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Do Dogs Have an Adam's Apple? What the Neck Lump Really Is
Dogs have a larynx and thyroid cartilage, but usually not a visible Adam's apple like an adult human. Learn what a normal throat feels like and when a neck lump needs a vet.
By Dr. Isabella Miao
Yes, dogs have a larynx and thyroid cartilage in the same general area as a human Adam's apple. But most dogs do not have the obvious front-of-the-neck bump seen in many adult men. If you can suddenly see or feel a new lump on your dog's neck, do not assume it is normal anatomy.
What is an Adam's apple?
“Adam's apple” is the everyday name for the laryngeal prominence. It is made by the thyroid cartilage, which surrounds and protects part of the voice box. Human anatomy makes this cartilage easier to see in some people, especially after puberty.
Dogs also have a larynx. It sits at the upper end of the windpipe and helps protect the airway when a dog swallows. Cartilage supports the larynx, but its shape and position do not usually create a large, easy-to-see bump.
Can you feel a dog's larynx?
You may be able to feel a firm structure in the middle of the upper throat, especially in a lean, short-haired dog. It should feel fixed in place rather than like a loose lump under the skin. The area can move slightly when the dog swallows.
There is no need to press or repeatedly handle the throat. If your dog pulls away, coughs, gags, or seems painful, stop. A home check cannot tell you whether a lump is harmless.
When is a neck lump not normal?
A new swelling can come from skin, lymph nodes, salivary glands, the thyroid gland, an abscess, a cyst, or a growth. Its location and texture may offer clues, but they are not enough for a diagnosis.
Arrange a veterinary exam if the lump:
- appeared recently or is getting larger;
- is soft, hot, painful, or attached to the skin;
- is only on one side of the neck;
- comes with coughing, gagging, drooling, fever, weight loss, or poor appetite; or
- changes your dog's bark or makes swallowing difficult.
Breathing trouble is an emergency
Go to an emergency veterinarian immediately if your dog has noisy or difficult breathing, open-mouth breathing at rest, collapse, or blue or gray gums. Problems affecting the larynx can restrict airflow, and heat or exercise may make breathing distress worse.
One possible cause is laryngeal paralysis, in which the structures at the entrance to the windpipe do not open normally. Older, large-breed dogs are affected more often, but a veterinarian must examine the dog to identify the cause.
What will the veterinarian check?
The visit usually starts with an examination of the mouth, throat, skin, and lymph nodes. Depending on the finding, the veterinarian may recommend blood tests, imaging, or a small sample of cells from the swelling. A throat or airway problem may require a more focused examination under sedation.
The useful takeaway is simple: a dog has the cartilage people informally call an Adam's apple, but a prominent new lump should not be labeled an Adam's apple without an exam.
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