Worry over growth plate

We have a six-month-old Jack Russell terrier and our vet says he has sustained a growthplate injury, most likely caused by trauma. However, we have no recollection of him ever having any accidents. What could otherwise cause such an injury and what is the likely outcome?

A dog’s long bones do not develop from the centre, but from growth plates at each end of the bone. Once the puppy is fully grown, the growth plates close and harden into solid bone. Prior to that, the growth plates are composed of soft cartilage and are quite vulnerable to being injured.

It is possible for your dog to injure a growth plate, either acutely or chronically. Acute injury involves some form of trauma. It need not be something dramatic, but can be as simple as jumping down from a chair.

Chronic injuries usually comprise some sort of injury or condition that causes stress on the growth plate that leads to injury. Either way, you will likely see symptoms of lameness and discomfort in the affected leg. Your vet will need to X-ray the leg to confirm the severity of the injury.

Hopefully, your dog will heal and show no signs that he was ever injured. Some dogs, however, do not heal correctly and are left with an angular deformity. The prognosis depends on nature of the damage. TB