth for the past 2 days. He has had several health issues and has in the past gone from "just not himself" to extremely ill, so better safe than sorry. This site is great and I wanted to let all know as of now he is doing fine, but won't take any chances after reading about lymph nodes! Thank you YT members for all your info and concern. Never spent much time on line until now!

[TresCutePiggies]

I don't want to scare you, but when my bullmastiff had swollen lymph nodes he ended up being diagnosed with lymphoma. That particular breed has lots and lots of loose skin under the neck/chin and big jowls, so we really never noticed that his nodes were swollen. One day it appeared that he couldn't see at all very suddenly, which is what prompted me to take him to the ER vet immediately. The cancer had spread to his eyes and he did lose vision in one of them permanently. We were able to treat him successfully with chemo for two years.

It could also be something minor like allergies as you said, but it's so much better to be safe than sorry. I really hope your vet finds it is nothing.

Oh, as to other locations for lymph nodes, his oncologist showed us that another easy place to check them was between the back legs kind of where their inner "thigh" meets the body. I hope that makes sense.

Please keep us updated. I hope your vet is feeling better tomorrow, and you can get in to see him.

[sophie123]

Hi Lil bits mama, I have a 6 year old Yorkshire terrier who appears to have the same swollen lymph nodes in his neck that your yorkie had. It has followed dental work and extractions of a few teeth. They appear to come up and down in size and he has no symptoms such as loss of appetite or vomiting or diarreoha and he is his happy, normal self as far as I can tell. could you let me know what the outcome was of your yorkies swollen neck glands, was it investigated further? did the vet do a biopsy? was it an innocent enough, minor problem? any help would be greatly appreciated. I am new to this site.
thanks in advance,

sophie

[dollydoodle]

This isn't quite an answer to your question but maybe it will ease your mind a bit. My 4 year old Roxie had a very swollen lymph node in her neck, just one side. It NEVER changed in size, except getting bigger with time. It was cancer. (So to me your dog's doesn't sound like cancer.)
Good luck.

[mimimomo]

Originally Posted by sophie123

Hi Lil bits mama, I have a 6 year old Yorkshire terrier who appears to have the same swollen lymph nodes in his neck that your yorkie had. It has followed dental work and extractions of a few teeth. They appear to come up and down in size and he has no symptoms such as loss of appetite or vomiting or diarreoha and he is his happy, normal self as far as I can tell. could you let me know what the outcome was of your yorkies swollen neck glands, was it investigated further? did the vet do a biopsy? was it an innocent enough, minor problem? any help would be greatly appreciated. I am new to this site.
thanks in advance,

sophie

Hi, Momo has the same thing, I think it also appeared after his 1st dental cleaning. I thought it was swollen lymph nodes & took him to the vet & she felt all his other lymph nodes throughout his body & they were not swollen. It ended up being his saliva glands, they're located right next to the lymph nodes on his neck. On his 2nd dental cleaning, they aspirated the saliva gland & did a biopsy, it came back as salivary tissue, no cancer cells. Momo still has the swollen salivary glands, but it doesn't seem to bother him (just me, vet couldn't tell me why it was there & I want to know why!). You can get your Yorkie checked out, it might not be the lymph nodes @ all, I hope he'll be ok!

[sophie123]

Originally Posted by dollydoodle

This isn't quite an answer to your question but maybe it will ease your mind a bit. My 4 year old Roxie had a very swollen lymph node in her neck, just one side. It NEVER changed in size, except getting bigger with time. It was cancer. (So to me your dog's doesn't sound like cancer.)
Good luck.

Hi there, thanks so much for your reply. I am SO sorry to hear that your Roxie had cancer, so sad I have been worrying myself to the point where I havent been sleeping at night. He is roughly 6 years old my little Teddy, he had his dental work done here they extracted quite a few teeth and then scraped and polished the remaining ones, they gave him anti biotics and painkillers after and before he had his dental done, I pointed out that he had been at his bottom quite a lot of late and they discovered he had a burst anal gland abscess on the right gland. Before that it would have been an infection. After tending to that and doing the dental work, they put him on a 7 day course of anti biotics as mentioned above, his bottom has cleared up fine, but he's still got these noticeable lymph nodes on his neck under the jaw. After taking him back to the vet to have this checked out, she said the glands were not up any where else on his body and it was confined to his neck only. He is not coughing, has a huge appetite, is energetic and loves his walks and overall appears happy and healthy. I am taking him for a biopsy at the end of this month if they are still up. Can you tell me how they biopsy the neck glands and also the speed of the deteriotion of your Roxie when she was diagnosed with cancer. I really am sorry for your loss Thanks so much for replying xxx

[sophie123]

Thanks so much for your reply, i am so sorry about your roxie

[sophie123]

dollydoodle, how long did it take once the cancer was diagnosed for roxie to deteriorate?