| Hypertrophic osteodystrophy or HOD is a condition | | | | and care. |
| that affects young large breed dogs. HOD is a bone | | | | X-ray signs of HOD are more clearly noticed. A line of |
| disease that affects the rapid growing bones of giant | | | | lucency where the bone has been destroyed is |
| dog and may occur between ages of 2 and 7 | | | | usually found to be parallel to the growth plates of |
| months. The breeds that are at high risk for HOD are | | | | the affected bones. X-rays show a dark line at the |
| Boxers, Chesapeake Shepherd Dog, Golden | | | | metaphysis, which can progress to new bone growth |
| Retriever, Great Dane, Irish Setter, Labrador | | | | on the outside of that area. This represents |
| Retriever and Weimaraner, although there can be | | | | microfractures in the metaphysis and bone |
| exceptions to this rule. Commonly, large male dog | | | | proliferation to bridge the defect in the periosteum. |
| breeds are more affected than females. Inherited or | | | | Some signs seen on microscope are also clear. The |
| genetic link seen to be affects in occurrence of this | | | | growth plate is normal, but blood vessels adjacent to |
| disease. | | | | the growth plate are frequently dilated. Bleeding in |
| There is currently unknown or no agreement on the | | | | the bone adjacent to the growth plate and extensive |
| cause of Hypertrophic osteodystrophy. Possible | | | | death of the bone adjacent to the growth plate. |
| causes maybe considered are; bacterial infections, | | | | Adjacent to the line of lucency is a zone of increased |
| canine distemper virus infection, vaccination with | | | | density of bone that corresponds to collapsed of |
| distemper virus or any other viral infections. Also | | | | layers of dead bone. The outer layer of the bone |
| Vitamin C deficiency is also speculated, hence the | | | | (periosteum) is thickened with new bone formation. |
| decreased uptake of Vitamin C and/or increased | | | | The treatment for HOD is generally supportive since |
| uptake of other vitamins and minerals other than | | | | this is a very painful condition and these disease is |
| vitamin C. The excessive calcium supplementation is | | | | usually self-limiting which can last a few weeks. |
| also included as one possibility. There may be a link to | | | | Treatment includes intravenous fluid therapy, |
| recent vaccination with a modified live vaccine, but | | | | anti-inflammatories and painkillers such as buffered |
| no specific vaccine has been implicated. on | | | | aspirin or carprofen (Rimadyl) are given and needed |
| Weinmaraner dog breeds, it is recommended for | | | | enough rest on their comfortable pet beds. In |
| them to receive killed virus vaccines instead of | | | | addition, the animals are usually given a |
| modified live or separate vaccines for canine | | | | broad-spectrum antibiotic since bacterial infection is |
| distemper, parvovirus, and adenovirus to prevent the | | | | suspected. Since the dog might be too irritable and |
| possibility of vaccine-induced HOD. | | | | uncomfortable, strict rest on a comfortable warm |
| The signs and symptoms of HOD strict in often to | | | | bed is recommended. Feeding a nutritious, highly |
| be mild to moderate painful swelling of the growth | | | | palatable food will help to encourage some dogs to |
| plates in the leg bones of dogs. It most commonly | | | | eat. In severe cases steroids may need to be given |
| affects the ends of the radius, ulna (the long bones | | | | to control the pain, but because of the possibility of |
| from the elbow to the wrist) and tibia (the long bone | | | | this being a bacterial disease their use may be |
| from the knee to the hock). Lameness may vary | | | | contraindicated due to their immunosuppressive |
| from mild to sever, reluctance to stand if multiple | | | | qualities. Supplementation of Vitamin C is |
| limbs are affected. Fever, anorexia, loss of appetite | | | | contraindicated due to an increase in calcium levels in |
| and depressions are noticed. Swelling and heat are | | | | the blood, possibly worsening the disease. Permanent |
| commonly present over the affected bones. Some | | | | skeletal deformity can occur, recurrence can be a |
| clinical signs also includes diarrhea, discharge from the | | | | problem until the dog reaches maturity and dogs |
| eyes, tonsillitis, thickening of the foot pads, | | | | usually do not die of the disease rather are |
| pneumonia, and abnormal development of the enamel | | | | euthanatized if recovery is poor or if clinical signs are |
| of the teeth. Dogs suffering really proper petsafe | | | | severe. |