HOD in Dogs: Why Are
My Puppy's Joints Swollen?

What HOD is

HOD stands for hypertrophic osteodystrophy. It is one of several developmental orthopedic problems that show up in dogs raised on modern, man-made diets. The name refers to swollen joints, where the swelling is tied to irregular growth of the long bones. In a true case the cause is almost always incorrect or unbalanced nutrition: the long bones develop out of balance, and one result is swollen, painful joints that can leave a young dog anywhere from sore to unable to stand.

It arrives in a narrow window. The typical case is a large or giant-breed puppy between 3 and 6 months old, the critical period of fast, uneven growth. Vets see it expressed in the joints: the growth plates of the front and back legs become inflamed and swollen. In the later stages, a dog cannot walk or even stand without assistance. It is generally thought of as a big-breed problem, though smaller dogs can be affected too.

Three things that look like it

Not every swollen joint is HOD. There are four situations where a young dog's swollen joints may be diagnosed as, or put down to, HOD. One is the real thing: nutrition. The other three create HOD-like symptoms, the same painful, swollen joints and the same loss of movement:

• Septicemia, a blood infection.
• A reaction to vaccines.
• An allergic reaction to antibiotics.

Each can mimic the developmental form of HOD. If your pup's joints swelled within days of a shot or a prescription, tell your vet; it changes what you are dealing with.

Why the bowl comes first

Intake versus output. HOD tied to nutrition is most often caused by a poor-quality diet, by over-supplementation, or by a puppy taking in more calories than its daily exercise burns. Linda Arndt, the Great Dane Lady, studied this in large breeds for years and showed that these puppies are meant to be lean through their first two years of growth, and are usually over-fed instead.

What to feed. A holistic or super-premium food with moderate protein, 22 to 24%, and moderate fat, 12 to 15%, with quality minerals, fed in moderate measured amounts. That alone goes a long way toward avoiding HOD in a growing big-breed pup. Our recommended foods guide shows what to look for, and diet is the first thing we go over on a consultation.

For the full feeding programs, Linda Arndt's site is still the best place to read: her Blackwatch feed program for large and giant breed puppies (prevention), the Blackwatch feed program for HOD puppies (correction), and her guide to recognizing bone diseases.

Where Nzymes can help

The Core FoundationSee the Core Foundation →Antioxidant Treats and Sprouted Granules together. Daily super-food nutrition for a pup whose bones are growing faster than the rest of him.

Super-food protein for a body growing too fast. Nzymes is an ideal supplement for a dog with the potential for growth problems, and for one already showing bone-growth issues or the painful joints of HOD. We have seen dozens of cases where simple daily supplementation helped the body turn things in the right direction and settle into the growth pattern a big-breed dog needs. Years of watching bone growth in large breeds have shown how well Antioxidant Treats or Sprouted Granules support the body's ability to stabilize growth, shoulder and hip height, and balance. Used along with a change in diet and a close eye on how much is being fed, they can provide significant help with reversing the growth issues behind HOD in a young puppy.

Not sure whether it's HOD, pano, or a reaction to something? Book a free consultation.