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Post by Andrew on Nov 16, 2014 21:04:58 GMT 10
Hi Tom,
When i picked up my pup from the rearing farm at 10 months old we found him very sore on the back left leg (couldnt even stand on it) so we kept him in a kennel for a few weeks no galloping at all and it came good but now he is sore again and has a lump on the side of his foot, when we touch it the dog doesnt like it and seems to bother him.
Would you know what this could be? Fracture, bruise, swelling, etc?
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Post by Tom Meulman on Nov 17, 2014 8:57:44 GMT 10
Hi Andrew,
Sorry mate but there could be a number of causes, and impossible to tell without a careful examination, best thing is to take the dog to your Vet as it could even require an X-ray.
Cheers,
Tom
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Post by Andrew on Nov 23, 2014 12:02:45 GMT 10
Hi Tom,
Thanks for the reply. I have taken him to a greyhound vet and he has identified that there was a fractured sessamoid but is now healed hence why there is a lump but i am now frustrated and angry at the rearer for not picking this up and i am now worried he wont run to his full potential as there might be tention when he puts pressure on it or may not be able to get full flexibility.
Just want to know your thoughts on this? Vet says it has healed now and that I am lucky, he also mentioned we need to tape him up every time he gallops.
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Post by Tom Meulman on Nov 23, 2014 19:44:07 GMT 10
Hi Andrew,
Because the Vet has mentioned a fractured sesamoid I can only assume that the enlargement is at the top toe joint on the rail side of the left hind foot.
Now keep in mind that the sesamoids of the toes are in fact not much bigger than a large grain of sand. I therefore find it difficult to understand how a fractured sesamoid could cause a lump on the side of the foot unless there was some involvement of the toe joint itself, including ligament damage, and possibly even a fracture in the very top toe bone segment.
The likelihood of this type of damage is also high on my list as the Vet has mentioned that strapping may be required, and this would only be needed if it is to support a damaged toe joint.
In a situation such as this you are caught between the devil and the deep blue sea so to speak, simply because this type of damage generally does cause the greyhound pain in negotiating tight turns on a race track no matter what type of treatment is undertaken to try and make that area stronger, and therefore your options are limited.
At this point in time all you can do is as your Vet has advised, that is to strap the foot so that the strapping supports the toe joint, and see how much it is affecting the greyhound when it comes to breaking—in and pre training.
If you do find in the long term that the greyhound has ability but that the pain in that foot is stopping it from performing, the only other option, and I hate suggesting it, is surgery to remove the the toe and the lower section of the metatarsal.
Unfortunately this then does become a slow process in strengthening the remaining toes on that foot to handle the pressure of running and racing.
However I have known of a number of greyhounds where this type of surgery has seen them return successfully to the race track.
Cheers,
Tom
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