A limp and now a lump!

[Cami]

Raine has been limping on and off for months. Either of the front legs. Vet checked her out and of course she wasn't doing it while at the office. She doesn't do it every day and can go weeks without a limp and then suddenly it appears, is short lived, mainly after waking up and never has bothered her highly energetic style of play.
At first I thought maybe "growing pains" as it was so intermittent and she is seemingly still growing at nearly 18 months! Then I thought perhaps she was sore from all the jack hammering she does on every surface.
We have manipulated her legs every which way in an attempt to pinpoint the exact location of the injury to no avail.
Yesterday the limp appeared again on her left front leg and what can be best described as the front of her ankle (wrist?) there is now a nice sized lump. It seems smooshy (perhaps fluid filled). May even be a bit movable.
Of course being a holiday weekend the vets office had closed before we noticed it.
Sort of freaking out a bit here. It could be any number of things.
I don't see any indication of a bug bite. It isn't swollen per say unless the smooshy lump-type thing is some sort of swelling.
Doesn't feel hard like you might find with a cyst.
It is about the size of a gum ball. It wasn't smaller and then grew. It just showed up that size and hasn't changed.
She can walk, run and play without limping but as soon as she lays down for a bit (chewing on a bully stick or waking up from sleeping) she will limp for a few steps and then it is gone.
I think it is more sore than painful but even when I touch it she doesn't show any signs of a problem.
I don't want to even think about what else it could be since my brain automatically goes to worst case scenario.
Was even thinking that it could be the result of a stress fracture. She is brutal with those front legs.
Hopefully we can get in tomorrow for a vet appointment OR better yet it will be gone!

 

[RockyCody]

I don't know if dogs can get the same things as humans, but in that same area as you described, a lot of humans get ganglion cysts. They are just fluid filled cysts and sometimes they can get pretty big. They also can compress a nerve - making their hands feel funny. They fluctuate in size - whenever there is an injury to the area they will get bigger from the extra swelling/fluid in that area. Then would go away.

I know you are thinking the worst case scenario, but it could be something as simple as a fluid filled cyst - that fluctuates in size - thats why you never saw it before. Maybe she gets weird numbness/tingling in her front feet- hence why she limps and why its on/off.

Again, I'm not sure if dogs get this - but I'm just trying to reassure you and calm you down a bit - because it probably isn't' the worst case

Please keep us updated on miss Raine! watch the size of that lump and see if it correlates to her limping at all.

 

[Sansal]

Just did a quick google search: dogs can get ganglion cysts: Ganglion Cysts in a Juvenile Dog

When Sky had immune mediated polyarthritis she presented with some similar symptoms, limping on and off, right and left rear leg, especially after waking up or laying down. She didn't have a bump but her knees were swollen. While I did my research trying to figure out what might be wrong with her I realized there are a ton of conditions that can cause limping, swelling, discomfort. What we needed to do in order to diagnose her was a fluid tap (besides x-rays, manipulation of the joints and test for lyme disease).
I hope Raine feels better soon and possibly it will resolve on its own. (((Healing vibes))) coming your way!

 

[Cami]

Funny you should mention ganglion cysts. DH and I have both had them and we were saying that it looked like ours but of course a dog couldn't have one!
Now I know differently. :D
I am not sure what is going on. No limping today, the lump seems to be maybe a tiny bit smaller. When she bends her leg at the wrist you can't see it at all.
We are thinking she might have hit her leg on the frame of the bed (not uncommon for her when she is doing a Boxer burn) and we can hear a thud on occasion.
Since it just appeared on Saturday we are going to give it another day or so. If it gets worse or starts bothering her and or the limping comes back or persists she will go to the vet sooner rather than later.
She played hard today inside and out and never really settled down so that may account for the non-limping today. She is finally....crashed out on the couch and I'll watch her when she gets up from her nap. Her vet wasn't in today.
Thanks for the info!

 

[Independence]

How is Raine? Hope she is doing well today. Try not to worry too much. I know, easier said than done.

 

[Cami]

No limping yesterday and today was good to until she had multiple crazy episodes in the house and worked herself into a nice napping frenzy! She crashed out on the couch for about 20 minutes and got down slowly favoring that leg. After she took 3 steps it was gone and she was off again.
Size of lump is for sure smaller than when it appeared on Saturday afternoon (stayed larger on Sunday as well).
I told her she had until Thursday for no limping and if it was still present she was going to the vet on Friday. With as much movement as she does with that leg and it not bother her I have no idea why it can be so tender after rest. I can tell now that it is directly over a bone so perhaps it is a bruised bone and the soreness settles in after heavy use.
The saga continues....

 

[Cami]

Headed to the vet today.

I has scheduled an appointment for Dec. 30th but of course she made it two days without limping and the lump was nearly gone and I canceled. She stopped limping for a good two weeks only to wake up today and the limping was back and the lump was the largest it has ever been.

Yesterday she had a very long walk and spent a good portion of her time outside running around like a mad-woman. 50 degrees in January is unheard of and she was taking advantage of the warmer weather. appicon

Maybe we can get some x-rays and see what is going on. It has to be caused by more than normal use. She isn't limping anymore and it was only when she woke up but the lump is still pretty good sized so I just bit the bullet and got her an appointment today so the vet can at least SEE what I am talking about.

 

[Sansal]

Good luck at the vet. (((((positive vibes)))) coming your way - hopefully it is nothing serious. Keep us posted.

 

[Cami]

So.....
Didn't really get any specific answer from the vets exam.
He couldn't get a reaction from her by manipulating the foot in any way. He checked all her legs and actually said he did get "something" from up higher and on a different front leg which might account for the on and off limping of both legs over the past year. More than likely related to often seen puppy growing pains.

He said it doesn't feel like it is close enough to the bone to be a bone issue (probably not a stress fracture). Said the lump seemed to be fluid filled but he didn't want to aspirate it for fear it would aggravate it (fill with more of "whatever" fluid....blood perhaps and get larger and possibly more painful).

Leaning towards a soft tissue injury since it seems closer to her skin than bone or tendon. She also did overtime activity yesterday which could have "re-injured" the area. She was a bit freakier than normal yesterday (if that is possible) and was quite a handful with her energy level....translated to mean she was a complete spaz.

An anti inflammatory was suggested (Rimadyl) and ice for a few days. I declined the medication and he said that was probably a good idea since it would for sure mask the pain and she is already hard enough to control. He didn't want her to further injure it. The ice.....well we all had a good laugh about that. Sounds good in theory but Raine isn't going to sit still long enough to let ice be applied to her leg.

We know her body is capable of healing this since she has done so well over the past 2 weeks and now that I know it isn't fully healed all walks are on hold and the Boxer burns are to be eliminated as best I can. Jack hammering is a no-no too. She will not like her new "punishment" but will deal I guess??

Vet is going out of town for a week but noted in her chart she can have anything I request while he is gone that she might need.

I guess only time will tell what we are dealing with. I hope it goes away soon!!

And I guess it is official. Raine does not like the vets office and tried to climb up on top of my head when the vet and tech came into the room. She doesn't like to be inspected by anyone but me who she lets do anything to her!

 

[prittiegirl]

"Oh maaaaan, MOOOOOM! I LOOOOVE jack hammering. You're just SOOOOOOO unfair. You never let me do anything fun!!!"

Hehehe. I can just hear Raine. Be a good girl, Raine, so that your can run around again!