Panosteitis

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Panosteitis is a common bone disease in dogs. It manifests with sudden, otherwise unexplained lameness sometimes shifting from leg to leg, usually between 5 and 14 months of age.<ref>Ettinger, Stephen J.;Feldman, Edward C. (1995). Textbook of Veterinary Internal Medicine, 4th ed., W.B. Saunders Company. ISBN 0-7216-6795-3.</ref> Fever, weight loss, anorexia, and lethargy can also be seen. The cause is unknown. Diagnosis is made by pain on palpation of the long bones of the limbs. The humerus is most commonly affected.<ref name=JAVMA> (2005) "What is your diagnosis?" (PDF). Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 226 (6): 872. Retrieved on 2006-08-19.</ref> Males are more commonly affected than females.<ref name=Lenehan>Biery, D.N.; Lenehan, T.M.; Van Sickle, D.C. (1985). Canine Panosteitis. Textbook of Small Animal Orthopaedics. Retrieved on 2006-08-19.</ref> X-rays may show an increased density in the medullary cavity of the affected bones. Pain medication can help to relieve the symptoms, and the lameness usually goes away eventually without additional treatment. Larger breeds, such as German Shepherd Dogs, are more prone to this problem.