Has this happened to your hunting dog?

[Steve Hodges]

Long story short. Cody, my Llewellen Setter and I hunted last Monday, November 4 for woodcock here in central NH. Hunted hard in some tough woodcock cover, but nothing we have not done a ton of times before. The next day, November 5th, I noticed a bit of swelling around his left lymph node on the left side of his lower jaw. By the next day, November 6th, the area had exploded to a very large swollen area, but it did not pain him and he was acting like his old self. Took him to my vet who thought he had an infected lymph node and prescribed antibiotics. A week went by and this morning the swelling was getting worse, not better. My vet said that this was beyond his ability do diagnose so he sent us to Angel Animal Hospital in downtown Boston, a two hour drive from Central NH. So we took off and arrived at noon. A vet examined him and thought that he had an infection in that area. A catscan revealed a puss pocket right by his juggler vein. A team of surgeons operated on him by 4:40 this afternoon. They called me by 5:15 to tell me that yes, it is an infection and that they externally drained lots of puss and installed a drain. He will be fine and they will culture the puss for the best antibiotics to treat it. They theories that he punctured the lower jaw area while hunting and the infection ensued. Has anyone else had this issue?
He will be able to come home either tomorrow or Friday. They are a great hospital.

[SXS OHIO]

I hope all goes well with your pup's healing, they are family....(-:

[Chris Pope]

We have not yet experienced such a situation with our dogs. That is surprising because most bird dogs get minor wounds to the face, jaw, eyes, ears, mouth/tongue, chest and legs with high frequency. And when you hunt in wet dark areas including beaver sloughs you would expect a lot of bacteria so a higher liklihood of infection.
This year we've had one vet visit so far due to a cut on top of a front paw (no idea how it happened) and was given Clindamycin (now healing.) But we've not had an infection for which the original antibiotic did not work. Something to look forward to!
I've heard good things about Angel Memorial. Happy to hear the pup is on the mend. When living in NH we would take specialty vet issues to Maine Veterinary Medical Center in Scarborough, ME. There were also excellent.
Please post a photo when you guys pick up Cody and are reunited. I hate leaving pups overnight, but know it's necessary. Best to Cody and a full recovery!!

[Steve Hodges]

Thanks guys. They said that the reason the antibiotics did not work was because the infection had encapsulated and once that happens antibiotics cannot penetrate it and work. Needs to be opened up and drained. He will have an external drain for about five days. They will also culture the infection to find the best antibiotic to treat it. I will post pictures.

[William Woods]

Best wishes to you and Cody.

[Double Lab]

Thanks to the lord Cody will be well. I've had much worse happen to me and fellows I was hunting with. Dogs are tough.

[Brett Farley]

Good luck for Cody’s speedy recovery!!!

[Steve Hodges]

Thanks everyone for your kind words and thoughts for Cody. Just got off the phone with his vet and he is doing well and coming home this afternoon.

[Chris Pope]

Yay!!

[mobirdhunter]

Double Yay!!

We had this happen to one of our dogs while hunting in northern Minnesota. We contacted our home vet who called and discussed the matter with a vet in Big Fork, MN. They concluded some sort of infection, and gave us antibiotics which worked just fine and cleared his large swelling in no time. But it was pretty scary, and your pup's situation was one I'd not like to go through.

So glad things have worked out. So many perils for the hard charging hunting dog, sometimes it seems overwhelming.