Panosteitis? - Page 2

Edith, how do you explain pano in dogs who are second generation unvaccinated? 

Up front:  I know nothing about this issue.  I read over the threads with health issues to increase my knowledge on how to better help my dogs.

That said, I did find this warning out on the internet.  Take it with a grain of salt.

http://www.vetinfo.com/dencyclopedia/depano.html

Currently, a common rumor is that low protein, low calcium diets mayprevent this condition. It should be noted that the energy level of lowprotein/calcium diets is often lower as well. If this is the case, a puppywill eat much more of the diet in order to meet its energy needs, resultingin higher total calcium consumption. It may be preferable to feed a puppydiet and restrict total quantity to keep the dog lean than to use a lowprotein/low calcium adult dog food.

Read more: Panosteitis - VetInfo
 

I just read, Pano is often misdiagnosed , that it is a totally false assumption that vaccines cause Pano. Yes, vaccines can cause siide effects that mimic Pano, but IT IS NOT Pano, That is a dangerous statement to say vaccine causes Pano. I do vaccinate due to the high occurances of parvo in my area. I just spent a considerable amount of time researching it, BEFORE I posted.

http://www.scribd.com/doc/70359058/Panosteitis
Read this published research.  An unvaccinated dog can still come into contact with distemper in the environment.

I'm sure they can, Edith. I just think it's an awfully big coincidence to have multiple generations of unvaccinated dogs get pano and they all happen to be related. I think there is a genetic component, and it seems to be more prevalent in very substantially built dogs w/heavy bone from my personal experience as well as what I've gathered from studying others' experiences as well. 

Edith-with all due respect, what the heck does that statement "An unvaccinated dog can still come into contact with distemper in the environment" mean?

All living creatures are exposed to viruses in their environment. For example, you go for a walk in the mall. You would be amazed at the viruses and bacteria you come into contact with. Doesn't mean you will get sick, but you certainly come into contact. this is one of the ways your body can build up a natural immunity.

The same is true for your dog. As it sniffs around on a walk, or you take your dog out to the country for a run, it will come into contact with the viruses and bacteria in that environment. In fact, my vet just came back from a seminar and one of the topics was that dogs who never go out of their yard are the ones that need to be vaccinated as they did not come into contact with enough things to build their immunity.

And just because it comes into contact does not mean it will get sick. It may just gain immunity from the contact depending on the strength of the immune system.

It is amazing the diseases that stray cats carry. And there are lots of them in any given area. And you would be amazed at how many foxes etc. live in and around us.
I am not saying don't vaccinate, but don't over do it and certainly do not do it if the dog is suffering from a medical condition. the vaccine manufacturers state this. Vets don't always follow this advice. Read Catherine O'Driscoll's book " What vets don't tell you about Vaccinations". Very informative. Do your research.

Ifyou read the vet article on the link I posted, it may answer some questions. Read all of it a couple of times. With the dogs that are all related, are they sure the diagnosis is accurate? And sometimes things happen and we never know why. And there is always a chance that there is the distemper virus somewhere in the area where the dogs have been living/walked. Some viruses can live for a very long time.

I don't have all the answers. I can only tell you what I have learned from personal experience. I have only had 2 puppys get pano, and they both were given the same distemper only vaccine and they aslo reacted to their first puppy combo shot, which is why we broke down the vaccination and waited before giving the next one. The female was spayed at 6 months and her symptoms were a lot worse than her littermate who was not neutered. I started asking questions and hence this info.

THe mayo clinic did research on the harm of spaying/neutering large dog too young. In spite of this research, the vet association still recommends doing this by 6 months.

That's why I state it is harmful to spay early, but I still see no corelation between distemper shots and pano. I have NEVER had a case of Pano. I feed all my dogs, pups 24/20 dog food, all year round and they can eat as much or as little as they want. My pups are never confined to a small area, they can run to their hearts content. I do think nutrition and exercise play a very large part in Pano, Shots, no. I have been raising German Shepherds for nearly 20 years. Just my own experience. BTW, I don't believe much in some vets, $$$ is their motivating factor in everything.

What I read pertaining to pano and a virus suspected as the cause, I did not see that the vaccine caused it. But what I read was that pano was not around until puppy vaccinations were developed and administered as accepted protocol. The vac may do something to the immune system to allow "pano virus" to take hold..my speculation.The pup I had with it was over the bout for months before age one and after admi. 5way, pano came back. Could have been a coincidence, but may have also stirred up pano again. Noway to ever know, pano was over in a few days and never came back...that was about ten years ago. Maybe, if a virus is indeed the culprit here, it is like rabies in raccoons: supposedly, captive born raccoons can spontaniusly develop rabies.....like the virus sits dormant and is passed onto unborn kits? If someone on here knows something regarding this, they will expound on it ? I'm not suggesting pano is in anyway related to rabies.

Don't feel bad.  My 8 month old, male GSD has been suffering for going on a month with only the right front leg.  It has gotten to the point he will not put weight on it and finally is eating sporadically. (He has a hearty appetite normally).

I have done MANY Xrays and my vet only sees PANO. As a matter of fact, he sees it in all 4 limbs, but only the right front is symptomatic at the moment.

He is taking Deramaxx, but I don't think it's helping much.  We have curtailed all walks, and been encouraging him to rest all this time, but still it persists.

I have called the vet again to let him know it does not appear to be improving.  In fact, just the opposite.  

My last GSD had it too.  But his was more typical, wandering from leg to leg, about a week at a time. I hope it's nothing more serious?