Content
- Lump on the side of the cat's neck
- Is the lump in the cat's neck soft or hard?
- Lump in cat after vaccination
- Cat with swelling in the neck from the thyroid gland
- My cat has a lump on his face
Have you noticed any lump in the cat's neck? In this PeritoAnimal article, we will explain the causes of the appearance of nodules on a cat's neck. We'll discover the role of lymph nodes as part of the immune system and learn to identify nodules that will require a veterinarian's visit, as they could be caused by an infection or be a tumor. Therefore, regardless of whether the ball in the neck is painful or not, we should contact the veterinarian.
if you ask yourself why does your cat have neck swelling, soft or hard, keep reading to know the main reasons and look for the specialist.
Lump on the side of the cat's neck
The first thing we should consider when explaining a lump in the cat's neck is the existence of submandibular lymph nodes. These ganglia are part of the immune system and, therefore, their function is the body's defense. If we notice that our cat has a lump in the neck, it could be an inflammation of these nodes due to the course of some pathological process.
If the cat's immune system is able to control it, symptoms will no longer show up or will be mild, such as a brief discomfort or a slight fever. Other times, the organism cannot stop the pathogens and the disease develops, in which case we will need to help the cat with the treatment that, after diagnosis, the veterinarian will give us. An increase in the size of the ganglia can be present in several diseases, hence the importance of diagnosis.
Is the lump in the cat's neck soft or hard?
Any subcutaneous nodule, that is, under the skin, that is not a ganglion can have different origins and must be analyzed immediately by the veterinarian if we want to know why the cat has a ball around its neck.
In general, a hard lump in the cat's neck can be one cyst or a tumor. By taking a sample of its interior, the veterinarian can find out what its nature is and, if it is a cancer, whether it is benign or malignant. It's important to note that if the cat has a ball in its throat, just as we've seen it grow on the outside, it could be growing on the inside, which would endanger its life by disrupting the flow of oxygen.
In turn, a soft lump in the cat's neck can be one abscess, which is an accumulation of pus in a cavity under the skin. These balls usually occur after a bite from another animal, so it is easier for them to appear in whole cats with access to the outside that fight for territory and for females. Animals have various bacteria in their mouths that, when biting, remain in the wound. The cat's skin closes up very easily, but the remaining bacteria inside can cause a subcutaneous infection that is the cause of the abscess. See that other article for all the information about "Cat abscesses".
The treatment of tumors is based on the diagnosis of what type they are and check for metastases, that is, if the primary tumor has migrated through the body and is affecting other areas. You can opt for surgery to remove it, chemotherapy or radiotherapy, depending on each particular case. On the other hand, abscesses need antibiotics, disinfection and, in more complicated cases, the placement of a drain until closure.
Lump in cat after vaccination
We've seen the most likely causes that explain a lump in the cat's neck, but also how side reaction to a vaccine, especially feline leukemia, could develop a type of tumor called fibrosarcoma. Although it is usual to pierce the area of the cross, with an injection placed higher up, we can find a small lump in the neck associated with inflammation. This should go away in about 3-4 weeks, but if not, chronic inflammation can cause fibrosarcoma.
Surgery to remove it can be complicated because it is a very invasive tumor. For this reason, some professionals recommend the application of vaccines associated with fibrosarcoma in the limbs, as they can be amputated in the case of a tumor.
We must also know that in the area of inoculation of any injection, as an adverse reaction, an inflammation and even an abscess can occur.
Cat with swelling in the neck from the thyroid gland
Finally, another explanation for why our cat has a ball around his neck might be in a gland enlargement thyroid, which is located in the neck and can sometimes be felt. This increase in volume usually occurs due to a benign tumor and results in the secretion of excess thyroid hormones, which will produce hyperthyroidism, which will reverberate throughout the body.
The affected cat will have symptoms such as hyperactivity, increased hunger and thirst, but weight loss, vomiting, bad coat and other non-specific symptoms. It can be detected through a hormone analysis and is treated with medication, surgery or radioactive iodine.
My cat has a lump on his face
Finally, once we've discussed the most common causes that explain why a cat has a lump in its neck, we'll see why nodules can appear on the face as well. And is that a cancer, the cell carcinomascaly, can cause nodular lesions, in addition to a less frequent disease, the cryptococcosis.
Both require veterinary treatment. Cryptococcosis with antifungal medication, as it is a disease caused by a fungus, and the carcinoma can be operated on. It is very important to go to the veterinarian quickly to start treatment early, avoiding complications.
This article is for information purposes only, at PeritoAnimal.com.br we are not able to prescribe veterinary treatments or perform any type of diagnosis. We suggest that you take your pet to the veterinarian in case it has any type of condition or discomfort.