My five month old male lab pup has just been diagnosed with HOD. The diagnosis is solid: there are clear findings on x-ray. I've read 40+ articles online in the past week so understand a lot, but wonder if anyone has any experience with this disease? Thanks
I have only heard of one case, but the diagnosis was not definate. SHe was fine by 12 months old. Can you tell us more about your case?
He's a five month old healthy male lab, and after his second set of vaccines he became very sick. Four vets and lots of research later we had the diagnosis. Most HOD settles after closure of the bone growth plates, though in some cases the dogs die or are euthanized from the complications of the disease before this can happen, or end up with significant limb deformities from abnormal bone growth. Treatment of the acute attacks is with steroids and NSAIDs, though there's no evidence to support either, and in fact some evidence that they make no difference. Suggested long-term vet follow up seems to centre around follow up x-rays to monitor progression or regression, and watching out for the limb deformities. Fortunately our pup seems better and (relatively) unaffected, though he's clearly not 100%. His forepaws are tender and, because the cause of HOD is unknown, we're worried that he may have another bout. Or that we may do something to precipitate a bout. We've read about using strict crate rest (not easy with an active puppy who doesn't know his paws aren't yet healed), short leash walks around the house only, no socializing, no walking on hard surfaces, no jumping, and ensuring we're on the lighter side in terms of body weight. None if this is validated by good quality studies so it's best-guess/ best-advice only. What I wonder is if anyone has had experience with this disease, and what they found helped or didn't help, in terms of recovery.
