Canine panosteitis and preventive veterinary measures: insights from a case series

Abstract

Abstract Background Canine panosteitis is a self-limiting developmental orthopedic disease that, despite its name, causes bone marrow adipocyte degeneration and replacement by fibrous tissue. Pain-related lameness is the main clinical sign in young dogs from predisposed breeds such as German Shepherd. Etiology is unknown, and characteristic radiographic sign is increased medullary opacity of affected bone. This case series describes clinical course, radiographic findings, therapy and vaccination schemes adopted in four non-related German Shepherd dogs affected by panosteitis and attended sequentially at a private veterinary diagnostic center. Case presentation Lameness was the unanimous clinical sign, accompanied by increased medullary radiopacity of the affected bone. Prescription medication included analgesic drugs and in two cases, nutraceuticals. Calcium supplement was prescribed for one of the dogs, but it was not administered by the owner. All dogs had full recovery from 2 to 14 days followed drug administration. Despite commonly described features, a high number of vaccine doses per patient, in the first months of age, were an intriguing observation, raising question about vaccination and the immune system influence in triggering such diseases in predisposed dogs. Conclusions Although a common disease, panosteitis etiology remains undefined. Under this scenario and the presented cases, further research in order to revise vaccination protocols is advised for panosteitis predisposed breeds such as German Shepherd. Besides, local veterinary clinicians’ unawareness of the disease was evident in many aspects and affected therapeutic prescription although not compromising patient recovery.