If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
Large pocket of fluid under dog's skin
My 15 yo Bichon bitch recently and rapidly developed a very large pocket of
fluid under the loose skin covering the scruff of her neck and shoulders. To put in perspective, she is a large (24 lb) dog for her breed; the volume of the fluid looks to be somewhere between a cup and a pint and will freely shift from one shoulder to the other over her neck. It looks grotesque, but does not seem to have caused any ill-effects to her health and her vital signs and functions are all normal. I have had her to the vet twice - once for the initial check and a follow-up. The vet suspects some kind of internal trauma involving a cyst or tumor; when we first noticed a swelling on her shoulder, it was palpably firm and tender. Now there is no swelling or tenderness and I suspect that his diagnosis of a burst cyst accompanied by the body's reaction to mobilize immune system products and plasma account for the rapid buildup (about 3 days to gain the current volume of fluid). The fluid seems to have stabilized. The vet sent out a sample for analysis and it was consistent with the type of fluid build-up from an internal wound, but no cancer cells were noted. She is on Baytril antibiotic in case there was some external cause like a tick bite but we have noticed no marks or contusions (the site is shaved). Just wondering if anyone has experience with this kind of condition. The vet doesn't think it needs imminent treatment but says if surgery is required, it will involve a foot-long incision with scraping of fat and examination for ulcers/cysts. We agreed to wait and watch for another week, then decide what to do and at the least get another pathology test on the fluid. He had initially considered a ruptured salivary gland duct backing up into the space, but when he took another sample, felt that it was not likely this was the cause. Any thoughts welcome. TIA |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Some people need educating!! | CPit_Dogs | Dog breeds | 12 | November 13th 03 05:47 AM |
I just talked to Maxxie | Maxie P. Diddly | Dog health | 21 | October 20th 03 03:44 AM |
Large pocket of fluid under dog's skin | Rick Park | Dog health | 8 | October 10th 03 05:32 AM |