Panosteitis

What is Panosteitis???
Panosteitis is a painful bone condition that involves different layers of the bones and can lead to lameness. It tends to affect growing cats between 5 and 18 months, especially large-sized felines. It is also referred to as juvenile osteomyelitis, enostitis, and eosinophilic panosteitis.

How does my cat get Panosteitis???

The exact cause for panosteitis remains unknown, but larger-sized cats, particularly males, are at risk. There is speculation that this disease may be associated with other orthopedic diseases.

How do I know if my cat has Panosteitis? ??
Contact your veterinarian immediately at the first signs of your young cat showing any signs of having trouble getting up, showing signs of pain, displaying shifting of weight, walking with a limp accompanied by loss of appetite and even a slight fever. This is not a common condition in cats, so it will be necessary to perform a complete physical exam and take radiographs and blood tests to confirm the diagnosis. Unchecked, panosteitis can progress and lead to muscle atrophy in the legs.

What can I do about Panosteitis? ??
The goal is to combat the pain and ease discomfort. This can be accomplished by limiting the cat’s movements and anti-inflammatory drugs to address the swelling in the leg bones. Your cat will need time to properly recover and to allow the inflammation to subside. Schedule follow-up visits with your veterinarian to monitor your cat’s recovery progress.

Is there anything I can do to prevent my cat from getting?
Other than careful breed selection, there is nothing that can be done to prevent panosteitis. 

Are there certain breeds that get Panosteitis more often? ?
Large breeds such as the Norwegian Forest Cat and the Maine Coon may be at greater risk for this condition than in smaller feline breeds.