How to Identify a Dog Skeleton

A dog's skeleton allows it to move with great flexibility.

The skeleton of any member of the carnivore group, such as bears, foxes and dogs, can look very similar at first glance. To differentiate the skeleton of a dog from others, a closer and more detailed inspection is needed. It takes close examination of several features of the skeleton to determine if it is that of a dog. Even dogs of different breeds with obvious size differences will all have the same skeletal features.

Things You'll Need

• Skull
• Vertebrae
• Humerus

Instructions

1. Count the number of teeth. Dogs have a total of 42 teeth. This includes 12 incisors, four canines, 16 premolars and 10 molars.

2. Identify the molars that have four points on the surface (premolars have two points). Dogs have four molars on their upper jaw and six on their lower jaw.

3. Examine the humerus bone. This is the top bone of the front leg of the dog. Dogs have a large hole in the front of the humerus (called a supra-trochlear foramen) just above the elbow.

4. Count the number of bones in the skull. Skulls are actually made of dozens of bones, each separated by a line. Dogs have 50 bones in their skull.

5. Count the number of lumbar vertebrae. These are the large vertebrae in the lower section of the spine. Dogs have seven lumbar vertebrae.

Tips & Warnings

• Foramen refers to holes in the bones that allow blood vessels and nerves to pass through.

References

• "The Merck Veterinary Manual"; Editor Susan E. Aiello, B.S., D.V.M., E.L.S.; 1997
• St. Petersburg College: Humerus of Cat and Dog
• Peteducation.com: It's All in the Numbers
• St. Petersburg College: Dog Skull