Panosteitis or “Pano” is a bone disease that can affect young, large breed dogs.  It is characterized by inflammation near the growth plates in the bone, causing severe pain and leg lameness which can last anywhere from a month to 6 months.  The bones of the front leg are most often affected but It can affect the hind legs, front legs or both and the pain can shift from leg to leg.  This disease can occur in dogs from the age of 5 months to 2 years but it has also been found in dogs as old as 5 years. Typically, males are more affected than females.

What are the Symptoms?

Symptoms include a sudden, unexplained pain in the legs or pain when the legs are touched; lameness for no apparent reason;  lethargic and lack of appetite; vomiting; high fever

Panosteitis can sometimes be referred to as growing pains and wandering leg lameness.  This lameness can last from a day to a few weeks and is characterized through switching leg lameness; one leg will heal, after that another may be affected.

This disease is more common in German Shepherd dogs or dogs which are mixed with this breed. Nevertheless, many other factors can be associated with pano: diet, viral illnesses, autoimmune problems, hyperestrogen, as well as vascular problems.

How is it diagnosed?

Diagnosis for Panosteitis is done through xray where it will show an increased density in the cavity of the bone, often near where the vessels enter the bone.  Pano can sometimes be difficult to diagnose because the evidence may not be present until 7-10 days after the leg lameness has occurred.

Treatment

Panosteitis is treated with pain medication, exercise restriction and diet.  Medication may consist of an anti-inflammatory, non-steroidal drug or NSAID.  Some vets may recommend supplementing dogs with glucosamine and vitamin C or an anti-inflammatory drug to keep the dog comfortable.

There are no long-term effects with panoseitis and your dog will return to a playful pup when the pain subsides.  Never assume any symptoms are considered Pano and always check with your veterinarian if you have any questions.

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Responsible dog owners know that they need to look at the product ingredients when purchasing and feeding their awesome pets.   Selecting healthy dog food, can sometimes be a very big challenge.   Have you tried reading some of the labels?  Many of the ingredients have long names that look like they came straight out of a medical journal.  The problem of choosing the right food for your dog can be mind-boggling.   Even so, you owe it to your animal to find the most nutritious and wholesome foods.

The the best choice foods for your pet are those which are considered 100 percent human grade. Healthy options exist within this category for most dogs including puppy, adult and senior and throughout a variety of food versions, including dry, canned and treats.  There are also products that are made specifically for dogs with special medical conditions,  such as joint, kidney, intestinal and arthritis.

Like humans, dogs need much of the same nutrition including vitamins and minerals.   It stands to reason then, that you should look for food with much of the same nourishing qualities as you would in your own food (notwithstanding, of course, the occasional junk food that you might indulge in).   Some experts believe that one good standard of measure, is to look for ingredients based on the ratio of 40 percent meat, 50 percent vegetables, and 10 percent grains.

Many dog owners believe that some of the illnesses and that plague many dogs come from the kinds of foods they eat, just as is the case with humans.  By avoiding the entrapment of chemically altered and processed manufactured foods, dog owners believe they can prevent at least some of the medical issues that would seek to interfere with their best friend’s enjoyment of life.  Gourmet dog food that is healthy, wholesome, and nutritious for your pet can, literally, be a life saver.  A variety of specialty dog food and recipes that can be prepared by you are available to satisfy healthy dog food requirements.

The bulk of commercial dog food is created with low-quality fillers that enables the manufacturer to get more products for the dollar, but that doesn’t necessarily provide the best ingredients for your dog’s food.  To give your dog the best quality of life, ensure that you make the best choices for foods that are healthy for your pet.  Your dog will love you all the more for it.

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Dog arthritis generally occurs to large dog breeds and senior dogs. It is a canine disease characterized by a pain in the joints. In cases where your dog has arthritis, you will observe a drastic change in his physical activities. He will be reluctant and fatigued to move, jump or play and is lagging behind on walks. Your dog will also yelp in pain when touched.

If your own dog is suffering because of arthritis or hip dysplasia, there are several treatment options that you can do to address the problem, which range from dietary supplements to dog pain relief medications.  Whatever method you choose,  please make sure to consult your veterinarian first to determine which treatment method is best for your dog.

Most dogs with arthritis that experience intense pain usually require anti-inflammatory medications such as aspirin and carprofen to address the pain. These types of drugs are effective at reducing pain and inflammation and are used during the first few days of beginning a glucosamine regimen. Though these medicines don’t have the ability to remodel the joint, they can lessen the inflammation at the nerve endings so that the dog remains comfortable.

Certain medications such as steroids prednisone, dexamethasone, and anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed to minimize swelling of joints. There are also nutritional supplements that you can give to your k9 to boost his immune system against complications related to arthritis.

Besides the medical treatment, dogs with arthritis should also be under careful and intensive veterinary care, as well as proper food intake. Changing your dog’s diet also is also important in dog arthritis treatment. It is very essential that your dog maintains the correct weight for his age and always eats well-balanced diet with the necessary nutrients. You must control the weight of your dog by limiting snacks and foods that can worsen the inflammation of joints. Your dog must also gets regular exercise to enhance his strength and metabolism.

Please keep in mind that excess weight or fat in your dog causes more stress in the joints and can make matters worse for dogs with arthrithis.  Among large dog breeds, periods of swift growth can result in the formation of dysplasias if the causal genetic makeup is present. In this case, it is a must to to pay attention to your dog’s diet to avoid rapid weight gain.

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So, your family pet is suffering and you can’t find the right dog pain medication to help soothe their pain?

As dogs age, many have considerable difficulty with joint pain. This is commonly diagnosed as arthritis. Arthritis is the degeneration and inflammation of a joint.

You may be noticing your dog has little energy now, can’t keep up on walks anymore, and seems overwhelmed by the staircase nowadays. Have you noticed swelling or heat in your dog’s joints, is your dog licking at these areas, and do you see stiffness in his or her movements?

Then it’s time to do something about it, they need your help! The market has plenty of options for your dog’s joint pain. Here are the types of dog pain medication and treatment options available:

PetBounce – All Natural Drops

This product has taken all of the concerns of what WAS available on the market and has created a safe and effective solution. These are drops that are given orally to your dog without the dangerous side effects of chemical drugs. No more forcing pills down your pet. Can you imagine the ease of a couple quick drops?

Weight Loss

Weight loss is beneficial to most all joint pain sufferers (especially since larger dog breeds commonly deal with joint issues). However, if your dog is having trouble with day-to-day activities and is in pain, then this is not the best step to employ just yet.

Pain Relieving Creams and Gels

There are pain relieving gels and creams on the market for joint pain suffering dogs. This type of dog pain medication can be difficult to apply because of your dog’s hair/coat. Also, another downfall is that it may be licked away immediately by your dog. This can cause one of two things or even both. One is that the dog pain medication will no longer relieve any pain because it’s not in place to do its job anymore. And two, this could be very dangerous to your dog due to the ingredients that may be hazardous to ingest.

Pill Form Medication

There are two types of pill-form dog pain medications that people use on their pets that are “pet prescribed” and “over-the-counter human medications”. Sadly, there is not much to contrast between the two types. Both have serious side effects and most commonly cause stomach ulcers in pets. This would be one of the worst possibilities when you’re trying to give your dog his or her quality of life back, nobody would ever want to cause more injury.

Senior Pet Supplies

This is a coping mechanism, not a fix. Some of these products will allow for your dog to carry out certain activities with more assistance. But remember, it will not change the actual problem that your dog is suffering from.

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Fits of head shaking or scratching around the head are good indications of a dog ear infection.  If an animal is also whining, there is a good probability that the ears are hurting badly.

A foul odor emitting from the dog’s ears is another sign of an infectious condition that is probably caused by bacteria or possibly a yeast infection.  Some home remedies might work if the condition is not allowed to go for a long time before being treated.  In advanced cases, it is always best to see the vet.

Preventative medicine is always the best policy for these types of problems.  Practicing good hygiene and keeping the animal clean is a positive way to keep infections to a minimum.  The hair inside the ear should be clipped so it does not tickle and irritate the animal, leading to scratching.

When a dog gets into water, especially creek or river water, infections can set in if its ears are not washed with clean water and dried.  Even if a dog has not been in water, its ears should be periodically examined to be sure foreign objects haven’t gotten in that can cause damage or lead to infection.

A water and vinegar mixture will help with a dog ear infection; just mix apple cider or white vinegar in a spray bottle that can be misted directly into the ears.  Apply this every other day while the infection is present.  The spray is the best way to get the vinegar deep into the ear, but some dogs will take exception to it and it may be necessary to use a cloth applicator.

The healing benefits of vitamin E oil can aid a dog just as well as a human.  Use an eyedropper to drip two or three drops in each ear on a daily basis until the infection is gone.  After the drops are applied, massage the ear for several minutes to make sure the oil goes deep into the ear.

Similarly, garlic oil can be used by placing drops in the ears.  This is a natural antibiotic and it should soothe the ache somewhat.

A warm compress has soothing tendencies too.  Soak a cloth in warm water, wring out the excess, and then lay it over the ear opening.  Pull the ear over the cloth and gently massage so the water goes down into the ear.

Keep in mind that the dog will not care to have much done to its ears if they are hurting a lot.  Try to work with the animal and don’t force the issue, because this can cause a lack of trust and make it even harder to treat the problem.  Always be gently with massages and watch the reactions to be sure that the animal doesn’t get disturbed.

A dog ear infection can be traumatic to the animal because it can’t understand why it has the pain.  Any pain relief treatment that you do to the ears should be limited to the outer part.  Any intrusion deep into the ear might make the hurt worse and cause damage.

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