Enlarged Hock On Rear Foot

[Guest Piila]

I noticed Abbey limping a bit today and started examing his legs for any strange features. I found that his left hock is enlarged - swollen is maybe a bad term because it doesn't feel fluid-filled, but it's just lumpy and larger than the other one. He's trying to keep weight off it, and I've noticed in the last couple of nights that if he sleeps on the couch, he gets up and shifts positions a lot. In the last couple of days, he's been hesitant to jump on the bed too, I guess not wanting to take the weight on his back leg. He's been slightly off his food for the last 2 weeks, which I noted but he often goes through spells where he doesn't eat as much (and I've been injured so haven't been able to walk him that much so figured it was just the lack of exercise turning him into slug dog!).

 

Anyway, I called my vet and we'll see him tomorrow, but of course I'm panicking right now with cancer at the front of my mind. He's only 6.5 years. I've got alternating hot and cold compresses on the hock for now, and will keep him calm tonight. But I can't help but panic.

 

Thoughts/comments more than welcome!

 

paula

[MandysMom]

No advice, but sending prayers for Abbey.

[Fudge]

maybe he bumped it or something. Can't wait to hear what the vet says.

[carronstar]

No advice just good thoughts and prayers and a few hugs.

[RobinM]

Prob just a bruise. Prayers for your boy. Update when you can.

[Guest grey_dreams]

Not sure if it's the same thing at all, but just wanted to mention that Zuki has what you describe on both rear hocks. It's an enlarged bump that isn't really noticeable unless you feel his legs. Both the regular vet and the homeopathic vet told me that they were bone spurs caused by a lot of hard running. I've seen other galgos with the same thing so it seems to be common. They don't normally bother him though. Hope it's nothing serious for Abbey.

[duncan41]

Here's hoping that it's nothing. Prayers for your Abbey. Please post an update tomorrow.

[Guest Piila]

Thanks for the thoughts.

 

If anyone out there has experience with swollen rear joints, let me know. I'd rather have honest blunt answers than anything right now. An x-ray is happening right away tomorrow!

 

Oh, and the hock is hot to the touch.

[Chicocat]

The x-rays should give you the answer. All we can give you is guesses. My "guess" is if he has previously broken the hock and has hardware, it could be bothering him. Sometimes that happens and the hardware needs to be removed. Although you can never say definitely, it would be very unusual for osteo to be found in the hock. Osteo is more common in the long bones.

 

Fingers crossed for an easy fix for your boy.

[Guest EmilyAnne]

I'm not sure what part exzactly is the hock, but my American Eskimo's wrist recently became suddenly very swollen, and he was limping quite bad. He had two x-rays done and it showed NO cancer at all. (This was on Nov.14th) Somehow he sustained injury. He has been on Meloxicam since then, and is healing slowly. I can't remember if it was hot to the touch, but I do remember he did NOT like it when I tried to touch it even gently.

 

So, it could very well be that Abbey just has a simple injury. Rest will be crucial. Riley could not be walked for two weeks at all, and even now can not walk nearly as far.

 

ing that this is just an injury and ing for Abbey's healing.

[MerlinsMum]

I hope it's nothing. I haven't had experience of this, but wanted to send good thoughts.

 

:goodluck

[Guest Piila]

I don't know if he broke his hock previously - if he did, no one mentioned it to me when I adopted him!

 

It seems to have stiffened up significantly tonight (we had a long walk this afternoon), especially if he's been lying down for a while. I took him out just for a bathroom break tonight but otherwise he's staying inside! He is clutzy, and the snow we've had lately has made walking difficult (I have quite a number of outside steps at my house and he doesn't like those when they have snow on them).

[Chicocat]

He may have just stepped funny and it's more like a sprain.

[patricia]

Sending my many prayers.

[Guest KennelMom]

Our girl Stella had a tendon injury in her hock a few months ago. She's just recently started bearing full weight on it again. http://forum.greytalk.com/idex.php?showtopic=211079&hl= your pup could have something like that. An xray and physical exam is the first place to start. Keep us posted!

Edited December 11, 2008 by KennelMom

[Guest Piila]

Was it swollen? I sure hope it's just soft-tissue. although that isn't a lot of fun either - i know, I spend a lot of my time with soft-tissue injuries from martial arts!

[Guest KennelMom]

Oh yeah...this was the bendy part of her hock it was swollen

[Guest Piila]

Oh yeah...this was the bendy part of her hock it was swollen

 

That's where this is swollen. Not badly - not puffed up horribly or anything, but it's certainly a good 50% larger than the right one.

[Guest KennelMom]

Oh yeah...this was the bendy part of her hock it was swollen

 

That's where this is swollen. Not badly - not puffed up horribly or anything, but it's certainly a good 50% larger than the right one.

 

Yeah...that sounds just like Stella's problem. A ruptured gastroc tendon. Just meds for pain and leash walking. I never did figure our how she hurt it. She's very lazy.

 

just realized i typo'd the link to my old thread above about Stella: http://forum.greytalk.com/index.php?showto...211079&hl=a

Edited December 11, 2008 by KennelMom

[HopeForHounds]

Paula, you describe something similar to what Jake had twice this year. Here is my thread http://forum.greytalk.com/index.php?showtopic=212807&hl=

 

Hoping it is a minor injury. I'll be at work without computer access, but call me I'm at Centrepointe Child Care Services on Hemmingwood Way, we're in the book. Try not to panic, one thing at a time.

[Guest vahoundlover]

Sending prayers it's nothing serious.

[Jiffer]

Sending more prayers.

 

If it's still hot to touch, you can ice it too.. wrap an ice pack in a dry towel. Ice for 10 minutes, off for 5 for up to 30 minutes.

[MerlinsMum]

Sending lots of good thoughts and :goodluck your way... please keep us posted and let us know what the vet said...

 

[Guest trevdog]

Sending prayers, hoping it's an old racing injury you weren't aware of. My Jam had a broken hock that would bother him when the weather changed. We didn't know he had an injury until we contacted the kennel he raced in.

Sometimes the groups don't know about previous injurues.

 

 

[patricia]

Sending more prayers today.