Panosteitis and hypertrophic osteodystrophy (HOD) are painful bone diseases of young, fast-growing, mostly large and giant breed dogs. Both cause sudden lameness and both are usually self-limiting, but they differ in where they sit in the bone, how old the puppy is and how sick it looks. Getting the distinction right matters: panosteitis needs little more than pain relief, while severe HOD can make a puppy critically ill and, in Weimaraners, responds far better to corticosteroids than to NSAIDs.
Key facts
Developmental bone disorders: panosteitis and hypertrophic osteodystrophy at a glance- Species and system: dogs; musculoskeletal (developmental osteopathies of the long bones).
- Panosteitis: inflammation and new bone formation in the medullary cavity of long bones, centred on the diaphysis near the nutrient foramen; typically 5 to 18 months old; German Shepherd Dogs and males over-represented; shifting leg lameness with pain on deep palpation of the bone shaft.
- HOD (metaphyseal osteopathy): inflammation and necrosis in the metaphysis next to the physis; typically 2 to 8 months old; Weimaraners, Great Danes and Irish Setters at higher risk; fever, lethargy and warm, painful swelling of the distal radius and ulna on both sides.
- Cause: unknown for both. HOD looks like an autoinflammatory disease and often follows vaccination by days to weeks.
- Zoonotic/reportable: no.
What's inside
12 sections in the full guide- Key facts
- How the NAVLE tests this
- Cause and pathophysiology
- Clinical signs
- Diagnosis
- Differential diagnoses
- Treatment and management
- Prevention, control and public health
- Prognosis
- Quick review
- Test yourself
- References
The full guide also has 4 tables, 3 figures, 3 self-test questions and 18 references, available to NAVLE members.
Read the full study guide
The full guide is part of every NAVLE plan, with diagnosis and treatment tables, figures, a quick review and self-test questions. Start a free trial to try the question bank, or log in if you are already a member.