Nonweightbearing lameness secondary to synovial sarcoma in a young dog
Bellah, J.R.; Patton, C.S.
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 188(7): 730-732
1986
ISSN/ISBN: 0003-1488 PMID: 3009371 Document Number: 276824
Synovial sarcoma was diagnosed in the right carpus of a mixed-breed dog aged 2.5 years. The dog had developed a right forelimb lameness before one year of age. The lameness was progressive for nearly 2 years, resulting in severe disuse atrophy of the right forelimb musculature and pronounced osteopenia. A definitive diagnosis was not made until the dog was referred after 2 years of conservative treatment was ineffectual. Right forelimb amputation was done and the dog survived an additional 15 months. The protracted clinical course before definitive diagnosis underscores the need for aggressive pursuit of a diagnosis when conservative treatment of a lameness is not efficacious.