Hypertrophic Osteodystrophy (HOD) - Page 2

DON'T just use adult food without checking CALCIUM!!!

How much calcium is in the food you're feeding?

Protein gets all the attention, but if you do some research on calcium, it's usually the cluprit, and it just goes hand in hand with higher protein, so protein gets the blame. 

Optimal for large breeds is around 1.2%, though remember, if feeding an adult food, they will have to consume more of it to meet their caloric/energy needs, so that will raise as they eat more of the food, so aim lower. 

She's not feeding adult food....it's for all life stages. I am no expert but sounds like something else is going on. It doesn't sound like a feeding issue...... Good luck. I hope you and the new vet an figure it out. Poor pup. Wonder if it's a reaction to vaccinations? Jenni is correct about calcium but most high quality foods keep the levels acceptable. You're not supplementing with extra food/treats/table food? I would explore the vaccination connection... But, there are people far more experienced here than I. Hopefully, they will chime in. Sara

Had a client's pup diagnosed with HOD about 8 weeks ago. The pup was around 18 weeks at the time. The first vet diagnosed Pano, but we encouraged the owner to seek a second opinion. Her description of the pup sounded way worse than any Pano we'd experienced. She went to a second clinic the next morning. By the time she got there the pup's temp was 106! Anyway that vet suggested that HOD can also be linked to the distemper vaccine. Somehow the original vet had managed to get the pup in for 5 distemper boosters in the 10 or so weeks since the owner had gotten the pup. 
Anyway, they ended up having to shave the pup in a couple of places in order to use the morphine patches, which seemed to be the only way to ease his discomfort.
I'm happy to say that he is now 6 months old and fully recovered and absolutely full of vim and vigor, but boy he was a sick little boy for a while there.

This pup was on adult food at the time, but sorry, I don't remember which brand. One of the grain frees is all I know.

Annette

Five distemper boosters in ten weeks????? WTF.

It wasn't listed on the bag but I contacted the company and it is 1.02% Calcium. Her last set of vaccines was on the 4th. My vet says that there are really no known causes and that we are now just playing a wait and see game. I did start her on Glyco-Flex and she is still on Metecam, Tramadol and I'm now giving her Sub Q fluids at home. I'm really hoping these things work!

Victoria