Bone Inflammation (Panosteitis) in Dogs

A dog with bone inflammation will present with acute lameness brought on suddenly. The lameness can range anywhere from mild to severe. As is the case with any lameness in your pet, do not delay in making an appointment with your veterinarian, in order to relieve your pet of pain, and to rule out any underlying factors that may be in place.

• Fever
• Pain upon palpation of limb
• Weight loss
• Poor appetite
• Lethargy
• Resistance to exercise

Types

The disease is also known as juvenile osteomyelitis (inflammation of bone), enostosis (bone lesion), eosinophilic (inflammatory) panosteitis, and canine panosteitis.

Studies show there are varying causes for bone inflammation. The lameness that your dog can exhibit can be caused by the following. 

• Increasing pressure inside of the bone
• Stimulation of pain receptors in the soft tissue lining of the diseased bone
• Stress 
• Lesions
• Autoimmune components 
• Rapid growth
• High-protein, high-calcium diet
• Infection
• Change in bone density
• Males are more prone
• German Shepherds, Scottish Terriers, Great Danes, St. Bernards, Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers, German Shorthaired Pointers, Irish Setters, Airedales, Samoyed, Doberman Pinschers, Miniature Schnauzers, and Basset Hounds are genetically predisposed.

The veterinarian will take a medical history survey of your beloved pet when you arrive at the clinic. She will ask about his physical activity as of late and whether he shows any limitations. Panosteitis could be suspected if your dog exhibits pain when pressure is applied to the limb. 

The diagnosis could be reached after radiographs are done on the limbs, which typically will show an increase in the density of the affected bones. The radiographs might not show  evidence of the condition for up to ten days after lameness begins so repeat x-rays could be needed 2 weeks later to definitively confirm the diagnosis of panosteitis.The imaging results can look different from week to week as the episodes of lameness come and go. Radiographs are important as they can also rule out other conditions such as bone disease. Other disease processes like hip dysplasia and bursitis can accompany bone inflammation.