GSD with paw fibrosis

RE: GSD with paw fibrosis

Kirsten Frederiksen — Tue, 12 Jun 2018 21:03:33 GMT

I'll give the boots a try and try some steroids.

Thanks to all of you for your suggestions and input.

RE: GSD with paw fibrosis

Beats — Mon, 11 Jun 2018 21:40:09 GMT

[quote user="Kirsten Frederiksen"]I agree. But the question remains if there is any chance of reducing the remaining fibrosis in one footpad by treating with prednisolon?[/quote]

I don't know (others might).

You could try.

If the issue is mechanical, then trying different boots etc might be worth a go.

I quite like this style:

https://medivetproducts.com/protective-boots/,

maybe one of these (with the boot liner also as well as boot and "sciatic-sling"): https://www.orthopets.co.uk/mobility-solutions/sciatic-sling/

There's that stuff that you can put on the footpad also to give some protection - I forget the name (probably because I didn't rate it)

RE: GSD with paw fibrosis

Kirsten Frederiksen — Mon, 11 Jun 2018 21:21:41 GMT

[quote user="Beats"]

I would wonder if abnormal ground contact is the cause of the pad changes noted rather than a result.

DISORDER OF THE FOOTPADS IN GERMAN SHEPHERD DOGS The cause of this condition is unknown. Signs occur early in life, and multiple dogs of a litter are typically affected. The condition shows some clinical and histologic features of the familial vas- culopathy of German shepherd dogs, suggesting some common etiopathogenesis. CLINICAL FEATURES German shepherd dogs of either sex are affected at a few weeks to a few months of age. 1,270,271 One case in an 11-month-old dog has been reported. 270 Usually, multiple dogs in the litter are involved. The pads of all feet are softer than normal. Swelling, depigmentation, ulceration, and crusting can develop on one or more pads ( Fig. 12-48 ), especially the metacarpal and metatarsal pads. When ulcerated, the pads are tender and can cause lame- ness. The dogs are otherwise healthy

APA (American Psychological Assoc.)
Miller, W. H., Muller, G. H., Scott, D. W., Griffin, C. E., & Campbell, K. L. (2013). Muller and Kirk's Small Animal Dermatology. St. Louis, Mo: Saunders.

MLA (Modern Language Assoc.)
Miller, William H., et al. Muller and Kirk's Small Animal Dermatology. vol. 7th ed. William H. Miller Jr., Craig E. Griffin, Karen L. Campbell, Saunders, 2013. EBSCOhost.

[/quote]

I agree. But the question remains if there is any chance of reducing the remaining fibrosis in one footpad by treating with prednisolon?

RE: GSD with paw fibrosis

Beats — Sun, 10 Jun 2018 11:01:58 GMT

"Disorder of the footpads in German Shepherd Dogs" is a recognised condition on p604 of Ch12 in Muller and Kirk, 7th edition.

Thought worth mentioning, but don't think your case sounds typical of this.

I would wonder if abnormal ground contact is the cause of the pad changes noted rather than a result. Mike Guilliard gave a lovely couple of lectures at BSAVA (couple of years ago) about pedal lameness and I thought described this really well.

RE: GSD with paw fibrosis

Kirsten Frederiksen — Sat, 09 Jun 2018 19:09:38 GMT

[quote user="Andrew Henfrey"]Did you get histology of the toe after amputation? There might have been progression from the time of biopsies which may give a clearer/alternative diagnosis e.g. calcinosis circumscripta.[/quote]

Sadly I did not...

RE: GSD with paw fibrosis

Kirsten Frederiksen — Sat, 09 Jun 2018 19:07:44 GMT

Steroids it will be then. Do you think there might be any benefit of adding ciclosporine?

RE: GSD with paw fibrosis

Andrew Henfrey — Sat, 09 Jun 2018 09:43:31 GMT

Did you get histology of the toe after amputation? There might have been progression from the time of biopsies which may give a clearer/alternative diagnosis e.g. calcinosis circumscripta.

RE: GSD with paw fibrosis

David Mills — Sat, 09 Jun 2018 01:20:21 GMT

You have inflammation, whatever the cause, and it sounds like going on for weeks if not months.

Gsd, thinking some kind of auto immune or immunological basis.

Your treatment so far appears to have not worked. Try steroids, please don't be hung up on worsening an out-there viral aetiology.

RE: GSD with paw fibrosis

Kirsten Frederiksen — Thu, 07 Jun 2018 21:32:43 GMT

[quote user="Liz Barton"]

Unsure what you mean about the dog not using the leg properly, but still being lame... If it's a young dog and still growing I'd be worried about potential longer term growth consequences.

[/quote]

He doesn't put the weight evenly on the amputated paw, seemingly to spare the large pad, where there is some fibrosis, hyperkeratosis and is painful to palpate. This results in a carpus valgus. I haven't taken any x-rays this time around but as it is possible to correct when the dog is standing on soft surface I don't suspect bone deformation.

RE: GSD with paw fibrosis

Kirsten Frederiksen — Thu, 07 Jun 2018 21:25:24 GMT

The dog was 5 months old when the symptoms started, they progressed to a rock hard pad over the next 3 months ending with the amputation. X-ray was taken when I took the biopsies with no changes.

He has had the regular vaccinations against distemper so that hadn't crossed my mind. I left the histopath. reply at the clinic but will dig those out tomorrow.

RE: GSD with paw fibrosis

Liz Barton — Wed, 06 Jun 2018 22:17:22 GMT

[quote user="Joyce Whitehead"]I’m old enough to remember dogs who recovered from it but were left with hyperkeratotic “hard”pads. [/quote]

Joyce that did cross my mind too, but I thought hard pad was a symptom in older dogs? Steroids would be a poor choice if viral aetiology.

RE: GSD with paw fibrosis

Joyce Whitehead — Wed, 06 Jun 2018 22:15:44 GMT

Another welcome Kirsten. No chance this pup was exposed to distemper virus? I’m old enough to remember dogs who recovered from it but were left with hyperkeratotic “hard”pads. Of course no treatment if it is unfortunatel.

RE: GSD with paw fibrosis

Liz Barton — Wed, 06 Jun 2018 22:02:22 GMT

Hi Kirsten!

Welcome to the forums - hope we can help you with the troublesome case. Just a couple of questions first:

How old is the puppy? Did you X-ray the digit - was there any bony change? If not, it's probably worth an X-ray to make sure no underlying osteomyelitis.

Unsure what you mean about the dog not using the leg properly, but still being lame... If it's a young dog and still growing I'd be worried about potential longer term growth consequences. I would say pododermatitis with fibrosis sounds more like a description than a diagnosis, but will wait for someone more dermatology-savvy to give their opinion on that one!