Panosteitis

The Panosteitis is an inflammation of the bone tissue of unknown cause. It occurs in growing dogs on medium and großwüchsiger breeds and heals spontaneously.

Occurrence

The disease is relatively common, although accurate data on incidence are not available. German Shepherds are the most affected. The Panosteitis can be observed especially in the age of 5-18 months. , In individual cases already 2 months or at an age of 5 years Males are more frequently affected than females.

Clinic

The disease is very painful and is usually associated with lameness. It shows mostly first at one of the front limbs, but can also " skip " on the other legs. Case of severe disease General disorders may as fever, fatigue, loss of appetite and weight loss may occur.

On clinical examination, the bone shaft ( diaphysis ) shows the affected bones at palpation ( palpation ) sensitive to pain, most commonly the yard.

Radiographs show shadows of the medullary cavity. In the early phase of the trabeculae ( trabeculae ) are more drawn or washed out, arise occasionally spot-like shading. In the middle phase of the disease is primarily a sclerotherapy foramen nutricium ( the opening to which the blood vessel passes through the bone shell ), and finally the entire bone shaft. The substantia compacta is wider and also the periosteum may be thickened and more shaded. In the late phase, the medullary cavity appear largely normal.

The Panosteitis may be associated with other diseases of the growing skeleton ( elbow dysplasia, hip dysplasia ).

Pathology

Histologically shows a degeneration of the adipocytes in the bone marrow with subsequent proliferation of the stromal cells in the marrow spaces. It leads to the formation of osteoid and endosteal new bone is formed.

Therapy

A causal therapy is not possible, and - since the Panosteitis heals by itself - not even necessary. For pain reduction, especially nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs such as carprofen, phenylbutazone, piroxicam, meloxicam or are used. Also, treatment with prednisolone is possible under careful harm-benefit assessment.

The spontaneous healing usually takes place in a matter of weeks, in rare cases, a Panosteitis persist for months.