Puzzling Boxer Stifle Rads

Re: Puzzling Boxer Stifle Rads

Colin Dickson — Wed, 10 Dec 2014 22:29:34 GMT

Thanks for the reply Malcolm.

Not fully convinced there is not something more systemic going on just yet. He is BCS2 and haematology revealed a mild anaemia and neutropenia.

I'm repeating the haematology to see if this is persistent and have arranged an abdominal u/s scan.

If these all come back clear then I think as you suggested we'll look at surgery to improve lameness associated with the boney lesions.

Thanks again,

Re: Puzzling Boxer Stifle Rads

Malcolm Ness — Sat, 06 Dec 2014 10:00:50 GMT

Sorry, I missed this one earlier.

I am not convinced that these lesions (hips vs stifles) are necessarily part of the same pathology.

The lesions near the hip look like calcinosis circumscripta, but they might be discreet calcifications post-trauma or with another cause. Calcinosis cutis usually develops late in Cushings and it is rarely bilaterally symmetrical as here - these lesion appear to be under, rather than in the skin so I would put Cushings as less likely here. They don't look particularly sinister to me but if there was any additional clinically based cause for concern, I would look to collecting a biopsy.

The distal femurs have an odd shape - they are bilaterally similar and I suspect an earlier developmental anomaly causing the deformity which has produced the lateral patellar luxation. The rest of the bony change is most likely (but not absolutely certainly) reactive change related to the patellar luxation and the related mechanical disruptions. There is some low grade synovitis/effusion that is consistent with the patellar laxations.

Once you are happy that the dog is free of systemic disease, you can consider surgery to improve the tracking of the patella.

Re: Puzzling Boxer Stifle Rads

Colin Dickson — Thu, 04 Dec 2014 13:52:30 GMT

He doesn't look like your typical cushingoid dog and no other c/s suggestive of this but will certainly bear it in mind. We're waiting on biochemistry results to check calcium levels and I'll ask the O to quantify water intake. Bone density looks normal and there is an effusion in the right stifle, which is the one with the luxated patella as a result of this new bone. Thanks for the suggestions, we're all a little puzzled here!

Re: Puzzling Boxer Stifle Rads

Thomas Johnson — Thu, 04 Dec 2014 08:50:45 GMT

Can dogs get bone lesions from hypervitaminosis A?

Re: Puzzling Boxer Stifle Rads

james herriot lied — Wed, 03 Dec 2014 22:45:04 GMT

Looking at these on a tiny screen, so may just be my imagination filling in patterns - but there's an effusion on the bottom one, yes?

Have you thought about testing this dog for Cushing's, given the early knee pathology and possible calcinosis cutis? Again, I'm not seeing the contrast well, but are there any concerns about bone density?