lump on elbow( please advise) - Page 1

I just noticed a very soft lump on my 5 month old GSD puppy. She's not in any pain and moves around great. I think it happened today when she was playing and possibly hit her elbow on the corner of the table. It feels like fluid about half the size of a golf ball. It was not there earlier today. I will take her to to the vet on Monday if it doesn't get better. Has anyone experienced this before??

Hygroma, Google it.  If the dog is in the crate or on a hard surface most of the day, put a pad or crate liner or some soft surface for it to lay down on.

Thanks for the info. I'm buying her a soft crate tomorrow. Will it go away in a few weeks like the links say. It also says to put a heat pad on it.

Yes, we had a crazy female who developed one on her elbow years ago. She was a very high drive dog and literally bounced of the brick wall in her kennel building when she was excited.
The vet said it was nature's way to protect joints from trauma and drained it. The crate has nothing to do with it. On the contrary, you might have to crate her for a while to prevent further aggrevation.
Your vet will advise you accordingly. Don't waste your money on "soft padded" crates. A blanket will do if she is not a chewer.
Chris

My female had one on each hock during her first year,  from impact injuries, too much jumping and spinning and leaping and carrying on playing.   They each went away on thier own without bothering her much at all.  Bothered me more to see them!  Hope that's all it is with your pup too.

Heather

The crate does have something to do with it.  If the dog is of the type that flops down roughly, it slams it's elbows hard, on a hard surface.  Many dogs on concrete get them.  I never said get a soft crate, I said put the dog  "on" a softer surface, like a pad.  If the dog spends most of it's day flopping on the floor of a hard crate instead of say carpet or softer areas like the outdoors, many times these develop.  I have seen them on many different breeds, Danes, Mastiffs, Dobermanns an even one of my Malinois years ago.  Put a pad in the crate and it will go away within a couple of weeks.  Reading is a skill, maybe you should try it Silbersee.

Phil Behun,
maybe you should take your own advise. Reading is a skill!!! Take a look at the OP's post right under yours!! That is what I answered.
Wow, go back to bed, you are not fully awake yet!
Of course, concrete can cause that but most likely it is from jumping. And a crate does not have a concrete floor, rather metal or plastic. It will not be caused by that. Rough or hard surface will cause skin abrasions or callouses, but not fluid filled pockets. Again, talk to your vet and he will explain that. Any time you have an injury like that I would crate this dog.
Chris

 Silbersee: Chris, I fully agre with you. The only GSD I have had affected is one on a GSD exactly like you describe. - in over 35 years

Thank you everyone!!! She did injure herself on the edge of the table, as well as breaking a picture and a vase. She was really excited to see me.  We wanted to get her a soft crate anyways,so what better time then now.

Thanks to all of you again................I feel better now. I was worried about my girl.

The question is whether this really is a result of an injury and is just swelling and/or a hematoma from bumping it. If so, it should go down in size in several weeks with rest.

However, if it is a hygroma, it is much more complex. Hygromas are due to pressure being exerted on bony prominences. Finding a way to pad the elbow normally won't work, and frankly, even soft crates don't work well in some cases either. A thick foam pad, dense material, covered by a blanket or sheet if the dog won't eat it, will help perhaps. One good link to read is at:

http://www.marvistavet.com/html/elbow_hygroma.html

Another one at:

http://cal.vet.upenn.edu/projects/saortho/chapter_70/70mast.htm

Based on your statement that it just appeared, it is most likely just an injury. That is good because, if it is a hygroma, it can be very difficult to get rid of and a dog who has one may never get better. There is a risk of introducing bacteria into the elbow if drainage is attempted. So it would be wise to talk to your vet and, for now, I recommend going conservatively. That means wait and see what happens, rather than try to have it drained. In the meantime, try to limit the activity of the pup. If you can post a photo, I will look at it too.

Good luck.