Swollen wrists; vet treatment not working
May 19, 2016 4:07:02 GMT 10
Post by Josie on May 19, 2016 4:07:02 GMT 10
Mercury's Xrays and photos
This is a whippet. He will be two years old in July.
He slid on an icy patio into the back step in late winter (USA). He cried and was holding up front paws and quite distressed for a moment. At first I thought nothing much was wrong as he settled down and went on about his normal activities without apparent pain. There was no limp after the first hour or two. There was no bruising or and I did not notice any swelling until weeks later. Then in mid March (weeks later) I noticed the medial wrists (both) swollen, and apparently a fluid filled cyst on the front of left wrist.
Went to the vet in mid March (two months back). Xrays showed no apparent broken bones (attached). Vet had us do rimadyl, ice, rest (two weeks), and laser three times a week for two weeks. The apparent cyst shrank but did not disappear. The medial swellings did not seem to change size in response to the therapy. Then when we started exercise slowly again (rimadyl and laser were completed by then) the cyst got larger. I went back to the vet, more laser and rest. It shrank again but upon exercise swelled again.
We are now on round three with the vet. Most recently vet took fluid sample from the apparent cyst and another swelling on his shoulder (which I think is calcinosis circumscripta after some research) and the pathologist said histiocytoma or plasmocytoma for both, and I would bet five years worth of home grown tomatoes that is WRONG. Vet now wants to REMOVE the swellings and send them to pathology. I think very bad idea for the medial swellings.
He has very little pain now with palpation near the cyst but did have some discomfort on palpation at the cyst two months ago at first vet exam. Medial swellings have never been tender. I tried to do the check for carpal accessory ligament damage but I am very inexperienced and I suspect this problem is affecting both wrists (both seemed to have slammed into the back step).
My plan for him was to lure course; his momma, half sister, grandfather have all been the #1 ranked AKC Lure Coursing whippets for various years. I am eager to get this better so he can run, but if this will always be a weakness or lead to more serious injury I want to know so I will not do further damage by running him. Also what if any exercise can he do; now and in longer term. He is young and being cooped up is hard on him. He wants to run and play.
I am feeling frustrated because vet treatment has not worked and pathologist seems to have been up in the night. Spent thousands for no apparent benefit. Not much greyhound racing in the Western US where I live and I feel like I need an experienced vet. I have never heard of most of the stuff like sclerosing agents and anti-inflammatory creams etc. I bought the book Care of the Retired and Racing Greyhound (Blythe) which is available here in the states. I hear you have a book but I can't find it. I am tempted to follow your protocol or a similar one for synovitis in Care of the Retired and Racing Greyhound but this has been going on two months now and I don't know if the protocol is appropriate given the time that has gone by since the original injury. Also if his not responding much to the rimadyl, laser, and rest means there was a tendon actually torn or if there is a bone fragment in there that was not obvious on xray.
Thank you for any advice you are willing to give.
This is a whippet. He will be two years old in July.
He slid on an icy patio into the back step in late winter (USA). He cried and was holding up front paws and quite distressed for a moment. At first I thought nothing much was wrong as he settled down and went on about his normal activities without apparent pain. There was no limp after the first hour or two. There was no bruising or and I did not notice any swelling until weeks later. Then in mid March (weeks later) I noticed the medial wrists (both) swollen, and apparently a fluid filled cyst on the front of left wrist.
Went to the vet in mid March (two months back). Xrays showed no apparent broken bones (attached). Vet had us do rimadyl, ice, rest (two weeks), and laser three times a week for two weeks. The apparent cyst shrank but did not disappear. The medial swellings did not seem to change size in response to the therapy. Then when we started exercise slowly again (rimadyl and laser were completed by then) the cyst got larger. I went back to the vet, more laser and rest. It shrank again but upon exercise swelled again.
We are now on round three with the vet. Most recently vet took fluid sample from the apparent cyst and another swelling on his shoulder (which I think is calcinosis circumscripta after some research) and the pathologist said histiocytoma or plasmocytoma for both, and I would bet five years worth of home grown tomatoes that is WRONG. Vet now wants to REMOVE the swellings and send them to pathology. I think very bad idea for the medial swellings.
He has very little pain now with palpation near the cyst but did have some discomfort on palpation at the cyst two months ago at first vet exam. Medial swellings have never been tender. I tried to do the check for carpal accessory ligament damage but I am very inexperienced and I suspect this problem is affecting both wrists (both seemed to have slammed into the back step).
My plan for him was to lure course; his momma, half sister, grandfather have all been the #1 ranked AKC Lure Coursing whippets for various years. I am eager to get this better so he can run, but if this will always be a weakness or lead to more serious injury I want to know so I will not do further damage by running him. Also what if any exercise can he do; now and in longer term. He is young and being cooped up is hard on him. He wants to run and play.
I am feeling frustrated because vet treatment has not worked and pathologist seems to have been up in the night. Spent thousands for no apparent benefit. Not much greyhound racing in the Western US where I live and I feel like I need an experienced vet. I have never heard of most of the stuff like sclerosing agents and anti-inflammatory creams etc. I bought the book Care of the Retired and Racing Greyhound (Blythe) which is available here in the states. I hear you have a book but I can't find it. I am tempted to follow your protocol or a similar one for synovitis in Care of the Retired and Racing Greyhound but this has been going on two months now and I don't know if the protocol is appropriate given the time that has gone by since the original injury. Also if his not responding much to the rimadyl, laser, and rest means there was a tendon actually torn or if there is a bone fragment in there that was not obvious on xray.
Thank you for any advice you are willing to give.
