As with all other mammals, a dog's skeleton is made to protect vital inner organs, provide a stable base for the body, and allow it to move and perform various functions. The bones of the skeleton provide essential nutrients for the body, as well as storage of vitamins and minerals. The structure of a dog's skeleton of a dog is basically the same as that of a giraffe, a horse, a mouse, and even a human being. The differences lie in size, and form more than actual types of bones.
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Vertebrate Animals
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Dogs, like people, are vertebrate animals. This classification identifies them as animals whose bodies are shaped by a skeleton and centered on a spinal column. The spinal column houses the central nervous system and is key to every bodily function.
Number of Bones
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A Pomeranian has the same number of bones as a Great Dane: 319 bones on average, unless that number has been altered by surgery. Such surgery might include be tail docking, which removes some of the bones of the tail or amputation of a limb. The differences that exist between breeds are due to changes in the size, length and shape of the bones, not the number of bones. The biggest differences between breeds are found in the bones of the skull.
Skeletal Structure
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The canine skeleton is comprised of three main areas: appendicular, axial, and visceral. The appendicular skeleton makes up the bones of the legs and feet, the axial portion of the skeleton is the main axis of support, the head, neck, spine, ribs, and breast bone (sternum). The visceral bones are small bony parts of the body, such as the ossicles of the inner ear.
Bone Structure
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Bones of all vertebrates are comprised of many layers of tissue. They are comprised of the periosteum, a membrane that encases the bone; the cortical bone, the firm, thick, material that makes a bone strong; the cancellous bone, the interior part of the bone that is spongy and compartmentalized like a honeycomb. The cancellous portion of the bone actually gives the outer structure more strength. Bones contain marrow in the center medullary cavity that is made up of fat, and in some bones (primarily the appendicular and axial bones) red and white blood cells.
Skeletal Tendencies for Hereditary Conditions
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Some of the man-made size differences in breeds cause inherent difficulties that lead to illness. Many of the larger breeds of dogs have such weight placed on the skeletal capacity that it creates problems such as panosteitis, an inflammation of the long bones located in the marrow cavity. Hip dysplasia also occurs in large, heavy breeds; however, dog breeds with very long backs are also prone to hip dysplasia.
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