PANOSTEITIS

This is a disease of youth, usually appearing between 5 and 11 months. Although German Shepherds are the most common target, Great Danes are frequently affected. It usually shows up as lameness in a foreleg and can affect each leg in it's turn. It's guaranteed it will show up the day before the show! It is an inflammation within the long bones causing varying degrees of pain. This can range from a mild, intermittant lameness to a dog that refuses to move or eat, the latter being uncommon. It is not known what causes pan. I have had no experience with it since I've begun to keep my puppies lean and kept the protein levels low. I feel that fast growth is an invitation to pan as well as other growth related diseases. Stress is suspected as is the possibility of a disease causing organism. Treatment consists mainly of tincture of time. Pan is self-limiting in most cases and usually disappears by the time the dog is a year or a year and a half old. Severe pain can be treated with an analgesic prescribed by your veterinarian. I've never restricted exercise as dogs that have this tend to be quiet when they're in pain.