Large lump on throat

[TAT191]

My 4 year old lab has a large lump on his throat. It went from nothing to the size of a grapefruit in 3 days. He has seen a vet that thought it was an abscess. They lanced some holes and drained a little out to discover that it is a clear liquid tinged with some blood. They then did not drain it and put him on 2 500mg Amoxicillin pills twice a day. This was Friday and today (Sunday) it seems a little bigger so we do plan on returning to the vet Monday morning but I was wondering if anyone out there may have any ideas of what this is?

thanks,

Stephanie

[luckypenny]

I couldn't begin to guess Stephanie, I just wanted to say that I hope it's a simple infection that'll go away soon . Did the vet take a sample of the fluid to test?

[hazelrunpack]

Maybe some sort of cyst? at the vet tomorrow--I hope they figure out what's going on with your dog soon, Stephanie!

[TAT191]

I was so suprised when we picked him up & the lump was no smaller that I forgot to ask if they were testing it. I will ask tomorrow when we take him back. Thanks everyone.


Stephanie

[hazelrunpack]

Please keep us updated on what they find, TAT191!

[TAT191]

Does anyone have any experience with salivary gland infections or blockage? I have been doing some online research and that is what it sounds like to me. Any questions to ask the vet would be great!

I will be sure to update after I speak with the vet tomorrow. Thanks again everyone!


Stephanie

[Chris21711]

Originally Posted by TAT191

Does anyone have any experience with salivary gland infections or blockage? I have been doing some online research and that is what it sounds like to me. Any questions to ask the vet would be great!

The odd time I get a blockage in the salivary gland (always the same one), which then causes a neck swelling, depending on how long it takes to clear the lump gets larger each time my mouth waters. It can be quite painful until it finally clears. Apparently it is caused by stones, similar type of thing as kidney or gall bladder stones.

[TAT191]

Thank you all so much. It is 12:26 and I am still waiting for my vet to get out of emergency sergury so that I can speak with him. We have been putting warm rags on it and today it has started to drain a little out of the holes that they put in it. It is also feeling softer today. It is a pink liquid but it does not look like puss. I will come back & update when I do get to speak with the vet.

Stephanie

[TAT191]

Originally Posted by Chris21711

The odd time I get a blockage in the salivary gland (always the same one), which then causes a neck swelling, depending on how long it takes to clear the lump gets larger each time my mouth waters. It can be quite painful until it finally clears. Apparently it is caused by stones, similar type of thing as kidney or gall bladder stones.

This is on you & not your dog? What did they do for you & how long did it take for it to clear up? Thank you so much!

[Chris21711]

This was on me TAT...the longest episode lasted half a day, I actually went to the clinic with that one, they gave me antibiotics for it, wouldn't you know it after picking up the pills on the way home the stone passed. It's is a weird feeling, to have a gush of saliva in your mouth......I do know of someone who was hospitalized for it and had to have surgery.....I guess it depends on the size of the stones.

[rainbow]

Hope you get some answers at the vet today.

[rainbow]

TAT191, do you have an update for us?

[SolaMio]

This happened to Sola last summer! I didn't know what the heck it was, basically looked like she had swallowed a tennis ball. She looked uncomfortable but wasn't "complaining" or anything. I took her to the vet and that's what it was, an infected salivary gland. Apparently if it happens frequently they do operate and remove the glands, but from what I understand because of the way the glands are situated in the dog's jaw, they have to take quite a bit out, and it can cause more problems down the road (with food digestion maybe?). This is just what one vet told me and I'm paraphrasing

Sola was just given a round of antibiotics and the swelling went down almost right away.

I *think* it was caused from chewing on sticks in the backyard
Maybe she got a little splinter lodged or something, could have caused some irritation or a little cut.

Don't know if this helps but that was my experience with it... Good luck