Bone Inflammation (Panosteitis) in Dogs
Key takeaways
Panosteitis describes an inflammatory condition of the bones in fast-growing puppies.
- The underlying disease process is not fully understood, but there is a genetic component and the condition is most common in large breed dogs
- Symptoms include sudden onset lameness in one or more legs, with pain when the limbs are touched, lethargy and reluctance to exercise
- Diagnosis involves physical examination, blood work, and diagnostic imaging
- Panosteitis is a painful condition and most cases require pain relief and exercise restriction during flare-ups
- Long term prognosis is excellent, as panosteitis is a self-limiting condition that waxes and wanes between approximately 6-18 months old in affected dogs
- Ultimately, panosteitis resolves without intervention or long term consequences
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A closer look: Bone Inflammation (Panosteitis) in Dogs
Panosteitis is a painful condition that most commonly occurs in young, fast-growing, large breed dogs. Often, dogs have multiple episodes of symptoms due to the disease.
In the short term, panosteitis is a distressing condition, but responds well to symptomatic treatment and eventually resolves completely without long term complications.
Dogs with panosteitis require prompt veterinary attention to treat pain and rule out other conditions.
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Risk factors
Panosteitis is an episodic condition. Symptoms often resolve completely then recur. Recurrence may be in the same or a different leg with intervals of up to 8 months between episodes. Often, symptoms are first noticed in the front limbs.
Panosteitis usually occurs in young, fast-growing, large breed dogs. German shepherds have the highest breed predisposition.
Possible causes
The underlying mechanism of panosteitis is not fully understood. There is a suspected heritable component, and the condition is most commonly seen in large breed dogs, particularly German shepherds.
Testing and diagnosis
Diagnosis of panosteitis involves:
- Physical examination
- Bloodwork
- X-rays
- CT scan
- Bone biopsy to rule out other conditions
Steps to Recovery
Treatment involves symptomatic management of pain through:
- Exercise restriction
- Pain relief medications
- Anti-inflammatories
Panosteitis is a self-limiting condition and normally resolves by 18 months old.
Episodes of panosteitis normally last a few days to a few weeks, depending on severity. Pain normally resolves completely between episodes, but can recur anywhere from 1 week to 8 months later. Episodes normally stop completely around 18 months old. Most dogs respond rapidly to pain control medication during episodes, but treatment does not prevent future episodes from occurring.
Prevention
Prevention is challenging as the condition is not fully understood. There is a heritable component and dogs with panosteitis should not be bred.
Is Bone Inflammation (Panosteitis) in Dogs common?
Panosteitis is most common in young, fast-growing puppies.
Typical Treatment
- Exercise restriction
- Pain relief
- Anti-inflammatories
