Question of the Day

This is panosteitis, an acute-onset shifting leg lameness with long bone pain most commonly seen in young (5-18 mos) medium to large breed dogs. German Shepherds are at the highest risk of developing panosteitis.

Hypertrophic osteodystrophy (HOD) is a an uncommon developmental orthopedic disease of young (2-8 mos), growing dogs. Large and giant breeds, in particular the great Dane, are predisposed. It is characterized by symmetrical distal metaphyseal pain and swelling of long bones (most commonly the ulna and tibia), fever, anorexia, and depression. 

Hypertrophic osteopathy is a diffuse periosteal proliferative disease of long bones in dogs secondary to a neoplastic mass or other disease (e.g., heartworm Dz) in the thoracic or abdominal cavity.

Multiple cartilaginous exostoses is a rare benign proliferation of bone/cartilage that can affect the metaphyseal cortical surfaces of long bones, vertebrae, and ribs in young dogs and cats. Animals may have no signs at all. 

Osteosarcoma is unlikely in a young dog and does not cause shifting leg lameness.