11/10/2025
We talked a little bit about canine lymphoma last week . . .
We talked about the fact that the majority of canine lymphoma patients have enlarged peripheral (outer) lymph nodes.
Where are your dog's (and cat's!) lymph nodes anyway?
Here is a schematic of where they are located. They are bilateral, meaning that you will find one on the left side and one on the right side in the same general location.
The submandibular lymph nodes are found just underneath the back of the jaw line on either side. Sometimes, they can be prominent when patients have severe dental disease, as lymph from the mouth area drains to these lymph nodes.
The prescapular lymph nodes are found around the front part of your pet's shoulders, kind of where the lower neck meets the shoulder area.
The axillary lymph nodes are found up in the pet's armpit area.
The inguinal lymph nodes are found underneath the dog in his/her groin area.
The popliteal lymph nodes are easily found on the backside of the knees.
You can usually feel the submandibular and popliteal lymph nodes pretty easily, even when they are of normal size. It's a good habit to get into checking your pet once a month to make sure that they aren't getting big.
Lymph nodes can be swollen for other reasons other than lymphoma, too! Sometimes, we see them enlarged when the pet is having a lot of skin infection issues or dental disease or body system infections such as Lyme Disease.
The bottom line is:
1) Check your pet over once a month to make sure that you aren't feeling enlarged lymph nodes or seeing other masses crop up.
2) If you do notice something unusual, please call your vet's office ASAP to have them seen sooner rather than later.
