Hi,
Most of you know about my wonderful 4 month old pup Sheena who has been doing wonderfully in her training to be my service dog.  Well my husband and I woke up to find a lump on her neck today and we are worried about it.  Part of the concern is that there are no vets open around here for the next two days so we have to wait till Tuesday to take her to a vet.  The lump is soft and spongy and is the size of a ping pong ball.  It is under the skin in the middle of the back of her neck above her shoulder blades.  Part of the worry is that it wasn't there last night and just appeared it seems this morning.  The only thing I can think of that could cause it would be a bug bite.  I know she hasn't even been in any fights because I am with her 24/7.  She doesn't even seem to know it is there and she is her usually playful self this morning.  What I am wondering is should I be really worried and concerned, because right now I am stressing big time.  we are not touching it agian till tonight and only to see if it goes down.  THere is no pus or blood or anything that I can see but agian it is under the skin.  The skin isn't even red.  I am taking her to a vet as soon as Tuesday gets here and they open but for now I am hoping someone here might be able to give me some ideas as to what caused it.  Her diet hasn't changed at all either.

This is obviously not a 100% guarantee, no one but your vet can give you that, but lumps that come up as suddenly as this are rarely anything sinister.  It could be an abscess which might need draining or a bite or something like that.  If your pup start to appear subdued or poorly take her to the vet straight away as there could be infection there and she would need anti-biotics, if she remains fit and healthy and happy leave it til Tuesday.   What ever it is I am fairly certain it won't be difficult to put right.  Try not to get to worried as Sheena will soon pick up on your worry.  Let us know how she goes on.

Joan
Take the rough with the smooth

My young pointer had a lump appear on her face when she was 6 months old.  It suddenly came up and grew and grew - typically had to be on a Sunday.  It was just a bad abcess, caused, we think, by our other pup play biting her face.  She was taken in, had it drained and was right as rain in a few days.  Try not to worry too much and hope it all goes well at the vets.

Helen

Has she been vaccinated recently? Could be an infection at the site of the injection.
Shouldn't think it's anything too serious.

Dont worry it is just where she has had an injection this often happens it will gradually disperse over the next few weeks.

Thank you for all your reassurance.  I phoned the vet this morning and he told me to just relax and wait and see what happens.  It is already decreasing in size.  She still doesn't notice it.  He temp is still normal and she still eats, drinks, potties and plays normally so he said that it is most likely from the shot even 2 weeks later.  He did say if there is any change in temp or how she acts or eats and such to bring her in.  So I am just keeping everything normal and watching her but otherwise I am relaxing about it.  But agian thanks for your reasurrance.  I needed it.