Growing pains in dogs

Just like in humans, growing pains also occur in dogs. Growing pains in dogs are also called enostosis or enostose and are mainly seen in fast-growing medium and large dog breeds up to about 18 months of age. Fortunately, this unpleasant condition eventually goes away on its own when the dog is fully grown, but that doesn’t change the fact that your four-legged friend can suffer a lot during their puppyhood. In this blog, we explain how growing pains develop in a dog, how to recognize them, how growing pains are treated, and how you can try to prevent them.

How do growing pains develop?

As much as we would like it, our dear four-legged friends unfortunately don’t stay small forever (depending on the breed, of course, but even smaller dog breeds become adults 😉) and will eventually grow into beautiful adult dogs. In growing dogs, the bones grow along: the bones become longer and thicker, which also increases the nutritional needs of the bone. Bones are nourished with blood, which is supplied and drained through (arteries) veins via nutrient channels running through the bone. Fast-growing dogs of medium to large breeds often experience growth spurts. Due to these growth spurts, the nutrient channel in the bone cannot keep up with the growth, causing too many (arteries) veins to pass through a too-small nutrient channel. This compresses the veins, making it much harder for the blood to drain. For this reason, the blood will seek another exit, causing fluid to accumulate between the bone and the periosteum. This makes the periosteum very sensitive and it can even partially detach from the bone. The pressure that builds up on the periosteum is extremely painful for the dog. This is what we call growing pains.

What symptoms are associated with growing pains?

You can recognize growing pains in a young dog by lameness. The dog may limp on one leg, but the lameness can also affect multiple legs. It may even be that the dog limps on one leg one day and on another leg the next day. Growing pains can flare up suddenly and often vary in intensity. Besides lameness, dogs may also be a bit sluggish and lethargic. If the dog is in severe pain, it may express this by whining, crying, or suddenly biting. Additionally, fever and reduced appetite can also be symptoms of growing pains.

How do you know if your dog has growing pains?

If you suspect your dog has growing pains, it is advisable to visit the veterinarian. Since lameness in (young) dogs can have multiple causes, the vet will perform a physical examination. During such an exam, the vet will apply direct pressure to the periosteum. To confirm the diagnosis, an X-ray is often taken as well. On an X-ray, the fluid accumulation between the bone and the periosteum is clearly visible. This allows the vet to determine whether it is growing pains.

How are growing pains treated?

Although growing pains eventually go away on their own as the dog gets older, the pain is very unpleasant for the dog. Growing pains can be treated in several ways. Painkillers and an adjusted exercise schedule are examples of short-term solutions. Keep in mind that painkillers do not address the cause of the growing pains, but they do help the dog live more comfortably.

Another solution is to switch to a different diet. Switching to food specially formulated for young, fast-growing dog breeds helps to slow down the bone growth spurt somewhat. The right calcium-phosphorus ratio and added glucosamine and chondroitin are very important here. The latter supports the joints.

How can you prevent growing pains?

Growing pains in young dogs can be prevented by giving the puppy the right food from the start that matches their age and size. Every puppy receives puppy food until the age of 3 months. Do you have a dog of a breed with an adult weight of more than 25 kilos? Then the puppy can switch to junior large breed food from 3 months old. Riverwood Junior Large Breed food is a balanced diet specially formulated for young, fast-growing dog breeds. This variant contains the right calcium-phosphorus ratio and is also supplemented with extra glucosamine and chondroitin.

Besides having the right calcium-phosphorus ratio and added glucosamine and chondroitin, the fat content and kibble size of Junior Large Breed are also different compared to ‘normal’ puppy food. Curious about the exact differences between puppy food and junior large breed food? We wrote a blog about it earlier, which you can read here.

What is the prognosis for growing pains?

The prognosis for growing pains in young dogs is fortunately good, as the pains disappear once the dog is fully grown (around 1.5 years of age). Until then, it is important to give the puppy the right food. In cases of extreme pain, temporary painkillers may also be given.

Many dogs already enjoy Riverwood every day. Would you also like your dog to enjoy our delicious foods and are you curious which variant suits your dog best? Then answer a few questions here and order an affordable trial pack right away.