Enlarged lymph nodes

Because we were going out on Friday night, and I didn't want to leave Jazz on the drip with Ed dog-sitting, I booked Jazz in for a day at the vet's for his chemo and drip. He was VERY subdued all day, just lying on his side in the kennel, ignoring everything that was going on (even though there were workmen there removing the old portakabins in preparation for the building work that starts next month).

He was still very subdued on Saturday. In the afternoon, I noticed that he was very swollen around his neck and behind his jaw. (He's obviously decided that poodle impressions - the clipped legs for the chemo - are old hat now, and decided to look like a bloodhound instead.) This weekend, Helen was on duty, and she suggested I should give him an extra steroid injection in an effort to reduce this. (We were at Bridget's for her birthday this time - Jazz seems to be making a habit of making sure we're not at home when he gives us frights now.) Inspection by telephone seemed to show that it was the lymph nodes that were enlarged.

On Sunday morning, the swelling seemed to have reduced slightly - the lymph nodes were still about the same, but the jowly look was starting to go, although he was still pretty subdued. Slightly worryingly, we realised that some of the snoring we'd been hearing was while he was still wide awake. Concerned that his breathing might be impaired, I spoke to Helen and she offered to check him over. She confirmed that the swelling is the lymph nodes, checked his chest (as his breathing sounded laboured), but found it clear. She took his temperature (normal), looked down his throat (not obstructed) and generally gave him a thorough check. The good news is that the lymph nodes are quite mobile, and can get a lot bigger before they'll start to seriously block his airway. The snoring is because they're quite close to the larynx. She'll speak to Fiona tomorrow, and one of them will call me.

He got quite a lot brighter by the evening, asking to go out and demanding food in no uncertain terms, although there was still no sign of the lymph nodes reducing in size.

Because of the swelling, I've taken his collar off and replaced it with his racing harness.