Swollen Lymph Glands in Dogs - Causes, Symptoms and Treatments

A lymph node (also known as a lymph gland) is an important part of a dog's immune system, and is basically an organ that filters foreign particles and organisms from the blood.



Swollen lymph nodes in dogs are usually an indicator of some disease. The presence of disease in surrounding tissues causes a lymph node to swell up, due to an increase in the number of white blood cells that are needed to fight the infection. However, lymph nodes do not swell up only in response to an infection. Cancer can also cause swelling of the lymph nodes, which is why swollen lymph nodes should always be investigated.

Dogs are one of the most popular domestic pets all over the world and are highly regarded for the fact that they can be trained rather easily as well as their high sense of loyalty. Since dogs are available in a variety of breeds, temperaments, colors as well as sizes – one can always find the dog that suits his or her personality best. However, just like humans, dogs are also prone to a number of medical ailments that can significantly affect the quality of life.



Given the obvious barrier in communication – most owners are not even aware that their pet is suffering from some kind of medical ailment until the condition has progressed to almost irretrievable extents. This is why it is so important to have developed a strong bond and understanding with the animal in order to ensure that you are able to detect the presence of some sickness as soon as possible.

Swollen Lymph Nodes In Dogs Neck, Legs and Groin

Medically termed as canine lymphonia, swollen lymph nodes in dogs neck, legs and groin is a rather common condition that is characterized by significant swelling in the affected areas. A lymph node or lymph gland, just as in humans, is a very important part of the animal’s immune system and is primarily responsible for the filtration of foreign particles and organisms from the blood. Swollen lymph nodes in diagnosis will usually result in the presence of some kind of infection having affected the dog. This is primarily because of the fact that any time an infection has developed within the animal’s body – the immune system will send a large number of white blood cells to the lymph nodes present around the infection to fight it.



As a result of the large influx of white blood cells, the lymph nodes in the animal’s body will swell. There are a number of other different causes of swollen lymph nodes in the dogs mouth, jaw and other areas of the body. For instance, the development can be the result of a simple minor allergic reaction or even possibly cancer. As a result, it is important to make sure that you have your veterinarian take a look at the developments in your animals body in order to gauge what the root cause of the condition is likely to be.

Enlarged Lymph Nodes in Dogs Symptoms

There are several lymph nodes in the body, and any one of these nodes can become swollen and enlarged. Swelling may appear at the base of the jaw, around the shoulder, near the joint of the leg, or in the groin area. Your dog may find it difficult to pass stools if the lymph nodes in the groin area are swollen. Canine enlarged lymph nodes may also be accompanied by nausea, which will lead to your dog refusing food or vomiting after having eaten. There may also be difficulty breathing in more severe cases.

Canine Lymph Node Swelling Causes

There are numerous possible causes of enlarged lymph glands in dogs. The problem could range from something mild like a minor localized infection or a minor allergic reaction, to serious health problems such as infection of the lymph nodes themselves or even leukemia. To properly identify the cause, your veterinarian will need to perform a thorough physical examination, which will probably be followed by a blood test, urine test, and examination of lymph samples too. For proper dog health care it is also advisable to provide your doctor with all the possible details of your dog's medical history, no matter how important they may be. This will help in identifying the cause of the problem.

Swollen Lymph Nodes in Dogs Treatments

Treatment will of course depend upon the diagnosis of the problem. As mentioned earlier, enlarged lymph glands in dogs can be caused by a huge number of medical conditions. The treatment for dog swollen glands varies greatly from one condition to the next. Minor infections can be treated easily, possibly by using antibiotics, anti fungal medications, or symptomatic treatments. In case of a more serious problem, more aggressive treatment will be necessary. You will also need to discuss the prognosis with your doctor for proper pet health care, and then accordingly choose a course of action.

Because of the fact that canine medical treatment is a rather expensive affair no matter which part of the world it is performed in, some owners look for effective home remedies as well as cheaper and safer natural home remedies in order to treat a number of ailments. Treating swollen lymph nodes in dogs is easier to achieve once you have identified the root cause of the problem. Minor conditions may be regularly treated with the help of antibiotics and other over the counter medication while more complicated causing factors such as leukemia are likely to require more in depth medication as well as treatment. There are a few home remedies that you could try to use as they are known to help reduce lymph node swelling in canines. However, these are simply topical treatments that will not really take care of the root cause of the condition. The application of camphor oil around the areas of swollen lymph nodes on the animals body on a regular basis will help reduce any prominent inflammation. Including high quantities of zinc containing foods in your animals daily diet will help deal with the condition rather effectively as well. the primary focus  of any treatment option should always be to rid the body of any infection – which will then result in the inflammation reducing significantly.