Panosteitis

Panosteitis is a condition affecting the long bones of growing dogs, in which inflammation develops within the bone marrow cavity itself. It tends to appear during periods of rapid growth, most often between five and eighteen months of age, and can shift from one leg to another over weeks or months. Owners often notice sudden-onset limping that may seem to move around—a dog who was favouring the right foreleg last week may now be uncomfortable in the left hind. The lameness can be mild or quite pronounced, and many dogs show signs of discomfort when the affected bone is pressed. The pattern can be puzzling because it tends to come and go, and because multiple legs may be involved at different times. This page explores what panosteitis can look like when it first appears, what is thought to be happening inside the bone, how the condition is typically investigated, and the range of approaches that exist for managing discomfort while the inflammation resolves.