What to expect when caring for a dog with hypertrophic osteodystrophy?

There isn't a cure per say. The treatment is generally supportive. Since this is a very painful condition anti-inflammatories and painkillers such as carprofen (Rimadyl) is given. In addition, dogs are usually given a broad-spectrum antibiotic. Strict rest on a comfortable warm bed is recommended. Feeding a nutritious, highly palatable food will help to encourage some dogs to eat. In severe cases steroids may need to be given to control the pain.

There are many different pain management medications that are available in addition to NSAIDs like carprofen. My own dog has arthritis and we used a combination of four different medications to control his pain. Multimodal therapy can be very effective and safe. I would speak to your veterinarian about the addition of drugs like tramadol, gabapentin, amantadine, and various opioid medications if you feel that the carprofen is not doing the trick. You can also look into some more natural remedies like acupuncture, rehabilitative services, and massage therapy. Hope this helps and hope that Hosmer feels better soon!

Oh dear, poor Zack. HOD is a disease exclusive to growing, young dogs. Even though Zack had this condition as a puppy, it should not cause any lingering issues 10 years later. Instead, I would be more concerned about arthritis, soft tissue injuries, Lyme disease, or bone cancer as causing similar signs in an older dog. Zack should go to his vet for an exam and may need x-rays and blood tests to get to the bottom of this issue. I hope that all goes well!

It's possible he will need pain killers for the rest of his life indeed and those pain killers could give him an excellent quality of life, he could go back to normal as long as he is on them. i would recommend taking him to the vet ASAP in order to get it checked.

Hi and thank you for your question on Pet Coach! The short answer to your question is no, you need not be concerned. Panosteitis in dogs is a self limiting condition (it will eventually go away) and may spontaneously resolve. Because of this, it is hard to say when it will pass, but the episode should not last more than 3-4 weeks. If 4 weeks have passed and no improvement is seen, I would revisit with your veterinarian. It could be Jax has another bone disease causing the pain. I hope this helps!

There is no strict consensus on the best food for giant breed puppies. I suggest either large breed puppy or a Maintenance dog food that says it is formulated for all life stages. We do not recommend giving any supplements at this age. HOD is definitely a very painful and scary disease process, but not real common. I have only had 1 case in the last 10 years. Slow steady growth is the goal, Avoid rapid growth and over feeding. Best of luck and thank you for using Pet Coach.

It really depends on the cause of the swelling, but usually pain medication the route you would have to go. Generally for issues like this that are not treated surgically, we manage the pain and inflammation with long-term medication at the lowest effective dose. While there are some potential side effects, most dogs can be treated rather effectively this way. It will be worthwhile to have a blood screen done to make sure the liver and kidneys are functioning well prior to starting the medication and it may be necessary to take blood periodically to ensure they are not causing any damage. Your veterinarian should be able to help you out with all of this. I hope that helps and Oscar feels better soon.