Osteomyelitis in Dogs

 

Inflammation of the bone or bone marrow most commonly occurs due to bacterial infections, but also shows up rarely as a fungal infections. This type of infection is referred to as osteomyelitis. The inflammation may be due to an acute (sudden) infection, or to a chronic infection. Infections from other areas of body may reach the bones or bone marrow through the bloodstream, or the infection may come from another infection that is close in proximity to the bone. Another common cause of such infections is road-side accidents or injuries involving the bone and soft tissues. Patients that have undergone surgical implants or other bone surgeries may also acquire a subsequent infection.

 

Symptoms and Types

 

• Episodic lameness
• Persistent ulcers
• Fever
• Lethargy
• Weakness
• Limb pain
• Wasting of muscles
• Limb swelling

 

Causes

 

• Trauma
• Fractures
• Post-surgery
• Prosthetic joint implantation
• Gunshot wound
• Bite and claw wounds
• Systemic infections reaching bones

 

Diagnosis

 

You will need to give a thorough history of your dog's health, onset of symptoms, and possible incidents that might have led to this condition. The history you provide may give your veterinarian an idea of whether this condition is acute or chronic. If the infection has gone undiagnosed for any length of time, the presence of new bone growth over the site of the infected bone will be an indication of its duration.

 

Your veterinarian will perform a thorough physical exam on your dog, including a chemical blood profile, a complete blood count (CBC), and a urinalysis. The results of this lab work will usually reveal an underlying infection and level of immune system response to existing infection. If a fungal infection is suspected, special testing may be required to isolate and identify the causative fungal organism. X-rays of the affected bones may show evidence of chronic infections, with changes in bone structure. Changes may present as bone resorption, widening of the fracture gap, and other such abnormalities.

 

Ultrasound imaging will give your veterinarian a better view of the bones, which may show accumulations of pus in the bone. The doctor will then be able to utilize the ultrasound in order to take a sample of fluid and pus from the infection site for further laboratory analysis and culturing. Once the culture has isolated the specific organism that is causing the infection, your doctor will know the course to take in eradicating the bacteria.

 

In some cases surgical biopsy of the bone may be conducted for further confirmation. In case of systemic infections, your veterinarian will collect a blood sample and grow the causative organism within the sample in order to find the most suitable antibiotic drugs for treatment.

 

 

Treatment

 

If your dog has wounds, the first thing your veterinarian will do is irrigate the wound. The wound will need to be cleaned of dead tissue in order to provide a space for the pus to drain. Antibiotic therapy will be started, which may continue for a long period of time until the infection has been fully resolved.

 

If there is a fracture in the bone, your veterinarian will stabilize it to prevent further damage to the surrounding tissues and bone. Surgery to stabilize the fracture, and implants or other fixation material may be used, depending on the location and severity of the fracture. If the fracture is severe, there is a chance that the infection will spread to other parts of body. This will need to be taken into account, especially if there is too much damaged bone or tissue damage. In some cases amputation of a digit, tail, or limb may be a more practical solution, and a more effective strategy for saving the life of your dog.

 

If an implant is placed, your veterinarian will remove it after the fracture and wound have healed. Follow-up care generally involves x-ray examinations at regular intervals in order to monitor the progress of treatment.

 

Living and Management

 

Your dog's activity will need to be restricted during the treatment and healing phase. The bone will remain unstable for some time, and in the case of amputation, your dog will need to learn to compensate for the loss of the limb. Depending on the severity of the infection, treatment can be a costly and long-term process.

 

Acute cases respond well as opposed to chronic cases, which require long-term therapy along with surgical intervention. If the infection is not responding well to antibiotic treatment, your veterinarian will take additional samples to determine a more suitable antibiotic. Similarly, if the fracture is taking too long to stabilize, another round of surgery may need to be performed.

 

You will need to revisit your veterinarian at regular intervals so that your doctor can follow your dog's progress through laboratory testing and x-ray examinations. Follow your veterinarian's guidelines strictly, giving medication only at the prescribed time and only in the exact prescribed dosage. Missing the dosage or changing the dosage of antibiotics may lead to treatment failure and further complications.

 

As movement will need to be restricted until the fracture is fully stabilized and the infection controlled, you will need to make a place for your dog in a stress free environment, away from active children, other pets, and any distraction that will get your dog riled up. For example, if you place your dog too near an entrance, window, or traveled area, such as a family room, your dog may want to jump up to investigate or bark at the goings on. Similarly, you will also need to take care when taking your dog outside to relieve itself. If possible, you may need to carry the dog out and in until the bone has stabilized enough for the dog to stand on it.

 

Cage rest may be an option, possibly with a place made near the cage for your dog to urinate and defecate. This should be a last resort, as you may not want to retrain your dog to go outside again once it has healed. Ask your veterinarian's advice when in doubt, as she or he will have tips learned from previous patients.

 

In addition, good nutrition during this time will ensure rapid healing. Ask your veterinarian for suggestions regarding foods and supplements to promote bone healing.

 

The final prognosis depends on the location of the infection, the extent of the problem, the type of fracture, the type of infection, the surgical intervention that has been performed, and your dog's individual response to the treatment.