So, our beloved greyhound broke her 'wrist' about 5 months ago after falling down stairs. Had surgery (pancarpal arthrodesis) and was recovering well. At the time it happened the vet raised the possibility of bone cancer making the bone weak and leading to the break. Doggo had an MRI scan and a biopsy and no sign of cancer found. She has been recovering well from surgery and getting back good use of the leg.
Recent trouble started with seemed to be a surface level infection from a seroma (like a blister which comes up post surgery) which she managed to lick. Two courses of antibiotics seemed to clear it up but on ending the second course about a week ago, her joint started to enlarge (not swell, it feels hard to to the touch) and she has become progressively more lame. Now not putting any weight on the leg at all. She is in pain which we are managing on vet's advice with Metacam. She has an appointment on Tuesday at the referral vets who did her surgery. Can't get her there any sooner. She's eating OK and seems reasonably OK in herself. No sign of any surface wounds.
I'm thinking this is either a deep bacterial infection from the earlier infected seroma (because her lameness coincided with the end of the antibiotics course) OR the vet was right first time and its bone cancer. We will find out on Tuesday I guess. But preparing for the worst. DH and I discussed when this first happened that we don't want her to suffer and if it is cancer then PTS.
Has anyone's doggo had anything like this hard swelling after surgery on a joint ? Thanks for reading and any advice.