Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Limping in young male Pugs from elbow bone problems
By Obel, Christina et al.·Published in Veterinary and comparative orthopaedics and traumatology : V.C.O.T·2025·AniCura Albano Small Animal Hospital·View original on PubMed →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: Pathology of the Proximal Radius in Juvenile Pugs.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
Four young male Pugs, aged 6 to 7 months, were brought in for lameness in their front legs that had lasted 2 to 3 months. X-rays and CT scans showed problems with the growth plates in their upper forelimbs, which were linked to joint issues. Unfortunately, two of the Pugs had to be euthanized due to the severity of their condition, but the other two showed improvement over time. Follow-up imaging revealed that their lameness had resolved, and their bone structure appeared normal, although some joint incongruity remained. This suggests that some young dogs can recover from these growth-related issues on their own.
People also search for: Pug puppy lameness · juvenile Pug growth plate problems · dog front leg pain treatment
Abstract
The aim of this study was to describe the physeal pathology of the proximal radius in four skeletally immature male Pugs. Physical examination, radiography, and computed tomography (CT) of the thoracic limbs were performed in all four dogs. Two Pugs were available for long-term follow-up and two Pugs were euthanatized after the diagnostic imaging results. Four male Pugs, aged between 6 and 7 months, were presented with a history of thoracic limb lameness lasting 2 to 3 months. Radiography and CT of the thoracic limbs showed irregularity of the proximal radial physes with varying degrees of radiolucency within the adjacent metaphyses. The pathology was associated with elbow joint incongruity and angular deformity of the antebrachium. Two dogs were euthanatized, one of which was autopsied, and histopathology of the proximal radius revealed bilateral physeal dysplasia. At long-term follow-up of the two surviving dogs, lameness had resolved. Radiography and CT scans of the thoracic limbs revealed normal bone opacity within the proximal radius and resolution of the radiolucent areas of the proximal radial physes. However, incongruity of the radioulnar joint remained. In this report, the resolution of identified physeal pathology at the proximal radius in juvenile Pugs demonstrates the potential for spontaneous remission despite the presence of notable radiographic changes.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39293492/