You may remember some time ago me asking about the optimum age a puppy should leave its litter mates - well, we finally got our beautiful lab pup at 8 weeks just 12 days ago. So far he is settling in really well BUT on Wednesday evening I noticed that he had dveloped a strange hard lump by the side of his sheath, near what would appear to be his nipple. At first I thought it might be an insect bite because he'd been in the garden all afternoon. Anyway on Thurs morning it looked quite swollen and so we took him to see the vet nurse who advised we watch and wait. This morning it had doubled in size and there appears to be the beginnings of another one on the oppostite side. Took him to see the vet this time who is equally stumped but didn't want to stick a needle in it to biopsy. Her colleague also didin't know what it was. He isn't off his food or drink, no sickness or diarrhoea, is peeing o.k. and generally doesn't seem unwell. The vet has given antibiotics and an anti inflammatory and asked us to go back tommorow with a urine specimen.

Perhaps I'm being over sensitive and am suffering from 'new puppyitis', but has anyone else ever seen this? I must admit to feeling a little bit upset - I know that they do get ill, and I'm glad of course that he doesn't appear to be suffering with it but still, we bring our perfect puppy home less than a fornight ago and already something's wrong. :(

Hi Cathryn, Hopefully it will be nothing major and will cure up with the meds.
When I brought my first puppy home (he is 3 1/2 now), I noticed a lump on the side of his head, under his ear. I was so freaked out, I raced to the vet thinking it might be cancer. Well, the vet told me the same thing, wait and see... He also told me something about virsuses causing lumps, but I can't remember what is was now. The lump cleared up on it's on in a few days.

Good luck with your new puppy, hope he is cleared up soon :)

~ m

Thanks for that M.

When he was at the vets I asked if there were any side effects to the drugs he'd been given to watch out for. The vet said maybe a little vomiting/diarrhoea. Since we got back he has peed about a million times - really big wees (all over the place as though he doesn't know it's coming - and he was just beginning to recognise that he has to go outside too....). Anyway, given that he's not drinking excessively, could this be a side effect of the antibiotics? Am I worrying unnecessarily?

Thanks for your help
Cathryn

Hm, I am not sure. I would call the vet just in case, they should be able to tell you if that is a possible side effect. It could just be part of potty training, my boy was so easy to train, but my girl was just like that, seemed to get it for awhile, then just go on the carpet as if she had no idea it was coming!!! ... (Now, I am saving to put in Pergo flooring as she really messed up the carpet :)).

~ m

hi cathryn, i've got a lab puppy myself she's 7.5 weeks old now, i really feel for you, i hope he will be ok soon.good luck and let us know how he gets on.:)

Good news - the lumps are decreasing in size, the vet has put him on a weeks course of antibiotics and will review him after that. She didn't think it was anything too serious, just puzzling. Anyway, he's fine in himself and we're getting on well with the house training. BTW the vet had given him a steroid shot which would have caused all the peeing.... Thanks for your messages m and miloos.

best wishes
Cathryn

thank goodness he's getting better, if he's anything like my baby girl he'll be tearing the house down soon.she's got a fetish for knickers and thongs-NOT MINE!_ and keeps finding them and taking them behind the sofa to "kill".hope he's better soon:)