Elbow Hygroma - dogs

gettingready

My Zara has had this on her elbow for a long time, few vets seen it (always look for second/third etc opinion..) and said this is nothting to worry about.

Today I have boticed it looked different - looks like she scratched it on something or it got infected somehow, was bleedign a bit too and she was limping just a bit after our walk (just 4 hours in the woods, usual weekend past time ).

I am taking her to the vets on Monday, googled what I can on the condition too but just wondered if anyone had any experience of this on their won dogs and how was it dealt with?

Thanks a lot

There_Goes_Trouble

I rehomed a dog with elbow hygroma's and to be honest, all the vets said there was nothing that could be done but he might get arthritis in the joints at some point. The hygroma can be drained if it gets excessively large and is frequently getting scraped and bleeding, but they really are best left alone if possible as interfering with them increases the probability of arthritis. (To be honest, most dogs end up with arthritis to some degree at some stage of their life!)

From what you've said I expect she has scratched the hygroma just as you said, the vet will probably give her anti-biotics and/or anti-inflamatories either as tables or as a one-off injection, and tell you to rest her and go back if she's not better in a week.

How old is your dog? Regardless of hygromas, there comes a time when 4 hours in the wood starts to become too much...

One thing I was told about hygromas was to ensure the dog has very soft bedding and to try and encourage the dog to use their bed rather than lie on the hard floor, as this prevented them from bashing their elbows on the floor when getting up/lying down.

gettingready

There Goes Trouble - thanks for your reply.

Zara is only 3.5 years old, acting like a 12 month old

She had joint problems when I got her at 16 weeks, she was on Seraquin for about a year - as she is "kind of GS" (no papers, Gumtree baby who was "too big" at 16 weeks for her owners and I got her the day I saw her advertised....long story).. as she is "kind of" GS, I am aware of hip problems coming at some point and elbow displasia etc (insured up to her ears) but I did nto expect problems so early in her life to be honest and it worries me a lot.

The vets that have seen her before all said this should not cause her problems, today I saw it actually does as it looks inflamed and was bleeding.

She loves hard floors and leather armchair very soft) and alternates between the two - but she seem to prefer the hard floor (laminat/tiles) and I am just trying to figure out how to get her to sleep on her own soft bed or on settee/armchair (which are both soft).

Scratching the head....

There_Goes_Trouble

I scratched my head with it too.... the dog I rehomed (Johnny) lived with me for 3 months as he was a big dog who would rule the roost if allowed, and it took a while to find the right people for him. He would have made a fab Police sniffer dog, they came and saw him but decided against him because of the hygromas...

anyway, Johnny too loved hard floors, his hygromas were worse when he was in kennels as he just slept on the tiles all the time despite having a duvet in his kennel, but once I got him home they improved significantly. I just used baby gates to deny him access to the kitchen which is tiled, so he had no choice but to lie on the carpet at the very least. I also put extra beds down to give him more choice of where to sleep, and at night he slept in a big crate (indoor kennel) which forced him to stay on his soft bed all night. Sounds mean I know, but his elbows were no problem in the 3 months I had him, except for one weekend when I went away and he had to go into kennels... he came back with large swollen elbows!

Did you take her off the seraquin? It might be worth continuing with some kind of joint suppliment as a precaution, you'll never really know if it helps or not but if Zara is going to be pre-disposed to limb problems it can't hurt to try the suppliments!

gettingready

I have no space for a crate but scratching the head ... got some results:

http://www.dogleggs.com/files/adjustable.cfm

http://www.dogleggs.com/files/FLadjustable.cfm

Will see what the vet says on Monday and get one of those just in case as I can nto see Zara giving up her hard floors (keeps her cool).

There_Goes_Trouble

Interesting links.... thanks! Will save those for future reference! It would certainly solve the hard floor problem for Zara, I hope all goes well with the vet on Monday!

gettingready

Thanks - will keep on googling as when my babe is not well - I can not sleep...

There_Goes_Trouble

I know that feeling so very well...... why do you think I'm still here tonight?

gettingready

Just came back with Zara from emergency vet - it may be hygroma or... a tumor. The vet said id does not feel like it has a liquid it in (hydroma) but rather a mass (tumor).

As it is inflamed, she got antibiotics for 7 days, lampshade collar and her elbow was padded/bandaged/secured. Getting her out of friend's car (10 min drive) I found the bandage on the floor - despite wearing a collar she has managed to take it off :wall:

We need to go back next week, they are going to take either a small cat or same cells with a syringe and send it for testing.

The place (right on the elbow) is very awkward for possible surgery as skin needs to be "elastic" there.

Fingers crossed it won't come to that but it does not look good at the moment.

Will try to take a photo at some point but have no idea where my phone/computer cable is.....

She hates the collar of course....

gettingready

Just got a reply from the DogLegss

In case anyone may need their product in the future:

Thank you for your email. We ship direct to client and clinic worldwide. International Shipping is by Global Express Mail, $35.50 and generally arrives in the UK within 6 working days.


You are welcome to order online, email or fax. Orders ship within 72 hours.


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There_Goes_Trouble

I hope all goes well next week and it turns out it IS a hygroma... and although it's not the easiest of places for surgery it's not impossible so don't fret too much... if you can help it!!