Need Advice About Friend's Greyhound

[rascalsmom]

My friend's greyhound has developed a weird problem. Tiger is 9 years old, very active. She began limping on her right front leg on Thursday or Friday. Since Tiger likes to run every day, my friend put it down to a strain, and gave her buffered aspirin and a muscle relaxant that she had from a previous injury.

 

Last night, she noticed Tiger panting, and upon closer examination, noticed her right front leg was swollen up; it was swollen from the armpit on down, with a linear bruise in the armpit area. The swollen area is flabby, as though it were filled with fluid. My friend took Tiger to the e-vet last night, and Tiger being the major drama queen she is, the exam was difficult. The vet was the one who noticed the "bruised" area. They suggested it could be soft tissue damage of some sort, and were unable to do x-rays without knocking Tiger out, so they did not x-ray. The vet also suggested that, if more than one limb were involved, it could be "vasculitis".

 

Well, today my friend notices her back end (Tiger's!) seems to be involved; she described it as looking sort of like a dropped muscle [which Tiger does NOT have; my friend knows what it looks like because Ruby has one]; the one "butt cheek" is bigger than the other, but unlike the front leg's "squishy" appearance, this is a firm swelling.

 

 

My friend does not know of any incident which could have caused the bruising, but Tiger has been known to cut herself and nobody knows how she did it....

 

Anyway, they started Tiger on Rimadyl and Baytril. My friend will most definitely be calling her regular vet in the morning, but does anyone have any ideas, or information on "vasculitis"??

 

[silverfish]

It can be a symptom of a serious underlying condition. I'd get comprehensive bloodwork done, ASAP. Maybe a tick panel too?

 

Other people more experienced with this one will probably jump in.

[Burpdog]

Should have done blood work before giving rimadyl. Vasculitis requires pred and she cannot have that and rimadyl.

 

she should take her to the vet first thing in the morning.

 

I'd have a TBD panel done.

[Guest GiJenn51]

It can be a symptom of a serious underlying condition. I'd get comprehensive bloodwork done, ASAP. Maybe a tick panel too?

 

Other people more experienced with this one will probably jump in.

 

 

More experienced than you?

 

 

I agree with Judy. I'd bring her back to the vet. How is her appetite? Drinking water? How is her energy level? Are the gums still pink or are they whitish? When you press on them how fast does the pink come back.

 

These are the basic questions I look at before panicking.

[rascalsmom]

Appetite is still good, drinking OK, too.

[Batmom]

Any bruising on the butt swelling? If she *just* damaged a muscle, it will be swollen and firm to begin with.

 

Good suggestions above. It is possible, tho, that she just got herself in one heck of a tangle or took a bad spill and has some soft tissue injuries. Fingers crossed.

[rascalsmom]

UPDATE: they took Tiger back to the e-vet today. Her leg was looking worse. They did x-rays of her leg, spine, etc., and everything looks OK there---no masses. Withdrew blood from the swelling on her rear leg...also drew blood for a blood panel and a tick panel. Should hear tomorrow on those, or Tuesday. They are also testing for leukemia...

 

Took her off Rimadyl, put her on prednisone.

 

Please keep Tiger (and her mom, of course) in your prayers....

 

As for Tiger having an injury, really, she couldn't have. My friend goes out with them every time, even though she has a fenced yard....she is quite vigilant.

Edited September 30, 2007 by rascalsmom

[Guest jurishound]

Hmmm . . . I think this could be caused by many things. From what I understand, vasculitis is not uncommon in greyhounds. Our Cricket developed pitting edema in a hind leg and turned out to have what is believed to have been an autoimmune clotting disorder. A thorough workup is in order. Hopefully, it is something relatively benign!

[Guest longdogs]

It seems to have happened quickly. I hope that implies a physical trauma that will soon be repaired, Accidents can happen in the blink of an eye and could easily have been missed.

[silverfish]

Just a random, and hopefully interesting thought ......

 

Yes, injuries do happen more easily than you might think, especially in an older, maybe unfit, hound, and IF she had torn her gracilis (thigh) muscle, resulting in a dropped muscle and bleeding and swelling in that leg, they often seem to injure the wrist ligament on the diagonally opposite side at the same time.

 

Of course, this may only apply to dogs racing around a track, but one can hope that it might be something that simple.

[rascalsmom]

Just a random, and hopefully interesting thought ......

 

Yes, injuries do happen more easily than you might think, especially in an older, maybe unfit, hound, and IF she had torn her gracilis (thigh) muscle, resulting in a dropped muscle and bleeding and swelling in that leg, they often seem to injure the wrist ligament on the diagonally opposite side at the same time.

 

Of course, this may only apply to dogs racing around a track, but one can hope that it might be something that simple.

Both of the swollen areas are on the right-side limbs; not diagonally.

 

Update from an email this morning from my friend:

"It appears to me that some of the blood that had been pooled up around her armpit has moved into her chest. She is having that watery look under her chest. Again, from what I can tell, still in that straight pattern. It may just be wishful thinking on my part, but the top of her leg where it meets her body doesn't seem as swollen. The back end hasn't changed too much. She is still eating. When she gets up out of her bed she is stiff but seems to be able to walk it off quicker. "

 

 

[SIGreyLady]

Keeping them both in my thoughts and prayers