Swollen leg in 4 month old bullmastiff puppy

[michie]

Hi there,
I have a 4 month old bullmastiff puppy at home that is having issues with her right hind leg. It started with limping and lack of appetite as well as constant lethargy. We took her to an emergency vet as it was a Sunday and our usual vet was not open. He did an x-ray, nothing was broken. He thought it was growing pains (Panostetitis) and sent us on our way with some pain meds. She was still pretty lethargic and wasn't eating.

I took her in to our regular vet two days later. He noticed that the top of her leg (knee/thigh) was swollen and thought she may have just injured herself (sprain/strain). He gave me a better pain med that was not as drowsy and got her eating again. By the time I brought her home she was good as new and was barely limping. She was doing great all week, I kept icing her leg and she really seemed to be doing better, the swelling as almost all gone.

About a week later her leg started to swell again, but this time it was the lower half of her leg... from her ankle to her toes. Again,I took her to my regular vet who took another x-ray. Again, nothing broken. He suggested that I continue with meds and icing and be sure that she is not overly active.

I did as he suggested and again she seemed to be getting better. The swelling was almost all gone and she wasn't really limping again. A week went by and again, her leg started to swell. This time at the top again (knee/thigh) and it looks like it is starting to move to the lower half too. This time it also seems like there is a small lump on the inside of her thigh close to her vagina.

I called my vet again and said as long as she is eating and drinking (which she is) to continue with meds and ice.

I really don't know how I feel about this. It seems too weird for just a regular leg injury. Has anyone else experience this before??

We crate her at night (large crate...meant for 150 lb dog) and we only have a small flight of stairs at our front entrance which she rarely uses. We have never taken her to a dog park and she isn't overly active.

Help!!! I am so lost and heart broken for her.

 

[angelbears]

Sounds like she may be re-aggravating a minor injury. I would put her on 2 weeks restriction. That is I would keep her on a leash when not in a crate. No stairs, no jumping up or getting up on furniture. Restrict movement.

A human on pain meds know that they could re-aggravate an injury and know to be careful. A dog just knows the pain is gone and will not restrict their own activity.

 

[michie]

Thank you, I will definitely give that a go. Although she hasn't been too active over the last two weeks she does still try to run in the backyard and climb on the couch when the swelling is gone. We don't let her jump down off the couch, but definitely will try to restrict her movement even more so.

As you can imagine, 3 vet trips in two weeks has been quite strenuous on my bank account. I love her dearly and want to get her the help I can, but I can't just keep taking her in. I will try your suggestion along with my vets over the next week (we have an appointment for her final shots this Saturday).

I really would like to get her injury under control so she can enjoy her puppy years pain free.

Thankfully her spirits are still fairly good. Her tail still wags and she has moments where she is more playful then not.

Thanks again!

 

[angelbears]

Personally, I would delay the last set of shots until you get a grasp on what is going on with her leg. Shots should never be given to a dog that is not 100% healthy. I'm not saying she is sick but I would want to make sure. After a couple of weeks and she is doing good then I would get the shots.

 

[michie]

Things have seemed to get a bit worse over the last couple days. She woke up yelping last night and was sitting up, we moved her in to a more comfortable position and she seemed to calm down. Now she isn't eating, so far no breakfast or lunch.. just a few treats and water. I have to carry her outside to go to pee/poo and have to hold her up so she can go. Now it looks like her left hind leg is swelling in the upper knee/thigh and it looks like there is a slight lump on her inner left thigh. She doesn't seem to get comfortable and is constantly whining.

I try to ice the swollen joint frequently and I'm trying to accommodate her the best I can. I just don't know how to make her comfortable, nothing seems to work right now.

 

[angelbears]

At this point I would call the vet, ASAP! I would also expect not to be charged since you have already had her in 3 times. I would tell the vet as much.

 

[michie]

She is at the vets and staying overnight. I have requested a blood test because I am slightly skeptical of it being just a leg injury.. especially considering that the swelling moved from different areas of the right leg over the last 2 almost 3 weeks and now has moved in to the left leg. It just doesn't feel right.

Here's to hoping I get some answers and she comes home on track to getting back to her normal healthy self.

Thanks for your advice!

 

[DMikeM]

best wishes I hope it is something easily fixed.

 

[michie]

Thank you!

A friend of mine works at a veterinary office in another city. I have been keeping her up to date with everything and she has been describing all the symptoms to the vet she works for. They suggested that I look in to HOD and that I should mention it to my vet. Sounds like it could be a possibility. I am trying to even find images online of HOD in hind legs but can only find it in the front legs. I wish I could find something similar to compare it to.

 

[angelbears]

Try this

hod in dogs hind legs - Google Search

Just remember don't jump to conclusions when you start googling all this stuff.

Good luck and keep us posted.

 

[Bear86]

You mentioned she had a lump on the inside of her thigh, could this be an inflamed lymph node? Some sort of infection?

 

[michie]

The vet is checking her lymph nodes because he noticed they were a bit swollen in her groin area.

As of right now we still have no results. She will be staying another night at the vet. We are waiting on blood test results.

She is currently on antibiotics and pain meds. The vet said the thing he's finds the most stumping is that her right leg (the problematic leg all this time) is no longer swollen. The left leg is still quite swollen. She refuses to put her right leg down and is bearing all weight on her swollen left leg.

He's got her eating and drinking again and she is a bit more mobile.... but we are still waiting to see what the blood test says.

At this point he has a suspicion but doesn't want to start putting ideas in my head until he has it more clear himself, which I respect.

 

[cayeesmom]

Poor little pup, I hope they can figure out what is going on, and that she feels better soon. She is so young, wonder if it could be some tick borne issue.

 

[michie]

Thank you, I really hope they have an answer for me today.

I have looked in to tick borne diseases as there is one that can effect the hind legs. It's possible, but I haven't found any ticks on her.

Another suspicion I have is maybe kidney/UTI issue? I have noticed that she licks herself a lot. And there's the odd time where she will let out a big pee and then try and squat in other areas but nothing will come out. No blood in the urine though. I've been trying to see if there is any relation to swelling of legs and kidney/UTI issues. Does anyone here know of anything?

 

[michie]

If it is a UTI/Kidney issue I'm going to be slightly annoyed, because I had a suspicion of this over a month ago at her second shot appointment.

 

[Bear86]

A kidney problem would mean the body is unable to flush/process fluids as easily and may account for the fluid build up in the legs??

 

[michie]

That makes sense, and the vet also has her on antibiotics which is making me think an infection of some sort. He also agreed that the lymph nodes in her groin are swollen.

Right now we are waiting for the vet to have an appointment with a blood specialist... I really hope this means that they are coming to an answer. I am sick of speculating.

 

[michie]

Still waiting... but it's narrowed down to a parasite, vasculitis, or cancer. Hopefully will have the test results tomorrow. Hoping for the best.

 

[QY10]

Poor pup. Sending healing thoughts and wishing her a speedy recovery.

 

[angelbears]

Our thoughts are with you! Hang in there.