Hi All, My pup is undergoing treatment for an infection previously thought to be meningitis but no name given as yet.  The specialist has found to be possible liver damage which is causing his temperature to go up and down.  Hes now on his feet very still and unsteady, but manages to get on them ok.  We thought we were going in the right direction and now a lump has appeared in his neck.  Its just where he got his microchip a few weeks ago.  Its part of the skin and isnt painful when you touch it.  Any ideas????

thanks

Hi,

Sorry to hear about your pup.  His microchip should have been inserted between his shoulder blades rather than in his neck.  Some dogs (especially Dobermanns) react with a large lump a few days/weeks after being given a Synulox injection (type of antibiotic) which takes a few months to disappear.  I now always request that this particular injection is given IM rather than sub-cutaneously.  I would imagine if he had suspected meningitis then he was given anti-biotics so this "may" be the cause?

As Kerioak has said, a swelling can occur at the site of an injection any time. Often because of a reaction, sometimes because the injection has not been dispersed properly. The vet always massages the site of the injection after administering it. I always give it another "Just in case" rub whilst chatting to the vet.

As to the microchip capsule, you are putting a foreign body into the dog and although unlikely, yes, it is conceivable that there could be a reaction. As I say, unlikely, but not impossible.

Regards, John

My dog had a reaction to his yearly booster at the vet (who it transpired was a novice) tried twice to inject him, on both injections he squealed, which if you knew my dog, he NEVER does, we had always joked before this incident, that he was immune to pain.

He came up with a lump under his throat, which to cut a very long story short, we treated with homeopathy as it started to leak black pus, the smell was awful His immune system was overloaded and on subsequent advice from a different vet, it helped that we cleared his system out. According to my  vet, if the immune system is overloaded with chemicals and drugs then the body will exhibit signs of this by way of lumps and a general unwell body odour. I believe strongly in alternative treatments in SOME cases JMHO.

HTH

i have been looking in to alternative health options for him. nomatter what the outcome of this bout of illness is im guessing that he will always have a low immune system and more concerning he will be a prime candidate for premature arthritis, i think ill get him back to health and then look into boosting his stystem.  Good call with the homeopathy, again i think ill see what the vet advises and then go ahead and try to get it reduced. How did you know what to buy etc???

Where was the microchip inserted? Was it between the shoulder blades or on the neck some where?

The reason I ask is that I was sent some information a while back regarding inserting microchips in the neck, from the BVA, in answer to a friends query why most dogs are chipped between the shoulder blades and many continental bred dogs are chipped on the neck. It basically said the chip when placed in the neck causes pain and can make the dog unwell, therefore it is recommended that chips be inserted between the shoulder blades.

Hi to you all

Thanks for all your help.  His chip is under the skin to the back of his neck.  He has had 3 courses of the antibiotic that you mention so thats prob whats going on, he got his chip 3 weeks ago now but my hubby said it was a single injection and he didnt flinch.  the lump isnt getting any bigger but we are still waiting on his blood results so we will tell vet when she calls with them and gives us our next plan of action!!! its all go in puppy world. I must say that he improves every day, im hoping sat was just a set back

thanks again