Swollen limb.

[hemi_mygirl]

Hey guys, I'm not sure how many of you remember this, but Hemi's front leg is still swollen. After taking her to the vet and finding that it wasn't broken nor did it look/feel like a tumor, she sent me home saying it was just a sprain and the swelling should go down within a couple days.

Well, it's been over a week, and the swelling hasn't changed. But neither has Hemi's food/water intake, or her activity. She wheels everynight, plays regularly, and has been eating as much as normal, if not a bit more (summer is coming). She doesn't favor the leg, and will let me look at it willingly. (I check it so often, she gives me the paw when I say, "show me your paw, Hemi").

So, I'm a bit confused. I've searched for threads on here, as well as information about it, and I can't find anything. I attached a picture from the day of her vet check, when the bruising was still there. The bruising has since gone away.

Thanks for any help.

[PrettyHate]

If she is still doing alot of activity on it (wheeling, running around etc) then if it is a sprain its probably having a bit of a hard time healing. My dog just went to the vet to get checked out for a sprain, and one of the things he said was to limit her activity so it would heal.

Bosco's front paw was swollen a while back- but he was favoring it, unlike Hemi. I took him to the vet and it actually turned out to be an infection. They had to take a sample of some kind with a needle in order to find that out. He went on a round of antibiotics for 10 days or so and it cleared up and his walking went back to normal.

[HedgeMom]

It needs to be xrayed. It could be a hairline break, a bone overgrowth, a small foreign body. If xrays show nothing, then she needs bloodwork to see if it's an infection.

[HedgieMate]

(I check it so often, she gives me the paw when I say, "show me your paw, Hemi").
Wow, what a smart girl you've got!

I'm envious...especially, after I tried a half dozen times in vain to check our hedgie's toe nails this evening; our defiant little boy kept huffing at us until we gave up. :(

As for the swelling, I'm too inexperienced to even guess what it is. Hope your vet will be able to diagnose it correctly and Hemi's leg will be back to normal very soon.

[hemi_mygirl]

Hmm... then it's back to the vet as soon as I can get another appointment. Of course, she had to get herself injured not even a day after going for her yearly vet check. I think it's her goal to drain my account for me, and lighten my pockets. LOL.

Good thing the vet likes her, she's been there twice in the last 3 weeks. Maybe the 3rd time will be the charm and tell me what's wrong with her.

Oh, and I attempted to limit her activity, but taking her wheel away resulted in her climbing her cage and falling numerous times. I didn't want her to fall on a toy or the wall of her litter box so I gave her the wheel back. Maybe I'll try only giving it to her for about an hour each night so she can wear off some energy, at least.

[hemi_mygirl]

Oh, and just so I don't get totally shocked (or screwed over)...what are some average costs of an x-ray and bloodwork?

[HedgeMom]

Costs are REALLY subjective. I've paid as little as 35.00 for an xray and as much as 125, depending on the vet and whether or not gas was needed. Bloodwork varies too, depending on whether they send it out or check it there and what they check for. I would expect a visit with a simple xray and a blood check for infection, plus meds if needed to run under 175.00.

[hemi_mygirl]

Alright, thank you. :)

[PrettyHate]

Xray for me was $80 and the blood test was $60

[razzle]

Poor Hemi! I agree that another vet trip is the next step. Did they take a blood sample the last time? Maybe it does just need time to heal, but it also could be some kind of infection and you don't want to fool around with that. Funny that she just keeps on wheeling! It probably is better to let her wheel than go stir-crazy and climb the cage walls and risk hurting herself more! Crazy girl! Well I hope she is feeling better very soon. Too cute that she 'gives her paw' when you ask for it!! She is so good!!! I wish Razzle would do that. It would make nail trimming so much easier!