Case 28 — Limb Swelling
Clinicians
Kent Talcott, DVM (primary)
Andrew Kyles, BVSc, DipACVS (faculty surgeon)
Mark D. Kittleson, DVM, PhD, DACVIM (Cardiology) (consulting)
Signalment
- Species: Canine
- Breed: Siberian Husky
- Age: 4 years
- Sex: Female
- Weight: 20 kg
- Name: Drifter
Presenting Complaint
- Swelling on right front leg
Pertinent History
- Drifter presents to the Soft Tissue Surgery Service for evaluation and treatment of the soft tissue swelling on her right thoracic limb. The swelling developed approximately 5 weeks ago, and the referring DVM noticed a palpable pulse within the swelling.
- Drifter is a sled dog, and her owner reports that trauma is likely, but she does not know of a specific incident.
- Drifter is not lame on the limb, and is not painful upon palpation; however, her owner reports that she is “placing the foot carefully” when she walks or runs.
- Drifter trains during the winter for about 1 hour a day, and during the summer she runs free in a large yard with 20 other sled dogs. She was one of a litter bred by the owner, and is intended to breed as well as race. She has regular heat cycles but has not yet been bred.
- Drifter has been an otherwise healthy dog. Her owner reports that she had a “stretched ligament” from a difficult birth, but that any lameness resolved with physical therapy.
- She is current on vaccines, and receives ivermectin in the summer and prophylactic fenbendazole for parasites.
- She travels a great deal for races within Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and California.
Physical Examination
- General: BARH, friendly. T = 100.9°F.
- Integument: Thick coat, no cutaneous lesions. Slight tear staining. Soft, immobile swelling over anteromedial proximal antebrachium, approximately 3 cm wide, 1 cm high and 6 cm long, with palpable pulse and fremitus. No pain upon palpation.
- EENT: Eyes — clear anterior chambers and corneas OU. Ears — waxy but clear. Nose — clean, no discharge. Mouth — mild calculus and gingivitis, no oral lesions.
- Musculoskeletal: BCS = 4/9, well muscled and symmetrical.
- Cardiovascular: HR = 70, grade II/VI left systolic murmur, moderate sinus arrhythmia. A continuous murmur can be heard over the limb swelling.
- Respiratory: RR = panting, no crackles or wheezes.
- GI: Gut loops smooth, no masses or organomegaly.
- GU: Small bladder, kidneys not palpable. No vulvar discharge.
- Nervous system: No deficits noted on physical exam.
- Lymph nodes: All WNL.
Problems
- Front limb swelling