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Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA & IMHA) - Gunner swollen leg ???
| Hey guys have any of you experienced a swollen elbow and leg from any kind of medication? I just noticed today that Gunners right elbow is totally swollen like twice the size and it seems that leg also looks swollen. He isn't showing any signs of pain in it at all. He insists on sleeping on the hardwood floors(since he got sick 5 weeks ago) rather then bed, sofa, chairs etc that he normally sleeps on. We think it's because he's on the hotter side since he's been on all the meds and the floor feels cooler to him. If I put a comfy blanket down he bypasses it and goes right to the floor. I'm thinking thats the culprit but just figured I'd ask if any of you had this happen. He's going on Tuesday to the vet for his blood work. We got a GOOD report the other day that his reticulate(sp?) count is well over 300,000 and regenerating !!! yaaayyy. But of course now this !!!! I just had a ice pack on it and rubbed the whole leg and he's totally fine with me touching it. I'm of course calling my vet asap tomorrow morning, but just thought I'd ask my favorite people here if anyone ever had this happen. Just for peace of mind for tonight that its not something serious !! (please NO) Thanks for any info :) Love , Jacki and Gunner |
| jacki |
| Sounds like something the vet should have a look at! If I had to guess (and a guess is all it is) I'd say abscess. If so they may attemp to drain it and bandage it to keep it clean. A course of antibiotics would follow this! Of course, it's just too hard to say for certain. Is it anywhere near where they draw the blood. Another, less likely/more scarey, possibility might be a clot. But again, this is something the vet should check out tomorrow or as soon as possible. Perhaps bump the appointment up to tomorrow to save money. Rotating from cold to warm compresses would likely help...as would light massage. Good luck and keep us posted. Lots of thoughts and prayers, Johnny & Tessy |
| Johnny |
| Jacki, I would get him looked st. My Salome's rear leg did that about a month into treatment. I think it is from all the drugs. My Vet didn't have a clue about it either. Penny |
| Penny Lytle Creek Calif |
| Jacki, Could you please check a few things for me? First, check the temperature of this limb and paw vs the other limbs. Does it seem colder/hotter to you? Then find a fleshy part of the limb that is particularly swollen and brush away any fur so you can see the skin. Take your thumb and press it firmly into the flesh and hold it there for about 5 seconds. Watch this area carefully as you remove your thumb. Does the flesh bounce back fairly quickly or does the thumb print remain for a long time? Does it feel sort of spongy to you? Try this on a normal limb for reference. If you have trouble understanding what I am asking, try it on a human in your household first. Feel both feet of someone and see if one foot seems colder than the other. Then push a thumb into the skin of the ankle. You should see it stay white for just a split second as you remove your thumb and then the skin will rebound and be pink again. This is normal. If either of these conditions seem to exist (after you have double and triple checked this on several different locations in the limb) call your vet immediately and ask if he should be seen now. There can be several reasons why this is happening. But the swelling in and of itself is the serious event and must not continue unchecked. These tests help to determine the point at which it becomes serious. The lying on the floor is directly related to the high doses of prednisone and the liver being swollen from that. It can become enlarged and is extremely uncomfortable. Try a single or doubled layer of a thin blanket on the floor and place a small fan there that runs constantly. I promise that this goes away when the pred dose is lowered and yes, Gunner will sleep on your bed again in the future. I can still remember the day Chance climbed up into bed with me again. my best patrice |
| Patrice NYS |
| Hi Jacki, Have you had a chemistry panel done to check the kidneys, liver, etc? If not, I would have them do one just to make sure the kidneys are working ok. Please keep us posted. Teresa |
| Teresa va |
| Jacki, How are things this morning? p |
| Patrice NYS |
| I've checked here several times already today looking for an update. Hope all is well and you got it figured out! I'll keep Gunner in my thoughts and prayers, Johnny & Tessy |
| Johnny |
| Thank you for checking in ..... So .... I did everything you guys suggested. He didn't have any pain at all. Put a soft ice pack on it, massaged him. When we woke up Thursday morning I went right over to check him and it looked all wet, low and behold it burst open, either he licked it or just burst from the pressure, it looked like a abcess of some sort. Of course I called my vet ASAP, she called me back and didn't seem too alarmed, but did want to see him. She seems to think he may have been bitten by a spider ??? Ironically we did find and kill a small spider that was walking up the wall sometime in the beginning of the week. How weird ? It's freezing here. It actually required 2 or 3 stiches, I just got done cleaning it and re wrapping it and Gunner is now sporting a leg warmer, great idea so he isn't able to lick open the stiches !!!! Never a dull moment !!! I still seem to think it has something to so with him laying on the hard floors. We have laid down extra cozy carpets so most of the hardwood is covered. Can't wait to go back to the days where he cuddled up on the couch :) Once again thanks so much. xo Jacki and Gunner |
| jacki Phila |
This thread was discussed between 10/02/2011 and 13/02/2011
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