elbow hygroma

[sekhmetsat]

Vendetta has a big hygroma. we've been told to give him pillows and a heating pad. anybody else been through this? i had NEVER heard of this before.

[hokisteph5]

I hadn't either, but I searched the forums and found these threads for you:

Link 1
Link 2
Link 3
Link 4

[dogsbydoug]

Originally Posted by sekhmetsat

Vendetta has a big hygroma. we've been told to give him pillows and a heating pad. anybody else been through this? i had NEVER heard of this before.

We had a rescue foster with an elbow hygroma (details in the links provided).

It was aspirated twice -first time showed slightly cloudy fluid. Second time the fluid was brown/red colored and thick - consistency almost like honey. When aspirated the second time it was also noted the physical appearance was changing - seemed to be developing scar tissue - looked/felt like a head of cauliflower covered in fur

She was diagnosed with cancer when moved to another foster home in NH and the vet that had aspirated the hygroma here in CT was STUNNED at that diagnosis. She passed away in November 2006 at age 4 1/2.

I also know two Great Dane littermates that had hygromas successfully treated with surgery about 4 weeks ago, after rest and aspiration didn't help. They both now have 8 inch think foam beds, and are doing quite well post op.

Some vets will try less invasive treatment - aspirate and treatwith heat and soft bedding (REALLY soft!), some will recommend surgery.

I equate a hygroma to the ganglion cysts I had removed from my wrists- was told there is a 25% chance they'd come back after removal - and they did, twice...after 3 surgeries on each wrist I have not had any reoccurence in over 18 years.

[busbysix]

My boys mother, Roxy, was diagnosed about 6 months ago with an elbow hygroma. When the vet asirated it, the fluid was red/brown and very thick. A couple of months ago, thy noticed that it was growing rapidly, so they took her back to the vet to have it removed. It turned out to be an Hemangiopericytoma - a form of cancer. It is not going to kill her, but it has an extremely high rate of re-occurrence. I would suggest a second opinion - but that just may be me being extra careful because of what happened to Roxy.


Good luck!

Kelly