Hi there,

Just wondering if any of you labrador peops, or anyone else can help here.

We have just noticed our Tigger has a lump on his throat. Over the last couple of weeks we foolishly thought he was getting a bit flabby. Only today I was looking at him in the park and thought he looked really flabby. When Steve came home he said "Oi mate you getting a double chin" on closer inspection to our horror, its a lump and a big un at that.

As you can imagine we are panick struck. Tigger is 4 years old, still happy enough in himself and eating well. But has been a bit slower than usual of late, we thought it was the heat and introduction of new young dog. He has also been more snorty than usual.

Any advice would be really appreciated. I will of course be going to the vet as soon as poss tomorrow. Only noticed lump around 7 this evening.

cheers
Lynda

Sorry no you need the vet it could be almost anything from something stuck in a tooth upwards. Hope it is easily resolved. Jackie

Thank you for replying Jackie:)

Took Tigger to vets this morning, lump turns out to be Insect bite/allergy. so have antibocs and water tabs for swelling and to keep him out of heat for today - that'll be fun with three other dogs to walk!!!!!

Thank you for your concern

Lynda

Glad it was of the "not too worrying" kind. It is always worth giving a Piriton tablet if you think a dog has been stung, it will do no harm but can sort the problem very quickly. In this case the dog has an infection so you would have had to see the vet anyway. You'll be suprised if you say no and leave him at home, try to have someone with him, how well he will accept it, he will still love you honist. Jackie

Also Apis mel (bee venom) I think is a must for your first aid kit get it from the health shop it acts quickly for bits stings etc... glad to hear Tigger is ok

Ps Did the whisky do any good LOL ?

Thanks again Jackie. Mattie, will write that down ready for next shopping trip, trouble is we were not aware he had been stung - god knows when it happened, as he has not been out of sight this week?????

Poor Tigger still quiet, its 'orrible, but Tess found a new playmate in the park today so still managed to have some fun without him.

Yes thanks the whisky helped take the edge of it last night for us:)

Lynda

Hi folkes,

Sorry to be a misery. But Tiggers lump has returned. Been to vet this morning and he is booked in for x-rays and exploritary tomorrow. Had 2 vets in examination room, which was real scary, they are hoping it is infected salava glands, or foreign body but I have been told it is possible it could be more sinister - so a bit frantic here at mo.

Worst thing is Tigger is officially Steve's dog and he is having a rough time at work at the mo, so I cant tell him till he arrives home tonight - dreading it.

As many fingers crossed as poss out there would be good.
Cheers

Lynda

Lynda,

rule numero uno .... try not to panic and don't think the worse

Fingers crossed for you.

Keep us posted.

Thinking good thoughts here for you Lynda

Melody

Lynda remember the other night when we had the little chat and you came back from the Vets OK, lets not Panic as Leigh says and see what tommorow brings.Its hard I know but try to be positive .
I'm just at the end of the phone if you want to chat.
Sending you and Steve lots of Love and especially Tigger xxxxxxx

Mattie is right we don't know yet that it's not simple so at the moment it still is:) Easier said than done with dealing with lunps I know.
Best wishes for tomorrow.
Anita

Fingers & paws crossed here to Lynda. Good Luck Ingrid

Thank you so much for the lovely messages of support.

Tigger has had an operation today to remove a huge abcess. He is also on a 'drain' so will not be home until tomorrow or Monday (as the drain must stay in for that long) he will be coming home in the dreaded bucket collar. poor love.

As upset as we are not to have him home, at least he will be back with us soon and will recover in time.

Thanks again
Lynda

Poor Tigger What a relief it was just an abcess though

Fiona
x x x

Best Wishes Lynda & Steve xxxx

Glad to hear Tigger is on the road to recovery!

Lucy

Didn't think I would find myself saying I'm glad it was an abscess but I am. Hope he recovers soon Ja:)kie

Hi All

Tigger came home yesterday. Poor thing, yes it was better news that it was an abcess and nothing more sinister. You were right Leigh, rule numero uno - will try and remember that.

Just wondering now, if anyone has any advice on any alternatives to bucket collars,you can imagine the carnage a foot for the next week as today he is getting back to normal, an unguided missile in a huge collar. We are getting busted knee caps, and there are dogs flying everywhere to try escape oops there goes another. But seriously, we are getting a bit worried that he is going to hurt one of the greyhounds as he barrages past.

I appreciate there is probably nothing else we can do, but just wondered if anyone else has encounted the same problem. I'm sure we will laugh about this in a couple of weeks, even if we do have no house left.

Thanks again for messages of encouragement.
Lynda:)

Hi Lynda

When my GSD had an op he had like a drainpipe thing on his neck for a while. This stopped him turning his neck (supposedly). He was however determined to get to his stitches which were on his side and could still reach even with this on - bendy dog :D We did end up with an Elizabethan collar on him but if the stiches had been further up his body the drainpipe type thing would have worked.
Maybe OK for Tigger ? The vet supplied it.
Glad he is OK :D

Sara

Try leaving it off if you are able to see him and see if he is going to worry at the wound. They do learn to avoid thing but not I afraid your legs. All the best.

With a body wound wearing a collar is to avoid the risk of nibbling or licking which the dog may do quite gently and problems might not occur if the owner is watching over them but with a neck or face wound the danger is scratching, if the dog gets the oportunity to lift a paw to it they will not do it with the same delicacy and the claws can split the stitches wide open on first occurance, therefore I would not take it off at all even when with the dog.

that's a good point - I wasn't thinking about Tiggers wound being on his top end in which case a drain pipe jobby would still let him scratch
Sara

Thanks for advice so far:)

Don't worry Isabel, I have no intention of taking off the collar for a second. I KNOW he will scratch as he keeps scratching the collar itself. The drain is not in anymore, as he kicked that out in the vets, so I will enquire tomorrow at the vets about an alternative, its not my knees I'm worried about or the carnage in the house, or the bashed doors:) but the other dogs, as my other dogs are Greyhounds they keep getting bashed with the collar and I am getting a bit concerned there.

I would not take it off as a couple of years ago my old terrier had one on, she was very depressed but had many stitches to her knee. Whilst I was out leaving her in the care of my aunt, she thought it was cruel to leave the dog so sad, so removed the collar. On my return I had to take her back to the vets for repeat stitches as of course she had pulled them out resulting in a further 10 days in the collar and another bill. (don't you just love well meaning relatives)

Lynda

If you need some type of collar to be able to grab him, there are figure 8 harnesses out there that the dog 'steps' into, it's brought up over the shoulder blades, and fastens on that area. I don't remember any brand names, but I'm sure that someone on here will know what I'm talking about :d :D :D
I hope your 'puppy' gets better soon
all the best
toodles

Lynda we often trim some of the bucket off so as he cant get to his stitches etc but can manouvre about not had a problem with doing that.