Tick bites

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Catweasel

Well-Known Member
I've had a trawl through the search function and can't find a definitive answer, so can anyone tell me, how would a tick bite to a dogs leg present itself?
Following a walk at a local park, dog (large whippet) has developed a lump on the back of the foreleg, a couple of inches above the foot. The local vet's practice had a look, could'nt see anything but carried out a small procedure under sedation to examine it better. Nothing found.
The lump is still there but now the surface is an open wound that does'nt seem to want to heal despite antibiotics and dressings.
Vet now wants to remove the lump under anasthetic.
Before we go down that route, has anyone any ideas on what it might be?
Iain
 
Catweasel said:
I've had a trawl through the search function and can't find a definitive answer, so can anyone tell me, how would a tick bite to a dogs leg present itself?
Following a walk at a local park, dog (large whippet) has developed a lump on the back of the foreleg, a couple of inches above the foot. The local vet's practice had a look, could'nt see anything but carried out a small procedure under sedation to examine it better. Nothing found.
The lump is still there but now the surface is an open wound that does'nt seem to want to heal despite antibiotics and dressings.
Vet now wants to remove the lump under anasthetic.
Before we go down that route, has anyone any ideas on what it might be?
Iain
Click to expand...
Picture would be good, how old's the pooch?

Tick bite - if it fell off normally - small, maybe raised area. Could be quite itchy so the dog may have made it worse.
Tick bite - if you pulled it and left the head - small raised area, same as a bit of thorn, which will slowly resolve. Could be quite itchy so the dog may have made it worse.
 
Thanks for the quick reply.
Wound is circular and about 2cm across. I'll try to get a pic of it when we change the dressing later today.
Dogs 3 1/2 years old.
Iain
 
I am convinced I lost a dog to Lyme, he had a tick well swollen on his ear flap, it was removed properly, (very easily,I think it was about to drop off anyway), the dog went downhill over a few weeks ... he was like a zombie with arthritis.
 
finnbear270 said:
I am convinced I lost a dog to Lyme, he had a tick well swollen on his ear flap, it was removed properly, (very easily,I think it was about to drop off anyway), the dog went downhill over a few weeks ... he was like a zombie with arthritis.
Click to expand...
It's an area where more data is needed. Current opinion is that the variety of Borrelia that causes disease in dogs is very rare in UK/Europe.
 
finnbear270 said:
I am convinced I lost a dog to Lyme, he had a tick well swollen on his ear flap, it was removed properly, (very easily,I think it was about to drop off anyway), the dog went downhill over a few weeks ... he was like a zombie with arthritis.
Click to expand...
I have had two dogs affected with lymes disease- Patterdale terrier 18 months old died from it - blood tests confirmed lymes - few years later GWP had it - I removed tick at base of spine . Bit later bullseye appeared at bite location- 6 weeks of antibiotics, saved her but lost a bit of use in rear legs . Also effected her eyesight and jaw muscles ,
 
I am not saying it is , has there any reported cases off Alabama foot rot in the area- it is very rare and I would be surprised if it was that.
 
Thanks for the picture. Three scenarios I feel
1. This is a healing wound but has been licked into a lump of granulation tissue which is now big enough to stop the skin cells growing over it properly and could take ages to heal, honey dressings may help.
2. This is a histiocytoma, a benign skin tumour, which will resolve within a week or two. They are not uncommon on the legs of young dogs.
3. This is a mast cell tumour, which is more of a problem, as they vary from benign to malignant and only a full biopsy will tell you which it is.

I'd be taking a fine-needle biopsy and getting the lab to have a look at it (which may have already been done). This can mostly be done without sedation, but whippets are not known for bravery... This small sample of cells should distinguish the three scenarios above. Obviously I'm looking at a 2D image, so your vet will be best placed to decide. It's not an easy place for surgery and you are likely to have a slow healing process due to the lack of spare skin. I'd personally be tempted to do the fine-needle again, or a surface smear and see if you can get a diagnosis.

This could disappear within a week. Or you could, I'm afraid, be in for a long recovery

Good luck
 
Many, many thanks for your response Buchan. It's greatly appreciated.

SWMBO informs me that a surface smear was carried out early on, but nothing definitive was found which is why the vet suggested going for the surgery option and we've already been warned about the long recovery. We'll definately start with the honey dressings as a matter of course.... anything to try and help the healing process.
He's booked in for next Tuesday and I'll have a chat with the vet beforehand about your possible scenarios if that's OK with you.

Once again, my grateful thanks for your input. I'll keep this thread updated on progress and/or findings.

Iain
 
Brought the dog back from the vet last night. He knows that he's got the upper hand at the moment judging by the 'brave little soldier' act that he's displaying - limping (obviously) but really putting it on thick if he thinks he can get a treat out of it. Cheeky little bugger.
Biopsy should be back in a week or two, and I'm keen to find out exactly what it was.
The bill was a bit of an eye waterer though. £735.
He's back in on Friday to have the wound site examined and the dressing changed.

Iain
 
Jon P said:
I have had two dogs affected with lymes disease- Patterdale terrier 18 months old died from it - blood tests confirmed lymes - few years later GWP had it - I removed tick at base of spine . Bit later bullseye appeared at bite location- 6 weeks of antibiotics, saved her but lost a bit of use in rear legs . Also effected her eyesight and jaw muscles ,
Click to expand...
Sorry but Jon p that pointer in your profile looks megga 👍
 
Here's a pic of the dog's paw in it's current state. Suture's come out next week (all being well) and despite there not being much skin in the area, it looks like the vet has done a reasonable job.

20240816_154310.webp
 
My apologies for not keeping this thread updated - my bad 😳

Sutures came out just before we went on holiday and it's healed up very well. There's no obvious signs of any ongoing distress from it although he still lifts the paw when it comes to scrounging for treats (a case of 'look at me Dad - I'm poorly and I deserve a treat').

I asked, and paid for, a biopsy report on the removed lump only to be told 'we couldn't find anything' - and that was it. This irritates me somewhat as it would be nice to know what it was that caused the lump in the first place.

The main thing is, he's back up and running (metaphoricaly).

Iain
 
Catweasel said:
My apologies for not keeping this thread updated - my bad 😳

Sutures came out just before we went on holiday and it's healed up very well. There's no obvious signs of any ongoing distress from it although he still lifts the paw when it comes to scrounging for treats (a case of 'look at me Dad - I'm poorly and I deserve a treat').

I asked, and paid for, a biopsy report on the removed lump only to be told 'we couldn't find anything' - and that was it. This irritates me somewhat as it would be nice to know what it was that caused the lump in the first place.

The main thing is, he's back up and running (metaphoricaly).

Iain
Click to expand...
Good news in the end 😊👍
 
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