Lurcher with swollen throat

[sanityawol]

Not too sure why I'm posting to be honest - think I just need to share as DH works nights and the baby's not great at conversation yet!

We have a 13yo lurcher (bedlington x whippet) who has developed a swelling around his throat. It's not causing him any pain when I touch it, and it's not affecting his breathing so I don't think I need to get the vet out tonight - surgery opens at 9am and I'll take him then.

It doesn't seem (to me) like a bite or abcess, it's 'under' the skin if that makes sense? He hasn't eaten anything out of the ordinary, no change in food, so I'm a bit puzzled. It seems to me to be full of fluid rather than a solid lump... But then I'm not a vet.

Think that it has only come up today, but beating myself up a bit in case it has been any longer. Whilst I keep a close eye on all the dogs, I could have missed it as he's not a cuddly dog really - completely deaf (not just selective) and wanders around grumbling to himself. If I was going to give him human characteristics he'd be an old man shuffling along swearing under his breath.

Proper character though, had him from a puppy and he's been DD's best friend (DD is 11). Never been an aggressive bone in his body.

Hoping it's just something that we can sort with antibiotics - don't really want to have to put the old boy through a GA and surgery if we can help it.

Given his age I can't help thinking the worst - contemplating keeping him happy for as long as we can. Just bit concerned that we going to have a bit of a rough time coming up with the oldies - as well as a couple of youngsters, we've also got 10yo and a 12 yo greyhounds so they're also getting on.

Oh well, I suppose that we can only do our best for them while we have them and if necessary make the decision when the time comes.

Thanks for letting me ramble

Just wanted to offer some support. Maybe it is a bite? We've had our greyhounds have bites and they've been very much as you describe. Hope the vet is able to help in the morning.

Thanks Scuttle - hope so... I've had a bit of a prod and can't find a 'head', but he is pretty hairy despite the bad haircut I gave him a couple of weeks ago.

That said, there have been a lot of horse flies around the last couple of days - fingers crossed.

One of our greys was behind the door when they handed out the brains, and regularly tries to catch wasps... He still hasn't made the connection between this action and the inevitable and painful consequence....

Yes, and horse flies are a bugger.

I can sympathise... One of ours wasn't even in the building! He is the first grey I've met that hates to run and his special skill is standing in the middle of the room crying for no discernible reason!

No real verdict as yet - antibiotics and metacam for now, back to vets at end of week to see if they've made any difference.

Tumour on thyroid mentioned as a possibility so booked in for biopsy on Tuesday.

Already decided that I'm not putting him through aggressive and invasive treatment at his age, so if it is what I suspected all along then we will be managing any pain until the time comes. Think it may not be too long as I clipped him 4 or 5 weeks ago and didn't notice anything then.

Honestly, they get under your skin, don't they? I didn't even want the bloody dog at the time we got him (long story involving me coming home from work one day to find exH with puppy having had long discussion about how it wasn't the right time to get a dog - 'bloody dog' used affectionately by the way) Needless to say that when the novelty wore off after a couple of weeks he became 'mine', and when we split exH didn't ask who dog was going with.

Going to miss dog.

Hope I'm getting ahead of myself and worrying unduly.

Aw it might be ok, 10 isn't that old and a biopsy could show a none benign cyst.

Hope he's ok and lots of hand holding.

contrary to popular belief I think greys and lurchers are super intelligent misunderstood geniuses, I love 'em

Thanks Natural - he's 13, it's one of the greys that is 10. As strange as this may sound, I've been hoping that it is a cyst since I spotted it

Know exactly what you mean about misunderstood genius - the level of intellect they have all employed to get into bins or steal food over the years is amazing... Just a shame it rarely translates to common sense!

Sorry, 13 is still ok, especially as he's mixed.

I think cancer lumps are hard but the biopsy will determine things.

I think the intelligence is off set by the lack of common sense although it seems to have been the collies in my family to have had stupid vet visits for goal post concussion and plastic bottle ingestion and I won't mention the red setter who ate a tea towel

Are you getting him a treat anyway?

For a treat they have some chub to go with their dry food tonight... disgusting smelly stuff that for some reason they love almost as much as rolling in dead birds or fox shit

Think of me this evening when the gas starts

Well DD (11) is back from camping with friends for a few days and is coping ok. Dog has obviously been around all her life and has been by her side since we brought her home. Best friends and sometimes partners in crime.

Fortunately she's quite sensible so she understands that whilst we and the vets will do our best, we may not be able to just fix him.

Haven't gone all doom and gloom on her - just told her why he went to vets in first place and what will happen next. She asked some very mature questions.

Poor kid lost her pony unexpectedly at the start of the summer hols, lets hope that dog improves on meds alone this week!

Unfortunately have a bit of a sad update on this - we had to have our poor old boy put to sleep today.

He had been ticking along in his own little world for the last couple of weeks, but went down hill very quickly today. Was lucky enough to have the lovely vet (they're all very nice, but I have a favourite) at our practice and it was all very calm.

So despite still having far too many dogs, I have a bit of a lurcher shaped hole on the sofa tonight.

Sanity, I'm so sorry to hear this.

I'm glad he went so peacefully and without a protracted illness. Sending you lots and lots of sympathy - to you and your DD. xx

Thank you Scuttle - we're doing ok. We had been prepared for this for a few weeks and yesterday was the right time.

DD had chance to give him a cuddle and say goodbye after school before I took him to vets yesterday. Thankfully I have always been completely honest with her when it comes to trips to the vets, I haven't made promises that we can't keep and been realistic about what is likely to happen. She understands that sadly we will generally outlive our pets, and that we just have to do our very best for them while they are in our lives, even if this means making tough decisions.

I'm very proud of her for how she is coping with losing him. I keep having to stop myself from counting '5' when letting dogs in and out.

Anyway, I'm rambling (and probably coming across as very hard-hearted!)

Thank you again.

I'm so sorry OP
It's never easy saying goodbye to the babies.