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Greetings!

I did a search for a problem like this, but nothing quite fit this unusual problem. So, what else is new for Baloo?

For starters, Baloo is a male GSD, six-years-old, and weighes around 110 pounds. He's a solid one, quite (hyper)active, and has only had this one health issue in his life.

Back at the start of August we noticed that the 'wrist' joint of Baloo's left rear leg was swollen with fluid and painful to the point were he was walking on three legs. Twelve hours and two vets later he was home with a drain in his leg. ( http://piyer.rockycrater.org/graphics/baloo/baloo-leg.jpg )

It cleared up fairly well, and the best reason the vet could offer for the problem was that he might have cut his leg. All the tests they ran came back clean.

For the last two months we've kept Baloo close to home. The first month he only left the house to go to the vet -- paper training a 6-year-old GSD was fun! And this past month, once I felt sure the surgery was well and truly healed up, he has only been out into the backyard to do his business.

All this time his leg was fine with not a hint of swelling. Then this past Sunday we took him to church, which is 2 blocks away, for the blessing of the animals. Now, 5 days later, the swelling is back.

Baloo is a puller and jumper, and even chews through his leash on occassion, but that's nothing new. He has always been like that, but settles down after a quarter-hour or so into the trip out.

As I sat holding a hot compress on his leg this evening, I couldn't help but wonder if the walking and / or his juming and twisting ways are to blame for the swelling and not a puncture -- shepherds do have a habit of fussing with their troubles before telling us about them. And if that's the case, might this be the start of a chronic problem every time I take him for a walk beyond the backyard?

Has anyone else run into a problem like this? Are more vet visits the answer, or will the hot compresses and time allow it to drain on its own? I really don't want to put him through more procedures as he wasn't exactly the best of patients -- not the least of which was his breaking of one dome collar, and then figuring out how to pull off its replacement!

~AJ, servant to Baloo~

>>Greetings!
>>
>>I did a search for a problem like this, but nothing quite fit this unusual problem. So, what else is new for Baloo?
>>
>>For starters, Baloo is a male GSD, six-years-old, and weighes around 110 pounds. He's a solid one, quite (hyper)active, and has only had this one health issue in his life.
>>
>>Back at the start of August we noticed that the 'wrist' joint of Baloo's left rear leg was swollen with fluid and painful to the point were he was walking on three legs. Twelve hours and two vets later he was home with a drain in his leg. ( http://piyer.rockycrater.org/graphics/baloo/baloo-leg.jpg )
>>
>>It cleared up fairly well, and the best reason the vet could offer for the problem was that he might have cut his leg. All the tests they ran came back clean.
>>
>>For the last two months we've kept Baloo close to home. The first month he only left the house to go to the vet -- paper training a 6-year-old GSD was fun! And this past month, once I felt sure the surgery was well and truly healed up, he has only been out into the backyard to do his business.
>>
>>All this time his leg was fine with not a hint of swelling. Then this past Sunday we took him to church, which is 2 blocks away, for the blessing of the animals. Now, 5 days later, the swelling is back.
>>
>>Baloo is a puller and jumper, and even chews through his leash on occassion, but that's nothing new. He has always been like that, but settles down after a quarter-hour or so into the trip out.
>>
>>As I sat holding a hot compress on his leg this evening, I couldn't help but wonder if the walking and / or his juming and twisting ways are to blame for the swelling and not a puncture -- shepherds do have a habit of fussing with their troubles before telling us about them. And if that's the case, might this be the start of a chronic problem every time I take him for a walk beyond the backyard?
>>
>>Has anyone else run into a problem like this? Are more vet visits the answer, or will the hot compresses and time allow it to drain on its own? I really don't want to put him through more procedures as he wasn't exactly the best of patients -- not the least of which was his breaking of one dome collar, and then figuring out how to pull off its replacement!
>>
>>~AJ, servant to Baloo~

>>>>>>>>>>>

Back to the vet, and ask if there is a specialist who should see the dog. Unless the vet can now tell what the problem is, he or she will probably be happy to recommend a specialist. The vet can't help you if you don't follow up. The fact that this recurred is essential information to finding the right diagnosis and treatment.
-----
Kathy Diamond Davis, author, "Therapy Dogs: Training Your Dog to Reach Others," 2nd edition, and the free Canine Behavior Series articles at http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=SRC&S=1&SourceID=47

The fact that this has reoccured is a red flag to me that something is definately NOT right, I would also seek out a specialist pronto.

diane

It almost sounds like an autoimmune disease, or a tick disease, or a reaction to something like the lyme vaccine.