Is Pano Genetic?
 

I am just trying to get the take of the members on this board. Do you feel it is genetic or some other cause and why?

I read a study that linked it to the distemper (I think) vaccine.

I read that there is a possible correlation to distemper vaccine as well, but I think it was due to the drastic rise in pano cases after the vaccine started.

I'd be interested to know. Luckily so far I haven't seen it in my own dogs.

I know I have done alot of reading on it lately, and more and more texts refer to it as a propable genetic condition. However, no specific genes have been found or seperated but it does have a large tendency to run in the same lines and families.

Just as a disclaimer, I have never had a dog suffer from it and neither of my current dogs have or have had pano. This is just yet another subject I am interested in and would like to know more thoughts and studies. :)

I believe it's diet related. Kibble has gotten to the point where there are rather excessive amounts of some nutrients in order to be able to feed dogs of all sizes. My previous kibble fed dogs did get pano. My dogs that were fed a home prepared diet that met their exact NRC needs, didn't, and from I'm told, none of the puppies that have had diets designed this way by Monica, haven't either.

One thing I found interesting is that Leerburg switched to a raw diet and originally assumed the diet would get rid of the pano. Low and behold, pano. Are all of your dogs from the same lines or they all from different ones? If they are the same lines, it would be interesting to know the effects of the diets.

From what I've seen, Pano tends to be found in dogs that grow quickly. That can be influenced by a number of factors including diet and genetics.

Rayden had pano on RAW and on kibble. Singe was starting to show some signs - we took him off the puppy food and his growth slowed down - no more growing pains

I agree with Dainerra, genetics and diet.
I've had two dogs that went through bouts of Pano.
Onyx had 3 severe cases beginning when she was 6 months(kibble fed until then) She grew fast, thick bones as a pup and as an adult is 26" and 90# She was spayed during her 1st Pano bout....came down with it the day before her spay.
Karlo had two mild bouts/ 11 months first one 14 mos second bout/ and raw fed since weaning. He also grew fast, and as an adult is 27" and 90#. He is intact.
I don't know that the raw diet played into it as much as the genetic structure factor.
These show how similar they are in bone(they are not related....I don't have Onyx's pedigree to know her lines):
http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/b...1272012023.jpg
http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/b...ing2012020.jpg

Is it that diet lessens the impact though? I don't think it would change the fact that the dog will get it, but I think what you feed can minimize the overall effects of it.