My large puppy is limping. Will his shoulder growth plate tear heal?

Until you get a full diagnosis it would be inappropriate to speculate. It would be recommended in all giant breeds to feed a high quality large/giant breed puppy food which should already be enriched with glucosamine etc, to prevent excess weight gain or rapid growth and to limit strenuous exercise until bones are fully developed. Keep her on complete rest with only short, toilet walks until this can be fully investigated

Some causes of hindlimb lameness in growing dogs that are less than 12 months of age include: Hip dysplasia, Avascular necrosis of the femoral head - Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease, where the ball of the thighbone in the hip doesn't get enough blood, causing the bone to die Osteochondritis of stifle - fragments of cartilage or bone have become loose within the knee joint Patella luxation - medial or lateral disorder, in which the kneecap dislocates or moves out of its normal location Osteochondritis of the hock - fragments of cartilage or bone have become loose within the hock, the joint of the hind leg Panosteitis – inflammation of the bones Hypertrophic osteodystrophy - a disease characterized by decreased blood flow to the part of the bone adjacent to the joint Trauma to the soft tissue, bone, or joint Infection – may be local, or generalized (systemic) Nutritional imbalances Congenital abnormalities (present at birth) If the lameness persists, even if she seems better afterward, I recommend getting her seen by your vet as soon as possible to check for one of these conditions and get her started on treatment if need be.

It may have been healed but it does not mean it was healed properly. The toes being spread and the hyperflexion in the carpus can be signs of misuse and weak ligaments and tendons. Make sure you are feeding a high quality large breed puppy formula to help. Your vet can x ray it and evaluate the healing process and see if there is a limited range of motion in the leg or joints due to the previous injury. From there they may give you therapy exercises to get strength back and help

It is vital to have an active growing puppy on a specialised, large breed puppy food, especially if there is evidence of any growing pains or irregularities. A tight balance of minerals (especially calcium and phosphorous) as well as vitamin d, protein levels and energy levels will promote healthy growth and development. An unbalanced or inappropriate diet can lead to over rapid growth of bone, cartilage or muscle and development of muscle and bone development issues. If there is any pain or discomfort you should have a full vet check arranged as soon as possible to rule out inflammation or injury

Poor puppy. At this stage Reese needs images taken of his entire leg to pinpoint the problem area and get a good game plan together on how to help improve his mobility. He may have a ligament tear in his knee or even a congenital defect of the bone that wouldn't otherwise be known about if not for radiograph imaging. It's best to schedule an appt with your vet soon to get some solid answers about Reese's leg. I hope things improve soon.

At that age it can affect the growth rate or length of the leg long term. In proper healing can lead to arthritis at an earlier age and limit mobility. There is no way to know if it is broke with out an xray. If taking it to a vet is not an option, all you can do is kennel rest her and limit all activity for 4-6 weeks. The good news is puppies heal faster than adults. The less she uses it and moves on it, means you have a better chance of healing.

I see that Lexi is Lab, which is considered a large breed dog. Large breed puppies can be prone to a condition called hypertrophic osteodystrophy, which is an inflammation of the long bones. It will cause intermittent lameness, and this could be the cause of Lexi's current lameness. I would take her into the vet on Monday for an exam. The vet can do x-rays to confirm if she does have hypertrophic osteodystrophy or not. There is no cure for it, but most puppies recover on their own after a couple of episodes. In the meantime, take Lexi out on a leash only, no running or jumping, and keep her as quiet as possible.