[gemy]

From my understanding; the growth plates are stimulated by hormones to close, and once the growth plates close, no more long boney growth happens. In other words closure of the growth plates stop long bone growth. With early neutering prior to growth plate closure the hormone responsible for stimulating the boney growth plate closure is either delayed or reduced in concentration, thus leaving the growth plates open longer than ideal and an open invitation for the long bones to continue to grow.


And so yes the long bones grow longer if the growth plates don't close... or close late..........


Now logically in small under 10inch tall dogs the effect would most likely be minimized (and btw dwarfism is a different kettle of fish), But the relationship of a long femur to a standard or short tibia, would again logically see the articulating surface relationships between these two bones alter; and as the patella tracks between the base of the femur and the top of the tibia it is interesting to imagine how the patella might be affected.