Swollen Lymph Node?

We recently got a kitten from a stray rescue organization and she previously had a URI and an eye infection. She was doing fine until we took her to the vet for her check-up and shots. The next day she had a lump on her neck (her shots were in her back/shoulder blade area). We took her into the vet and they said she had a swollen lymph node and put her on antibiotics for 2 weeks. During these 2 weeks the lump has gotten bigger and gotten smaller, almost to where you couldn't feel it. It keeps varying in size back and forth. Her vet appointment is in a few more days and I was wondering if anyone has had any experience with this.

On a personal note this site is sweet. I have been lurking for about a month now and you guys got me switched from SD to Natural Balance. Thanks.

Hi Kulboy - Welcome to TCS!

Congratulations to you for adopting your kitten from a rescue group!

I'm a little surprised that your vet vaccinated your kitten on the back of her neck. Most vets no longer give shots in that area. The protocol now is to vaccinate as far down on the leg as possible, not the neck. This website will give you some info: www.sniksnak.com/cathealth/vaccinations.html

It sounds like your kitten may have had a reaction to the vaccine at the injection site - sometimes a lump will form, but should disappear. I haven't heard of a lymph node problem, though. There is some information here about swollen lymph nodes:

http://www.peteducation.com/article....&articleid=318

If your vet can't get this problem resolved you should get a second opinion.

Hope everything will be fine with your kitten. Best wishes to you both!

Well her shots were actually in her back shoulder blade area and her lump is on her neck under her jaw. All shots are supposed to be in the leg? That is not good to hear.

My cats always get given their shots in the back of the neck. What's the reasoning behind giving them in the leg?

Originally Posted by urbantigers

My cats always get given their shots in the back of the neck. What's the reasoning behind giving them in the leg?

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There is a rare type of tumor called a "vaccine-related sarcoma", which might develop several months or years after a vaccination. Should one develop, a leg can be amputated to save the cat's life.

That completely makes sense, I have always been wondering that. Do you think it would be rude to tell the vet to give the shots in her leg? I will post a reply when I hear what the vet has to say this time. I think they mentioned that if it is still there that they were going to drain it or take a sample of it. Thanks everyone, again, very cool site.

Originally Posted by jcat

There is a rare type of tumor called a "vaccine-related sarcoma", which might develop several months or years after a vaccination. Should one develop, a leg can be amputated to save the cat's life.

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That makes sense. Is the sarcoma related to a particular vacccine (such as feline leukaemia which my cats don't have) or is a response to any kind of vaccination? I've never questioned mine having their shots in the back of their neck but if the leg does just as well it makes sense to have them there.

Originally Posted by urbantigers

That makes sense. Is the sarcoma related to a particular vacccine (such as feline leukaemia which my cats don't have) or is a response to any kind of vaccination? I've never questioned mine having their shots in the back of their neck but if the leg does just as well it makes sense to have them there.

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Not that I know of, but it's a very interesting question, that needs researching. Kulboy, I'm wondering if your baby suffered an allergic reaction, and therefore has swollen lymph nodes. Jamie had a really bad reaction to his one-year booster shots, meaning vomiting and diarrhea. Ever since then (he recently turned 7), my vets have given him an antihistimine shot before the booster shots, haven't used the same brands of vaccines used at the time, and he's been fine.

Jcat, that makes logical sense. Any idea on the time frame that it will stay swollen? She seems to be doing good, her health has not seemed to change at all since her shots. It doesn't hurt her when we touch it. I just hope that we can get past this and move on to a healthy kitty.

My vet gives the regular boosters in the scruff, because he said the thing in the shots that usually causes the cancer is not in her kind of boosters. The rabies vaccine is given in the leg, and if I were to make her get a FelLeuk shot it would also be in the back leg.

Just thought I would give a quick update on her check up. They think that it might be a salivory gland; that she produces too much saliva. Sounds a little weird but I guess we will just monitor it. We are bringing in a stool sample tomorrow to check for parasites for her diarrhea. I will keep posted.

Another quick update, her lump on her neck has been really small now for a few days so that is a good sign. Her stool sample came back negative so that is great. She has had diarrhea since the first day we got her and that was 2 months ago. I haven't seen anything close to it becoming firm either. I switched her over to Natural Balance Venison and Pea to see if that would help but no luck.

And the battle with smelly diarrhea is on. While she was getting spayed we had a biopsy done and the results indicated "slight inflammatory changes", whatever that means. They suggested to have all the fecal tests done and put her on SD Sensitive Stomach. I will keep posted on results, wish us luck. On another note her lump on her neck has been fine this entire time.