Cat lymph nodes
Two nights ago I was petting my cat and giving her a really good chin rub. I was rubbing under her jaw and happened to feel her lymph nodes. I haven't felt them before, but she was in a different position than she usually is when I pet her, which allowed me to feel her jaw at a different angle than usual. The lymph nodes on both sides are exactly the same size. They are both about the size of a pea, maybe slightly larger than that. They are shaped like an oblong pea, kind of like a lima bean. Since I never touched her lymph nodes before, I have no idea if they have always been this size. I've been trying to find information on line regarding the normal size of a cat's lymph nodes, but have not had much luck. Do hers sound like they are enlarged to you, or is this normal? As a side note, her sister (they were littermates) also lives with us. Her sister is quite a bit chubbier, so it's a little harder to feel her lymph nodes. However, from what I can feel, the sister's are the same size - about pea size, maybe a little bit larger. She is due to go to the vet for her vaccinations in February. I'm trying to determine if she needs to go sooner because of these lymph nodes. Also, I've heard that with people, if you keep touching your lymph nodes, they can get inflamed and swollen. Ever since I discovered these lymph nodes, I keep touching them and re-checking them. If I keep touching them, will it irritate them and cause them to swell? |
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