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My 4 month old male German Shepherd has started limping on his front leg. I have taken him to the vet and been told it's probably just 'puppy strain' and to try and limit him to just lead walks, and try and rest the leg as much as possible - pretty difficult when he's so young and full of beans! The vet also suggested crating him as often as possible, but he just gets stressed and claws at the door, which obviously means he's putting even more stress on the leg. I've been reading up on Panosteitis - which seems a likely diagnosis(?) and have noted that in several reports the problem can be made worse by a high protein diet. He is on a BARF diet (as is my other 3 yr old GSD bitch) which he loves, but I'm wondering if that is now contributing to the problem. Would you suggest changing his diet until the limping stops? I'm loathed to do it though as he had an awful stomach when I got him (as a rescue) and he is now 'solid' and very healthy is every other respect.

Submitted: 246 days and 23 hours ago.

Category: Dog

Value: $18

Status: CLOSED

Pet's Sex: Male
Pet's Age: <1

Already Tried:
Putting him on Ease Flex Chews - which contain glucosamine 500mg, MSM 500mg, sodium chondroitin sulphate 400mg, ascorbate (as manganese ascorbate) 66mg, manganese (as manganese ascorbate) 10mg, plus fish and vegetable oils.

Accepted Answer

Hi XXXXXXXXX,

Welcome to Just Answer. I'm sorry to hear about your little one's lameness. Your doing a good job researching as far as what could be causing his lameness. Panosteitis is a very possible scenario. The other growth related situation to consider is hypertrophic osteodystrophy. Panosteitis and hypertrophic osteodystrophy (HOD) are common developmental orthopedic diseases that can cause lameness in dogs. A specific cause for each disease remains unknown and sometimes controversial. The high protein diet is one that some are suspicious of and some aren't. That being said, if it is part of the cause, the BARF diets high protein content would be adding to the problem so stopping it may help some. Since it hasn't been proven to be a part or not, I would consider stopping it because it can't hurt if there is one of these two situations going on.

I would suggest having your vet take a film of the leg here any time 14 days after the initial lameness (if it is still lame) to see if any radiographic changes can support this. It takes as a rule 14 days for bone to have radiographic changes.

Please let me know what your vet finds.
Dr. Bruce

Expert:	Dr. Bruce
Pos. Feedback:	100.0 %
Accepts:	635
Answered:	7/18/2009

Veterinarian

10 Years of practical experience in ER and day practice work

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Pet's Sex: Male
Pet's Age: <1

Already Tried:
Putting him on Ease Flex Chews - which contain glucosamine 500mg, MSM 500mg, sodium chondroitin sulphate 400mg, ascorbate (as manganese ascorbate) 66mg, manganese (as manganese ascorbate) 10mg, plus fish and vegetable oils.

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Pet's Sex: MalePet's Age: <1 Already Tried: Putting him on Ease Flex Chews - which contain glucosamine 500mg, MSM 500mg, sodium chondroitin sulphate 400mg, ascorbate (as manganese ascorbate) 66mg, manganese (as manganese ascorbate) 10mg, plus fish and vegetable oils.

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Related Dog Questions

Pet's Sex: Male
Pet's Age: <1

Already Tried:
Putting him on Ease Flex Chews - which contain glucosamine 500mg, MSM 500mg, sodium chondroitin sulphate 400mg, ascorbate (as manganese ascorbate) 66mg, manganese (as manganese ascorbate) 10mg, plus fish and vegetable oils.