Growth plates closure time in small-sized puppies

VERCELLINI R; GOBELLO C; RE N; RODRÍGUEZ R; ARIAS DO; BLANCO PG

Congreso; EVDI Online Congress 2021; 2021

European College of Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging

Introduction:Growth in length and body weight may differ dramatically among dog breeds, but closure of growth plates has only been reported in Beagles, large and giant breeds. Thus, the aim of this study was to determine the age at radiographic growth plates closure in small-sized puppies and to associate this closure to puberty.Methods:Twelve, pure and mixed-bred, small-sized, male and female healthy puppies were clinically and radiographically examined monthly from three to twelve months of age. According to radiological signs of growth plates closure, the appendicular skeleton physes were classified as open or closed.A binary logistic regression was conducted to predict the occurrence of each growth plate closure using age and puberty as the predictors.Results:In these dogs, closure of the proximal and distal physis of the humerus, radius, ulna, tibia and fibula, distal physis of the femur and tibial tuberosity physis was completed within 10.5±0.1, 6.1±0.3, 7.7±0.2, 8.2±0.1, 7.5±0.1, 7.6±0.1, 8.8±0.1, 7.6±0.1, 9±0.0, 7.7±0.2, 7.8±0.1, 10,1±0.4 months of age, respectively (P