Zeke has been limping for 4 days but he's getting much better. The vet just called us and had an ortho specialist look at the Xrays and diagonsed him with Panosteitis (growing pains). (http://********.com/pano.htm)

The vet instructed us to switch Zeke's food from Puppy to Adult/Senior/Weight management control food. Zeke is currently on California Natural Chicken&Rice Puppy Food.We just bought a $50 bag of CN a week ago!

What food brand should we switch him to? We have to keep him slim but he's already slim. I'm worried!

Thank god its just Pano. He will outgrow it. I had a pup in a litter in 2006 and the owner did not change food (26% protein). Pup did fine and outgrew it.

I would not want a growing Lab pup on too low a protein. I can understand possibly taking pup off puppy food but don't go to CN adult - its only 21 protein.

If this were my pup I would stay on the CN puppy food ALS and rest him when he is limping.

Here is an old thread on Pano

http://74.125.113.132/search?q=cache:OyuGUj5DgGIJ:www.lab-retriever.net/board/panosteitis-t109786.html+Pano+in+Labrador+puppies+how+much+pro tein&cd=6&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us

Thanks for linking to the old pano thread! I can't keep him on the puppy food because it's contributing to his fast growth. I need to switch him to quality adult food.I also worry about the calcium levels on CN adult.

the CN puppy is an ALS food and should be fine. ALS means it can be fed to pups, adults and seniors. It is not specifically formulated for puppies and does not promote fast growth in pups.

I have not fed CN in years (and did so before they even had pup formulas) so if I am wrong someone else please chime in as I have never fed an ALS food either so no experience. :-)

you are also buying into the myth that hi protein causes fast growth in pups. This is not true. I feed hi protein (Orijen at 40% and others in the past at 28%) to weaned pups and know a lot of breeders that do. All pups grow fine.

As I said above the pup from my 06 litter with Pano did fine with no food change. I think I said he was on 26% but I am correcting myself. He was on 28% on the puppy formula. THe adult of that food he was later switched to was 26%

Please do your research on Pano and protein before putting your pup on a low protein food. Going low protein can deter his growing process for the worse. If your vet insists on low protein for Pano, get a second opinion (and do your research).

While this article does not mention Pano it is about puppies and protein:

http://www.b-naturals.com/newsletter/puppy-protein/

But see this:

http://74.125.113.132/search?q=cache:RnHAsyBS71gJ:www.b-naturals.com/newsletter/dogs-and-protein/+pano+in+dogs+b-naturals&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us

Please educate yourself before going to low protein. Pano does not last very long in most cases.

Ok I just assumed that puppy food promoted fast growth but I will do my research. I don't want to put him on low-protein food either. He didn't insist on low protein but he did insist on putting him on adult food...does that always = a low protein diet? Apparently Zeke has severe pano and he mad it seem like it was necessary to change his diet but he also didn't know much about California Natural.

Ok I just assumed that puppy food promoted fast growth but I will do my research. I don't want to put him on low-protein food either. He didn't insist on low protein but he did insist on putting him on adult food...does that always = a low protein diet? Apparently Zeke has severe pano and he mad it seem like it was necessary to change his diet but he also didn't know much about California Natural.

Think caloric intake....that equals energy ...I would not change diets...just feed less during these growing pains...

You've got a new bag of CN Puppy...if me, I'd buy an adult bag of CN and feed 50/50 until gone and based upon results, make a decision. ...maybe a little compromise to see what happens? If problems continue do 80 adult/20 puppy. I'm assuming the same vitamin mix, etc., so it should not be an issue, imo.

There are adult foods that are higher in protein than CN adult. But the half and half CN pup/adult sounds like a good idea.

Another one to consider is Eagle Pack Holistic C/R -its an ALS food -but a little less protien/fat than CN puppy and more than CN Adult. Its been my primary food since we've had our lab puppy and its been working very well for us.

I would listen to your vet.

Overnutrition during Growth
In young animals, unlike adults, excessive energy intake does not cause a substantial increase in fat deposition, but rather, a more rapid rate of growth. As long as there is an adequate protein and essential fatty acid supply, it does not appear to matter for growing dogs if the proportion of energy comes from carbohydrate, fat or protein. If the diet supplies sufficient amounts of specific nutrients, the amount of energy will regulate the rate of growth within the genetic possibilities (Grøndalen & Hedhammar, 1982).


Malnutrition during Growth
Slight underfeeding, with respect to energy intake, may slow the growth of puppies but will not influence the adult size of the dog.

Both quotes taken from:
Main Nutritional Imbalances in Osteoarticular Diseases, H. Hazewinkel (1) and J Mott (2), July 17, 2008
1 Utrecht University, Ultrecht, Netherlands. 2 South Pasadena, CA, USA.



This describes a senior diet pretty well:
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/images/articles/a-dog-food-faq.gifWhat are the characteristics of a good senior diet for dogs?
Your older dog will need a well-balanced diet that is generally lower in calories, and fat yet higher in fiber. It should contain high quality protein. You may be able to continue feeding your dog her regular food, but in a smaller quantity. Or, you may need a specially formulated senior diet. Commercially prepared senior diets have a protein of around 18%, whereas, diets for dogs in renal failure are around 14% protein. If your dog has significantly decreased kidney function, then a diet lower in protein will lower the workload for the kidneys. Lower fat usually translates to lower calories so many senior diets have a fat level of around 10 to 12%. Older dogs are more prone to develop constipation, so senior diets are higher in fiber (around 3 to 5%).
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/pic/article.cfm?dept_id=0&siteid=12&acatid=284&aid=463

Lowering protein for Pano is controversial. Just like dogs with KF. Its not the amount of protein but the quality that is easily processed by the kidneys, such as specific meat protein. The only time to lower protein in a KF dog is when they are uremic (BUN is 80 or above) or (creatinine is above 2.5) and dog is showing severe outward symptoms.

There is more info out there relating to KF and recommending higher protein of "quality" source. I fed 26% protein to a KF dog with added chop meat, chicken or eggs and she did great from 14 1/2 to 16. This food along with supplements kept her KF in check and lowered her BUN, Creatinine and Phos. so she never suffered, no outward signs of the disease at all. (this was back in 2003 - 2005)

Here is more info for anyone interested:

http://www.b-naturals.com/newsletter/proteins-kidneys-senior-dogs/

http://74.125.113.132/search?q=cache:oq6dCXeZlS0J:www.thepetcenter.com/article.aspx%3Fid%3D3408+amount+of+protein+for+dog s+with+kidney+failure&cd=3&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us

http://www.dogaware.com/kidney.html#protein

The point is with Pano, KF, etc. you need to do research and discuss things with your vet to make an informed decision.

My vet wanted my KF dog on SD presription renal food that contained ethoxyquin. I refused to do it and did my own research with great results.

OP hoping your pup outgrows the Pano as quickly as mine did.