Bones and joints

Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease

This is a condition in which the blood supply to the head of the thigh bone is disrupted, so the bone tissue starts to break down and the head of the thigh bone loses its proper shape. The hip joint becomes painful, arthritis can develop, and the dog avoids putting weight on the leg. It affects growing puppies, so limping in a young dog shouldn't be left to sort itself out.

Updated 2026-10-23

12 breeds

What it is

The head of the thigh bone is the ball of the hip joint. In a growing puppy its blood supply is delicate, and when that supply is interrupted the bone just beneath the joint surface starts to die. As the body clears away the damaged bone and slowly lays down new bone, the ball can soften, crumble and lose its smooth, round shape, so the joint no longer moves freely.

The condition appears in growing puppies, small dogs in particular, and is thought to be inherited. It affects one hip, and sometimes both.

For a young dog this can mean a painful stretch in the middle of puppyhood. Your puppy may prefer shorter walks, rest more and avoid jumping on and off furniture. Watching how it uses the leg, and whether the thigh muscles on one side look thinner, helps you notice changes.

Signs you may notice

You may notice the puppy gradually starting to limp on one hind leg, holding it up or avoiding putting weight on it, while the muscles of that leg grow thinner. The dog may react with pain when the hip is touched or moved.