my Lab has a sudden lump

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11-04-2006, 02:01 PM
Magic72

my Lab has a sudden lump

On 10/24 I noticed my 8 yr old Lab wasn't walking right. He's had a touch of arthritis in his left hock for some time but it only bothers him when it's really cold. (we live in Fl so it's not cold yet) Within 2 days he was limping on all 4 legs and his front paws were swollen. The vet checked him and gave him meds for inflammation. By the 30th he could barely walk and couldn't stand without help. The vet took x-rays, drew blood and changed his meds but I don't think he knows what the problem is. The new meds (including 1 for pain) took care of the swelling but he is still having trouble getting up and will only do so if I make him. On 11/3 while Jag was lying down I noticed two lumps, ea. about the size of a small lime, near his tail. Both feel like hard boney protrusions. I've been checking every inch of this dog everyday for 2 weeks and these lumps weren't there the day before. The vet thinks the muscle has atrophied (overnight?) and his hip bones are sticking out. My dogs are vac. for rabies every 3 yrs and the injection site is up by his shoulders so I don't think it's a reaction to that. He weighs 86# (very fit) and has never showed any signs of stiffness other than his hock. I'm very troubled because this seemed to come on him overnight unlike arthritis or hip dysplasia which is progressive. Anyone have any ideas? PS lyme diease has come to mind but the vet discounted it. I have been using this vet since Jag was a pup and always had confidence in him but in this case I'm not so sure. Do you think I should come right out and ask him?
11-04-2006, 02:04 PM
borzoimom

YOur vet sounds like he is doing what needs to be done.. You mentioned several procedures.. I am not sure what to say..
11-04-2006, 03:35 PM
husky_lover

I'm sorry I don't have any Ideas but we will keep you in our prayers! Good luck on finding the problem.
11-05-2006, 10:13 AM
Magic72

New to the neighborhood

Quote:

Originally Posted by husky_lover

I'm sorry I don't have any Ideas but we will keep you in our prayers! Good luck on finding the problem.

Thank you for your reply. I'm new to this site so it was good to see that someone read my post. I love this site. It shows me that there are so many amazing animal people out there that feel the same way I do. What a wonderful way to express our thoughts and feelings about our pets.
11-05-2006, 11:03 AM
borzoimom

any more news to tell us here?? Your vet sounds like they are on target here- I know its awful to wait, but we are not vets- and only have personal experience to draw on here.
I trust my vet- just do... Hard to explain..
11-05-2006, 05:44 PM
dragondawg

Ask for a referral

Quote:

Originally Posted by Magic72

On 10/24 I noticed my 8 yr old Lab wasn't walking right. He's had a touch of arthritis in his left hock for some time but it only bothers him when it's really cold. (we live in Fl so it's not cold yet) Within 2 days he was limping on all 4 legs and his front paws were swollen. The vet checked him and gave him meds for inflammation. By the 30th he could barely walk and couldn't stand without help. The vet took x-rays, drew blood and changed his meds but I don't think he knows what the problem is. The new meds (including 1 for pain) took care of the swelling but he is still having trouble getting up and will only do so if I make him. On 11/3 while Jag was lying down I noticed two lumps, ea. about the size of a small lime, near his tail. Both feel like hard boney protrusions. I've been checking every inch of this dog everyday for 2 weeks and these lumps weren't there the day before. The vet thinks the muscle has atrophied (overnight?) and his hip bones are sticking out. My dogs are vac. for rabies every 3 yrs and the injection site is up by his shoulders so I don't think it's a reaction to that. He weighs 86# (very fit) and has never showed any signs of stiffness other than his hock. I'm very troubled because this seemed to come on him overnight unlike arthritis or hip dysplasia which is progressive. Anyone have any ideas? PS lyme diease has come to mind but the vet discounted it. I have been using this vet since Jag was a pup and always had confidence in him but in this case I'm not so sure. Do you think I should come right out and ask him?

The athropy could have been going on since 24-Oct. But the swelling and weakness might be indicative of a metabolic disease such as Cushings or some other internal problem. You should ask for more tests, along with an ultrasound. Try to note any changes in appetite, drinking etc, that you can pass back to the Vet(s).
11-06-2006, 07:20 AM
Magic72

Jag Update

Today Jag got up on his own for the first time in 2 weeks. :) It doesn't sound like much but a major milestone in my book. The swelling in his front paws is gone completely but he still seems to be limping slightly in both front feet. His main problem area is his right hip. The meds he is on make him thirsty so he is drinking a lot of water and peeing a lot more. I leave him out during the day for fresh air and sunshine but he never leaves the porch unless I urge him off. When I went to let him out this morning he got up from his bed and walked to the door. I hugged him so hard I thought he was gonna pee right there. Dragondawg, you mentioned Cushings. I've seen this in horses but never in dogs. I'll have to look up the symptoms assco. with that. I believe with the suddeness of this problem it is some sort of infection and not a progressive diease. Please everyone think good vibes for my boy. He's only 8 years young. His line has been in our family for many generations and they have always been long lived even for dogs their size. Jags dad was almost 100 pounds and lived for 14 fabulous years.
11-06-2006, 07:29 AM
elizabethann

My sister has a 13 year old Lab. She's found lumps on him in the past and they're usually just lumps of fat. She found another one this past week. Sabbie (the Lab) is going to the Vets this weekend to have his teeth cleaned (he'll be sleeping while they do it) so she's going to ask the vet what she thinks this new lump is.

I think lumps are pretty normal on Labs but I think I would get each and everyone checked out.

Sabbie has been through a lot. He's had a stroke a couple of years ago. And recently, his anal glands were infected. He's on antibiotics right now and is doing pretty good.

My sister is worried about his dental cleaning though.

I hope your Lab is doing okay. Sounds like your vet knows what he/she is doing. Good luck.
11-06-2006, 08:09 PM
dragondawg

Quote:

Originally Posted by Magic72

Today Jag got up on his own for the first time in 2 weeks. :) It doesn't sound like much but a major milestone in my book. The swelling in his front paws is gone completely but he still seems to be limping slightly in both front feet. His main problem area is his right hip. The meds he is on make him thirsty so he is drinking a lot of water and peeing a lot more. I leave him out during the day for fresh air and sunshine but he never leaves the porch unless I urge him off. When I went to let him out this morning he got up from his bed and walked to the door. I hugged him so hard I thought he was gonna pee right there. Dragondawg, you mentioned Cushings. I've seen this in horses but never in dogs. I'll have to look up the symptoms assco. with that. I believe with the suddeness of this problem it is some sort of infection and not a progressive diease. Please everyone think good vibes for my boy. He's only 8 years young. His line has been in our family for many generations and they have always been long lived even for dogs their size. Jags dad was almost 100 pounds and lived for 14 fabulous years.

If the meds include Prednisone then that would cause increased drinking and urination. It would also mimic Cushings just to confuse things. Most geriatric dogs with an infection severe enough to make them feel weak will not self recover without antibiotics. Unclear what the meds are. The swelling of the paws suggests you still will need some more diagnostics to find the underlying problem.

Per down below with Labs and lumps. Labs are very prone to lipomas. Unfortunately they are also prone to Lymphoma. My previous dog ended up with both. As the presumed lipomas come up it's important to check every last one. Also if they suddenly increase in size overnight, have them rechecked. There are times when a lipoma can suddenly have a cancerous growth develop within it. Better to be safe than sorry.
11-07-2006, 07:55 AM
labmomma

Get your dog to the vet right away. I had to put my 14 year old to sleep because of an extremely aggressive malignant tumor. It was located in her armpit of her front leg and couldn't be seen until it was the size of a grapefruit. I had her groomed 6 weeks earlier and there was nothing then.
Labmomma X 2