[cashsmomma]

I just got my golden retriever puppy cash 2 weeks ago, he is my first puppy to have as my own without my parents. Cash has been so awesome and has had no problems until yesterday..
yesterday i noticed cash was not acting like his normal playful self. He was sleeping a lot and wouldnt really come to me when called which is very unlike him. I thought maybe he was really tired and just being a puppy. I had to help him get up and he was walking weird. I played with his feet and moved them around and he didnt whine or have any problems. This morning he was still acting lethargic and i noticed a limp. I took him to the vet and i was told he most likely has pano..
I know it is common in goldens and large breeds and that it will get better. this was great news to me since ive been freaking out and worried sick about him for the past two days
Cash is now on antibiotics and im praying he gets better. I am wondering
1. is there anything i can do to help the pain go away

he has been whining ever since i brought him home from the vet and hasnt really stopped i dont know why hes doing this and it really worries me, he seems to walk around a little more but i still have to help him up

2. i read that some foods with really high protein levels can cause or are related to the pano problem.. should i change his food then?

Cash is very special to me and i have been so careful with him. I am looking for any and all advice on what i should do

 

[Megora]

How old is he?

The reason why I ask is it's a growing pains issue - and connected to the rapid growths that the puppies go through (between 4-12 months). If your pup is only 8-10 weeks old, I'm suspicious if there is something else going on?

 

[Sally's Mom]

How old is he? I would switch him gradually to an adult dog food. If he is chubby, cut back on his food intake. If you train with treats, I would temporarily cut down on the training. I also would limit exercise as if he is favoring one leg, he might strain another leg in compensating. I have had two Goldens with pano. Anti inflammatories and tramadol can also help with the discomfort. Some dogs get fevers and some go,off their food.

 

[cashsmomma]

Cash will be 9 weeks this thursday! he isn't chubby at all and i have had him on purina puppy chow since that is what the breeders had him on

 

[Megora]

Did he just have a vaccine?

 

[Sally's Mom]

Doesn't sound like pano to me.... Do you have tick borne diseases in your part of the country? I have never seen pano in any breed of dog that young...

 

[Sally's Mom]

Purina puppy chow used to be recommended by orthopedic specialists to prevent pano.

 

[cashsmomma]

the vet said that it was growing pains and most likely a text book case for pano but when i looked it up when i got home he seemed pretty young to have it. It is assumed he has pano and is not for sure.

 

[cashsmomma]

He has not had any vaccines lately, he is due this week for them though. (When it rains it pours) I also thought it had something to do with a tick and lyme disease but the doctor ruled that out, i was almost positive that was what he had when i took him in. My boyfriend had a tick on him the other day so we are definitely in an area with them

 

[Megora]

He has not had any vaccines lately, he is due this week for them though. (When it rains it pours) I also thought it had something to do with a tick and lyme disease but the doctor ruled that out, i was almost positive that was what he had when i took him in. My boyfriend had a tick on him the other day so we are definitely in an area with them

Did he do a snap test?

I did a quick google and there is apparently something that may appear in younger puppies (HOD?), and in that case - yes, you put the pup on a large breed kibble, rest him, and give him something for the pain to keep him comfortable until this passes....

But I'd really want to rule everything else out.... I'm so sorry you are going through this with your pup. It's hard to see them limping around when they should be little clumsy zooming fuzzballs.

 

[OnMyWay2MyDreams]

Was he limping on a back leg or front leg? I think that is too young for pano too.

 

[cashsmomma]

The vet did not run any tests... i dont know if thats good or bad. He said cash was usually younger than most dogs with pano but his symptoms matched. He said nothing about HOD. I hope he is right and ive looked up so much on pano and it all fits minus how young he is. This is so hard to watch i appreciate all of the help and sympathy

 

[cashsmomma]

I dont know which leg he is limping on but its one of the back two. I watch him while he walks (which hasnt been a lot lately) and its hard to tell it just looks like he is walking funny. He cant get up without my help which really worries me and yesterday i swear he peed laying down which he has never done and is really weird to me..

 

[Penny & Maggie's Mom]

How can he rule out a tick borne disease without running a test? I think I'd want a second opinion.

 

[cashsmomma]

the vet said that it takes awhile for lyme disease to show up? and that since he is so young he most likely doesnt have it and hasnt had time to contract it.

 

[Brave]

From what I've been told, pano is only seen is teen-ish puppies (7-18 months, approx.) and the SOP is to get x-rays taken. The films should show lesions in the bone marrow where the marrows density is not uniform. This is what causes the pain and lameness.

Since he is so young, I am inclined to think it is a soft tissue injury of some sort. But since I am not a vet - I would recommend seeking a second opinion.

My 9 month old puppy and I have been to Hades and back since he was only 7 months old trying to diagnose his limp and it turned out to be a torn ACL in his left knee. It's extremely uncommon for puppies to get an ACL injury so I doubt your puppy injured that, but a variety of things could cause lameness/limps. I recommend X-Rays at the very least of hips and both hind legs.

Good luck, and let us know what happens.

 

[cashsmomma]

after reading more and listening to everyones comments it seems a second opinion is necessary. I just want to pinpoint the problem so he can get better.