Oni Has A Bump/swollen Wrist

[Guest BornToRun]

Hi everyone,

 

I was referred here from my local greyhound forum. I've been looking through some past posts and it looks like a greyt place!

 

Our Oni has a lump on her wrist. It started out kind of mushy (inflammation I guess), then the mushiness went away and we were left with a hard bony lump that is different from the other side. We took her to the vet who felt a bony protrusion and then we, got an x-ray. The vet said he couldn't see the bone degeneration typical of cancer, but that it could be that it's too early to show. Other than that he saw something that looked like it *could* or *could not* be a fracture that could cause swelling. He gave us Meloxicam for 5 days and said that if it's a fracture the swelling will go down in a few days and the wrist will look the same as the other wrist. He said that if it doesn't go down, we must watch and see if it gets bigger and if so, take her in for more x-rays.

 

It hasn't gotten smaller and it hasn't gotten bigger.

The swelling comes and goes in that sometimes it's mushy, and sometimes it's hard, but it doesn't really get bigger and the bony hard part hasn't increased in size that we can see.

 

There are NO signs of pain, she's just as happy and playful as always, she has the same monster appetite ) She doesn't lick at the area, no limping. None of her usual signs of pain.

 

 

Of course we're worried about osteo.. we feel like we're groping around in the dark about this.

 

In case it's a fracture that still needs time to heal:

For humans, we take advil for inflammation. We can self medicate to a degree. Does anyone know what kind of over the counter medications I could use for inflammation? Also, any recommended medications we should have in our doggy medicine cabinet just in case?

 

 

Is it possible for her not to feel pain if it's cancer?

 

When would she start to feel pain if it is cancer?

 

Does anyone know if it's realistic for the swelling to go down to normal from a fracture after just a few days? I've heard these things take a while to heal.

 

She also did an unplanned zoom around the yard the day before yesterday. We'll take her out on leash from now on.

 

 

Thanks anyone and everyone for any input or advice you can give.

 

 

 

Abby, Jason, & Oni

 

[Guest k9soul]

 

In case it's a fracture that still needs time to heal:

For humans, we take advil for inflammation. We can self medicate to a degree. Does anyone know what kind of over the counter medications I could use for inflammation? Also, any recommended medications we should have in our doggy medicine cabinet just in case?

 

I have had no experience with osteo, so hopefully someone else will better be able to answer some of your questions. i sure would be going crazy worrying as you are. I can say that you can get an anti-inflammatory Rimadyl or the generic is carprofen that is basically doggie ibuprofen, but you would need to get it from your vet or have the vet call in a prescription somewhere. I'm not sure if it would have any effect if she is having no signs of pain, though.

 

I hope others will be able to help you out more soon and I'll be keeping your girl in my thoughts.

[MP_the4pack]

Go to the osteo thread in this forum. LOTS of information. I know when my girl had OS, it was extremely painful. But there are many others that didn't know that was anything wrong until the bone shattered.

 

You will also find a plethura of information regarding a second opinion with Dr. Couto, different protocols, pain management, amputation.

 

I hope it's nothing. (by the way, tick borne diseases also cause problems with joints, did you get that checked?)

[tbhounds]

I would seek out a radiologist consult.

[Houndmommy03]

Hopefully it is nothing but I'd get someone experienced with osteo to look at xrays. When my Lucky got osteo, our regular vet didn't see it on xray and another vet we went to that had LOTS of grey experience couldn't say for sure it was osteo. It was Dr. Couto who finally dx'd her.

[Guest fastcasper]

I would get a second opinion. Don't give your pup any over the counter anti-inflammation meds. Usually vets prescribe rimedyl or deramaxx. The wrist is a common area for bone cancer. My guy went in because he broke a toe and they did a comparative x-ray and found "something" in the other wrist! I went to an oncologist to confirm what they saw. It was confirmed until 2 months later. The bone biopsy came back inconclusive. Only after a growth began to grow could we get a conclusive test. Casper never was in pain, never limped going into his amputation. They will feel pain from cancer when there is a pathologic fracture, or the bone is eaten away enough to feel pain. Greyhounds are very stoic and don't show us when they have discomfort. Limping, panting (more than usual) , restlessness are signs of pain.

 

If it is a hairline fracture, it should heal up, but it will take a few weeks. Leash walking is the best and to limit her running around. When it is swollen, you can put an ice pack on the area for a bout 10-20 minutes (if she lets you keep it on that long), and try to do that several times a day.

 

I don't want to scare you but I would get a second opinion if you don't see improvements soon. But limit her activity to give the wrist a rest.. I hope this helps.

 

Kim and Casper

[Charlies_Dad]

I agree about getting those films to a radiologist and/or oncologist just in case. Our angel Charlie got Osteo of the rear leg fibula if I recall correctly. Yes there was some swelling and heat at the site but that doesn't always mean Osteo, could mean many things. The limp was our more definite sign. Good thoughts for your Oni, I hope it is a break and that's all.

[TwiggysMom]

A lump going back/forth between mushy/hard doesn't sound typical of osteo to me. Of course, I have limited experience with osteo and I know there are always exceptions to "typical".

 

With my girl, she started limping about 5 days before any discernible change was visible to the eye (and even then, it was so subtle, I thought I might be imagining it - she had already been diagnosed by then). After her initial x-rays but before definitive diagnosis (and definitely pre-lump), she was just laying in her bed relaxing one evening when she suddenly screamed out. Even though I already knew in my heart that she had osteo, that scream confirmed it to me. (This all happened in a short time frame - 1st limp to amp was 9 days).

 

I guess that's my long answer to your question about pain. If it is osteo, she is feeling pain (whether she is showing you signs of pain or not - some dogs are more stoic than others).

 

If Oni is not limping or acting painful in any way, I hope that that combined with the non-typical lump and non-definitive x-rays all add up to something that is not osteo!

 

Did they say anything about fungal bone infection (i.e.: valley fever)? Osteo is more common in greyhounds than bone infection, but I wonder if that might be something to consider here.

 

I second (or third) the statement that over-the-counter nsaids should not be used for dogs - dosing is critical with these, and can have severe side effects if not used properly - you should definitely only use the prescription nsaids prescribed by your vet. That said, fish oil is said to have anti-inflammatory properties, so that might be OK to add if she isn't getting it already. I also use a non-prescription supplement (at the recommendation of one of her vets) called Duralactin. (It's fairly pricey as supplements go, and I'm not sure how effective it is). Duralactin is also supposed to act against inflammation, but is not really a pain reliever.

 

I hope you can get a more definitive diagnosis, and I especially hope that it turns out to be something simple like a hairline fracture that heals up with rest and TLC!

[JJNg]

I'd definitely get a 2nd opinion, even if it's just a 2nd opinion on the x-rays. Both bone cancer and a fracture would be painful and cause limping, so her signs don't fit with either. Has your vet considered aspirating the swelling, especially when it's soft? Can you post a photo of her wrist?

[GeorgeofNE]

It's impossible to tell where you're from, but your vet doesn't sound very skilled. I can't imagine not being able to tell you if the dog has a fracture or not! Either he got bad films and didn't bother with new ones, or his equipment is awful!

 

I'd get a second set of films at a bare minimum.

[vjgrey]

It's impossible to tell where you're from, but your vet doesn't sound very skilled. I can't imagine not being able to tell you if the dog has a fracture or not! Either he got bad films and didn't bother with new ones, or his equipment is awful!

 

I'd get a second set of films at a bare minimum.

I've just been through something similar with Diamond, and a vet and TWO experienced surgeons couldn't agree whether she had a fracture in her wrist. General Practice vet said no but thought the swelling wasn't resolving fast enough for a soft tissue injury. The first surgeon she consulted with (at one of the best specialist centers in the DC area) saw a fracture. Another surgeon at a different branch of the same specialist looked at the same x-rays and said no fracture. So it's not always straight forward.

 

My understanding is that there are a lot of small bones in that area, so fractures aren't always easy to see.

Edited November 20, 2013 by vjgrey

[Guest BornToRun]

Hi everyone! It's been almost 2 years since I originally posted this, but in case anyone with a similar problem finds this from google and wants to know the outcome, Oni turned out to be fine.

The vet was NOT skilled and we paid a lot of money for them to know nothing and do nothing to help her. After a few other scares we've become very good at identifying who is a good vet and who is not.

 

The bump and swelling eventually went away. We cared for her at home, and made sure she took it easy for a while. We still don't know if it was a sprain, a fracture, or what, but she's ok.

 

Looking back, I'm surprised and disappointed that I didn't respond to any of the comments or thank any of you

I must have been pretty overwhelmed at the time to not even drop a line to say thank you.

 

I want the posters who replied to know that your comments meant a lot to me. Oni is a person to us and to our whole family. I felt devastated about the idea of losing her so soon, and especially about the idea of her going through cancer.

 

Your replies were a wonderful support and I'm sorry that it took 2 years to let you know!

 

Thank you

 

 

Abby

Edited September 26, 2015 by BornToRun

[racindog]

Thanks for the update! Believe me I know how challenging it is to find a good vet (and sadly how tragic it can be if they not).