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[rich679]

my dog's neck swelled up while i was at work she was outside.  lame and tired drooling,  no bite marks,  drank water had trouble.  took to vet blood work showed elevated white blood cells.  sometimes lyme disease goes undetected.  the vet prescribed cephalexin tues evening.  i gave her a 2nd dose wed morning she was more swollen around and under jaw and neck.  she ate a little chicken with antibiotics drank a little bit of water, laid in same spot for days. i found a deer tick last night.   this morning i gave her a 4th dose of antibiotics ,  swelling has become liquid under jaw some side swelling has decreased minimal.  she doesnt want water just lameness. i am following up at 3 today more blood work, maybe switch from cephalexin to doxycycline?  maybe gland biopsy?  the onset was within hours and extreme plz help us

[Aleda M Cheng, D.V.M., C.V.A]

The glandular swelling can be caused by an insect bite, abscess, or infectious process.  

An tick borne infection may not show up in the blood for 3 weeks or so, therefore, although you just found a tick on your dog it may not be possible to diagnose a tick borne disease yet.  

If your dog is improving on the cephalexin than it might be best to keep her on it.  Once she has finished with the cephalexin she can be placed on doxycycline.  Being on two antibiotics simultaneously may cause gastrointestinal symptoms and may not be recommended.

[Machelo]

Your advice is always dead on, my Poppy is a ten year old girl Chia/mix and she has swollen nipples from heat... however one is getting very large distorted looking, red and hurts her. Looks like it might have pustules for as much as she lets me look. What can I do for her to make her comfortable? I don't get paid till next Thursday when I can take her to the doc...anything I can do now?

[Misfits4Me]

Rich,
What about an abscessed tooth?  Did your Vet check for that?  Just an idea......