Puppies and joint aches?

Question

We have a 3 1/2 month old Kuvasz puppy(large breed). She has been sick all day and hasnt slept since yesterday afternoon. We took her to the Vet today and they said its probably joint pains caused from her growing. They gave her an anti-inflammatory pill but it hasnt kicked in yet and she seems to be in a lot of pain and really tired. Is there anyone that might know what else we can do for her. I called the vet again a couple hours after we got home and they just said to bring her in tomorrow if it continues. I hate to see her like this. Can anyone help?

Answer 1

I've actually never heard of join pains from growing. Not saying it's not possible either. But to have it affecting her that bad I would seek other reasons. You may want your vet to do a test for Lyme Disease or any other diseases that can cause severe joint pain.

Answer 2

Ice is the best anti-inflamitory there is. If she will let you put an ice pack on her joints were the pain is. Give her plenty of water do stay hydrated. Allow her room to stretch but not a lot of room to run or play. Give her a comfortable bed with plenty of padding to sleep on. This should reduce some of the pain. Glucosamine is also good for joints. I've never heard of joint pain from growing either so you many want to get a second opinion if the vet visit tomorrow doesn't help. It could be something much worse.

Answer 3

What you are describing is called Panosteitis. It is a painful condition that affects the long bones of young medium to large breed dogs. The cause is unknown. It can usually be confirmed with radiographs. It is important to make sure the pup is eating and drinking, as the pain could cause lack of appetite. Limiting activity can lessen the pain, but it hasten been shown to speed up recovery. The pain and lameness can last for several weeks, and in come cases come and go up until 2 years of age. Anti inflammatories like Rimadyl are a good idea because they help decrease inflammation. Just make sure you give them with food. Pretty much you have to wait for it to run its course.

Answer 4

The symptoms you describe sound awfully severe to be growing pains. Ask the vet if she can have a baby aspirin for the pain. I would keep her on the meds and get a second opinion if things don't improve dramatically. At only three and a half months old, your puppy should be in this kind of pain. I think something else may be going on here. Good luck with her and hope everything works out. Just don't be afraid to get a second or even a third opinion if she doesn't improve.

Answer 5

Enostosis (growing pain) can be found in my own breed (the Bracco Italiano). An anti-inflammatory is the only treatment that I know of, other than rest. It's an episodic disease that mostly affects puppies between six to eighteen months of age. Normally it only affects one limb at a time, but can switch limbs. For the most part it affects the ulna, radius, femur, humorous, and tibia. It can go on and off for quite a while, and the only real way to diagnose it is with radiology. Good luck, I hope she gets better soon!

Answer 6

I would guess at this being pano as well as another poster. However the symptoms of pano are the same as for OCD which is also common in large breeds - particularly shoulders in Danes and others. Please do not allow him to play with your other dog at all. If it doesn't go then he will need x-rays to determine pano or OCD. OCD would have to be an operation, pano wouldn't. Because of the possibility of OCD please do not give a calcium supplement. Do some googling on Pano and OCD then you will have a better idea about each. Add on -- and yes -- he is suffering so treat him with care and take him for wee's onlead in the garden.

Answer 7

If she is having growth issues I would lower the amount of protien in her diet to 23% or below. Put the dog on Adult food. The anti inflamatory drug is probably Rimadyl which I would throw in the trash.. (Do your research on adverse reactions to that drug or in fact ANY drug the vet gives you. Like human drugs, pet drugs have major side effects as well including death and the drug makers will keep pet drugs on the market pretty much no matter how many dogs or cats are killed by them.
Be careful. Growth issues are more often nutritionally related so add food to your list of homework to help her through this problem.
Vaccines can also cause joint pain as a side effect as well as heartworm preventatives containing ivermectin. If she has recently had a round of vaccines or heartworm pills or all of the above along with puppy food, this would be your problem.

Answer 8

Hi and yes there is a growing pain syndrome. Being a large breed dog owner and breeder it does happen. I have never seen it to the extent your describing so my thought is that perhaps something else may be going on. Please have your vet check for Lyme disease and see what that says.
I have had pups who at 5 to 7 months old limped occasionally for no reason and it was found to be growing pains and by 8 to 9 months old they were fine.

Answer 9

The best treatment for panosteitis is rest, crate rest. Anti-inflammatorries might not help a lot with Pano. And yes, you can see a dog in more pain with Pano than they would be in with HD or ED. Get this pup on an adult dog food, if she is not already. Put her on a lower protein diet as well. If she does not start to get better within 3 to 5 days, I would ask your vet to x-ray her. Is she lame on a front leg, or rear leg? If it is a front leg, at this age, I would be thinking of a UAP of one of her elbows. We have used Noni juice or Nature's Noni capsules with some of the dogs with Pano. I don't know if it works or not. The only anti-inflammatory that I have seen help at all with Pano is Zubrin.