Chronic swollen lymph nodes in neck?

[Ladyrosee]

I posted once before about my kitty Morton. It appears his lymph node swelling has returned. He's had issues on and off through his whole life (he has ITP by the way, in remission) and yesterday I noticed two tiny little soft squishy lymph nodes on the right side of his neck. For some reason the right is the only side or just happens to be more on that side. I'm at a loss to do. Hes had them aspirated to check for cancer multiple times..nothing just inflammation. His blood work looks the best its been in a long time and no concerns at all. He is acting hyper and happy. I'm just stumped and so is the vet. The holistic vet and his internal medicine specialist may have other ideas but I'm not sure

 

[MissClouseau]

I've been following your posts about Morton but I don't remember if you have seen a specialist. If not and if it is an option where you live, consider seeing one.

I have no experience on this problem but I remember reading lymph nodes get enlarged over an allergic reaction too. I cannot know if it's the cause of course, and Morton might have more than one thing going on... but I do know there isn't enough research about allergies in cats compare to allergies in humans, and since Morton is on quite a few supplements it's a longer list of potential allergens right there. Including airborne allergies. Maybe one or two he can handle, but more causes more severe reactions. e.g. I myself have quite a few allergies and with dust mite alone the humidity that day affects the severity of my symptoms.

You know finding out allergies take detective work. You might notice something in common when you see a new symptom maybe.

 

[FeebysOwner]

Hi. I know I have read before - perhaps it was prompted by your previous posts - ITP and swollen lymph nodes can be symptoms of a flare up from FIV or FeLV. However, as you already know, ITP can also be caused by use of immune-suppressive drugs. And, since Morton's ITP is in remission since stopping those meds, perhaps his neck lymph nodes are his primary symptom from a FIV/FeLV flare-up now? Has this possibility been discussed at all? Not all cats present with the same symptoms when in the midst of a flare up - they can be pretty much unique to each cat and their individual biological system.

If he was vaccinated for these, I am not sure if there are tests that can determine the difference in vaccine-induced FIV/FeLV antibodies and those of the actual virus(es), but I don't think there is. You can ask about this - and what types of treatments might be acceptable to try when you see holistic vet and his internal medicine specialist. You might also ask if there is anything that can be given to him to help with tenderness, if they think the swollen lymph nodes might feel sore to him - I know that they can be in humans.

I know you are frustrated by the lymph nodes, and I don't blame you - but, I am glad to hear that otherwise he seems to be doing pretty well!

 

[Ladyrosee]

So any time the lymph nodes would swell really big they were very hot and very itchy. He itches all over....only after coming home from the icu in August where they saved his life and he spend 12 days in there. He got a mycoplasma parasite from getting fleas there. His lymph nodes were bigger than I've ever seen them before the size of mature green grapes in his neck and he would gulp really loud. The baytril seemed to get them down and also the anemia went away too since you get really anemic from the parasite.

The ONLY thing is we are reducing his prednisolone. he has been on 1.25mg a day just because I'm slowly weaning him off. His specialist said that and even 2.5mg act as an anti inflammatory and dont supress the immune system at all. I have him on basically 1.25mg and then half of that and its every day one and the other the next day...

His current supplemented he's been on for quite a while and didnt cause any issues when first starting, in fact, one is an anti inflammatory. he is itching less but still will itch his throat here and there. I hate being stumped. Hes had a lymph node usually the same one on the right swell up randomly in his life while on cyclosporine but it never got so big it would interfere with his life but I'm just terrified of them coming back like they did and almost taking over his whole throat. Even the ones under his ears swelled up.

The only thing I can really think of is somehow its steroid related and maybe his body doesnt know what to do not being on it since he was since he was 2 months old. Or allergy testing at the holistic vet? Or a pred alternative?

 

[Luls77]

I’m a late comer to this thread. I posted something similar about my cat. She is Less than two years old and I adopted her from a shelter where she had her tests-and shots for FIV and FELV before I adopted her. About six months ago I noticed very large swollen lymphs in her neck (mostly on right side). She is a very happy and healthy looking beautiful girl. She has never exhibited any signs of illness or discomfort. She had the lymph nodes tested and they were not found to be cancerous. She has been on prednisolone, allergy meds, and antibiotics- and nothing seems to change it or make it go away, The antibiotics did seem to shrink it, ever so slightly. My vet said she even reached out to international vet associations for advice —and could not come up with anything. I read your post, and you mentioned Morton has had swollen lymph’s on and off throughout his life. Have you found a resolution?

 

[Ladyrosee]

I’m a late comer to this thread. I posted something similar about my cat. She is Less than two years old and I adopted her from a shelter where she had her tests-and shots for FIV and FELV before I adopted her. About six months ago I noticed very large swollen lymphs in her neck (mostly on right side). She is a very happy and healthy looking beautiful girl. She has never exhibited any signs of illness or discomfort. She had the lymph nodes tested and they were not found to be cancerous. She has been on prednisolone, allergy meds, and antibiotics- and nothing seems to change it or make it go away, The antibiotics did seem to shrink it, ever so slightly. My vet said she even reached out to international vet associations for advice —and could not come up with anything. I read your post, and you mentioned Morton has had swollen lymph’s on and off throughout his life. Have you found a resolution?

I suggest a TCM vet.. morton has been doing great on TCM and his ITP disease went away in February actually after a month long vaccine detox twice a day. Since the ITP has been gone though he has been getting chronic pancreatitis. I found a new TCM vet (his 4th one now) and she seems to be a godsend. She took him off his old herbs and on new ones to noirish his spleen and liver and 2 herbs for anxiety. He has not had a pancreatitis flare since before he saw her in september and he has been having monthly check ups. His lymph nodes haven't been swollen since probably december of last year

TCM vets will find the root cause of the issue instead of putting a prednisolone bandaid or something like that if that makes sense

 

[Luls77]

Thanks so much for the suggestion! I will look for a TCM vet!