Sick labrador puppy

Question
Hello,

I'm very concerned about my ten-month-old Labrador/Great Dane puppy. His trouble started when he began holding up his back left paw, as if he were in pain. There were no bites, scratches, what not, and no broken or fractured bones. This subsided, however it now seems that he is losing weight, and is lethargic. He won't even play with his twin brother, who is feeling neglected due to the fact his brother will no longer play with him. He hasn't been vomiting, and there has been no blood in his stool (I have been monitoring closely these past few days). My mother's worried to the point of tears, and we have no idea what might be wrong with him. Some of his other symptoms are moaning for no reason when he lays down, and not wagging his tail nearly as much as he used to. His gum coloration is normal, as is his eye color, pupil dilation, and eye movement. His breathing is normal, but his nose is constantly warm and dry. Please help.

Katie

Answer
There are a few diseases that come to mind based on your description of your puppy's signs. Panosteitis is a bone disease that we often see in large breed pups between 6 months and as old as 2 years. It is often referred to in common phraseology as "growing pains". In this disease inflammation occurs at the center of the long bones(femur, humerus, tibia, radius) because the bones are growing so rapidly. The disease eventually resolves but can cause a shifting leg lameness, sometimes a fever, pain and lethargy.  The best treatment is NSAIDs as needed and rest. Eventually they outgrow the disease. The other less common orthopedic disease of young growing dogs is Hypertrophic Osteodystrophy(HOD) which is a disease that affects the growth plates of the long bones. This disease can be more serious because it usually causes a fever and makes them stop eating and feel quite ill. This is also treatable but requires more aggressive supportive care. The diseases are distinguishable by xray and physical exam. I would encourage you to see your vet ASAP so they can determine if your pup has either of these diseases. The other disease to mention is Lyme Disease if you are in an endemic area. This is a tick borne disease that can make dogs painful, febrile and quite sick. Your vet can test your dog for this with a simple blood test that can be run in the clinic. Call your vet today and then you can rest easier knowing what you are dealing with.
Dr. G.