Journal of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences
(ISSN: 2659 – 0743)
Volume 8, No. 1, 2026
Pages 126-133
DOI: 10.36108/jvbs/6202.80.0101
Evaluation of the Appearance of Secondary Ossification Centers and Growth Plates of Metacarpal Bones in Puppies Obtained from Koko Road Area, Sokoto State, Nigeria
Ekaete Ime Oviawe1*, James Samuel Otokpa1, Hassan Bodinga Abubakar Nura Abubakar1 and Umar Salihu Ahmad1
1Department of Veterinary Surgery and Radiology, Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto, Nigeria
ABSTRACT
Growth plates (physes) and secondary ossification centers of bone have proven to be a major index for skeletal maturity in developing animals. The assessment of the bones on radiograph provides information to determine the age of an animal, assess the development of the skeleton and identify growth-related abnormalities of the skeleton. This study aimed to radiographically define the order of appearance of secondary ossification centers and growth plates of metacarpals of a Nigerian local puppy. Ten apparently healthy Nigerian local puppies were examined in vivo over an 8-week period. Dorso-palmar radiographs of forelimbs focused on metacarpals were taken weekly and the secondary ossification centers and growth plates of each of the metacarpal bones were examined sequentially at weekly intervals for assessment of the time of their appearance. The appearance of secondary ossification centers and growth plates of metacarpals II – V was observed at the 4th week of life on their distal epiphyses. The primary ossification center of metacarpal I became obvious at week 5. Whereas, secondary ossification center of metacarpals I was found only at the proximal epiphyses at week 6. This study provided baseline radiographic data for defining secondary ossification centers and growth plates of Nigerian local puppies. There was uniformity in pattern and time of occurrence of ossification centers and growth plates of metacarpals II-V, which appeared earlier than metacarpals I in this canine breed.
Keywords: Growth plate, Nigerian local dog, Puppy, Metacarpal bone, Radiography