understanding the growth plate
Puppy Growth
| Dog Size | Dog Breeds | Weight Range (kg) | Rapid Growth Period | Timescale to Fully Grown (Entire |
| Toy | Chihuahua, Pomeranian, Maltese, Toy Poodle | < 5 | Birth – 11 weeks | 6–12 Months |
| Small | Jack Russell Terrier, Dachshund, Pug, Miniature Schnauzer | 5 – 10 | Birth – 14 weeks | 8–12 Months |
| Medium | Border Collie, Cocker Spaniel, Beagle | 10 – 25 | Birth – 16 weeks | 8–18 Months |
| Large | German Shepherd, Labrador Retriever, Golden Retriever, Bulldog, Boxer, Siberian Husky | 25 – 40 | Birth – 18 weeks | 11–18 Months |
| Giant | Great Dane, Mastiff, St Bernard | > 40 | Birth – 20 weeks | 12–24 Months |
Table Depicting Dog Size, Typical Breeds, Average Weights and Growth Timescales. (Hawthorne et all., 2004)
X-ray Images showing Puppy Growth
Growth Plate Development from Puppy to Adult
Limb development in skeletally immature large sized dog
Learn more about orthopedic problems in the immature dog by reading this information sheet from the Veterinary Specialists of Alaska, P.D. Click the image to view or download pdf.
More Information on Growth Plates and Musculoskeletal Development
The Epiphyseal Plate: Physiology, Anatomy, and Trauma
Dirsko J. F. von Pfeil, Dr.med.vet, DVM, DACVS, DECVS, Charles E. DeCamp, DVM, MS, DACVS
CompendiumVet.com | July 2009 | Compendium: Continuing Education for Veterinarians®
Universitychrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://vetfolio-vetstreet.s3.amazonaws.com/mmah/48/37155337d24e34963af2fc8e4cdce3/filePV0709_Von-Pfeil_P1.pdf
Juvenile OrthOpedic Disease in Dogs & Cats Part 1: Musculoskeletal Development & Pediatric Bone Diseases
Ingrid Balsa, MEd, DVM, and Duane Robinson, DVM, PhD, Diplomate ACVS (Small Animal) University of California–Davis
Published in: Today’s VeTerinary PracTice | May/June 2016 | tvpjournal.com
chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.todaysveterinarypractice.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2016/05/TVP_2016-0506_JuvenileOrthopedic.pdf
The Epiphyseal Plate: Physiology, Anatomy, and Trauma
Dirsko von Pfeil , Charles DeCamp
https://www.vetfolio.com/learn/article/the-epiphyseal-plate-physiology-anatomy-and-trauma
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