Swollen Neck

[WMitch]

Hello:

My doggie has a swollen area around his right side of the neck. His groomer noticed about a week ago that there seems to be a lump there.

I took him to the vet and the performed a cytology test and blood test. The blood test came out great. The cytology test brought came back as blood. The vet told me (2) possibilities. One possibility was that it can be related to some trauma that cause like a bubble of blood to swell up around that area from the blood vessels. The second possibility is that there are blood tumors.

My doggy has no symptoms at all, he eats great, he is still very active, his urine and bowel movements are normal. The only thing that I can think of is the trauma possibility. Because he is very hyper, strong and jumpy, he might have injured himself in that area while jumping around, Also, the only thing that I can think of that might have caused his neck trauma is self-licking. He desperately licks himself on his sides, his paws front and back. I have cured his itchies with topical ointments (no signs of fleas), but when he has licked, he does it incessantly. He turns his body backwards and I can tell he strains his neck a lot to reach hard places. Sometimes he falls by himself trying to reach his hind legs.

The Vet has suggested a Scan-image (very expensive). I am more inclined to think that it might be trauma other than a cancerous tumor. She didnt give me any type of medicine. Is there any medicine that can bring treat that trauma? Should I go for the Scan?  I have noticed the swelled up area to go down :)

Thank you for your help!

[Dr. Carol Osborne, DVM]

If the lump on your dogs neck is a result of trama, it should resolve within a week or two. Since you are already seeing a reduction in the size of the lump, trama may be the cause.

If the neck lump is close to your dogs jaw or chin, it could be a salivary mucocele and having your vet send a sample to the lab for a cytology report will help to determined this.

The exudate may appear to be just blood but the cytology will reveal specifics including exact cell type(s), specific gravity and much more information helpful to diagnose this.

Because your dog is acting and eating normally I doubt a scan is needed at this time.

Dr Carol Osborne, DVM

[WMitch]

Thank you for your prompt reply, Dr. Osborne.

I am sure the Cytology report gives that much information, but was not told the specifics.
The lump is not near his jaw nor chin. When the vet examined the lump and by tact put pressure on it, didnt seem to bother my doggie.

Yes, he has no sympoms. The only thing that he has is the itchies, he licks himself a lot,  sleeps a lot. (he is 13 yrs. old) , and when he gets up he is hyper, I need to watch him since he is a senior, he is prone to fracture or strain his muscles.

I have already scheduled a visit with his surgeon (1 year ago he removed a tumor from his butt area-perianal benign mass) as you probably know before surgery they check his blood, and all the x-rays, ultrasounds performed were indicative of him being in pretty much good shape. The surgery was very successful. I know a lot of things can happen in a year, but its hard for me to believe that something as serious as a cancer tumor can develop so soon, maybe it does I dont know.

The surgeon will be now be giving me a second opinion and of course I trust he will give me better options at least momentarily. I too think that a scan is not needed.

Thank you again for your assistance.