Panosteitis is a bone disease which generally occurs in the young dogs that belong to some of the larger breeds, such as German shepherds, great Danes, Doberman Pinschers, golden retrievers, Labrador retrievers, and basset hounds. It is the most common in German shepherds. Beyond being common in the younger members of large breeds, the cause of panosteitis is not really known, although some suspected causes are viruses, vascular problems, parasites, allergies, and changes in the dog’s hormones. Panosteitis is seen in males more than it is seen in females.
The problem itself generally affects the long bones in a dog’s body, namely the humerus and the femur, which make up the bones in the upper parts of the forelimbs and hindquarters. In some cases, it affects the lower part of the limbs as well. For the most part, dogs who get panosteitis are between the ages of six months and eighteen months, but sometimes older dogs get it as well.
So what should you do when your dog gets panosteitis? First of all, make sure that your vet sees your dog, because he will be the best person to diagnose the problem. Panosteitis basically causes your dog to be lame and this lameness, while more common in the forelimbs, can shift between legs. You will be able to see a very pronounced limp. Other signs of panosteitis include loss of appetite, fever, lethargy, and the atrophy of the muscles in the affected legs. Together or separately, these symptoms do not necessarily always point to panosteitis, which is why it is better to get your dog to the vet as soon as possible.
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