Treatment for a Hardened Lymph Node on a Dog's Neck

Normally, lymph nodes play an important role in your dog's immune system. Just as in humans, these small nodes help identify and fight off bacteria and viruses that get into your dog's body. However, hardened lymph nodes in the dog's neck can be an indicator of more severe illness, including forms of cancer.

  1. Diagnosis

    • If your dog has a hardened lymph node that can be felt through the surface of its skin, the dog may be suffering from canine lymphosarcoma, also known as lymphoma or LSA. This form of cancer affects the cells found in the lymph nodes and causes them to reproduce at a high rate. As the cells build up inside the node, a tumor develops and causes the hard mass you can feel through your dog's skin and fur.

    Other Symptoms

    • In addition to the hardened lymph node, your dog may show other symptoms. Weakness and a lack of appetite are two of the most common. However, some dogs seem healthy in terms of behavior and appearance despite suffering from the disease. Consult your veterinarian as soon as you notice one of these hardened lymph nodes even if no other symptoms are present because early treatment of LSA can improve your dog's chances.

    Treatment

    • Canine lymphosarcoma is usually treated using chemotherapy. Just as with human cancer, dog chemotherapy works by poisoning the cells in an attempt to stop the cancer cells from reproducing. Although humans suffer significant side effects from chemotherapy, such as hair loss and loss of appetite, dogs usually do not. According to the Merck Veterinary Manual, more than 90 percent of dogs receive some benefit from aggressive chemotherapy treatments. At a handful of locations around the United States, dogs can also receive bone marrow transplants. These locations include North Carolina State University's College of Veterinary Medicine and Veterinary Specialty Hospital in San Diego, Calif.

    Prognosis

    • Chemotherapy brings about remission in most dogs. During remission, your dog's body will be free of cancer cells. However, remission is not the same thing as cured and the cancer generally returns. Remission periods after the first successful round of chemotherapy can last up to nine months. If the cancer returns, chemotherapy can usually be tried again. Remission periods for future treatments do get shorter, however. The prognosis for your dog is better if the cancer is caught early, if your dog has no other chronic health problems and if the cancer affects B-cells instead of T-cells. These are two types of cells found in the lymph nodes that are used by your dog's immune system.