Advice/ - Page 1

I have a five month old gsd pup. I was giving her a bath on Suday and notice a swelling or thickening on her neck. It is right around her shoulder. I pressed it and she did not react. Monday night I noticed it had gotten bigger. I felt around it and it was like fluid under her skin, it could actually be pushed around, especially because she is a pup and has lots of loose skin.  It looks horrible, like a growth and moves around like a water balloon and is about the size of a softball. Tuesday I called the vet right away and got her in. The vet felt it and agreed it was fluid. She asked about any injuries and I remembered that the pup was running around on Sunday, and ran into my bird feeder pole at a full run. She did not cry, but this pup rarely does. The pup is not affected by this, she is still eating, drinking and full of her usual energy.

The vet aspirated it and said it was blood and fluid, a hematoma. She said it will eventually disapate, but put her on an antibiotic to be safe. The vet said if it gets bigger or does not start to go away, I should bring her back and they will have to drain it and put drains in. I did notice tonight it seems bigger. I will call the vet tomorrow and let her know, as I am worried. Has anyone ever experienced this. Should I be alarmed? I hate to have to have her be put under and have drains,  but I will have to unless it start to go away. Any advice would be appreciated.

We had a pup like this a few years ago.  Not sure what caused it?  Perhaps someone picked the pup up by the scruff or it was a vaccine reaction.  My vet put a drain in, kept the drain in a week or so.  When he removed the drain the pup was fine.  If it requires treatment is ok.  She'll be fine in the long run.  Good luck

Sue-Ann

Hi! I know you are worried, and the main brains have yet to reply, and I can only offer you this... a hematoma is just what you described, but what you really want to know is what will happen with your pup... I have seen this actually in a pregnant female, human that is! Usually some kind of physical cause is attributed to a hematoma, but not always. Do keep an eye on the pups condition, and do as the vet says, and with time it should resolve itself. if not there are surgeries.  Hope this helps in some small way.

It can get quite ugly to look at, that's for sure! My poor friend had this just below her lip of all places! Large as a golf ball! But all's well that  ends well, and she had surgery after the pup was born, oops I mean child.