Dog Community

Update- What could this shoulder lump be?? (Chelsea)

Posted : 9/9/2009 6:35:43 PM

So probably two weeks (maybe three, honestly) ago Cherokee started limping. Just a little barely noticeable limp. I couldn't even tell which leg was bothering her, for at least the first week. I thought it was probably a sore on her foot, but I checked them all out and didn't see anything. I checked her legs, shoulders, elbows, hips, everything, and she had absolutely no reaction to me doing anything to her. No flinching, no wincing, no yelping...seemingly no real source of pain.

Then I noticed one of her nails was split, so I thought maybe it was that...but I dealt with that and she was still limping. Cherokee is most definitely NOT a run-to-the-vet-for-every-little-problem dog (vet trips are a biiiig deal, she's pretty reactive and aggressive at the vet), and anyway I'm not that kind of owner (I don't run myself to the doctor for every little thing either..), so I've just been watching and waiting to see if it gets worse.

Every day pretty much since I figured out which leg it was I've manipulated her leg and shoulder in every way I can think of, and haven't been able to figure out what the issue could possibly be, but it hasn't been a big deal to her obviously, until the last day or two. When she's standing still now, or sitting, she'll pick her one foot almost all the way off the ground. She still walks on it, with a more noticeable limp now. So yeah, vet time, I figured some time this week I'd take her. But it still didn't seem super urgent to me (yeah, sometimes I'm definitely too laid-back about vet stuff, but you might be too if you had Cherokee, lol)

I noticed today she's got this weird mound on her shoulder. Very asymmetrical to her other side. My first thought was dislocated shoulder, but I imagine that would hurt a heck of a lot more than it seems to, plus why would she just suddenly have this lump?? But it honestly feels like her shoulder blade or something is out of place.. It's hard, and feels totally different from her other shoulder.

I can't swear that her shoulders haven't been asymmetrical since the limp started, but it's visible today from across the room, which it certainly hasn't been, plus I've been feeling her legs and shoulders and back and everything practically every day, so I don't know how it's possible that I wouldn't have noticed it.

My vet isn't in today, and I'm not taking her to a different vet, so she's going tomorrow morning. In the meantime, this is freaking me out, and I'd really like to have some idea of what the issue could possibly be before I go.

I have a couple pictures, but it's kind of hard to see what's wrong if you don't know what you're looking for, I think. But I'll post them anyway just in case.

Any ideas??

jessies_mom

Posted : 9/9/2009 7:04:55 PM

Bless her heart, Cherokee is so cute!! Chelsea, Jessie's hips have been asymmetrical for years but it's caused by a fat deposit over one hip. Perhaps it's an infection that's getting worse; has she been scratched or bitten by any animals recently? I'll be checking back to see what the vet says. Feel better soon Cherokee;{{{{{{{{{{{hugs}}}}}}}}}}}}

JackieG

Posted : 9/9/2009 8:00:40 PM

No idea, but I'm glad you're taking her in tomorrow. I'm sending good vibes for it being nothing too serious. Don't freak out yet. This comes under the do as I say, not as I do, rule. :) Keep us posted.

BEVOLASVEGAS

Posted : 9/9/2009 8:01:33 PM

If it were a dislocated shoulder, she wouldn't be walking on it at all.

It could be an abscess or even a tumor that has popped up. Good luck at the vet tomorrow.

chelsea_b

Posted : 9/9/2009 8:44:16 PM

BEVOLASVEGAS
If it were a dislocated shoulder, she wouldn't be walking on it at all.

Yeah, that's what I figured, but checking it out more it really seems like her shoulder blade is out of place. I was talking to my Mom about it, and she said maybe she's got a muscle in spasm or something from limping, and that's actually pulling her shoulder place at a weird angle? I dunno..it's pretty bizarre, honestly, and definitely new in the past day or so. Also I was just thinking about how she hasn't had any issues jumping on or off my bed, so it really can't hurt too badly..what the heck?

jessies_mom
Perhaps it's an infection that's getting worse; has she been scratched or bitten by any animals recently?

Nope, no injuries at all recently.. No falls, slips, fights...nothing. Another reason I find it so odd...

Vet appointment at 9 am, so we'll see...

Cita

Posted : 9/9/2009 8:58:24 PM

Good luck, Chelsea! I hope everything works out tomorrow!

janobonano

Posted : 9/9/2009 8:58:27 PM

Good luck Cherokee! Sending ~~calming~~ vibes for her visit tomorrow.

That last pic is adorable.

chelsea_b

Posted : 9/9/2009 9:06:24 PM

janobonano
Sending ~~calming~~ vibes for her visit tomorrow.

Lol, yeah, we'll be needing those. I'm sure the first thing they'll want to do is an x-ray, and I don't see that going particularly well.. I guess it might be a good time to consider a sedative. :-(

janobonano
That last pic is adorable

Hehe, thanks! I had the almighty CHEESE in my hand. That's the only way I can get her to cooperate in pictures...

Can anyone even sorta see what I'm talking about in the pictures? Or can I just see it because I know it's there and have felt it?

Thanks for the good luck wishes.. I'll definitely let you guys know what the vet says.

jessies_mom

Posted : 9/9/2009 9:18:01 PM

chelsea_b

Can anyone even sorta see what I'm talking about in the pictures? Or can I just see it because I know it's there and have felt it?

It's her left shoulder isn't it? At least that's what it looks like to me. Give her some belly rubs for me.

BEVOLASVEGAS

Posted : 9/9/2009 9:21:23 PM

chelsea_b

Can anyone even sorta see what I'm talking about in the pictures?

You can see it in the second pic.

nymaureen

Posted : 9/9/2009 10:20:05 PM

Glad you are taking her to the vet. Wishing you good vibes for tomorrow that it is possibly an abscess that should be taken care of quite easily.

chelsea_b

Posted : 9/9/2009 10:31:49 PM

nevermind

chelsea_b

Posted : 9/10/2009 2:36:11 PM

Really sucky update...

It turns out she has a pretty sizeable tumor on her shoulder, and the x-ray that showed us that also showed that she has some sort of mass in her lung. So my guess is the tumor on her shoulder is malignant and it's already spread to her lungs, but we're not positive of that yet I guess.

My vet is sending the x-rays off to a radiologist to see if they can get a better idea, but who knows... For now we just have pain meds to make her more comfy, and I'm supposed to be deciding whether to biopsy her shoulder or not. If we do, she needs to be under general anesthesia, which could be dangerous to her with the mass in her lung. So I don't know what to do.

I'm pretty freaked out, I've just been crying on and off since I first saw the x-rays. They had to sedate her to do them, so she's pretty groggy and breathing heavy, which is also freaking me out. She's just laying on the bed next to me right now.

I have to leave for work in 10 minutes, so I better go get ready. God this sucks. And I can't believe I have to leave her right now. But I need this job to pay vet bills, lol.. And my manager is already annoyed with me because I went in 3 hours late on Tuesday because I had to watch my nephew (I told her ahead of time, and we got that part of my shift covered, but I know she's annoyed anyway).

jennie_c_d

Posted : 9/10/2009 2:48:27 PM

I looove the cheese pic! She's so cute!

((((hugs)))) I hope that it isn't as bad as it appears to be. Give Cherokee an extra bite of cheese, from me.

JackieG

Posted : 9/10/2009 3:08:45 PM

Chelsea, I'm so sorry. I know how upset and scared you must be and I would hate to have to leave her too but you have to work. She'll sleep while your gone. Give her some belly rubs from me. Sending you a big hug and offering all my support while you go through this with Cherokee.