Not Just A Corn - There Is A Bone Deformity

[Guest brindlebutt]

I posted a few days ago about my darling Forrest's corn, and many good people wrote back with suggestions and advice.

 

One of the bits of advice was to take him back to the vet and have it hulled again, and treat it with Abreva. The vet hulled it, but was of the opinion that there is no real scientific study about the effects of Abreva -- but what the hell -- what do I have to lose by trying, right?

 

But there was a bigger problem -- the corn had not only returned, but the entire pad was affected, and Forrest, who, believe it or not is stoical for a greyhound, was in terrific pain and really carrying on. The entire pad was hard as a rock.

 

The vet suggested there was an underlying cause, and took an xray. What showed up on the toe bone was a sickle shaped growth, of significant size. I just had a few seconds to look at it, but it was not at the bottom surface of the toe, but kinda sticking out to the side, down towards the distant end of the toe bone. SHe was rushed at this point (as Forrest had been very uncooperative and took up over an hour of her and the staff's time) and said she didn't know what it was, could be a tumor. Her advice -- see how he does after this hulling, and if the problem recurs, get the toe amputated becaused of the growth on the bone.

 

It was not near a joint, where bone spurs typically are.

 

Now, one of the strongest points that people at Greytalk made was NEVER to get surgery for a corn. But given that he has this bone deformity, what do you think?

 

I am going to call the ofc back today and ask for a fuller explanation of what she thought the bone deformity might be -- given that she said "tumor", well, I've been sick to my stomach since.

 

Oddly enough, when he was up for adoption -- and everyone passed him over for 6-8 months, his description of the website said that he occasionally limps. Now, for the 1.5 years that I had him, no limp until a couple months ago, which has gotten progressively worse, to the mess we have today. Is it logical to speculate the bone deformity was there all along, but it just didn't bother him until recently after I adopted him?

 

DVM degree or no -- I'm getting Abreva today and trying it out anyway, in the meantime.

 

Oh, and aaaaaaaaargh!!!!!!

 

 

 

 

[turbotaina]

No, there's no scientific study about Abreva, but some corns do appear to be viral in nature and Abreva is an anti-viral and can help.

 

I don't think a corn would show up on an x-ray (Turbo's didn't), so if there's something in there that's either foreign or unnatural, I'd heed the vet's advice - surgery may be your option here. You may, however, want to have the x-ray looked at by an orthopod before going that route. A second opinion, especially from a specialist, is never bad.

 

Good luck!

[ZoomDoggy]

Have a radiologist look at the xrays. Specialists often see and understand what regular vets miss.

[Guest brindlebutt]

I don't think a corn would show up on an x-ray (Turbo's didn't), so if there's something in there that's either foreign or unnatural, I'd heed the vet's advice - surgery may be your option here. You may, however, want to have the x-ray looked at by an orthopod before going that route. A second opinion, especially from a specialist, is never bad.

Have a radiologist look at the xrays. Specialists often see and understand what regular vets miss.

 

DUH -- STUPID question, but I have never been in this position before. Are there such things as veterinary radiologists, or would any old qualified radiologist do?

 

 

[ZoomDoggy]

A veterinary radiologist. Not sure of your location, but usually they can be found at major Universities with a veterinary college. Most regular vets are happy to forward their xrays to universities.

 

Forgot to ask, but were the xrays digital, or traditional films? Digital xrays tend to be a LOT clearer and higher quality (quicker/easier to take too ). If they used films, a specialist may want to retake them digitally.