Guest wprubin Posted March 21, 2012 Share Posted March 21, 2012 We have a 9-year old male greyhound that has a swollen rear paw; I have no idea what happened to it, but he seems to have scraped it, and he was licking it. No sign of infection, but it's warm to the touch, and about double its usual size. The lower leg is swollen, too. He's been muzzled, but managed to get it to bleed on the one knuckle, so we had to bandage it. So far, we've been soaking it 1-2x a day in warm water with Epsom salts. He doesn't protest when we manipulate it, so it doesn't appear to be painful. I can't find anything in there, although we've had foxtails in the yard before I can't find any this time of the year so I don't think that's it. Again, there's no sign of infection, but I don't know what could be causing this. Any suggestions? This has been going on 3-4 days now, with the swelling for about 2-1/2 days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RaineysMom Posted March 21, 2012 Share Posted March 21, 2012 (edited) same thing happened to Nube back in December -- xray showed a foreign object somewhere in the paw. The only way we could get it down was prednisone and antibiotics. Once the pred was done, it started to swell back up again, so we did another 7 days of pred. We also did twice weekly cold laser treatments and I really believe they helped. He had sores on the top foot and had lost a lot of hair there too but I think the laser really helped that too. I'd see the vet if I were you ETA: Nube is 10. Edited March 21, 2012 by RaineysMom Quote Kim and Bruce - with Rick (Rick Roufus 6/30/16) and missing my sweet greyhound Angels Rainey (LG's Rainey 10/4/2000 - 3/8/2011), Anubis (RJ's Saint Nick 12/25/2001 - 9/12/12) and Zeke (Hey Who Whiz It 4/6/2009 - 7/20/2020) and Larry (PTL Laroach 2/24/2007 - 8/2/2020) -- and Chester (Lab) (8/31/1990 - 5/3/2005), Captain (Schipperke) (10/12/1992 - 6/13/2005) and Remy (GSP) (?/?/1998 - 1/6/2005) at the bridge"Always do sober what you said you'd do drunk. That will teach you to keep your mouth shut." -- Ernest Hemmingway Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest sheila Posted March 21, 2012 Share Posted March 21, 2012 I wonder if it could be an insect bite. Maybe you could try giving him some Benedryl and see if that helps. If it continues to be a problem though I would try to get him into the vet before the weekend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaryJane Posted March 21, 2012 Share Posted March 21, 2012 I would head to the vet. Three of my greyhounds have had something similar over the years. In two cases they had to have foreign bodies removed and stitches and in one case where there was no evidence of a foreign body, the leg was wrapped to keep the swelling down and he was back at the vets every few days for rechecks and that continued for about 3 weeks. In all three cases, they were on antibiotics for infection .... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbhounds Posted March 21, 2012 Share Posted March 21, 2012 I also recommend a vet visit-- could be so many things -- foreign body, cellulitis, bug bite or even cancer (hemingio). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest wprubin Posted March 22, 2012 Share Posted March 22, 2012 A vet visit has provided me with an antibiotic (Cipro), a topical (combination including a numbing compound that keeps him from licking it), and a big shrug as to what it might be. No foreign body identified. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnF Posted March 22, 2012 Share Posted March 22, 2012 Cipro is a good broad-spectrum choice so it ought to get at the infection. Our old Great Dane had a 3/4" piece of pinewood in her foot from the forest floor and it didn't show on X-Ray. The vet finally decided to go in there and take a look and got it out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlies_Dad Posted March 22, 2012 Share Posted March 22, 2012 I would recommend a vet visit if you are unable to find anything and you're been soaking it as you described. Something else is in there or something else is going on with his leg. Hope it's nothing serious. Quote Kyle with Stewie ('Super C Ledoux, Super C Sampson x Sing It Blondie) and forever missing my three angels, Jack ('Roy Jack', Greys Flambeau x Miss Cobblepot) and Charlie ('CTR Midas Touch', Leo's Midas x Hallo Argentina) and Shelby ('Shari's Hooty', Flying Viper x Shari Carusi) running free across the bridge. Gus an coinnich sinn a'rithist my boys and little girl. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kudzu Posted March 22, 2012 Share Posted March 22, 2012 Time for a vet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonnaBehr Posted March 22, 2012 Share Posted March 22, 2012 We have a 9-year old male greyhound that has a swollen rear paw; I have no idea what happened to it, but he seems to have scraped it, and he was licking it. No sign of infection, but it's warm to the touch, and about double its usual size. The lower leg is swollen, too. He's been muzzled, but managed to get it to bleed on the one knuckle, so we had to bandage it. So far, we've been soaking it 1-2x a day in warm water with Epsom salts. He doesn't protest when we manipulate it, so it doesn't appear to be painful. I can't find anything in there, although we've had foxtails in the yard before I can't find any this time of the year so I don't think that's it. Again, there's no sign of infection, but I don't know what could be causing this. Any suggestions? This has been going on 3-4 days now, with the swelling for about 2-1/2 days. Possible spider bite. I would have a vet check it out. Quote Mom to Melly and Dani Greyhound Bridge Angels - Jessie, Brittne, Buddy, Red, Chica, Ford and Dodge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sweetdogs Posted March 22, 2012 Share Posted March 22, 2012 OP said last night: A vet visit has provided me with an antibiotic (Cipro), a topical (combination including a numbing compound that keeps him from licking it), and a big shrug as to what it might be. No foreign body identified. I hope your boy's paw gets back to normal soon. Quote Deirdre with Conor (Daring Pocobueno), Keeva (Kiowa Mimi Mona), & kittehs Gemma & robthomas. Our beloved angels Faolin & Liath, & kittehs Mona & Caesar. Remembering Bobby, Doc McCoy, & Chip McGrath. "He feeds you, pets you, adores you, collects your poop in a bag. There's only one explanation: you are a hairy little god." Nick Galifinakis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest wprubin Posted March 22, 2012 Share Posted March 22, 2012 Paw is much improved this morning. Either whatever underlying problem is on the run, or the Cipro has taken hold. We'll finish the course of abx, and make sure things stay nice and clean. As an aside, the topical has really kept him from working at it, and he's not the kind of dog to quit once he starts. It contains gentamicin, betamethasone, clotrimazole, and tetracaine. I don't know if he compounds it himself in house or what, but BOY is it useful for this sort of thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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