[3SweetGoldens]

Until now, I have hesitated to post about Lexi's foot, as it has been a really stressful, worrying situation. I have the utmost confidence is my Vet, as she has conferred with several Vets she knows in the Seattle area, many of them specialists. I have also had a second opinion, based on referrals on growths on the foot.
She did have the starting of this before she had the last litter of puppies, but they now feel the surge of her hormones caused a much accelerated growth of the growth possibly started from her first litter. When she was spayed after her second litter 8 months ago, they tried to scrape and remove it. The Dr. called me during her spay, and said they had to stop, as there was too much bleeding to be able to continue as the scraped it. She felt the only thing left to do, if it started to really bother her, would be to amputate her outer toe. This is on the outside pad of her back foot.
In the picture I have attached, you can see the new growth (the pink area) where they did the scraping. The darker area, is what she originally had. I have had her back to be checked once a month since then, and they have now made the decision to amputate her toe, as it is now gathering fluid on the top of it, and she won't leave it alone near the base of the toenail constantly licking it. She doesn't want you to touch it, and it is very difficult to keep that toenail clipped enough to not go into the inflammed pad. It just looks just HORRIBLE....and the Vets all concur that they have never seen or treated anything like it. I have been so afraid of Cancer, but they keep telling me, it is not cancerous. Yet...they can't tell me exactly WHAT it is. That really worries me. This whole experience has been so stressful, as they all agreed it was best to wait till now when it is really bothering her, since it is so drastic what they are now going to do.
Has anyone ever seen anything that remotely resembles this? Please if you would, Lexi and I could sure use some prayers and well wishes right now. It is scheduled for December 10th, at 10:00 in the morning. She said it is quite an extensive surgery. right now, they don't know how long they will keep her, it depends on how the surgery goes, and the problem of bleeding. I am just so worried about the surgery and recovery time.

Thank you so much in advance to all of you who take the time to respond to my post with any thoughts you might have.

Karen and Lexi

 

[Penny & Maggie's Mom]

Prayers coming from our house. That does look really ugly and painful. Please keep us posted. I'll be interested to see if anyone has seen something similar.

 

[jealous1]

That looks likes it would really hurt. Prayers going out for both of you from Georgia.

Doesn't Tilly have something wrong with her toenails (or someone else on this board?)?

 

[Debles]

I am praying for poor Lexi! That looks horrible and painful!!!! I sure hope you can find an answer. Poor baby!

 

[Meggie'sMom]

I don't have any words of wisdom, but will keep you and Lexi in my thoughts. Surely this can only be a good thing for her. Poor girl! I hope she'll recover quickly. Lots of spoiling is in order!

 

[goldencontriever3]

Poor Lexi. That looks like it hurts. We will keep you both in our prayers. Please let us know how she makes out.

 

[Jo Ellen]

Wow, I'm not sure what it is I'm seeing there but it definitely looks like something that needs a solution. I'm so sorry, poor Lexi. And how very stressful for you! I'm glad you trust your vet so much, that's going to be so important now. I know it's not a pleasant thought that she'll be missing a toe, but what a relief to have this gone, whatever it is.

Lots of good thoughts and well wishes for the both of you!

 

[Noey]

poor Lexi's paw.

The shapes remind me of skin tags, which are just fatty deposits on the skin - they look like chewed gum sometimes.

The shapes look like the pad all super sized and blown-up/filled with fluid. see this reg. close-up of a pad. http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1324/1245764930_173e60ce0e.jpg

It looks sooo sore...but not infected? Is the brown part really dry?


I hope she gets better.

I found this (it's the last paragraph, might be something to ask about) the last statement caught my eye.
http://www.lowchensaustralia.com/grooming/nailconditions2.htm
Lastly, an animal can suffer from an auto-immune disease of the skin (pemphigus), in which the immune system goes haywire and mistakes skin cells for enemy invaders. In the most common type of pemphigus, pus-filled sores - which eventually break and form crusts - develop on the foot pads, bridge of the nose, and ears. Again, a vet can test for pemphigus by analyzing a sample of the affected skin. If pemphigus is the culprit, the veterinarian may treat it with immune-suppressing drugs.

 

[3SweetGoldens]

Thank you all for all your thoughts and well wishes for Lex.

Noey....they do look like large skin tags...I thought the same in my research I have done on the computer. The Vets have also spoken of some type of possibly a funga type of infection. The smears of tests are inconclusive as to just what it is. I guess that is why I am not comfortable that cancer is completely ruled out. How can they really say that, if they don't know what it is? Just my mind going CRAZY I guess, but so many things have entered my mind through all of this.
I so appreciate your research, I will definitely speak with them on the auto-immune issue. Though she has never had any problems before, I would imagine with having the puppies, that could change everything. Although, her blood work is always good in every area.
It is just so baffling, even to the Vets. I sure wish I knew the answers, so I wouldn't be so worried. Thank you again for your thoughts and suggestions.

I forgot to answer your questions, yes it is extremely dry. I asked the vet if I could put anything on the old brown part to soften it. She told me not to put anything on it, so I haven't. I thought possibly something like bag balm rubbed in might help it to soften.
I don't see signs of infection around the nail base, no foul smell or anything with her foot. Yet she does lick the base of the nail almost constantly, so it makes you wonder, especially with the swelling from fluid above the pad.

 

[LibertyME]

OWWIEE Lexi.....that looks like it hurts!

My mother in laws greyhounds were each missing toes - amputations from breaking their toes on the track. Did not stop them from running like the wind.....
Im sure the surgery is no cake walk....but post recovery...Im sure she will be running and playing like her old self...

Hopefully the vets will be able to get to the bottom of this for your peace of mind Karen...

 

[Noey]

Thank you all for all your thoughts and well wishes for Lex.

Noey....they do look like large skin tags...I thought the same in my research I have done on the computer. The Vets have also spoken of some type of possibly a funga type of infection. The smears of tests are inconclusive as to just what it is. I guess that is why I am not comfortable that cancer is completely ruled out. How can they really say that, if they don't know what it is? Just my mind going CRAZY I guess, but so many things have entered my mind through all of this.
I so appreciate your research, I will definitely speak with them on the auto-immune issue. Though she has never had any problems before, I would imagine with having the puppies, that could change everything. Although, her blood work is always good in every area.
It is just so baffling, even to the Vets. I sure wish I knew the answers, so I wouldn't be so worried. Thank you again for your thoughts and suggestions.

I forgot to answer your questions, yes it is extremely dry. I asked the vet if I could put anything on the old brown part to soften it. She told me not to put anything on it, so I haven't. I thought possibly something like bag balm rubbed in might help it to soften.
I don't see signs of infection around the nail base, no foul smell or anything with her foot. Yet she does lick the base of the nail almost constantly, so it makes you wonder, especially with the swelling from fluid above the pad.

hmmm have you tried basic salt water baths, Warm water with a little salt. Might sting, but might heal a little as well. I'm just guessing. Maybe it's something like the nail is broke internal and your seeing the infection on the outside?

Poor pup. They can probably rule out cancer if they tested cells and or have done blood tests. Licking might make it look worse. I have no clues, I went all over the web as well and its hard to find anything, but the auto-immune thing looks similar...and that can happen anytime. She could have had a virus and her body over compensated and started attacking.


Don't drive yourself nuts...she is in good hands I'm sure. Sometimes the diagnosis is hard.

 

[mainegirl]

lexi will be in my prayers, as well as you. prayers for the vet as well
beth, moose and angel

 

[Florabora22]

Ew, that picture actually made me a little sick to my stomach. Poor Lexi! She must be so uncomfortable. You are doing the right thing, and I hope the surgery goes smoothly and without incident.

 

[desilu]

Awww, poor Lexi and poor Mom! Sending healing thoughts for a successful outcome!

 

[BeauShel]

I dont have any idea on what it could be but I will pray for a positive outcome from the surgery. And prayers that it is not the big C. It does look like it really hurts. Please give Miss Lexi a big kiss and hug for being so brave.

 

[amy22]

My thoughts and prayers are with Lexi. Please let us know how the surgery goes.

 

[3SweetGoldens]

Ew, that picture actually made me a little sick to my stomach. Poor Lexi! She must be so uncomfortable. You are doing the right thing, and I hope the surgery goes smoothly and without incident.

Sorry the picture made you sick to your stomach.

Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers. I am so hoping that all goes well with the surgery. The 10th was the first day they had open to have a time block big enough to schedule her surgery for. With not knowing how long it will take, they don't want to book any other surgeries after hers.

 

[Finn's Fan]

Good thoughts coming for you and Lexi for a successful and easy surgery and uneventful recovery. Her poor toe looks very painful. Has a dermatology vet seen her? I'd ask your vet to post this photo on the veterinary internet, specifically the dermatology board and see if any of the vets who frequent that website will respond.

 

[3SweetGoldens]

Good thoughts coming for you and Lexi for a successful and easy surgery and uneventful recovery. Her poor toe looks very painful. Has a dermatology vet seen her? I'd ask your vet to post this photo on the veterinary internet, specifically the dermatology board and see if any of the vets who frequent that website will respond.

Yes, that is what my Vet did. She took a picture of it, and it went out to the whole circle of Vets on the veterinary Internet. None of them had treated anything like this, and really offered not much help.

 

[Jo Ellen]

That's amazing that no one knows what this is. Maybe it's something new? That just can't be, can it? At the least, it must be very rare. I mean, how do they know how best to treat it or what's necessary if they don't even know what it is?