elbow hygroma

Question
Patti- any experience in this problem?:  
My 6 mo old lab has a golf ball sized hygroma, not causing any pain. 2 days ago the vet
drained it. Vet said to keep it wrapped for 30 days. The full leg wrap lasted less than 24
hours. I have tried unsuccessfully to wrap the elbow area- impossible to keep from
slipping without cutting off circulation.  At this point I have even removed the E collar
and he is leaving the area alone.  Besides trying to get him to lie down on carpet instead
of tile, what else can I do to help it heal?


Answer
Hi Karen,

If your vet said keep it wrapped for 30 days, that's exactly what you need to do. Contact your vet's office and have them apply a new bandage, if you can't.

A pressure wrap (such as Vetrap) should be padded with the type of the cotton rolls used beneath casts and splints. When using Vetrap, the circulation will be compromised if the material is stretched and the wrinkles are no longer visible.

Bandaging extremities generally requires the use of "stirrups". These 2 long strips of bandaging tape which are applied to either side of the leg (before adding padding and gauze). Several inches of the tape are later folded back over the finished bandage to keep it from slipping.

You can buy Vetrap at larger pet stores, through your veterinarian, and online.
Read about this product here:
http://www.piehtoolco.com/en-us/dept_1227.html

I can't imagine that your dog isn't licking the area, now that the E-collar has been removed. I know it's awkward, but it an effective way of preventing a dog from undoing all that expensive vet care.

Elbow hygroma (particularly if bilateral) results from the repeated trauma of lying on hard surfaces. So, it's important that your dog lay on a padded surface.

Best of luck,
Patti