Skye Terrier puppy limp explained

Skye Terriers are quite unique dogs with wonderful personalities to match their good looks. However, they can suffer from a condition known as Puppy Limp which affects them because of their short legs. The breed is referred to as being “achondroplastic” which in short describes Skye Terriers are being a full, normal sized dog but one that has dwarf/short legs. This causes a problem for puppies because they have to carry a full body weight which puts a lot of pressure on their distal radial growth plates far too early in a puppy’s life which causes them a lot of pain as they grow.

How long does the condition last?

Fortunately, puppy limp although painful does not last and by the time a Skye puppy is anything from 8 to 12 months old, the condition generally subsides which means a dog can go on to lead a full and pain-free life. With this said, puppies tend to develop the condition when they are anything from 4 to 5 months old and the limp may be intermittent with both a dog’s back and front legs being affected. A puppy’s limp is generally more pronounced after any sort of strenuous exercise.

Other breeds known to suffer breeds that are known to suffer from puppy limp include the following:

• Great Dane
• Saint Bernard
• German Shepherd
• Mastiff-type breeds
• Labrador

Helping a puppy with the condition

The condition is caused by rapid growth, but over exercising a young puppy can also contribute to the problem. A puppy’s weight also must be closely monitored to prevent them from carrying too much which again would put more pressure on their plate growths. As such, Skye Terrier puppies must be fed a well-balanced, appropriate diet and given the right amount of daily exercise to prevent extra strain being put on their limbs.

It is also essential that puppies are not allowed to jump up and down from furniture or to go up and down stairs which would put a lot more pressure on their growth plates making the condition that much worse and therefore more painful. Diet too, as previously mentioned is ultra-important and Skye puppies should not be fed one that is too high in protein.

Other names for the condition include the following:

• Panosteitis
• Long bone disease
• Pano
• Growing pains

It is worth noting that both male and female puppies can be affected by the condition although it is more commonly seen in male dogs because they tend to be heavier boned than their female counterparts.

Diagnosing the problem

A vet would want to carry out x-rays on a Skye puppy suspected of suffering from the condition. This would allow them to establish the condition of a puppy’s growth plates. The vet would also want to rule out any other conditions that might be causing a puppy to limp which could include neurological disorders or some sort of serious bone condition that could be the underlying cause.

Treatment options

A Skye puppy suffering from the condition would be prescribed pain relief medication to help them through the months they are affected by puppy limp. The vet would also recommend the type of diet a puppy should be fed and the amount of exercise they should be given until they grow out of the problem.