Saskia (2-year-old Great Dane) has a rock-hard lump on her leg, the back leg
just above the ankle on the outside. We were just at the vet's and have an
x-ray scheduled for Thursday. The vet said the biggest likelihood is a
ganglion cyst, but we need to rule out stress fracture and bone cancer
(though it is 100% non-painful so the latter is unlikely). It clearly does
NOT hurt her and there's no limping or anything going on, she isn't paying
any sort of extra attention to the leg, and her behavior has not changed at
all.

The lump seems to have come up in the last few days--I remember thinking a
few days ago that it looked like that leg might be a bit thicker than the
other but that it was probably just how she was standing, and then last
night I noticed the lump itself. What sorts of things (if any) should I ask
the vet to consider or do besides the above? How common is non-painful bone
cancer, so I can stop worrying about it (or not)? If it IS a stress
fracture, what sort of care and recovery period would I most likely be
looking at? I just want to know as much as possible when we go beck for the
x-ray.

Thanks,
Katrina

On Fri, 10 Mar 2006 09:52:39 +0100, "White Monkey"
wrote:

Saskia (2-year-old Great Dane) has a rock-hard lump on her leg, the back leg
just above the ankle on the outside. We were just at the vet's and have an
x-ray scheduled for Thursday. The vet said the biggest likelihood is a
ganglion cyst, but we need to rule out stress fracture and bone cancer
(though it is 100% non-painful so the latter is unlikely). It clearly does
NOT hurt her and there's no limping or anything going on, she isn't paying
any sort of extra attention to the leg, and her behavior has not changed at
all.

The lump seems to have come up in the last few days--I remember thinking a
few days ago that it looked like that leg might be a bit thicker than the
other but that it was probably just how she was standing, and then last
night I noticed the lump itself. What sorts of things (if any) should I ask
the vet to consider or do besides the above? How common is non-painful bone
cancer, so I can stop worrying about it (or not)? If it IS a stress
fracture, what sort of care and recovery period would I most likely be
looking at? I just want to know as much as possible when we go beck for the
x-ray.

Non-painful bone cancer is nonexistant. Bone cancer is supposedly not
any more common in greyhounds than other long-boned breeds, but
because I place greyhounds and am on greyhound lists, I hear a lot
about it. In greyhounds, it's diagnosed when the dog develops a limp.
I think that's the most usual way for it to manifest itself in other
breeds as well. I can't give you any information on stress fractures
or ganglion cysts.

Best wishes when you go to the vet next week. Blue, a greyhound who
turns 10 this month, developed a limp this week, and he'll have an
x-ray next Wednesday if the limp hasn't disappeared. None of our
personal greyhounds has had bone cancer, but I've a feeling our luck
may have run out.

Mustang Sally

Thanks,
Katrina

Non-painful bone cancer is nonexistent. Bone cancer is supposedly not
any more common in greyhounds than other long-boned breeds, but
because I place greyhounds and am on greyhound lists, I hear a lot
about it. In greyhounds, it's diagnosed when the dog develops a limp.
I think that's the most usual way for it to manifest itself in other
breeds as well. I can't give you any information on stress fractures
or ganglion cysts.

Sorry it took a bit to get back to you. Walter's molars are really bugging
him and I still wasn't caught up on housework and stuff since the ear
infection, and I'm working on university applications and so forth. Thanks!
I feel better about this now. Can you think of anything else it might be
that I should suggest the vet rule out? Saskia is clearly not ill (no change
of behavior or appetite, etc., etc.) and it still obviously not only doesn't
hurt her but escapes her attention altogether. I think it is a little
bigger, though.

Best wishes when you go to the vet next week. Blue, a greyhound who
turns 10 this month, developed a limp this week, and he'll have an
x-ray next Wednesday if the limp hasn't disappeared. None of our
personal greyhounds has had bone cancer, but I've a feeling our luck
may have run out.

Oof, best of luck and keep us posted! I sure hope he just has a little
strain or something!
--Katrina

On Sun, 12 Mar 2006 20:15:17 +0100, "White Monkey"
wrote:

Non-painful bone cancer is nonexistent. Bone cancer is supposedly not
any more common in greyhounds than other long-boned breeds, but
because I place greyhounds and am on greyhound lists, I hear a lot
about it. In greyhounds, it's diagnosed when the dog develops a limp.
I think that's the most usual way for it to manifest itself in other
breeds as well. I can't give you any information on stress fractures
or ganglion cysts.

Sorry it took a bit to get back to you. Walter's molars are really bugging
him and I still wasn't caught up on housework and stuff since the ear
infection, and I'm working on university applications and so forth. Thanks!
I feel better about this now. Can you think of anything else it might be
that I should suggest the vet rule out? Saskia is clearly not ill (no change
of behavior or appetite, etc., etc.) and it still obviously not only doesn't
hurt her but escapes her attention altogether. I think it is a little
bigger, though.

I've not had much experience with that kind of thing, so I don't
really have any suggestions. There are no signs of infection or
inflammation, no fever? Have you posted to any Dane lists, in case
such growths are common in the breed? Or maybe some internet research
on non-painful bone lesions in canines.

Best wishes when you go to the vet next week. Blue, a greyhound who
turns 10 this month, developed a limp this week, and he'll have an
x-ray next Wednesday if the limp hasn't disappeared. None of our
personal greyhounds has had bone cancer, but I've a feeling our luck
may have run out.

Oof, best of luck and keep us posted! I sure hope he just has a little
strain or something!

Thanks; that's always possible.

Mustang Sally

Now the lump seems to have extended a bit with a softer bit at the end, and
there's a sore next to it. The sore clearly bothers her a bit; she's licking
it now and then. I'm glad the vet's appointment is first thing tomorrow!
I'll keep you posted!
--Katrina

Update: the vet thinks the sore is either coincidental or a scrape caused by
the way the lump sticks out a bit to the side. X-rays without anaesthetic
were unsuccessful because of the position of the thing and Saskia's
nervousness about being handled like that on a table (I was there, at her
head, but she was still very concerned about the whole thing); the vet gave
me a choice of resting her for two weeks to see if it changes or paying for
anaesthetic and x-rays next week. I am not a fan of putting her under and
I'm broke, but the vet was very specific about using as little anaesthetic
as possible and working quickly, and as nothing has changed in a week with
the lump already anyway and Saskia HATES being confined to the house and
leash for rest periods, it seemed best to just get on with it and find out
what this lump is, so we're scheduled for x-rays and a potential biopsy next
Thursday, and I can let her run a bit meanwhile but am supposed to tone it
down a bit. The vet said I can pay in two installments, as well.

I'll keep yoiu folks posted!

--Katrina