Panosteitis is an ailment occasionally seen in the basset hound breed. It is also known as wandering or transient lameness. It is a bone disease that is characterized by bone proliferation and remodeling. The ailment is associated with many large breed dogs such as German Shepherds, Great Danes, Doberman Pinschers etc. The problem for me, lies in the fact that many vets don't associate a Basset Hound with this ailment when in fact, Panosteitis is quite common with the breed.

The biggest concern with that for me is the misdiagnosis of some Basset Hounds, when they are experiencing Panosteitis. A mis-diagnosis could result in an unnecessary surgery. You should always mention the possibility of Panosteitis to your veterinarian before agreeing to surgery for an ailment such as elbow dysplasia, hip dysplasia and other more serious conditions. An x-ray is the first thing you will need to do to rule out an injury due to some sort of trauma.

Panosteitis is a self limiting condition that can start between 6 and 18 months but will typically resolve on its own by treating the symptoms with pain medication such as Rymadyl or even buffered aspirin and anti-inflammatory by the time they are two years old. When your Basset Hound is having a Panosteitis flare up he will have a moderate to severe limp. It will often come and go and change from leg to leg. You should limit his activities while he is on pain medication. The pain medication can give your dog a false sense of wellness and aggravate it further. Panosteitis is more common in the young male dog than the female.

Crating your puppy while dealing with this ailment is ideal.

The crate must be big enough for them to stand up,stretch and turn comfortably.A soft cushion to lie on,with blankets and toys will make him feel right at home. During his walks and bathroom breaks help him up and down stairs. Don't allow him to jump on furniture. If you want him in the bed with you... Pick him up!

There are many theories on why certain breeds can develop this although none have been proven. Because of the disease consistently showing up in certain breeds..it is very likely there is a genetic link. One thing is for sure. Feeding a large breed dog a food that is extremely high in protein causes them to grow faster which can have an impact on the development of your puppy. Panosteitis is often referred to, as "growing pains". Growing too fast is not always a good thing.

Panosteitis is a problem for our large breed puppies, but once you have seen a veterinarian and you know this is what you are dealing with you can find comfort in the fact that it will resolve itself and your puppy should have no lingering or long term side effects from the condition. Treat the symptoms, keep him comfortable while restricting his movement and give him lots of love and attention. This stage of his development will pass and he should be perfectly fine.