Pano in Dogs - Everything You Need to Know
Pano in Dogs - Everything You Need to Know
Diagnosis
Signs & Symptoms
Treatment Options
Flexpet for Pano
What is Pano?
Breeds Most Affected by Pano:
It seems that some breeds are more susceptible to pano. Dogs that appear to be predisposed to the condition are large and giant breeds such as:- German Shepherds
- Great Danes
- Dobermans
- Golden Retrievers
- Laboradors
- Basset Hounds
- Rottweilers
Signs and Symptoms of Pano
Once an episode of pano has subsided, it usually returns about thirty days later. The inflammation may be in the same leg as before, or it may move around to a different leg.
Other symptoms may also accompany the onset of pano, such as fever, loss of appetite, or a high white blood cell count. Because these symptoms are often associated with several other types of illnesses that are not pano, it’s important to visit your veterinarian to make sure you are receiving the correct diagnosis.
If you suspect pano is an issue for your dog, your veterinarian will take some x-rays (or in some cases, blood samples) to help confirm that the pain your dog is experiencing is not being caused by a more serious issue. There are some other conditions that are similar to pano that may lead to further ailments down the line.
HYPERTROPHIC OSTEODYSTROPHY
Another bone condition that seems to greatly affect young, large breed dogs is hypertrophic osteodystrophy. Since that term is such a mouthful to say, the condition is more commonly referred to as HOD amongst veterinarians. Like pano, HOD will cause pain in the legs of young pups. A difference with HOD, however, is it affects multiple legs at once, as opposed to the singular-leg effect of pano. HOD also tends to be a more painful condition than its counterpart. Though no specific breeds seem to be more susceptible to this disease than others, male dogs seem to be stricken with HOD more than females. This is true for most of the bone disorders that occur in large breeds. HOD will be diagnosed by your veterinarian in the same way that pano is diagnosed – through x-rays and blood tests. HOD is a more serious concern that pano, because it has the potential to permanently damage the growth plates if the swelling does not subside.OSTEOCHONDRITIS DISSECANS
A third bone condition that affects young dogs is osteochondritis dissecans, or OCD. The OCD your pet might be experiencing is, of course, very different from the kind of OCD you usually hear about in humans. OCD doesn’t share all of the same symptoms of pano and HOD, but it is worth mentioning this disease to help articulate the differences between it and the others. OCD is a disease that specifically affects the cartilage in a young dog’s joints. Under normal circumstances, cartilage will attach to the bone. In a dog with OCD, however, the cartilage separates and begins to dry out. Eventually, pieces of cartilage will chip off and begin to hover around the joint, causing discomfort. Symptoms of OCD usually become present in a puppy aged between four and ten months. As with pano and HOD, lameness or limping will occur. But unlike the other two conditions, OCD can be found in a dog’s shoulders. Depending on the severity of the case, surgery may be required to remove the chipped pieces that are causing your dog pain. If you and your veterinarian determine that your dog has pano, you’ll be able to choose the treatment you’re most comfortable with from a number of different options. Treatment for Dogs with Pano
There are also many different kinds of medications you could use to help alleviate pain. If you’re looking for something a little more natural, Flexpet is an excellent solution to help keep your dog pain free. Flexpet offers an all-natural alternative to other medications that works hard to get to the root of the pain problem.
In addition to helping relieve pain, Flexpet helps your forever friend in other ways. Its active ingredients work to lubricate your dog’s joints, as well as help rebuild joints and cartilage. The inclusion of bromelain in Flexpet also makes sure your dog is digesting the supplement properly, and that the healing aspects are being properly retained.
