Great Dane leg swelling growing, not walking or eating. What to do?

With Axel I would be worried about swelling due to an abscess, fracture, or tumor if the muscle or bone. Hip dislocation can also cause a bump appearance but usually the bump is actually up above there the hip is located as it dislocates cranially most often. If he is not bearing weight then he is in significant pain and in my book this warrants a vet visit ASAP, including an emergency vet if he seems painful/unable to rest or relax at home. An X-ray of the leg will be needed to further evaluate what is going on.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This could be a benign or malignant growth. This could even be an abscess. This is often differentiated by a test called a fine needle aspirate (FNA) which is a pain free, inexpensive and easy procedure which in most cases will help reach a diagnosis. Sometimes a biopsy is needed for a definitive diagnosis. I recommend that you have her evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. I am really hoping for something benign. Good luck and have a good one!

I can see the swelling from the pictures you posted. It appears the swelling goes form the foot all the way to the knee. I see that you live in an area where snake bite is possible. I would check thoroughly for any punctures along the entire leg and see if Diamond is painful in any particular area. If not, other causes of swelling like this could include infection, allergic reaction, trauma, cancer, among others. Sometimes swelling in an entire limb can be caused by decreased lymphatic flow - this can be caused by damage to lymph nodes or a structure under the skin or inside the body that is impinging on the lymph flow. I have also seen swelling like this with a flare-up of a mast cell tumor elsewhere on the body. I agree with your vet; if the medications prescribed to not make a difference, additional diagnostics are warranted. They may include bloodwork, abdominal x-rays, tick testing, or sampling of any small masses found.

It could be Myles has strained or torn a ligament or muscle or he may have a problem with his back. Do not give him any more aspirin, it causes GI ulcers and bleeding in dogs. It's very concerning he is unable to stand or walk, and that tells me he is in a lot of pain. The best thing to do is take him into a vet now. The vet can diagnose what is causing his pain and can treat him. Best of luck.

This is very concerning. Bamboo likely has a lot of pain in that leg. Since she is a Great Dane there is a very large danger of her having osteosarcoma. Of course she could also just have sprained or hurt her leg, however I would definitely take her to your veterinarian tomorrow for an exam and x-rays. Refusing food and water is also a sign of great pain.

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Brody. Given his age and the fact that he's a giant breed dog (who typically do not live as long as other breeds of dogs), there is a chance this could be a malignant growth. It could also be a cyst, lipoma, or benign growth. Any suspicious lumps should be examined by the vet. The vet can perform a test called a fine needle aspirate on it. To do this, the vet sticks a small needle into the lump to get a sample of its cells, and examines the cells on a slide under a microscope. It's usually painless to the animal, and relatively quick to perform. Once the cause of the lump is diagnosed, the vet can discuss treatment options if needed. I would try to get into his vet to get this checked out. I hope this helps!

Hi and welcome to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I am sorry Dollar is unwell and hope to give you some direction for how he feels. There are multiple causes for leg swelling and lameness. These can range from injury to limb, tick borne disease, HOD (a disease where the bone "grows too fast"), injury to the soft tissue structures of the limb (ie tendons), wound on the limb, immune-mediated diseases or even an abnormality with the bone or cartilage. His panting could be from discomfort or pain. I am concerned that this is progressive. Unfortunately there are not any over the counter medications that can help without potentially causing damage to other parts of his body. As this has not resolved and is progressive your local veterinarian may be able to do a complete physical exam and localize the area of concern and recommend x-rays. Good luck with Dollar!