bump on head ??

[Jayne]

I wonder if any one can offer me a bit of advice?

Zena is my 15 week old DDB - She has developed a bump on the top of her head - It feels hard like her skull?? Over the last couple of days it has grown and grown. It is prob and inch or so high / diameter as well. It isn't causing her any discomfort ( or at least she hasn't shown any symptoms )

It is like a small dome..

She s growing really fast and i wonder if it is her head growing? - Just a bit odd if you have not seen it before.

Got her on adult food - Low protein - really careful with her growth etc...

My husband says she is brainy !!! bless him !

Any ideas would be really help full - I will ring my vet Tuesday - Bank holiday in the UK - Pups are like kids and get something when the docs are shut!!

Many many thanks - a slightly worried mum

Jayne

 

[stephanieb]

Hi Jayne;

There is a thread on here somewhere about this. Check with the vet to be on the safe side but it's normal for most mastiff puppies to have a coned head (we called it the dunce bump on ours) and as they grow it flattens out. The closest I can liken it to is the way a baby is born with their skull not fussed and as they grow the soft spot closes over. Mastiff puppies have cones that as the grow even out. Just means your baby is probaby going to have a big head so sorry to tell you but the husband.... may be right

 

[dogman#1]

got a pic of it? is it centered on the top of her head towards the rear? if it is it is called a occipital bone and it is suppose to be there. depending on the breed, bloodlines etc. it may be very pronounced or less. as the dog matures and its head widens it will become less and less apparent but will prob still show...My breed is the Fila Brasileiro and we actually like pronounced occipital bone structure. hope that helps.

 

[Joan98]

I could be better if you share the pic of that. Well, it usually happened when the hard part of body like skull is
hit by some hard thing.
Now, take care of that bump. Don't let it to be hit again otherwise the dog can die.
Contact to your vet.

 

[Jayne]

This lump started off 5bdays ago - HARD and boney

It has grown now and is wobbly ( or water filled)

I have tried to get a pic best i can ??

Zena is acting like her normal - eat anything - love anything self.. - This can not be normal though - She has not been hit on the head - She is with me 24/7 . She went to puppy class yesterday and i asked the trainer - He said it is normal ( that was the hard bit) - The wobbly bit has come today...

Please any suggestions???

Thanks in anticipation..

Jayne

 

[Jayne]

Could it be .... her head growing? and swelling as the bones fuse???? i am racking my brains and am at my wits end...
I know i will take her to the vets tomorrow - i just don't have much faith in them.... Better an breed expert opinion. She is a DDB by the way - Doh - pics...!!!

 

[dogman#1]

... this really looks like the occipital bone to me... in the fila breed we like it exaggerated when they are pups so it will be well defined (but not as exaggerated) when adult. it will go away gradually.

 

[Jayne]

Thanks Dogman - The occipital bone seems to be the thing as it did creep up over a few days but was solid - like bone.. Would it get soft and watery over the bone like bump? - Ie swelling??? I know if my head grew like that i would swell.. - The swelling ( for arguments sake ) has advanced towards the back of her head today. She is absolutley fine with it - i have prodded ( as you do) and she does not react at all. Eating drinking etc... all well.. She just looks like she has a jelly on her head !
Cant get an an appointment at my vets - but - they have a walk in an wait tomorrow tea time - I may take her if it is still growing.. I don't think she is in any discomfort but kinda need that reasurance...
Many thanks
Jayne

 

[dogman#1]

lol, the vet will probably be confused and think that the dog fell or something... I am speaking from experience because i went through this with a pup I had.. If it is hard like a bone and it causes no discomfort when touched and "proded" then I wouldnt even go to the vet but if you HAVE to then atleast let him know about the possibility of it being an exaggerated ocipital bone. good luck

 

[Jayne]

ha Ha - Not a big vet fan myself ( although mine has an excellent rep ) you see a learner these days as he is getting to retirement age - I find it hard to take advice from a fresh from collage 20 year old who has only ever had a hamster! - Hence on here.....

Good news !! The bump is shrinking - So using common sense - Going with the occipital bone with a bit of swellling on the side. Thanks for your help !

PS - just read the post of your Fila and Rotti-GSDX - ref breaking point of an attacker - Sounds like good cop / bad cop - fabulous!

Thanks once again
Jayne

 

[Jayne]

Bad NEWS !

Zena has got worse.. Her whole head swelled up in a matter of hours - Rushed to vets and they have no idea !

She has had a shot of anti inflamatory and has a 6 day course of tablets ( anti - inflamatorys )

I have to take her back in 5 days - if swelling is still there then they are sending her for scans ...etc...... wll keep upated..

 

[raechiemay]

That's strange. That to me sounds more like some sort of allergic reaction. They didn't think so?

I've see dogs get bitten by a bunch of ants & their faces/heads swell up to the point they can barely open their eyes. Not sure if that's what you experienced but nonetheless poor baby. Hope she feels better soon.

 

[dogman#1]

sound like an allergic reaction to me as well... keep us informed.

 

[Jayne]

HI

Zenas face has gone down - The lump is still there ! i too another pic last night so you can see the size of it /v/her whole body weight. Will post it in a mo.

The vet after a really good feel about - covered
Bump...
Bites....
Teeth....
Allergy....
Breed normality....
He said some dogs can have sever reactions to any of these.

We have noticed now that she is bumping into things - but - with the dome on her head and her speedie growth - we think she may be misjudging chairs and tables she used to clear. Its all getting to be a worry....

 

[dogman#1]

i think you are begining to be a lil over protective here...the vet didnt find anything so maybe you should just chill out a lil and let the pup grow and dont worry so much. calm down and enjoy your pup.

 

[elesha]

what was the outcome of this lump? diagonis? i have a puppy with the same lump and being told by people she may need an op??

 

[jenny adams]

Hi i have 2 ddb puppy's they both had/have a bump on the back of there head, now there heads are getting the squarer shape you would expect for there blood line, you cant see it but still feel it when stroking the back of the head, they are 8 and 6 mounts the swelling sounds like a bite or reaction to some thing, a friends pug nearly died after an ant bite