My puppy has HOD. Can it be cured, and what are the treatments?

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!

Hypertrophic osteodystrophy causes swelling and extreme pain of the joints along with a fever and general signs of illness. Most dogs do recover with rest, supportive care and heavy pain medication and do not have long term effects from the disease, but some dogs need to be hospitalized on IV drips to control the pain and a few dogs never seem to have their pain controlled. If the puppy is in extreme pain that cannot be controlled many owners elect euthanasia. You should be prepared for frequent veterinarian visits and daily pain medication. You may need to lift the dog to go outside or change bedding if he is too painful to walk.

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!

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.

Correct of diet is the primary treatment for rickets. Many homemade diets for dogs are deficient in minerals and have altered calcium:phosphorus ratios. Therefore, a high-quality commercial food, or one designed by a credentialed veterinary nutritionist, is recommended. Brands of puppy food I recommend include Royal Canin, Hill's Science Diet, Purina ProPlan, and Iams. I hope this helps!

Unfortunately no, there is no cure for hip dysplasia. It can be managed medically with drugs and physical therapy as well as acupuncture and hydrotherapy. Now surgery can be done if it's severe, but it won't cure it.

According to a small animal surgical expert on VIN (the veterinary information network): "Treatment involves regular periods of exercise on secure surfaces such as a grassed area. Light supporting bandages may be used to support the carpus in very severely affected cases but splintage should be avoided because it protects the muscles from the load induced by exercise which is essential for the development of increased muscle tone. Most pups respond in 2–6 weeks to this form of treatment and the prognosis is good." I would speak to Hulk's vet about treatment for his condition.