Hello everyone. I have a 1 yr 3 month old american line gsd. He had been diagnosed by the vet at 6-7 months with pano. Question is is now he is limping majorly in his rear hind quarters. Not putting weight and bunny hoping that leg he he walks or tries to run. I have him under rest but when he gets out to pee he wants to play and run around with no pain apparent. I'm hoping this is just another episode of pano but would like some ideas of what to look for. Any thoughts would be great!

Hi,

My gsd was also diagnosed with Pano at about that age, but I haven't seen symptoms of it since she was about 10-11 months. I know with pano they may have it to about 2 years (when they are full grown). Are you giving the dog any pain meds? I half dosed what my vet said to give and increased the dosage if she still limped.

How much does your dog weigh? Is he heavier than he should be? Did his parents have good or better hip ratings? Have you talked to your breeder about the pano? Do any of his littermates have hip problems? Just a few questions : )

Marc: The only way to know is to get the dog x-rayed. I don't think it would be a good idea to increase pain meds because if it is pano, the pain makes it self limiting, and if it's not more use could exacerbate what ever is wrong.

Thank you for the responses. Right now I'm not giving him any pain medication. Just kennel rest. Going to pick up some buffered asprin here soon. He is very lean. 27" at the withers and anywhere from 80-85lbs. To answer the question about his parents. Not sure if they ever had an OFA rating...I didn't exaclty know about the different lines of gsd's and OFA ratings. I bought him at 4 months old. Based on his temperment as a pup. He hasn't been the healthiest dog...but we are getting there! His parents and older siblings were gorgeous dogs. Especially his dad. He didn't get very good genes though. Weak ears...only stand up straight when he's alert. He had mange...be very thin. Pano on and off. Had a growth on top of his head that my sister *a vet* who lives an hour and a half away removed for me.
So with his list of conditions so far I wouldn't be surprised if he ends up with HD too. I defiently hope not!! I want him to be healthy. He's young and its frustrating on a gorgeous spring day we can go play and train outside...I know you all know that feeling!

I hope its just pano...and agree its self limiting. But to answer my question. What are the symptoms of HD?

Hi, Marc,

You'll want to be careful with NSAIDs (including aspirin) and the correct dosages.

Dogs are more reactive to aspirin than humans are. Buffered is a better choice, as you mentioned, but isn't to be considered as casually as we do for humans.

http://vetmedicine.about.com/cs/altvetmedgeneral/a/dogcataspirin.htm

http://www.placervillevet.com/aspirin.htm

http://lowchensaustralia.com/health/aspirin.htm

I like all three of those sites' explanations about aspirin for dogs.

Also, from the 2006 Merck Vet Manual:

QUOTE: Dogs tolerate aspirin better than cats; however, prolonged use can lead to the development of gastric ulcers. Dosages of 25 mg/kg, tid, of regular aspirin have caused mucosal erosions in 50% of dogs after 2 days. Gastric ulcers were seen by day 30 in 66% of dogs given aspirin at 35 mg/kg, PO, tid. Similarly, 43% of dogs given aspirin at 50 mg/kg, PO, bid, showed gastric ulcers after 5-6 wk of dosing. END from Merck 2006 edition

I have used aspirin (buffered), but carefully and infrequently.

JMO.

Good luck with your guy.

Thanks for the info Connie....I usually just do what my older sister says. He RARELY gets asprin. I usually just make him stay quiet as possible during a episode of pano or lameness.

 Quote: Marc Layman

I hope its just pano...and agree its self limiting. But to answer my question. What are the symptoms of HD?

Maybe seems to have trouble rising from a sit or down, might be unwilling to play or sit, might limp, might bunny hop (keep the back feet together when running), etc.

These can all be caused by other problems, too. As Susan said, only x-rays can answer the question definitively. JMO.

Thanks for a response. He doesn't have trouble sitting. He has a slight limp. The middle of the rear leg seems to slex out b/c he won't put weight on it much. It seems to be getting better. He still wants to play and run. Probably just pano...he's just never had it in the rear legs which I know it can travel too. Its been only in both his front legs. I'm pretty sure its pano b/c he was favoring a frong leg a few days before this all started. Its so frustrating lol

Marc, is the limping in one or both rear legs? As you probably know since you've been through it, pano can alternate between legs, giving it the common name "shifting-leg lameness". Not sure if HD effects both rear legs or primarily just one...

Also, have you considered an acute injury, like a CCL tear? Dogs that have recently torn their knee ligaments can often run and play fairly normally (some are in lots of pain and limp... but some don't), but when they stand still they'll keep all weight off the effected leg. Unfortunately, this is an injury that WON'T show up on x-ray, but it is easy to diagnose with a thorough physical exam of the leg.

~Natalya