Causes of Swollen Lymph Nodes
Enlarged lymph nodes may be referred to as lymphadenopathy or lymphadenomegaly until the reason for the enlargement is determined. One or multiple lymph nodes can become swollen, and this typically occurs due to an underlying disease or infection. If you notice a lump where your dogs lymph nodes are, you should not wait to have it examined by a veterinarian.
Some of the common underlying causes of swollen lymph nodes include:
How is anal sac disease treated?
The treatment for impaction is to express the sacs and flush out the solidified material. Infusing the affected sac with anti-inflammatory and antibiotic medication may also be required. Because this can be painful, treatment may require sedation.
For infection, the sacs must be expressed, and oral antibiotics may be administered to kill the bacteria. Most dogs will respond well to pain relief medications and antibiotics, such as amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (Clavamox®) or clindamycin (Antirobe®), that are prescribed for several days until the swelling and inflammation have subsided. Your veterinarian may also recommend using warm compresses for additional pain relief.
Your veterinarian will let you know when your dog should be reassessed. This reassessment will likely include expressing the anal glands again and may require a repeat infusion of anti-inflammatory and antibiotic medication.
If the anal sacs are abscessed but have not ruptured, surgical treatment to lance the abscess may be necessary.
Symptoms of lymphoma in dogs
According to Dr. McCullough, swollen lymph nodes are the most common sign of lymphoma. Still, dogs can also experience loss of appetite, weight loss, lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea, difficulty breathing, increased thirst and urination and fever.Â
Dog’s Anal Gland Problems: 12 Ways to Prevent and Treat
There are many reasons your dog could have swollen lymph nodes. The most common assumption and fear is that your dog has Lymphoma, which is a quite serious diagnosis. And while this is a possibility, there are several other common health problems that could be causing these swollen glands in your dog.
Inflamed lymph nodes are referred to as Lymphadenitis, which is the enlarged of lymph nodes from either an infection or inflammation in dogs. An infection can arise from either a bacterial or fungal infection, which are both treatable and curable illnesses.
In contrast, inflammation occurs most commonly when your dog has a tissue reaction to an injury. This could be caused from a number of injuries including splinters and surface abrasion.
The most common type of bacterial infection in dogs is Streptococcal, or Strep throat. While the bacteria can become infected in the intestines, urinary, and genital tract, most commonly dogs get Streptococcal in their respiratory system. Typically, the lymph nodes in dog’s throats become most swollen during this type of bacterial infection.
Dogs have comparable Strep throat symptoms to human infections including difficulty swallowing, coughing, fever, pain and lethargy. A similar course of treatment can also be taken which includes antibiotics and plenty of fluids.
Although curable, Strep throat can be incredibly painful for your dog so it’s important to try your best to keep them protected from the infection. Avoiding uncleanly areas with a lot of dogs can help decrease the chances of getting this bacterial infection, however there’s no sure way to avoid contraption.
Younger dogs tend to get the infection more easily because their immune systems are still developing. In contrast, older dogs commonly get Strep as their immune systems start to deteriorate.
There are several other types of bacterial and fungal infections that your dog can contract with very similar symptoms. Therefore, it is important to take your dog to the vet when you notice unusual behavior. The vet will be able to run a series of tests depending on the severity of the infection including blood work, urine samples, and lymph node aspiration (liquid) can be examined under a microscope.