schultzlc Posted November 11, 2012 Share Posted November 11, 2012 The hounds and I were out before the sun came up this morning. While under a street light, I noticed that one of Zip's hind paws was extremely swollen. It didn't seem to bother him one bit, as he was walking just fine and wasn't licking or biting at it or anything. I know that swollen paws can sometimes occur from allergies, a bite or sting, an injury such as a sprain or an infection. Within an hour, though, his paw was back to normal and looks totally unscathed. Could he have been laying on it weird so that it cut off circulation or something? I've just never seen anything quite like it. I will certainly be keeping an eye on it and if it happens again, I will have him checked out. Here's a photo of his two hind paws. You can see how huge it was in comparison to his other paw. Poor Zippy. Quote Laura, mom to Luna (Boc's Duchess) and Nova (Atascocita Venus).Forever in my heart, Phantom (Tequila Nights) and Zippy (Iruska Monte). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silverfish Posted November 11, 2012 Share Posted November 11, 2012 Looks like a small puncture or scrape wound a bit higher up that leg - was that fresh too? Could have been a bite. I would expect swelling from an infection to be hot and not go down very quickly like that. Quote The plural of anecdote is not dataBrambleberry Greyhounds My Etsy Shop Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
schultzlc Posted November 11, 2012 Author Share Posted November 11, 2012 Looks like a small puncture or scrape wound a bit higher up that leg - was that fresh too? Could have been a bite. I would expect swelling from an infection to be hot and not go down very quickly like that. He does have a couple of old scars on his legs, yes. I checked between his toes and couldn't find anything there either. I agree with you, I wouldn't have thought it would go back down so quickly, and it never seemed "hot." If it happens again, should have give him something to help with the swelling? Fingers crossed that it was a fluke. Quote Laura, mom to Luna (Boc's Duchess) and Nova (Atascocita Venus).Forever in my heart, Phantom (Tequila Nights) and Zippy (Iruska Monte). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grey14me Posted November 11, 2012 Share Posted November 11, 2012 Wow, yeah, that looks like a lab's paw or something! No advice, but glad it's gone down and it didn't seem to bother him! Quote Michelle...forever missing her girls, Holly 5/22/99-9/13/10 and Bailey 8/1/93-7/11/05 Religion is the smile on a dog...Edie Brickell Wag more, bark less :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
macoduck Posted November 11, 2012 Share Posted November 11, 2012 Any history of cardiac or circulation problems? Quote Freshy (Droopys Fresh), NoAh the podenco orito, Rita the podenco maneta, Howie the portuguese podengo maneto Angels: Lila, the podenco, Mr X aka Denali, Lulu the podenco andaluz, Hada the podenco maneta, Georgie Girl (UMR Cordella), Charlie the iggy, Mazy (CBR Crazy Girl), Potato, my mystery ibizan girl, Allen (M's Pretty Boy), Percy (Fast But True), Mikey (Doray's Patuti), Pudge le mutt, Tessa the iggy, Possum (Apostle), Gracie (Dusty Lady), Harold (Slatex Harold), "Cousin" Simon our step-iggy, Little Dude the iggy ,Bandit (Bb Blue Jay), Niña the galgo, Wally (Allen Hogg), Thane (Pog Mo Thoine), Oliver (JJ Special Agent), Comet, & Rosie our original mutt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grey14me Posted November 11, 2012 Share Posted November 11, 2012 I did want to add that allergy wouldn't seem like the cause if it's only one paw...unless allergic to bug bite or something. Quote Michelle...forever missing her girls, Holly 5/22/99-9/13/10 and Bailey 8/1/93-7/11/05 Religion is the smile on a dog...Edie Brickell Wag more, bark less :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Downtownhoundz Posted November 11, 2012 Share Posted November 11, 2012 I would call the vet just to put your mind at ease......glad the swelling went down! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
schultzlc Posted November 11, 2012 Author Share Posted November 11, 2012 Any history of cardiac or circulation problems? Not that I know of. He's 12 1/2 and was returned to the group due to his owner's illness, and I have actually only had him for just over a week. My guess is that he slept on it a little weird and at his age I would think that fluid retention isn't all that unusual. Quote Laura, mom to Luna (Boc's Duchess) and Nova (Atascocita Venus).Forever in my heart, Phantom (Tequila Nights) and Zippy (Iruska Monte). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silverfish Posted November 11, 2012 Share Posted November 11, 2012 If you think it might be an allergy, you can give Benadryl or Piriton but check with a vet for the dosage. Quote The plural of anecdote is not dataBrambleberry Greyhounds My Etsy Shop Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cleptogrey Posted November 11, 2012 Share Posted November 11, 2012 i would watch and see if it happens again. if this occurs again- touch it, look inbetween the pads, webbing, nails. if everything is intact and he's swollen take a marker and draw a line at the top of the swelling, see if it continues up the leg. ....OFF TO THE VET!( i had an lesion at my toe, my entire foot began to swell. the school nurse drew a line and i watched it- when it crossed the line- i made an appointment at the dr. i have to credit our brilliant school nurse w/ the marker bit). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
revamp Posted November 12, 2012 Share Posted November 12, 2012 Was this swelling a sign of what was going on with poor Zip? Quote ~Amanda Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
schultzlc Posted November 12, 2012 Author Share Posted November 12, 2012 Was this swelling a sign of what was going on with poor Zip? We know his kidneys weren't great, so we think it was most likely just pinched while he slept, and swelled because of water retention. His main issue was his severe anxiety. I discussed this with the group when I went to pick him up, but we thought he was just really stressed from having such a massive transition from his home of several years, so being handed back and forth between volunteers and then to me. He paced, panted, and howled, but we thought that he would be able to settle into his new environment and calm down within a couple of days. We had thought my house would be an ideal place for him since it is very quiet here, I have one hound, and I really only have to be at work for 20 hours each week as a professor, most of my work can be done from home. After a couple of days, he was not able to calm down, and was really only quiet if I sat of the floor and hugged his head. He literally paced the entire time, and his poor old body suffered. So, I took him in to get him on some medication. We didn't think putting him on anxiety meds was the best call yet, as they can take a while to kick in, and he needed something immediate. So, he was put on tranquilizers just so that he could calm down enough to lay down and rest his body. The drugs worked while he was on them, but as soon as they started to wear off, he would immediatly go back into panic mode. He also refused to eat, I think I got him to eat about 3 cups of food for the entire time he was here, he even turned down a cheeseburger and chicken and rice casserole. He was literally wasting away in front of me, and dipped 14 pounds below his racing weight. I tried a thunder shirt while I went to teach my classes, and he was crated to help keep him calm and make sure he wouldn't hurt himself, but the poor guy would get so stressed while I was away that he barked and upset his stomach so I usually came home to projectile diarrhea, which meant a bath for him. It was hard to believe that even then the tranquilizers weren't enough when I would have to leave, because they pretty much knocked him out while I was home. He also had substantial hind-end weakness, and while he was on the tranqs, he had a very hard time squatting to eliminate. After many long conversations with the vet and the adoption group (which was so wonderfully supportive through this process), we realized that his quality of life had become the primary issue, and that it was up to us to make the difficult decision to put him to rest. This got kind of long, but it was a complicated situation, and I am so sorry that there wasn't more I could do to bring him comfort. Quote Laura, mom to Luna (Boc's Duchess) and Nova (Atascocita Venus).Forever in my heart, Phantom (Tequila Nights) and Zippy (Iruska Monte). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
revamp Posted November 12, 2012 Share Posted November 12, 2012 Sounds like you tried everything within reason you could do for him. So glad he had a home to spend his time in and people who cared for him, versus being frightened and alone in a kennel somewhere. Quote ~Amanda Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PrairieProf Posted November 12, 2012 Share Posted November 12, 2012 Oh what a sad story. Poor guy. Quote With Cocoa (DC Chocolatedrop), missing B for Beth (2006-2015)And kitties C.J., Klara, Bernadette, John-Boy, & Sinbad Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FiveRoooooers Posted November 12, 2012 Share Posted November 12, 2012 You opened your heart and home to this old man when he needed both. Thank you so much, and I'm sorry his time with you was so short. Quote Old Dogs are the Best Dogs. Thank you, campers. Current enrollees: Punkin. AnnIE Oooh M Angels: Pal . Segugio. Sorella (TPGIT). LadyBug. Zeke-aroni. MiMi Sizzle Pants. Gracie. Seamie . (Foster)Sweet. Andy. PaddyALVIN!Mayhem. Bosco. Bruno. Dottie B. Trevor Double-Heart. Bea. Cletus, KLTO. Aiden 1-4. Upon reflection, our lives are often referenced in parts defined by the all-too-short lives of our dogs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlies_Dad Posted November 12, 2012 Share Posted November 12, 2012 Very sad this boy didn't get more time with you. 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...
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