An inflammation of the bone or bone marrow can be caused by bacterial or fungal contamination from a wound or fracture, or spread through the bloodstream from another part of the body. Bone infection is very serious and your dog should be taken to a vet immediately.
Symptoms of Bone Infection in Dogs
Symptoms can vary depending on where the infection is. Some of the first signs you may notice are:
– Pain
– Swelling
– Fever
– Lethargy
– Depression
The infection can spread to the rest of your dog’s limb, and he may have trouble using it, or complete inability to move it. As the infection spreads, you may also see:
– Muscle wasting away
– Pus-filled discharge
Causes of Bone Infection in Dogs
Also known as osteomyelitis, this condition is caused by a bacterial or fungal infection that has sunk into the bone or traveled to the bone through the bloodstream from another part of the body. Many bacterial bone infections are a result of surgery or contamination from a wound, like a bite or bone fracture. Fungal infections vary by location (geographically) and are usually carried to the bone from another site on the body
Specific Causes
– Area trauma
– Fractures
– Post-surgery
– Prosthetic joint implantation
– Open wounds
– Wildlife wounds
– Bite wounds
– Claw wounds
– Systemic infections reaching bones
Diagnosis of Bone Infection in Dogs
If your vet thinks that your dog has a bone infection, they’ll ask you for the dog’s history. Give any information you have that you think may have contributed to an infection, like if you’ve noticed any wounds. The vet will run blood work and a urinalysis to get a better idea of your dog’s overall health. The infection may make itself evident in blood cultures, deep fine-needle aspiration, a bone biopsy, or cytology.
An x-ray can help determine the location of the inflammation, which will make treatment more reliable. An ultrasound can show whether the inflammation has spread to other places, which will also need to be treated. If there’s any pus or other fluid around the infection, a culture can be taken to help identify what is causing the inflammation.
Treatment of Bone Infection in Dogs
Your dog’s infection might take multiple steps to treat, depending on what is causing it and whether it has spread, or spread from another place. The wound would need to be cleaned, and the pus drained from the infected area. If the infection was caused by a bone fracture, the bone will need to be stabilized and dead fragments may need to be removed.
Medical Treatment
Antibiotics can address the source of the infection. To ensure that your dog is completely clear of the infection, oral or injected antibiotics might need to be taken for a longer period of time than one might expect. The antibiotics prescribed will be specific to the bacteria found in the cultures taken, and will help prevent the infection from spreading. In the case of a fungal infection, antifungal medications can be prescribed.
Surgical Treatment
Depending on how serious the infection has become, surgery might be needed to drain the affected area, and remove damaged or infected tissue and any foreign objects from the wound. Your vet may determine that a severe fracture need plates, pins, or screws to stabilize the bone. In extreme cases, amputation may be necessary to keep the infection from spreading and possibly killing your dog.
Recovery of Bone Infection in Dogs
Be prepared for a long recovery. If the original injury was serious, your dog might not be able to put any weight on the leg that was infected. The bone will need to be stable while it heals, which could mean minimal movement and activity. Your dog will need support, and a quiet, calm space to heal.
Antibiotics will probably be prescribed for your dog while he heals up. Your vet will request follow ups at intervals to see how treatment is coming along. X-rays and blood work may be taken again to make sure the bone is still stable and the infection is under control.
