Not: Osteo In A Toe - Yeay!

[Xan]

Update May 30: Path report came back and there was no cancer! The toe still had to go, as the bone was proliferating and chipping off due to some trauma somewhere along the line, causing pain and chronic inflammation. So, no toe; no more toe pain! WHEW!! :confetti

 

_____________________________

 

We don't have a diagnosis yet, and x-rays are headed to Dr. Couto today (hopefully). Brilly, 11 next month, our first greyhound, Mr. Easy-going, has a swollen toe that he's been limping on for a few months. He's broken a toe (finally healed after removing all bandaging) and sprung a toe in the past (never seemed to bother him, and healed on its own), and we were in a scary-broke phase (already owed the vet ~$400), so we took a watch and wait position 'til some money came in.

 

Yesterday, the vet talked me through the xray, showing me a suspicious cloudiness around the joint in question. Despite how unusual it might be for OSA to show up in a toe, it has to be considered. So, I told her about Dr. Couto, sent her the contact info, and now we wait for news.

 

In the meantime, I hit GT to search for anyone else with a similar experience, but didn't find anything. Does anyone know of such a dog?

 

Brilly also has epilepsy (controlled so far on pheno) (knock on wood!), increasing hind end weakness and unilateral laryngeal paralysis: he'll be getting palliative care 'til it's time to let him go. We talked about removing the offending toe as part of that plan, and that may happen. Nothing is clear yet, of course. We all had a quiet night's sleep last night as the vet gave us both tramadol and meclazine. He's clearly been in more pain than we thought, besides limping when he first gets up.

 

I haven't been on GT so much since FB took over but isn't this the way it goes? Something bad happens, and we reach for help where we know we can find it, along with the supportive community we've come to trust.

 

And now, the obligatory pictures!

SO unimpressed with his stocking portrait!

 

Our first days together!

 

My handsome boy, looking all heroic and pretending to think deep thoughts.

 

Edited May 30, 2013 by Xan

[greysmom]

I've heard of it in a toe bone, but it's not common, I don't think. Technically, osteo can happen in any bone.

 

If it is cancer, removing the toe will help control the pain. If he can handle surgery. A toe amp is a pretty low stress surgery and healing (LOTS of threads about them here, so you can look them up). You will want to have chest xrays to check for lung mets. If you've caught it soon enough, a toe amp may buy you a considerable amount of time.

 

{{{{{hugs}}}}} to you and Brilly.

[Xan]

Thanks, Chris! My biggest concern is how hard even a small surgery, just the anesthesia, will have on him. He had a bunch of teeth out last year, and I swear he hasn't been the same since. (He also drew the crap teeth card, poor ol' dude!) Yes, if we do get a dx of osteo, chest xrays are next top priority, then a decision about the toe amp.

 

Blergh.

[Charlies_Dad]

I have also heard/read of it happening in a toe. I hope he can handle the surgery as that will at least get rid of the pain. I hope the dx is wrong too as that would be even better news. Good thoughts for your boy!

[Xan]

Thanks, Kyle! You have read of this? Can you recall where?

[tbhounds]

Xan-didn't Suzies girl Maggie Mae have osteo in a toe?

[djsgreys]

I went through this with a foster girl. She was returned to us with a limp that we first blamed on corns. Removed the corn but the limp didn't improve at all so two weeks later we did x-ray. We did NOT get a positive diagnosis of osteo but the x-ray showed that the toe bone was shattered. The vet said it was likely osteo but that the prognosis was good if we removed the toe.

 

The foster did come through the surgery just fine but really wish we had thought to do a chest x-ray before putting her through it. We lost her two weeks later to lung mets.

[Xan]

Oh! Maggie Mae ... I'll ask her! I can't remember where hers showed up. Hm. Though she did have a total leg amp ...

 

Djsgreys, That's such a sad story! Now I'm really champing at the bit to find out about the toe, and get chest xrays if it is OS!

 

I'm sitting on my email inbox waiting to hear from my vet about the xrays, but its her day off .... Meanwhile, Brilly is flat on his side in the long soft grass of the dog-yard, getting some outdoor air therapy.

[galgrey]

I hope you get good news, Xan.

[Xan]

Thanks, Cynthia!

 

I asked Suzie about Maggie, and she said her cancer was in the metatarsal, above the toes, and Dr. C recommended taking the leg all the way to mid-femur.

 

I haven't heard back from my vet, so I probably won't until tomorrow, anyway. It was her day off, after all.

 

I should look into amicar, since Brilly did bleed a lot after his last dental ....

[tbhounds]

Humm-I knew Maggie's was in the foot-guess just not in the toe. How about Donna--dwolfe? She had a hounds toe amped that was suspected to be Osteo but, I'm not sure of the final path report.

Eta-definetly, obtain Amicar! 500mgs 3 times a day for 5 days. I'm sure Suzie told you Maggie bled a ton after her dental this week! Very scary for her.

Edited May 15, 2013 by tbhounds

[Xan]

I'll look her up, too. Thanks, tbhounds!

[Charlies_Dad]

Thanks, Kyle! You have read of this? Can you recall where?

Xan, I don't recall but it may have been when I was doing a lot of research for Charlie's Osteo. I believe that usually cancer in the toe is squamous cell carcinoma and perhaps that is where I read about cancer in dog toes. Sorry, but I just don't recall.

[Remolacha]

Seems like I have heard of cancer in the toe, but can't remember where, sorry. Hope it turns out to not be that!

[Batmom]

AFAIK osteo isn't common in toes but it does happen. Good to have the OSU experts take a look because there are a lot of *benign* toe things too. Keeping all fingers (and toes!!! ) crossed for your boy.

[brianamac]

Hope you get good results today... So worrisome I imagine!

 

Off topic, but where oh where did you get that greyhound stocking?!

[Xan]

Xan, I don't recall but it may have been when I was doing a lot of research for Charlie's Osteo. I believe that usually cancer in the toe is squamous cell carcinoma and perhaps that is where I read about cancer in dog toes. Sorry, but I just don't recall.

Okay, that sent me on one of those google image searches that makes you so grateful for the health you and your loved ones DO have! 8~/

But thanks for that info.

 

My vet wrote this morning to let me know we should get the results in a day or so.

 

tick tock tick tock tick tock . . . . .

 

Hope you get good results today... So worrisome I imagine!

 

Off topic, but where oh where did you get that greyhound stocking?!

Isn't that cute? Holly/TheUnrulyHound made one of each of my hounds that year. I don't know if she's still going to offer them, but check out her website for more info and goodies. (We artists have got to stick together! )

 

tick tock tick tock tick tock . . . . .

[Patsy]

Sending all good thoughts your way and scritches to Brilly. Have missed you here and thought immediately of Wabi when I saw our first dandelions of the season this morning (totally ridiculously late Spring this year)

[Xan]

Aw, thanks, Patsy.

 

Yeah, me too. Every single dandelion is an emblem and reminder of Wabi, and her sunny, humble, and mischievous personality.

[TheFullHouse]

Lots of good thoughts for Brilly.

[galgrey]

Sending good thoughts.

[robinw]

Still waiting for good news...doing the "no cancer" chant

[Guest savvytwh]

Xan, what are your hounds symptoms? Which foot & toe? I ask, my hound has a swollen 2nd toe right hind foot, vet dx'd as arthritic changes.

Hoping your hound diagnosis is not osteo.

[Xan]

Thanks for all the good thoughts and chants!

 

savvytwh, his inner toe on his left foot is swollen at the large joint, the middle one, between the phalange attached to the nail, and the long one on top that attaches to the "wrist". He limps on it, particularly after first getting up, and on hard surfaces. At worst, he doesn't want to put any weight on it, but doesn't hold it off the floor entirely. I think he would if he felt more secure in his rear, which is also a bit weak.

 

The x-rays show ... well, heck, I don't know! I couldn't tell much, lay-person that I am. But the vet said the bone had some vagueness, and some fluffiness or shapes that didn't look like arthritis to her.

 

Two full days on pain meds, and he's much calmer. There had grown to be a lot of whining, unsettled pacing, shaking off (not quivering, but doing that big full-body shake), a couple panting episodes, especially in the evenings and then off and on through the night. The swelling doesn't seem to have decreased by much, which makes sense, since most of the swelling seems to be bone material, from what I could tell looking at the xray, but he is a little more comfortable moving.

 

Of course, I feel like *#%>! for the pain he's already experienced for way too long, but we were beyond flat broke for months. The vet made a point of saying to me on Monday that, as we are "established customers" (that's for sure!), that they will treat our animals, and work with us on the bill. They've been great, really!

 

Anyway, that's not what you asked about, was it?

 

So glad YOUR hound was only dx'd with arthritis! Not that that's a fun situation, but it's not likely to kill him/her! :

Oh, and we got an auto-response from OSU saying they'd respond within 3 days.

 

So.

 

tick ... tock ...

[Guest savvytwh]

Xan, thanks for the description. Hope your diagnosis is good from OSU.

Carol