Disease Description: Panosteitis is a painful inflammation of the outer surface or shaft of one or more long bones of the legs. It is sometimes called "growing pains."

Inherit Mode: Unknown

Disease Symptom: Lameness will appear suddenly, for no apparentreason, and may shiftfrom limb to limb. In the early stages, your dog may experience lossof appetite, fever,lethargy and weight loss. Pain may be mild or severe. This disease generally resolves over time.During the episodes ofpain and lameness, your veterinarian may prescribe medication to helpalleviate the pain,and restricted exercise for your dog.

Disease Cause: The underlying cause of panosteitis is unknown, but genetics, stress, infection, metabolism, or an autoimmune component may be factors

Disease Diagnose: Your veterinarian will suspect panosteitis based onthe history oflameness which developed suddenly and was not caused by trauma, yourdog's age and size,and physical examination - the long bones of your dog's front or hindlimbs will be sorewhen examined. Your dog may appear to be lame on different legs atdifferent times,instead of the lameness being confined to a single limb - this iscalled "shiftinglameness." X-rays are necessary to rule out other diseases orinjuries, and toconfirm the diagnosis of panosteitis.

Treat Method: This disease is generally self-limiting; bouts oflameness usuallylast about 1 to 3 months and generally cease entirely by about 2 yearsof age. Treatmentconsists of drugs to alleviate pain and lameness, as well asrestrictions on your dog'sactivity.

Breeder Advice: Dogs affected by panosteitis should not be usedfor breeding, evenwhen the clinical signs of pain and lameness have gone away. Notenough is known about theinheritance of this condition to make breeding recommendations forclose relatives ofaffected dogs.

Disease Description Source: Link