A limp and now a lump!

[Gatorblu]

Good luck trying to keep Raine calm! At least it isn't anything serious. The picture of her trying to climb on top of your head just made me chuckle. I'm sure it wasn't fun for you (or Raine) but it made me smile. Sending lots of calm, healing (((vibes))) to Raine, and Patience (((vibes))) to you!

 

[ZekeZira]

Yay! I'm glad they didn't find anything serious. Good luck keeping that crazy woman calm!

 

[Tuff Love]

Getting on this one late too... man! I would have thought for sure since the lump seemed to come on with the limp (and inflamed out of nowhere) that you were right about maybe a small fracture or bone splinter from her heavy activity. Hard to imagine a lump just appearing out of nowhere at that size. I'm sure you have inspected the area thoroughly for any kind of cut that might suggest something foreign got in there. Thora is just as nuts as Raine and that would have been my first thought. This goofball tears across the yard at full speed running by my rose bushes and will actually clamp DOWN on them (still running at full speed!) while the thorny branches draw through her mouth I can't believe she hasnt had some sort of abscess in her mouth from thorns...
I hope whatever is going on goes away soon!

 

[Cami]

The saga continues...UPDATE

Limping had been intermittent. The size of the lump had been very small until this weekend. It got bigger again and the limping upon waking has been pretty consistent. Hubby said she slid to a stop on the snow covered patio Saturday morning and he thought she pulled up funny favoring that same leg. I didn't see it so don't know what happened but I did spot a toe nail on the other foot that had broken off at the quick (no blood) and was just hanging there. I was able to Dremel it off and she could have cared less thanks to the spoonful of peanut butter she was savoring. It doesn't appear to be painful in any way.

I don't know what to do. I'm wondering if some other things I have noticed about her are all connected.

She acts like the most stiffest dog in the world upon waking. We tease her that she is acting like a little old lady. It is short lived and non-existent after a few steps and she ALWAYS stretches out her front legs. Almost like something "locks up" or even slightly dislocates when she is at rest and she must correct it when she gets to a standing position.

Her stiffness is odd seeing how she is only 18 months old. When she is on the couch (or chair/wherever) and wants to reposition herself she seems so OLD and CREAKY (minus the noise). She moves really slow. Sometimes she acts like she doesn't want to walk off (get down from) the piece of furniture she is on. I wonder if it the stiffness is really that extreme or if she is anticipating the soreness/pain of having to put her weight all on her front legs for a few seconds til the back end reaches the floor.

Maybe the lump is just another "thing" and not related to the limping....but she does on occasion (but rarely) lifts that foot up while in a standing position.

First and foremost we have to find out what the lump is. I think x-rays should be the first plan of attack. If they don't show what the lump is they might give us some insight as to what the intense stiffness might be? I guess if all goes well there then a needle aspirate would be the next diagnostic to try but the vet said he thought it might make it worse (fill up with more fluid and become more painful).

I don't want to jump to an ortho yet since they like to CUT!!

Good grief. It is never ending.

 

[Austin's Mom]

Have you had her tested for Lyme disease?

 

[Tuff Love]

The stiffness certainly sounds bizarre with her being so young. No ideas here, but I agree you should just tackle it one step at a time. If it were me I would probably do the aspirate anyways if the xrays don't give you any info. Does she have pain from the lump now?

 

[mergetcrazy]

Phew!

After reading this i felt so much better. I have two boxers only 3 months apart ( yes i know im crazy haha ) but they rough-house together and always play! My male, Zeus he is a big mommas baby. I noticed the "same exact" bump you were describing on his front left paw as well ( almost tucked under his arm pit ) were kind of used to this with him; when we first got him as a puppy he had one before and the vet said it was a bite so we were putting cortozoyne cream on it/some meds and it was gone within a few days! This time the lump appears different - slightly more red looking and about the size of a nickle... Today i took him for a long walk and put him in the house took my other boxer (Onyx) out... When i came home i noticed him limping today and he seems slightly irritated with it.. Little whimpers here and there!!! Im wondering if i should take him in to the vets today - or wait on it and see if the limping goes away like it did with your baby girl.... Zeus is also still growing as well, he is only 6 months and getting close to 60Lbs! Big solid boy! Suggestions would be GREATLY appreciated..

thanks for sharing!

 

[Stub]

Have you had her tested for Lyme disease?

This was my first thought too, with the new info. I'm always watching Gus for unexplained limp or lameness since he did have several tiny ticks last summer that I did not see until they engorged.

 

[Tuff Love]

Eeeee... The "L" word.... I sure hope Raine doesn't have that. I know I'm not alone here when I say that this is one of those topics that causes me to pull my hair out. The Northeast is literally crawling with those evil little beasties and we just bought a house on a wooded lot with TONS of brush, critters, and DEER :/ Thora's coming up on her 1 year mark for vaccines and I'm still on the fence about vaccination. I give her Advantix every month, which is one that is supposed to repel ticks as well as other things, but who knows how effective that component really is?
Fingers crossed for you Susi!

 

[Cami]

It's my understanding (could be wrong) that Lyme disease would progress over time and there would be other symptoms.
Aside from her chronic loose stool there are no other symptoms. The loose stool thing was going on when we brought her home at 8 weeks of age.
I won't mind at all having the blood test done just to confirm this and may need to just to be on the safe side. At least it can rule something out. I will also have the vet consider Panosteitis although she doesn't have any of the other symptoms associated with that (nausea, lack of appetite and fever).
This doesn't seem to be progressing meaning it has never gotten worse just gets better and then back to not good again.
I have no idea if that makes sense? On a scale of 1-10 (10 being bad) she has never gotten past a 2-3 and that is only for a couple of steps and otherwise no issues but the limping. She has never cried out in pain or reacted in any way to manipulation.