
Pano, or panosteitis, is a painful inflammation of the outer surface of one or more long bones in the legs of dogs. It is a self-limiting disease that usually resolves by the time the dog reaches 18 to 24 months of age. Each episode of lameness or limping tends to last a few days to a few weeks, and the pain can range from mild to severe. The condition typically affects large-breed dogs that are rapidly growing and gaining weight, and it can recur in different legs weeks to months apart.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Common name | Pano |
| Scientific name | Panosteitis |
| Cause | Growing too fast, conflict with growth plates |
| Breed | Large-breed dogs, especially German Shepherds |
| Age of onset | 5-14 months, sometimes as young as 2 months or as old as 18 months |
| Age of resolution | 18-24 months |
| Symptoms | Limping, lameness, fever, loss of appetite, high white blood cell count |
| Diagnosis | X-rays, blood work, urinalysis |
| Treatment | Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications, restricting activity, reducing food volume and weight |
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What You'll Learn
- Panosteitis, or pano, is a painful inflammation of the outer surface of a dog's long bones
- It is sometimes referred to as growing pains and affects young, rapidly growing dogs
- The symptoms of pano arise in dogs aged between 5-14 months and usually do not occur after a dog is 18-20 months old
- Pano can be treated with nonsteroidal, anti-inflammatory medications to relieve pain and reduce inflammation
- Pano is more common in large, big-boned dogs, such as German Shepherds, Great Danes, and Golden Retrievers

Panosteitis, or pano, is a painful inflammation of the outer surface of a dog's long bones
The underlying cause of panosteitis is unknown, but genetics, stress, infection, metabolism, or nutrition may be factors. It is believed that high-protein diets may predispose larger-breed dogs to developing panosteitis, as the extra protein accumulates within the bone and triggers swelling. The bone is rigid and cannot compensate, resulting in cell damage and death.
Pano can be diagnosed through X-rays, which typically show an increase in the density of the affected bones. However, signs of pain can occur up to 10 days before X-rays show changes, so a normal X-ray does not rule out panosteitis. Treatment for panosteitis involves managing pain and reducing inflammation through non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications. It is recommended to restrict exercise during episodes of lameness and encourage light to moderate exercise between episodes.
Each episode of lameness usually lasts a few days to a few weeks, and the period between episodes is often about a month but can vary. The condition tends to be cyclical, with periods of worsening symptoms followed by improvement. In most cases, panosteitis will resolve on its own once the dog reaches 18 to 24 months of age as they finish growing. Keeping your dog at a healthy weight is essential, as overweight puppies are more susceptible to pano.
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It is sometimes referred to as growing pains and affects young, rapidly growing dogs
Panosteitis, or pano, is a condition that causes lameness and/or limping in young dogs. It is often referred to as "growing pains" because it typically affects dogs throughout their first two years of life. Symptoms usually arise in dogs aged between 5 and 14 months, but there have been cases with dogs as young as two months and as old as 18 months. After a dog reaches two years of age, the effects of pano disappear. Pano is essentially bone inflammation, which causes discomfort and limping. In most cases, pano affects the front legs, but it can also impact the back legs.
Pano is a growth disease that is more common in large, big-boned dogs. It is more of a growth disorder than a disease, but it causes extreme pain in young dogs. The pain comes from the growth plates when they grow at different rates. When a dog is finished growing, there is no longer a conflict with growth plates, and thus no more pain. Pano has been observed more commonly in fast-growing dogs that were overweight.
Pano is a self-limiting disease, meaning it will resolve on its own over time. However, you should still visit a vet to get your dog pain medication. Each episode of lameness usually lasts a few days to a few weeks, and the period between episodes is often about a month but may vary. Pano can be diagnosed through X-rays, which show a characteristic increase in the density of the affected bones.
Pano can be treated by restricting the dog's activity and providing pain medication. It is also important to feed your dog a high-quality, large-breed puppy food to help prevent pano. Commercial food, especially puppy food, causes dogs to grow too fast, leading to pano. Therefore, it is recommended to cut the dog's food volume by a third to half and monitor their weight daily.
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The symptoms of pano arise in dogs aged between 5-14 months and usually do not occur after a dog is 18-20 months old
Pano, or panosteitis, is a growth disorder that causes bone inflammation in young dogs. It typically affects dogs between the ages of 5 and 14 months, and usually does not occur after a dog reaches 18 to 20 months of age. In rare cases, panosteitis has been known to affect dogs up to 5 years old.
The condition is characterised by sudden lameness or limping, with pain levels ranging from mild to severe. The affected leg may be so sensitive that even touching it will cause discomfort for the dog. This pain can shift from leg to leg, and episodes of lameness can last anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. After an episode, the inflammation usually returns about thirty days later, and can affect the same or a different leg.
Pano is more common in large, big-boned dogs, and is caused by growth plates growing at different rates. It is exacerbated by fast growth, which can be caused by commercial puppy food. To manage pano, it is recommended that dogs are taken off puppy food and fed an all-natural diet to slow their growth. The correct weight for a dog is not a number but a look; you should be able to see a definition between the rib cage and the loins. It is advised that the volume of food be cut by one-third to one-half at the first signs of pano.
Pano is a self-limiting condition, meaning that it will eventually go away on its own. Symptoms typically resolve by the time the dog reaches 18 to 24 months of age.
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Pano can be treated with nonsteroidal, anti-inflammatory medications to relieve pain and reduce inflammation
Panosteitis, or pano, is a painful inflammation of the outer surface or shaft of one or more long bones of the legs in dogs. It is sometimes referred to as "growing pains" since it typically affects dogs throughout their first two years of life. The condition is more common in large, big-boned dogs and can show up as young as 5 to 9 months, usually resolving by the time the dog is 18 to 24 months old.
Pano can be treated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to relieve pain and reduce inflammation. NSAIDs are commonly used to control pain and inflammation in dogs, helping them lead more comfortable lives. NSAIDs reduce signs of inflammation by affecting the production or function of certain substances, mainly prostaglandins, that are made by the body and involved in inflammation. While NSAIDs can be effective in treating pano, they should be used carefully as they can cause side effects, some of which may be serious. Serious side effects include bleeding ulcers and perforations in the stomach or intestines, kidney and liver problems, and even death in some cases. It is important to consult a veterinarian to determine if an NSAID is appropriate for your dog and to monitor their health while taking the medication.
In addition to NSAIDs, supplements such as nutraceuticals, omega-3 fatty acids, or antioxidants may be helpful in treating pano. Veterinarians may also recommend restricting your dog's activity during episodes of lameness and encouraging light to moderate exercise between episodes. A properly balanced and appetizing diet is also important, as some dogs with pano may have a poor appetite.
While pano typically resolves on its own by the time a dog reaches 18 to 24 months of age, it is important to seek veterinary care to ensure your dog's comfort and well-being during the condition. Pain control is an essential aspect of managing pano, and denying your dog pain relief is inhumane. Veterinarians can prescribe appropriate pain medications and guide you in managing your dog's activity levels and diet to support their recovery.
It is worth noting that some sources suggest that commercial puppy food can contribute to pano by causing dogs to grow too quickly. Therefore, it is recommended to transition your puppy off commercial food and feed a raw, all-natural diet to slow their growth. Additionally, maintaining a healthy weight is crucial, as overweight puppies may be more prone to developing pano.
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Pano is more common in large, big-boned dogs, such as German Shepherds, Great Danes, and Golden Retrievers
Panosteitis, or pano, is a painful condition that causes inflammation of the outer surface or shaft of one or more long bones in the legs of young dogs. It is sometimes referred to as "growing pains" since it typically affects dogs throughout their first two years of life. Symptoms will typically arise in dogs aged between 5-14 months, but there have been cases with dogs as young as two months and as old as 18 months. After a dog hits two years of age, the effects of pano will completely disappear. Pano can also be more simply known as "bone inflammation".
To deal with the pain, the dog should be crated as much as possible. Veterinarians will usually prescribe steroid pain killers, but this is controversial, as some sources suggest that steroids should never be given for pano. Pano can only be diagnosed with x-rays, and very few vets are qualified to read x-rays to recognize pano. If you feel like you must see a vet, it is best to take your dog to a vet that specializes in canine orthopaedics.
During episodes of lameness, exercise should be restricted. Between episodes, light to moderate exercise should be encouraged, but hard or vigorous exercise is discouraged, as are very long walks. Dogs with pano should be very thin, and their food volume should be cut by 1/3 to 1/2. A puppy's weight can change quickly, so it requires daily monitoring.
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Frequently asked questions
Each episode of pano, or panosteitis, can last anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. The period between episodes is often about a month but may vary.
Pano is a self-limiting disease, meaning it will resolve on its own. It usually goes away once a dog reaches 18-24 months of age. In rare cases, pano has been diagnosed in dogs as old as five years.
It is important to monitor your dog's diet and weight as pano is associated with rapid growth. Commercial puppy food can cause dogs to grow too fast, so a raw or all-natural diet is recommended. Exercise should be restricted during episodes of lameness, and light to moderate exercise can be encouraged between episodes. Your veterinarian can prescribe pain medication to help your dog manage its pain.










































