Swollen Area Above The Hock

[forevergrey]

I am having a panic attack. My 8 year old Jasper, whom I adopted when he was 1 & 1/2 years old and was always 100% sound was running off leash this morning with my 10 year old greyhound. Nothing out of the ordinary, they run and play frequently. We walked home from the park, no lameness nothing off all day. At around 5:30pm as I was taking both boys out for their evening walk, Jasper came into the kitchen completely not putting weight on his left back leg. The area around the hock looks swollen and warm to the touch and looks considerably bigger then his right back leg. I gave him a 50 mg dose of Deramexx as of right now the lameness subsided and he is putting weight on that leg but the area is still swollen. We have a vet appointment tomorrow at 1pm. I am having a nervous breakdown and convinced it's Osteo. (having lost an 8 year old greyhound to it in 2012), I live in fear of this horrible disease and can't bear the thought of this happening again. Please think good thoughts for my sweet Jasper. I have been having panic attacks since 5:30pm, I am nauseous form anxiety and writing this post at 1:30am.

[Time4ANap]

It could be just about anything. Don't go directly to Osteo, although I know that it's always in the back of our minds. Rocket had lots of little limps, stumbles and other crazy things happen a few times after running in the back yard or after a walk. Let the vet do his or her work. Also, remember that if you are still uncertain after x-rays or other diagnostics, you can send the images to Dr. Cuoto for a second opinion. We did that at one point for Rocket because the x-rays really showed nothing according to the vet. Basically, Dr Cuoto concurred, the x-rays showed nothing, so it was a good lesson for us not to jump to the Osteo conclusion. A second opinion from Dr. Cuoto is money well spent.

 

Also, remember that membership in the Greyhound Health Initiative at certain levels will get you discounts on a consult with Dr Cuoto should you need it. https://www.greyhoundhealthinitiative.org/membership/

 

Paws crossed here for Jasper! Keep us updated. .

[Remolacha]

Don is right, there are many things it could be other than osteo, although I completely understand your mind going there. I hope it turns out to be minor, please let us know.

[robinw]

Agree with every body who posted before me. Don't even let your brain go there. It could be anything.

[BatterseaBrindl]

[tbhounds]

The hock area is not a typical area to see osteo. Sounds more like a soft tissue injury.

[forevergrey]

Tracy you are correct. Thankfully my vet said the same thing--soft tissue injury. The vet had me walk Jasper up and down the hallway a few times to see if he was limping but he wasn't. Vet took x-rays, send them off to a radiologist who responded back within 2 hours (yay for digital x-rays!). Here is what the radiologist report says, (i can't figure out how to load photos so I just copy & paste the body of the report). The good news too is that Jasper is not limping at all and dare I say... the swelling seems to have gone down a bit. I am so relieved that my boy is OK. I feel like I can breathe again.

 

HISTORY: limping since yesterday, moderate swollen on the left tarsus, the owner is concerned about a osteosarcoma.

PELVIS AND LEFT HIND LIMB 15 November 2018: 8 images were available for review, lateral, craniocaudal and oblique projections.

FINDINGS:

No evidence of chronic degenerative change is seen in either hip, the left stifle or the left tarsus. No abnormal soft tissue opacity is appreciated in the left stifle. A small amount of soft tissue swelling is suspected surrounding the distal tarsus and metatarsal bones, but no underlying bony abnormalities are appreciated. No tarsocrural effusion is seen. No aggressive bony abnormalities are seen in this study.

CONCLUSIONS:

No bony abnormalities are appreciated in this study. The soft tissue swelling visible surrounding the distal left tarsus and metatarsal bones may be the result of soft tissue trauma, but no underlying bony changes are seen. No aggressive bony changes are noted in this study.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

Consider a 10-14 day course of NSAID therapy and restricted exercise. If the clinical signs persist despite medical management, consultation with an orthopedic specialist is suggested for further evaluation and additional diagnostic and therapeutic suggestions.

Edited November 17, 2018 by forevergrey

[tbhounds]

Hate to hear of any injuries, however, given other options I’ll take soft tissue injury for 1000 :-) !