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Enlarged Lymph Nodes In Dogs

Submitted by Nic on August 19, 2011

Enlarged lymph nodes in dogs can be a worrisome sign. Lymph nodes are small glands, or masses of tissues, which are a part of the body’s immune system. These glands can be found all over the body.

These glands help filter the blood and keep the dog’s body free of disease causing pathogens. Enlarged lymph nodes in dogs,particularly on the neck, can be the initial indicator of any kind of disease.

The causes of enlarged lymph nodes in dogs vary from slight bacterial infections to cancer.

If the dog has a localized infection near the lymph nodes, the nodes could drain into the neighboring tissues, causing them to swell up. The swelling is usually also due to increase in white blood cells in the lymph nodes.

Large lymph nodes in dogs can be found by examining the body. The vet would physically examine the dog to check for enlarged lymph nodes in dogs. This could be felt mainly on the neck region of the dog. Sometimes, the dog may also have swollen legs as a result of the swelling of lymph nodes in the legs. The vet would therefore also check the joints and the groin to see for signs of enlargement in nodes located in other parts of the body.

If the lymph nodes can be felt by touching them, the vet would recommend further testing to find the exact cause of the condition. Some of the causes of large lymph nodes in dogs include lymphoid hyperplasia, a condition in which the nodes produce excessive white cells; lymphadenitis, a condition in which the lymph nodes get infected due to a primary or secondary infection; and fungal infections, like those caused by sporotrichosis, rickettsia, bartonella spp,brucella canis, pasteurella, yersinia pestis, fusobacterium, francisella tularensis, mycobacterial.

Infectious agents are not the only cause of swollen glands. There are certain noninfectious agents that can also cause the swelling of the lymph nodes. Allergens, for instance, are one of the most common causes of enlarged lymph nodes. An autoimmune disorder could also cause an attack on the lymph glands, causing them to swell up.

Dogs are also susceptible to eosinophilic infiltration,which is a condition that happens when the white blood cellsthat are responsible for fighting parasitic agents, or controlling allergies, may begin to multiply. Excessive eosinophils are usually associated with leukemia. A bone marrow infection, allergies, and asthma could also cause inflammation of the lymph glands in the neck.

Dog Health