If a dog gets panostitis, it means that the tissue of its bones becomes inflamed. The bones of the elbow and upper arm are particularly affected. However, inflammation of the tissue in the shins and thigh bones can also occur. This is of course extremely painful for affected quadrupeds.
We explain below why panosteitis occurs and what treatment measures can be taken. We also give you tips on how to reduce the likelihood of inflammation of the bone tissue in your four-legged companion.
Panosteitis usually occurs in young dogs between 5 and 18 months of age. Exactly why dogs get panosteitis has not yet been conclusively clarified.
However, it is believed that excessively rapid growth plays a role in the development of the inflammatory disease. Accordingly, medium-sized to large breeds of dogs are most likely affected. Panosteitis is particularly common in German Shepherds. In addition, males are generally more susceptible than females.
The inflammation of the bone tissue causes very severe pain in affected dogs. A typical symptom that can indicate panosteitis is lameness. Usually, only one of the dog's front legs is affected at first. However, panosteitis and the associated lameness may spread to the animal's other legs over time.
If you observe lameness in your dog or think that the animal is suffering from pain, it should probably go without saying that a timely visit to the vet is essential.
The veterinarian will examine your quadruped and palpate the affected leg. In the case of panosteitis, the dog will be sensitive to pain during palpation. Following the external examination, the veterinarian will need to x-ray your dog to visualise the changes in the affected bones that are typical of panosteitis.
Once the vet has diagnosed your dog with panosteitis, the next step is to relieve the symptoms caused by the disease. Painkillers and anti-inflammatory preparations are usually used for this purpose. If necessary, the vet may also recommend treatment with prednisolone for your dog. In this case, of course, the benefits and risks of the glucocorticoid must be carefully weighed against each other.
Normally, panosteitis in dogs heals completely within a few weeks. In individual cases, however, the symptoms may persist for several months.
To support healing, it is important to take care to avoid physical exertion temporarily. Therefore, keep your dog on a leash for the next few weeks and make sure that he does not run around too wildly. In this way, you will support the healing of the panosteitis and prevent the inflammation from being unnecessarily prolonged.
Although the exact causes of panosteitis are not yet known, there are a few things you can do as an owner to significantly reduce the likelihood of your four-legged friend developing bone inflammation.
Especially with larger dog breeds, it is very important in this context to avoid too-rapid growth. Therefore, make sure that you do not give your growing four-legged friend too much food. Large dog breeds should be fed high-quality puppy food up to the age of six months.
After that, switching to dog food for adult animals is the right choice. This is because it contains fewer fats and proteins so that the four-legged friends can grow out slowly. This not only reduces the risk of panosteitis but also helps to prevent damage to the joints. It also helps to prevent damage to your dog's joints and tendons.
You should also refrain from exposing your young four-legged friend to excessive physical stress. This can also contribute to the development of panosteitis and promote the development of other joint problems.
For large growing dogs, it makes sense to provide the joints with additional nutrients. For this purpose, we recommend a food supplement with Bellfor Joints and Bones.
The natural preparation contains the innovative active ingredient complex Ovopet. This is made from the eggshell membrane of chicken eggs and provides your four-legged friend with more than 500 different nutrients, such as collagen, hyaluronic acid and glucosamine. Bellfor Joints and Bones is available either in the form of practical capsules or in the form of tasty dog treats without cereals.
Get to know Bellfor joints and bones.
As you can see, panosteitis in dogs is not something that owners can simply ignore. Although the inflammatory disease usually heals on its own within a few weeks, it is very important to contact a veterinarian promptly if symptoms occur because of the pain associated with it.
With professional treatment of the symptoms and a few weeks of rest, nothing stands in the way of your four-legged friend's complete recovery. To prevent panosteitis in larger breeds, it is also important to avoid too-rapid growth and overloading the musculoskeletal system.