I just wanted to say thanks to everyone for responding...Biscuit is in better spirits. She had an abscess like some of you predicted...it has gone down, but there is still a hard lump that seems like it won't go away with me putting a warm wash cloth on her twice a day. Do you think it should be removed?

I just wanted to say thanks to everyone for responding...Biscuit is in better spirits. She had an abscess like some of you predicted...it has gone down, but there is still a hard lump that seems like it won't go away with me putting a warm wash cloth on her twice a day. Do you think it should be removed?

You didn't mention in your first post that this dog has already been to the vet and was put on medications, so we urged you to get her examined and treatment started. Now that we know she's got several medications I personally don't think you need to go back to the vet tomorrow unless the dog exhibits even more or more-severe symptoms. As I suggested earlier, you should be watching her body temperature, encouraging liquids, and give her a little time for the medications to begin their work. IMHO if she's not any better at all by Monday, I would return to the vet then. Its a bit unfortunate that there's a weekend inbetween and you may feel a bit "exposed" on Sunday with the vet's office closed, but hopefully we've given you enough nursing supportive info to get you both thru to Monday, and you will begin to see improvements by then. Did your vet give you a time to come back for a recheck? One week?? Two??

We're always trying to balance costs versus real medical needs, and you would be no exception. Having the blood test run confirmed that there is a large infection present and at least there's something to focus upon. I'm hoping that the diarrhea is connected to this rather than a separate issue. Will you be around the house this weekend so you can keep a good eye on the dog? Breathing is always paramount. Not all dogs pant when they are feverish...in fact some become very lethargic so you cannot judge the dog's temp by looking at breathing rhythm.

You didn't mention in your first post that this dog has already been to the vet and was put on medications, so we urged you to get her examined and treatment started. Now that we know she's got several medications I personally don't think you need to go back to the vet tomorrow unless the dog exhibits even more or more-severe symptoms. As I suggested earlier, you should be watching her body temperature, encouraging liquids, and give her a little time for the medications to begin their work. IMHO if she's not any better at all by Monday, I would return to the vet then. Its a bit unfortunate that there's a weekend inbetween and you may feel a bit "exposed" on Sunday with the vet's office closed, but hopefully we've given you enough nursing supportive info to get you both thru to Monday, and you will begin to see improvements by then. Did your vet give you a time to come back for a recheck? One week?? Two??

We're always trying to balance costs versus real medical needs, and you would be no exception. Having the blood test run confirmed that there is a large infection present and at least there's something to focus upon. I'm hoping that the diarrhea is connected to this rather than a separate issue. Will you be around the house this weekend so you can keep a good eye on the dog? Breathing is always paramount. Not all dogs pant when they are feverish...in fact some become very lethargic so you cannot judge the dog's temp by looking at breathing rhythm.

Thank you for your response...I am trying not to panic. I will take her to the vet again tomorrow morning.

Thank you for your response...I am trying not to panic. I will take her to the vet again tomorrow morning.

Definitely an infection somewhere. Try to look inside the mouth and under the tongue to see if you can see anything out of the ordinary. Also, look for a hard knot in the swollen area which may indicate a bite/sting.

Definitely an infection somewhere. Try to look inside the mouth and under the tongue to see if you can see anything out of the ordinary. Also, look for a hard knot in the swollen area which may indicate a bite/sting.

What antibiotic is the dog on and at what dosage? You need to pay close attention to this dog's temperature also...at 106 the dog can go into seizures! If its not down below 103 tomorrow (you can take her temperature easily enough rectally) then you need to put her into a cool (not cold) tub of water and get her wet for about 5-10mins, then thoroughly dry her off, wait 15mins and take temp again...or put her into a shower with same instructions. You can also give her an aspirin (not anything else, just coated aspirin or ascriptin (NO Tylenol or Ibuprofen). With any diarrhea and elevated temperature you also need to be sure the dog is taking in fluids...doesn't need to be a lot at once, but every 2hrs she should be drinking, and if not, you need to offer her ice cubes or lo-salt bullion cubes frozen or something tasty...may also need to soak her kibble to get more moisture into her for a couple days. Hope that she can get some comfort in napping too, because it will take about 48-72hrs for the medications to fully kick-in and I'm sure her body is exhausted fighting this infection (evidenced by high WBC).

What antibiotic is the dog on and at what dosage? You need to pay close attention to this dog's temperature also...at 106 the dog can go into seizures! If its not down below 103 tomorrow (you can take her temperature easily enough rectally) then you need to put her into a cool (not cold) tub of water and get her wet for about 5-10mins, then thoroughly dry her off, wait 15mins and take temp again...or put her into a shower with same instructions. You can also give her an aspirin (not anything else, just coated aspirin or ascriptin (NO Tylenol or Ibuprofen). With any diarrhea and elevated temperature you also need to be sure the dog is taking in fluids...doesn't need to be a lot at once, but every 2hrs she should be drinking, and if not, you need to offer her ice cubes or lo-salt bullion cubes frozen or something tasty...may also need to soak her kibble to get more moisture into her for a couple days. Hope that she can get some comfort in napping too, because it will take about 48-72hrs for the medications to fully kick-in and I'm sure her body is exhausted fighting this infection (evidenced by high WBC).

It could be a bite that has infected, could be a tooth that has gone bad, could even be an ear infection that has "leaked" into the neck area but the fact that it is large and painful means a vet visit tomorrow for sure.

It could be a bite that has infected, could be a tooth that has gone bad, could even be an ear infection that has "leaked" into the neck area but the fact that it is large and painful means a vet visit tomorrow for sure.

What happened is I took Biscuit to the vet today. She checked her out, felt all over her body, took her temperature, and did blood work. Her assessment was that she has a temperature of 104 degrees. That is high...106 is dangerous. Also, from the bloodwork, a normal dog has a white blood cell count of 16,000. She has 36,000, so the vet said she has a viral infection. She gave me three medicines...pain reliever, antibiotic, and anti diarehia meds. I got home from the vet and was petting her. That is when I realized that the right side of her neck is really swollen and soar. How could she not notice that? She felt her face, chest, etc. I am really upset about that...that she didn't feel that...it is really obvious.

What happened is I took Biscuit to the vet today. She checked her out, felt all over her body, took her temperature, and did blood work. Her assessment was that she has a temperature of 104 degrees. That is high...106 is dangerous. Also, from the bloodwork, a normal dog has a white blood cell count of 16,000. She has 36,000, so the vet said she has a viral infection. She gave me three medicines...pain reliever, antibiotic, and anti diarehia meds. I got home from the vet and was petting her. That is when I realized that the right side of her neck is really swollen and soar. How could she not notice that? She felt her face, chest, etc. I am really upset about that...that she didn't feel that...it is really obvious.

it is golf ball size

it is golf ball size

Can you see a puncture wound? I don't know if you are in an area where there are snakes but, a snake bite swells a lot. It could also be a bee sting, spider bite, etc. But, if it's causing pain, I would go to the Vet.

Golf ball size, grape size? It could be a lymph node, that's where they are, I would have it checked out.

Kathy, Ollie and Chester

Can you see a puncture wound? I don't know if you are in an area where there are snakes but, a snake bite swells a lot. It could also be a bee sting, spider bite, etc. But, if it's causing pain, I would go to the Vet.

Golf ball size, grape size? It could be a lymph node, that's where they are, I would have it checked out.

Kathy, Ollie and Chester

It is not on her face. It is in her neck area...it is tender to the touch. I don't think you could tell by a picture. You have to feel it.

It is not on her face. It is in her neck area...it is tender to the touch. I don't think you could tell by a picture. You have to feel it.

Boss had a really bad swollen face, only one side...we think that was a spider bite...

Boss had a really bad swollen face, only one side...we think that was a spider bite...

I would not wait until Monday. The golf ball sized lump you are feeling could very well be a pus filled abscess that unfortunately the vet appears to have missed. The antibiotics will not clear up an abscess. It will need to be lanced and drained. Her temp is already sufficiently high that I would not want to see go higher. An abscess will cause increased WBC and a high temp. The advice you have been given to deal with a high temp is good but you do not want to have to do this all weekend. Nor do you want to have to take her to an ER on Sunday. Be safe--see the vet Saturday. Might keep you from being sorry later.(Just a note--an abscess can form very quickly--it may not have localized at the time the vet did her exam)

Miriam Olesen
http://www.omegabulldogs.shutterfly.com/

I would not wait until Monday. The golf ball sized lump you are feeling could very well be a pus filled abscess that unfortunately the vet appears to have missed. The antibiotics will not clear up an abscess. It will need to be lanced and drained. Her temp is already sufficiently high that I would not want to see go higher. An abscess will cause increased WBC and a high temp. The advice you have been given to deal with a high temp is good but you do not want to have to do this all weekend. Nor do you want to have to take her to an ER on Sunday. Be safe--see the vet Saturday. Might keep you from being sorry later.(Just a note--an abscess can form very quickly--it may not have localized at the time the vet did her exam)

Miriam Olesen
http://www.omegabulldogs.shutterfly.com/