dont have money 4 vet please help

Question
my puppy is probly 3 months old and the lump is a little bigger then a golf ball it hangs between chin and throt its not hard but kinda mushey it appeard over nite

Answer

Hi Carrie,

Generally if it comes up that quickly and is painful, it's more likely to something like an abscess. Now, how the abscess formed in the first place could be from a bite wound, infected hair follicle, infected sebaceous cyst or other cause.

You can see if applying a warm compress helps it any. Apply the compresses for about 5-10 minutes 3- 4 times per day to help increase the flow of blood to the area. This will increase the white blood cell population within the abscess, to better fight the infection. If the abscess ruptures, clean the area thoroughly with warm soapy water, and apply an antibiotic ointment 2x daily. If you opt do the hot compress route, and it doesn't appear to look any better in a day or two, you shouldn't waste any more time. Your dog needs to be examined by a vet.

If you are having trouble afford veterinary care, first talk to your regular vet. Ask your veterinarian if he or she will let you work out a payment plan. Many veterinarians are willing to work out a weekly or monthly payment plan so that you do not have to pay the entire cost of veterinary care up front. Another option is to contact your local shelter or Humane Society. Some shelters operate or know of local subsidized veterinary clinics or veterinary assistance programs. If you happen to live within driving distance to veterinary school, check with them to see if they offer discount services to the public. There are two special credit cards to apply for which help with medical bills (including veterinary bills) read about them here:

http://www.carecredit.com
http://www.healthcard.citicards.com

Best of luck,
Patti