Puppies continue to grow and develop for months or years after birth. Giant breeds maynot reach full adult size for 18 months or 2 years. During this growth period they are atparticular risk from bone and joint disorders. Some of these are inherited such as hipand elbow dysplasia. Damage can also result from traumatic injury.

Why is bone injury in pups serious?

Puppies and young dogs have enormous healing potential and bone fractures, once treated, can healrapidly and completely. When a puppy is born the ends of each bone are soft and it is from these soft partsthat the bone continues to extend as the puppy grows. These areas are called the growth plates. Becausethe growth plates are softer they are a weak point of the bone in the growing animal. Once a dog reachesadult size the growth plates close and become bony. Any damage to the growth plates of bones preventsthe bone from growing normally. If this happens to the bones in the leg this can have severeconsequences and limb shortening or deformity can result.

What damages growth plates?

Sometimes, surprisingly mild trauma, eg a knock or bang to the leg that does not break the skin can causeinjury to the growth plates. For this reason, traumatic injury to the bones or joints of puppies and youngdogs should always be reported to the veterinary surgeon. It may be necessary to monitor the injury overweeks and months to ensure that limb deformity is not occurring. If growth plate damage is suspectedtreatment must be started early to limit the adverse effects of interruptions in bone growth. The area most at risk is towards the lower end of the front limbs, around the carpus (or wrist) joint, above the paw. This isan important growth plate responsible for increasing the length of the forelimb is present just underneaththe skin where it is very vulnerable to injury.