Form Follows FUNCTION
BY STEPHANIE HEDGEPATH
GROWTH PLATES: WHAT ARE THEY AND WHY ARE THEY IMPORTANT? S imply put, the growth plates in the dog are areas of a type of cartilage that develop at each end of the long bones of the legs. Such areas are found throughout the maturing skeleton, but the growth plates in the legs cause the most concern for damage with the antics of a growing pup. As the pup- py matures, these areas calcify/ossify and develop into a denser matter throughout the entire bone. The growth plates are considered “closed” when they have matured fully into this harder bone matter. As breeders, we inform our puppy buyers of the need for continued socializa- tion of their pup to help the mind grow and mature. At the same time, we caution against over exercising the pup until he is mature enough to withstand more vigor- ous exercise. What is needed is a balance so that a pup gets enough physical exercise to help them release all that pent up puppy energy and enjoy time spent with you or their siblings, but not so much as to overdo it and have the pup harm himself in play.
Figure 1. Open Growth Plates “A”
Figure 2. Closed Growth Plates “B”
130 | SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, DECEMBER 2020
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