Case Story: The case of a lame Greyhound
***Surgical images included in story***
Gracie, the 9-year-old greyhound, came to see me in June for a worsening lameness affecting her left forelimb.
She had been sore for a few months but had progressed to be non-weight bearing when standing and had a marked head bob when walking and trotting.
Given her age, it was suspected that she had some arthritis but on examination it turned out her pain could be isolated to her digit, and we found a corn there!
Corns are a relatively common but underdiagnosed condition found mostly, but not exclusively, in greyhounds. 80% are found in the central two digits of the forelimb paws. The traditional treatment was to hull them out, which offered temporary relief from the pain associated with them, but sadly lead to recurrence. This is because hulling doesn’t combat the underlying cause of the corn in the first place, which is due to a weight bearing issue in the affected digit. A new technique has been developed, which has transformed the management of this condition, and we are very fortunate to have been able to offer this to Gracie! The operation serves to remove a portion of the superficial digital flexor tendon, thereby relieving the digital pad affected from the pressure placed on it.
The result leaves the digit looking a little flatter than its neighbours but a lot more comfortable! Gracie needed some rest post-operatively and a bandage, but this could be removed after a week. She is back to her best now and is very grateful to her mum for bringing her to see us!
