Bone Diseases of Growing Dogs

What is causing my dog to limp?

There are many causes of limping and lameness in young dogs, most of which are relatively minor and resolve without medical or surgical intervention. However, some causes are more serious and may result in permanent lameness or debilitating arthritis if not treated promptly.

Large dog breeds (typically with adult weight over 50 or 60 pounds) have several bone diseases that occur during the period of rapid growth that happens up to two years of age.

Because of the possibility of permanent lameness, your veterinarian will recommend diagnostic testing if lameness or pain lasts more than 7 to 14 days. Radiographs (X-rays) are usually performed to investigate persistent lameness or pain in young dogs.

Several X-rays of each affected leg are necessary to get an accurate assessment of various bones and joints. In many cases, X-rays will require a short-acting anesthetic or sedative to achieve optimal positioning for diagnostic purposes. In dogs under 6 to 7 months of age, X-rays can be challenging to interpret due to the presence of growth physes or "growth plates". To reach the diagnosis, it may be necessary to have the X-rays examined by a veterinary radiologist.

What skeletal diseases are more common in a young dog?

The following diseases are common causes of lameness in growing puppies:

Lameness or Limping in Front and/or Rear Legs

1. Panosteitis is an inflammation on the surface of the long bones also called "long bone pain" or "growing pains." This condition may occur in more than one bone at a time and may cause a "shifting" lameness that goes from one bone or leg to another. It is self-limiting but may recur until rapid growth is over. 

The pain may be relieved with several types of medication. This is perhaps the most common cause of "shifting-leg lameness" in young, fast-growing dogs. A common clinical sign is pain when the long bones are squeezed, along with inflammation, including intermittent heat above the affected site. For further information about this condition, see the handout "Panosteitis in Dogs".

2. Osteochondrosis (OC) or osteochondritis dissecans (OD or OCD) is a defect on the smooth cartilage surface within one or more joints. The term osteochondrosis refers to an abnormal development of the cartilage on the end of a bone in the joint, while osteochondritis dissecans refers to a separation of the diseased cartilage from the underlying bone. It most commonly affects the shoulder joint but the elbow, hip, or knee (stifle) may also be involved in young, rapidly growing large-breed dogs.

In some cases, the defect is a flap of cartilage or a crack in the cartilage on the end of the bone; if this occurs, the defect may heal with strict rest and restriction of activity for several weeks. In these cases, pain medication, cartilage-protecting drugs, and nutraceuticals may also be prescribed.

In other cases, a piece of cartilage breaks off and floats freely in the joint (sometimes called a "joint mouse"). This cartilage causes pain, which varies from mild, intermittent pain to intense, constant pain. Surgery to remove the defective flap or "floating" piece of cartilage is the recommended treatment in these cases. For further information on this condition, see the handout "Osteochondritis Dissecans (OCD) in Dogs".

3. Hypertrophic osteodystrophy (HOD) is inflammation in the growth plates of the long bones. It usually causes swelling and pain in the joints, which may lead to fever and loss of appetite. It is self-limiting in most dogs, with no permanent damage. However, some dogs may suffer permanent damage to the growth plates, resulting in deformed legs. Treatment is with medication to relieve the pain and suppress the inflammation. These medications may include non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) or corticosteroids (prednisone).

Lameness or Limping in Front Legs Only

Elbow dysplasia refers to abnormal growth or development of the elbow joint. The elbow joint is made up of three bones: the radius, the ulna, and the humerus. Three different problems can cause elbow dysplasia:

1. An ununited anconeal process (UAP) is a developmental defect of the anconeal process. The anconeal process is a small piece of bone that is found on the back of the ulna (the longer of the two bones of the forearm), at the rear point of the elbow.

Normally, as a dog reaches puberty, the growth plate found between the anconeal process and the rest of the ulna closes, fusing the parts of the bone together. When this part of the ulna does not fuse, the elbow joint becomes unstable, causing lameness and pain, and quickly develops degenerative joint disease or arthritis. 

In some cases, the bone fragment floats freely in the joint, causing further discomfort. Dogs with this disease are lame on the affected legs and may cry when the elbow is extended. Treatment requires surgery. The results are much better if surgery is done before secondary arthritis affects the joint.

2. A fragmented coronoid process (FCP) is a developmental defect of one of the coronoid processes, two small bony protrusions on the end of the ulna, within the elbow joint. In this condition, the medial or lateral coronoid process develops a fissure or crack and separates from the rest of the bone. This causes pain and joint instability. 

Unless surgery is done immediately, arthritis will develop in the joint. This condition is likely hereditary and occurs more frequently in large breed dogs, especially the retriever, Rottweiler, and German Shepherd.

3. Osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) was discussed above. In this location, OCD affects the distal portion of the bone of the upper arm (where it connects to the elbow joint). For further information on each of the types of elbow dysplasia, see the appropriate handouts.

Lameness or Limping in Rear Legs Only

1. Hip dysplasia is an improper formation of the hip joint(s). The hip joint is a "ball and socket" joint. During growth, both the "ball" (head of the femur) and the "socket" (acetabulum) must grow at equal rates. "Dysplasia" means abnormal development or growth. With hip dysplasia, uniform growth of the hip joint does not occur. The result is that the ball and socket do not articulate or fit together properly, resulting in laxity or looseness. The hips become "out of place", resulting in pain, lameness, and limping.

Hip dysplasia has a hereditary component, and is much more common in large breed dogs such as golden retrievers, Labrador retrievers, mastiffs, German shepherds, rottweilers, and Old English sheepdogs. To decrease the incidence of hip dysplasia in future generations, any dog that is in a high-risk breed should not be bred until radiographs (X-rays) of its hips have been taken.

Recent research suggests that diet, calories consumed, and rate of bone growth during the rapid growth phase are all important risk factors for developing hip dysplasia. Therefore, veterinarians advise that large-breed puppies should eat special large-breed puppy food and watch weight gain for at least their first year of life. Be sure to consult with your veterinarian about what you should feed your puppy during this critical period.

There is controversy around the role of proper exercise in growing puppies and time of spay/neuter in bone development. Its best to speak to your veterinarian to help you make an informed decision for you and your dog.

Dogs with severe hip dysplasia have great difficulty moving from a lying position to a standing position, and are in pain when they walk. In contrast, dogs with mild hip dysplasia may show no signs of lameness. However, as the dog ages, they generally develop secondary arthritis with associated pain and reduced mobility. 

There are several choices of treatment depending on the severity of hip dysplasia. Some dogs can be treated with medication, while others will require surgery. For further information, see the handout "Hip Dysplasia in Dogs".

2. Luxating patella is a condition that affects the knee joint. The patella, or kneecap, is attached to the inner surface of the patellar ligament. It sits over the middle of the knee joint and glides back and forth in the trochlear groove. A luxating patella pops out of its groove and moves to one side or the other when the knee is extended. This happens either because the patellar ligament is not attached properly on the midline of the tibia (common in “bowlegged” dogs) or because the trochlear groove is too shallow.

There are several grades of patellar luxation, from an occasional luxation to a state of permanent luxation. The severity may worsen over time and often becomes noticeable as the dog matures. When the kneecap luxates, the knee cannot move normally. Dogs with this condition may learn how to hyperextend the knee joint and snap the patella back into place. Luxating patella is more common in small dog breeds and appears to have a hereditary component. This condition requires surgical correction. For further information, see the handout "Luxating Patella in Dogs".