Am worried over Chance

First topic message reminder :

Obviously we don't know Chance's true age, so we just have a guesstimation given to us making him 4, but since having him we've found he has an old injury in his left hind leg - he never goes lame and no outward sign of anything but he's fallen on the bed/sofa when he's been asleep   landed on his leg and screamed, had Radley run into it same thing... it was checked over at the vets who just did the same thing i did - checked the movement in it, felt for any lumps or bumps and said that he'd need it xraying to take it any further but didn't recommend it, as the stress on him mentally would be worse especially when he's never even limped.

I know ambulls are prone to HD so that's playing on my mind, but i think it's more likely to be arthritis in his hip, but i annoyingly ran out of turmeric (hippy mum alert) which i give Chance everyday, good job he loves it! and the next day he wasn't happy with his leg again, coincidence, banged it? i don't know, but have got some more and he's running around the house like bambi again. But i knew he wasn't happy 'cos i was manipulating it as i do when i fussed him and he really growled at me (which is an improvement from 2 years ago when he would just have bitten when unhappy)

Anyway there is a hydrotherapy center 5 minute walk down the road, so am going to go speak to them at the weekend, over price and Chance's temperament etc.

My other concern is I think Chance is either older then the rescues guess or he's old before his time, he's just not been himself over the last week or so, he's not been ill, throwing up, not off his food or anything. But i just know he's not my Chance can't explain why it wouldn't make sense, but I feel it's more a mental problem rather then physical - as though he'd mentally given up   

He does seem to have improved today and is having a good wrestle with harv as we speak, but he is still worrying me

Thanks for reading x

"It looks like a tear rather then operation, it's not uniform and neat so to speak like you expect with an operation"

Sorry to bang on about it Ella, but is the scar dented anywhere along its length at all, and/or is it a thin line or wider than, say, 1 - 2cm with white scar tissue, anywhere along its length? I'm asking just to rule in/rule out possible underlying muscle damage.

Caryll wrote:Makes you wonder exactly what he went through before he came to you, doesn't it? Didn't he have cigarette burns on him?  

yes he did :(i wouldn't like to guess what's caused it - won't help now, but don't like to think what he's been through

LyndaW wrote:"It looks like a tear rather then operation, it's not uniform and neat so to speak like you expect with an operation"

Sorry to bang on about it Ella, but is the scar dented anywhere along its length at all, and/or is it a thin line or wider than, say, 1 - 2cm with white scar tissue, anywhere along its length?  I'm asking just to rule in/rule out possible underlying muscle damage.  

it feels like a fairly thick amount of scar tissue if you know what i mean. Yes it does feel dented not all the way along, it's not a thin line but not quite 1cm across so inbetween, but feels thicker as though going into his leg rather then across the top layer of skin.

If that makes any sense

A keloid scar?

no doesn't look like a keloid, it's flat and flush to his skin on the outside, just feels thicker underneath

I don't know if this will help:

http://www.k9-massage.co.uk/main/conditions_muscular_scar-tissue.asp

There are a list of symptoms as well - any ring a bell?

ECdogs wrote:I don't know if this will help:

http://www.k9-massage.co.uk/main/conditions_muscular_scar-tissue.asp

There are a list of symptoms as well - any ring a bell?

thanks for that yes there are a few things there, the curved back and miserable being the main things. So it's definitely something

Let's hope you can get something started soon for him, poor lad!

No problem! Give Chance a hug from me and good luck at the hydrotherapy centre!

thanks guys

Keep us posted!

will do x

Do you think a warm compress might help?

I could try, it's not going to hurt either way thanks

If its thicker underneath then it sounds like fibrous scarring and possibly to the muscle. Poor Chance, for whatever he went through before you gave him his lovely, loving and forever home.

tbh, in your shoes, I would try not worry too much about it (easier said than done I know!), especially if he is moving easily, but obviously keep an eye on the situation. An occasional bang or twist or strain at the area may well hurt temporarily and cause a yelp, but no matter how tough a dog (or human!) is, then a tear to the muscle or damage to the bone structure for whatever reason will cause a limp (even slightly) through mechanical reasons and not just pain.

Good luck Ella and Chance     

Thanks lynda like i said he doesn't limp although an altered gait but still weight bearing - but am still going to try hydrotherapy to help him

Well warm compress on leg as we speak and Chance couldn't care less  

Take it all in your stride Chance!

like normal then

Bless him!

I bet he loves all the extra attention!

Haha sure does

hope he is feeling a bit better today

  

have done another warm compress on his leg when he got up, seems ok today, certainly not as grumpy

That's great! Glad he's feeling a bit better!

It could be one of those things that flares up under certain circumstances; a twist, cold weather etc.

Fingers crossed!

lets hope so!

Will be keeping a closer eye on it though