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Harley's Limp


Guest Lyra

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Harley started limping and it was a suspected sprain in his right front ankle. I took him to a vet and she wanted me to just watch it an wait, so I asked a fellow Greyhound owner in the neighborhood if she had a Greyhound savvy vet. So I took him in to see her today and she took x-rays, and I am devastated. She saw a bone lesion in his ankle and has referred me to a specialist so they can get a biopsy and see what we are dealing with.

 

I think I've cried for an hour straight now, I've only had him for 3 weeks and I love this dog. I'm holding on to the slim hope that it could be something other than osteo, but I'm preparing myself for the worst. I don't even know what to do or what to think right now. He is only 3 1/2 years old, and I will really do everything I can for him. Was wondering if any of you had something similar with your dogs and it turned out to not be osteo?

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That is so young for osteo; I really hope it's something else. Has he been tested for tick-borne diseases? I think some of them can present similarly. I am sure others with more experience will weigh in, but I'm glad you're getting referred to a specialist. Sending hugs and best thoughts to you and your boy.

52596614938_aefa4e9757_o.jpg

Rachel with littermates Doolin and Willa, boss cat Tootie, and feline squatters Crumpet and Fezziwig.
Missing gentlemen kitties MudHenry, and Richard and our beautiful, feisty, silly
 Sweep:heart

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He has been tested for tick-borne diseases, all clear. I'm calling the specialist in the morning as soon as they open and the vet is sending the x-rays over today and will speak with her. I'm scouring the internet for images so I can compare them to his x-ray because I need something to do, but I'm not finding too many other possibilities at the moment. :(

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If you have copies of the x-rays you could send them to Dr. Couto: http://www.coutovetconsultants.com/. He is known for responding very quickly.

52596614938_aefa4e9757_o.jpg

Rachel with littermates Doolin and Willa, boss cat Tootie, and feline squatters Crumpet and Fezziwig.
Missing gentlemen kitties MudHenry, and Richard and our beautiful, feisty, silly
 Sweep:heart

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3 1/2 is very young for osteo in a dog. But I know all too well how difficult it is to hear about evidence of a bone lesion on xray. I too, hope that it could be a tbd (perhaps one that wasn't tested for?) or valley fever. Dr. Couto would be an excellent choice for interpretation.

 

If it does turn out to be the worst we all fear, the distal radius has a more favorable prognosis than most other locations, according to what Dr Couto told me when he saw Twiggy for her osteo many years ago (5 y 7 m, & still going, though feebly these days).

 

I hope it turns out to be something more easily treatable than osteo, but some dogs do have a significant amount of excellent quality of life despite that evil bastard osteo.

Wendy with Twiggy, fosterless while Twiggy's fighting the good fight, and Donnie & Aiden the kitties

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I'm really hoping it's anything else because he's so young. I saw the x-ray and it did not look good, you could see the swelling of the bone and the thinning of the periosteum. I couldn't tell exactly what is wrong, but there is something wrong. I'm also hoping for osteomyelitis at this point, but the vet was doubtful about that. She did draw blood to do a panel for the biopsy procedure, so if they find infection I'll know in the morning.

 

He was tested for Lyme's, Anaplasmos, and Ehrlichia. Is there another one that he should be tested for? I believe those are the most common in this area.

 

Should I wait for official results from the biopsy before consulting Dr. Couto? I really hate to jump the gun, but I'm a let's find out what it is and address it now kind of owner, not a wait and see. I think I surprised my vet when I said yes to a biopsy immediately.

Edited by Lyra
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Blastomycosis and histoplasmosis are fungal diseases (as is valley fever) that can cause bone lesions. Have to do special tests for those. I'd consult Dr. C now. Best thoughts!

Star aka Starz Ovation (Ronco x Oneco Maggie*, litter #48538), Coco aka Low Key (Kiowa Mon Manny x Party Hardy, litter # 59881), and mom in Illinois
We miss Reko Batman (Trouper Zeke x Marque Louisiana), 11/15/95-6/29/06, Rocco the thistledown whippet, 04/29/93-10/14/08, Reko Zema (Mo Kick x Reko Princess), 8/16/98-4/18/10, the most beautiful girl in the whole USA, my good egg Joseph aka Won by a Nose (Oneco Cufflink x Buy Back), 09/22/2003-03/01/2013, and our gentle sweet Gidget (Digitizer, Dodgem by Design x Sobe Mulberry), 1/29/2006-11/22/2014, gone much too soon. Never forgetting CJC's Buckshot, 1/2/07-10/25/10.

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Grinding Garr was his racing name.

 

He was bred by Delmos Monroe who owns a farm in WV. It looks to me the only time he was out of WV was when he raced at Southland which is in Arkansas. So I would say he was never in the southwest.

 

As others have said 3 1/2 is pretty young for osteo. So hoping it is something else.

 

Dick

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I can't offer anymore into the conversation except to say that I am sorry to read your sad news. Hopefully, it will turn out to be something fixable.

Edited by Houndtime

Irene Ullmann w/Flying Odin and Mama Mia in Lower Delaware
Angels Brandy, John E, American Idol, Paul, Fuzzy and Shine
Handcrafted Greyhound and Custom Clocks http://www.houndtime.com
Zoom Doggies-Racing Coats for Racing Greyhounds

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I emailed Dr. Couto this morning and hope to hear something back soon, we see the specialist tomorrow.

Edited by Lyra
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Dr. Couto got back to me, I had to resend the x-rays so that he could get a clearer look, but so far he's not seeing a tumor! I'm letting out a big sigh of relief right now, but still waiting on his response from the DICOMs.

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Dr. Couto got back to me, I had to resend the x-rays so that he could get a clearer look, but so far he's not seeing a tumor! I'm letting out a big sigh of relief right now, but still waiting on his response from the DICOMs.

 

Wonderful update...keeping all fingers and toes crossed here!

52596614938_aefa4e9757_o.jpg

Rachel with littermates Doolin and Willa, boss cat Tootie, and feline squatters Crumpet and Fezziwig.
Missing gentlemen kitties MudHenry, and Richard and our beautiful, feisty, silly
 Sweep:heart

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Dr. Couto got back to me, I had to resend the x-rays so that he could get a clearer look, but so far he's not seeing a tumor! I'm letting out a big sigh of relief right now, but still waiting on his response from the DICOMs.

 

He did the same with us, years back. The vet I had taken Fuzzy to see, took x-rays and thought she saw a tumor. I emailed them to Dr. Couto and he said it was a normal hip. Keeping your boy in good thoughts.

Irene Ullmann w/Flying Odin and Mama Mia in Lower Delaware
Angels Brandy, John E, American Idol, Paul, Fuzzy and Shine
Handcrafted Greyhound and Custom Clocks http://www.houndtime.com
Zoom Doggies-Racing Coats for Racing Greyhounds

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Hoping for the best :hope

Jan with precious pups Emmy (Stormin J Flag) and Simon (Nitro Si) and Abbey Field.  Missing my angels: Bailey Buffetbobleclair 11/11/98-17/12/09; Ben Task Rapid Wave 5/5/02-2/11/15; Brooke Glo's Destroyer 7/09/06-21/06/16 and Katie Crazykatiebug 12/11/06 -21/08/21. My blog about grief The reality is that you will grieve forever. You will not get over the loss of a loved one; you will learn to live with it. You will rebuild yourself around the loss you have suffered. You will be whole again but you will never be the same. Nor should you be the same, nor would you want to. Elisabeth Kübler-Ross

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I may not hear anything back until tomorrow, I've decided to keep the specialist appointment, and let them know what Dr. Couto thinks is going on. My vet isn't able to send the x-rays over until tonight as she is out on her rounds (mobile vet), so Dr. Couto may not get to see them until tomorrow. I still feel better about the situation, but not until I hear an actual diagnosis will I truly relax.

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Dr. Couto took a look at the DICOMs this morning and confirmed no tumor!! He thinks it's an old fracture effected by a new ligament sprain, which I guess is why his radius looks so bad. Still keeping the appointment today so he can be seen by the orthopedic, and we will go from there.

 

Now if they could have told me he had an old fracture from his racing days my day of panic may have been avoided. :(

I'll let you know the specifics of his injury later today. I have a feeling kennel rest is going to be prescribed and Harley does not particularly like it, but is calm once in there.

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