One of my dogs was in perfect health in the evening and the next morning his right frontleg was swollen to twice the size with a huge lump on his elbow. He was limping badly with the leg at an odd angle from the body. I rushed him to the vet yesterday morning and during the drive the lump burst, letting out watery blood but no pus. He also had a temp of 104, lymphnodes were up as well. She cleaned the wound and we looked in vain for a bite or something similar which could have caused it.

He then got AB and Anti-Inflam injections and was sent home with lots of tabs of the same. And of course crate rest. At 8 in the evening the leg was almost down to normal size and today he is walking like nothing happened. Vet is of the opinion that the infection came from inside the joint but the rapid development is a puzzle or what caused it. Bloods wont be back for days because of Easter weekend. I have to take him back to vet on Tuesday.

He is a very soft boy and had he been in any discomfort I would have known..

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs466.ash1/25566_110078255682978_100000424117521_167245_2457426_n.jpg

Oh poor man :(

Is it perhaps bursitis or a hygroma? Many years ago one of my dogs developed a bursitis - his leg was slightly swollen with a large soft lump on his elbow. Drainage produced watery blood also.

Hi Colliecrew, did that develop very fast as well?

Yes, very fast! Went to bed and all was fine - got up and he was limping. Checked him over and was horrified to find a lump - you always think it's something awful. Recovery was rapid after treatment and didn't recur

Funnily enough, my Dad developed a bursitis in his elbow last year. He actually passed out. It turned out that he had septic bursitis. Again, rapid recovery with IV antibiotics. I wonder if the high temp could have been a sign of septic bursitis?

Thank you for the fast answer. He is almost back to normal now but I keep him on strict crate rest with 5 minute leash walks and of course I keep giving him the tabs. I will mention it to the vet, thank you!!