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Help with swollen painful front leg

14 year old large dog showed limping 1 day after heavy exercise.  Next 7 days has become pregressively worse from limping to almost total immobility, considerable swelling of the leg (almost twice the size), on-off fever, and excruciating pain.  Blood work shows signs of infection.  No bites or sores found on leg.  Vet took numerous x-rays and sees "possible" bone chip at shoulder.  Given steroind & non-steroid injections at vet on 3 days ago.  Went home with Previcox, Ciprofloaxin, Antirobe and pain med.  Dog is still no better after 3 days of meds.  Leg is more swollen and painful.  Dog will only walk to go pee if I pysically stand her up then she moves only a short distance with heavy panting from the pain.  She has eaten only a few bites in 3 days but drinks water. Vet is perplexed with cause of such excuciating pain and swolling.  Would floating bone chip cause this much inflamation and pain?  Is surgery needed?  Are there other possible causes? Do I need another vet?
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Avatar universal
Hi. I know this blog is old but I'm having a similar situation with my 14 year old dog. Did you ever get a diagnosis? My dog is on 4 different meds and has been to the vet several times.
Helpful - 0
675347 tn?1365460645
COMMUNITY LEADER
Your poor doggy! I do feel so sorry for her. And for you, with the worry.
I hope an answer is found very soon, so she will be in less pain, and hopefully on the way to recovery!
You have my best wishes and thoughts.
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Avatar universal
Back again for an update.  Vet consulted with an orthopedic surgeon and although the Dr. agreed the bone chip they see would cause much pain, it does not explain the amount of edema and inflamation.  Surgery is not recommended. I asked about phlebitis and he said that was a possibility (thanks for the suggestion).  He wants to consult with other colleagues tomorrow for their opinions.  Today she ate a whole can of low sodium chicken & rice soup so at least she finally got some nourishment in her.  I don't think she is any better but on the other hand she doesn't seem any worse, either. Hopefully, soon the vet will figure out what can be done to help her.  
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Avatar universal
Thanks everyone for your responses.  The vet took  her  x-rays from Thursday to a radiologist and both agreed with the amount  of edema, pain and inflammation she is experiencing  there would be changes in the bone visible on the x-rays if she had bone cancer so cancer as the cause of the inflammation  is not likely .  
I took her back to the vet last night for more x-rays.  The vet and the radiologist will examine the films today to see if the chip has moved or dissolved any since last week.  Her fever was gone so maybe she has turned a corner.  

She is a mixed breed and had been very healthy with the exception of moderate arthritis the last few years, which has bothered her from time to time mostly in this same leg.  The arthritis has definitely worsened and is now visible on the x-rays with loss of cartilage and bony spurs on multiple joints, especially on the painful leg.

The vet still believes the bone chip is causing the problems but says he will check with colleagues at a state university before proceeding with surgery to remove it.  I will ask about phlebitis since her symptoms do sound very much like that is a possibility.   I wonder … could a bone chip or spur press on an artery and cause phlebitis?  

He is a reputable vet but I am glad he is conferring with others on her treatment.  
I am just worried sick about her because it is so hard to see her in such pain not to mention, the realization that since she is so old, heartbreaking thoughts of losing her keep crossing my mind…. I am pushing those thoughts away for now and have hope that she will get better.  

I will repost when I know more.  Again, thanks to everyone for your comments.
Helpful - 0
441382 tn?1452810569
Unless the dog had undergone intravenous catheterization, it's not too likely that it's phlebitis, although there IS one way that phlebitis can manifest without having been intravenously catheterized but in that case, if it IS phlebitis, the news would be bleak indeed because phlebitis COULD manifest secondary to connective tissue damage due to cancer or lupus.  

I am very much looking forward to a follow-up post from helppup with word as to whether or not the dog is improving, and whether or not they decided to seek a second opinion.

Ghilly
Helpful - 0
675347 tn?1365460645
COMMUNITY LEADER
Could this possibly be phlebitis? Do ask the vet about that, as soon as you can. That can be extremely painful, can present with fever and signs of infection, and needs quite urgent attention.

I'm not saying it is, but check it out.
Helpful - 0
441382 tn?1452810569
In cases of severe infection it can sometimes take about 5 days to see any kind of improvement.  Unless she seriously injured herself in some way while she was exercising, I can't think of any reasons for her to be experiencing this much swelling or pain from exercise, and even from heavy exercise at that.  Not to scare  you, but I would take her to another vet and have her scanned to rule out bone cancer since a chip CAN cause a bit of swelling, but with her bloodwork showing signs of infection and all, at her advanced age I would cover every angle if I were you, especially since there is no open wound injury to account for the infection.  Please keep in touch and let us know what happens.

Ghilly
Helpful - 0
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