My dog has swollen glands in his neck

[Sylvester17]

My 5 year old dachshund has swollen glands in his neck. I checked in other areas and I don't feel anything swollen,just only in his neck. Aside from cancer, I want to know if there's any other infections or anything that he could have. He was checked in November as a check up at the Vet's appointment, and he was fine. But that was in november and it is March now, so there could be something wrong? I want to take him to the Vet but my parents don't want to, and whatever this is, I want to catch early, what could it be?

[ginger899]

The causes of swollen glands could be many different things, but usually an infection or injury nearest to the affected glands. It could be a mild ear infection, or something wrong with a tooth.....it could be a reaction to a scratch, bite or sting....

Do try to persuade your parents to let you take him back to the vet for a check. If the vet cannot find any obvious reason for the swollen glands, they will run a blood test to see if there'sany other cause. They don't do that during an ordinary annual health check usually.

[Sylvester17]

We think he is okay, because he has not been acting any differently but we will go to the vet if there are any other problems. thanks

[Max100]

Hello ginger899
I noticed your comment on the question about the swollen glands. I have a similar problem with my labrador Max. All of a sudden I noticed a bump on his back, it could be a swelling and I could not know if this is close to a gland. And your are right, Vets do not look at that. I would go to a Vet on some other issue, they would check him (and they are actualy Vets) but they would not find that swollen area. So I would have to bring him in once more and wished I could say something like: 'did you not notice that? How could you missed that?' Well the answer is, they do not look out for that. The speed with which this swelling occurred would favor some of the things you said although I panic when I image my lillte boy (1.5 years old) would have a more serious disease. I had this once before, went to a Vet and they pretty much said what you just said, let's hope it resolves by itself. And to more specific, with Max I went to a Swiss Vet because Max travels with me to Switzerland whenever I got for a longer trip. Do these stings and injuries happen and we as humans do not notice that when they occur?
Best regards
Mark

[ginger899]

I'm so sorry I missed your post before. If your dog has a swelling on his back, then it is very remiss of the vet not to notice this at an examination. The best I can suggest is to definitely take your dog to another vet!

They look at the teeth and eyes, they check the heart, they feel the groin lymph nodes, but to miss that kind of swelling.....?

It depends what is causing the swelling. Only a thorough examination by a (decent) vet could determine that.  
Yes it is possible our dogs can get bitten or stung without us knowing. My dog suddenly developed an abscess on her back a year or so ago. One day it wasn't there, next day it was. Of course I took her to have it drained professionally and she's been ok since. But these things do happen. (That was a reddened large swelling about 1" across, which was very tender to the touch)

[kcatbat]

Does your dog have bad teeth or bad breath?  An oral infection can lead to tonsillitis.  My dog had tonsillitis untreated and now he may have septicemia.  The vet diagnosed it by feeling my dog's neck and looking in his mouth.