How Many Ribs Do Dogs Have?

Dogs have a rib cage made of paired ribs attached to the spine and sternum that protects the thoracic organs and participates in breathing.

Quick answer: typical rib count — Provide the immediate factual answer readers seek and set expectations for variation.

Most adult domestic dogs have 13 pairs of ribs, for a total of 26 ribs.^[1]

For comparison, typical adult humans have 12 pairs of ribs, or 24 ribs total.^[2]

There is a normal range: many dogs fall between 12 and 14 rib pairs (24–28 ribs) because of occasional congenital variation or breed-specific differences.^[3]

Dog thoracic anatomy and terminology

The rib cage (thorax) is formed by paired ribs, costal cartilage, and the sternum; ribs articulate dorsally with thoracic vertebrae and ventrally either directly or indirectly with the sternum via costal cartilage.^[1]

In dogs, each rib is numbered from cranial (first) to caudal (last) and corresponds to a thoracic vertebra; dogs commonly have 13 thoracic vertebrae matching the 13 rib pairs.^[1]

Definitions commonly used in clinical anatomy are: true ribs (attach directly to the sternum via costal cartilage), false or asternal ribs (attach indirectly through shared cartilage), and floating ribs (do not attach to the sternum ventrally); the terms describe attachment, not necessarily fixed counts across individuals.^[2]

Ribs attach dorsally to the transverse processes and bodies of the thoracic vertebrae through synovial costovertebral joints, allowing limited movement necessary for respiration.^[1]

Function of the rib cage

The rib cage protects the heart, lungs, and major blood vessels by forming a semi-rigid enclosure around the thoracic cavity.^[1]

Rib motion contributes to breathing: expansion of the thoracic volume is achieved by elevation and rotation of the ribs during inspiration, a mechanism that is clinically important when rib integrity is compromised.^[2]

Ribs also provide structural support for posture and numerous muscle attachments; major respiratory muscles and thoracic limb muscles insert on ribs and the sternum, so rib damage can impair movement and breathing mechanics.^[3]

Normal variation: breed, size, and developmental differences

Breed tendencies exist: some toy and brachycephalic breeds report minor deviations in rib pair counts more often than average-sized breeds, though the modal count remains 13 pairs.^[3]

Genetic and congenital variations can include supernumerary ribs (an extra rib pair) or hypoplastic/absent ribs; such anomalies are uncommon but documented in breed-specific case reports and reference texts.^[1]

Size and sex usually do not change the rib pair count, but growth patterns can influence rib shape and spacing; tail type does not affect the thoracic rib count because tails arise from caudal vertebrae rather than thoracic segments.^[2]

Embryology and growth of canine ribs

Canine ribs develop from sclerotomal mesenchyme adjacent to the developing thoracic vertebrae, with primary ossification centers appearing in the rib shafts prenatally and secondary centers in the costal cartilage region postnatally.^[4]

Ossification and growth plate (physis) closure timelines vary by bone and breed, but major thoracic ossification centers typically consolidate during the first year of life as the puppy matures toward adult proportions.^[4]

Developmental issues such as hemivertebrae or failure of rib anlagen to form can alter the number or shape of ribs; these are congenital and often visible on radiographs or CT scans in young animals.^[1]

How veterinarians and imaging determine rib count

Radiography (plain X-ray) is the standard first-line imaging modality for counting ribs and assessing rib integrity; a complete thoracic survey commonly uses orthogonal views to visualize rib continuity and vertebral attachments.^[5]

Computed tomography (CT) provides cross-sectional detail and can use thin slices (often 1–3 mm) to resolve rib fractures, malformations, or small supernumerary ribs that are occult on radiographs.^[5]

Palpation in the clinic can estimate rib count but has limits: palpation may miss small extra ribs or ribs overlapped by thick soft tissue, so imaging is required for precise confirmation.^[3]

Typical rib counts and clinical notes for reference

Category	Rib pairs	Total ribs	Note
Most domestic dogs	13	26	Modal anatomy in reference texts.[1]
Common variation	12–14	24–28	Range due to congenital or breed differences.[3]
Humans (comparison)	12	24	Typical human rib count for context.[2]

Practical guide for owners: safely feeling and estimating ribs

Position the dog standing comfortably or in sternal recumbency with calm handling; use the pads of your fingers and apply gentle, consistent pressure to feel along the lateral thorax from the first rib caudally.^[3]

Count ribs by feeling the prominent first rib near the shoulder and then walking your fingers back one rib at a time until reaching the last palpable rib; many owners can reliably feel 8–10 ribs without imaging depending on coat and body condition.^[3]

Normal ribs should feel rounded and continuous without sharp step-offs, gaps, or focal areas of tenderness; if you feel a protruding bone edge, severe asymmetry, or the dog shows pain, stop and seek veterinary assessment.^[3]

Do not attempt vigorous manipulation in animals with suspected trauma or pain; palpation is contraindicated when the dog is showing acute respiratory distress, severe behavioral signs, or open wounds — these require immediate veterinary attention.^[5]

Common rib injuries and clinical signs to watch for

• Fractures and blunt trauma are common causes of rib pain after accidents; fractures can be isolated or multiple and may compromise breathing — signs include localized pain and reluctance to move.^[5]
• Clinical signs of significant thoracic injury include rapid or labored respiration, visible deformity of the thorax, pale or blue-tinged mucous membranes, and collapse; these signs indicate an emergency.^[5]
• Immediate first aid for suspected rib fracture focuses on minimizing movement, keeping the dog calm, and getting prompt transport to veterinary care; analgesia and imaging are commonly required at the clinic.^[5]

Congenital and pathological conditions affecting rib number or appearance

Congenital malformations such as hemivertebrae, fused ribs, or supernumerary ribs can be part of broader vertebral anomalies and are often identified incidentally on imaging or when evaluating unrelated signs.^[4]

Bone tumors, chronic infections (osteomyelitis), or metabolic bone disease can change rib shape, cause focal lysis, or produce pathological fractures; these conditions usually require combined radiography, CT, and sometimes biopsy for diagnosis.^[1]

Prognosis depends on the underlying cause: isolated, non-displaced rib fractures often heal with conservative care, whereas neoplastic or severe infectious processes can carry a guarded prognosis and need specialty management.^[5]

Treatment, recovery, and owner monitoring

Most isolated, non-displaced rib fractures in dogs are managed conservatively and typically show clinical improvement within about 3–6 weeks with rest and pain control.^[5]

Cases with multiple displaced fractures or flail segments often need hospital-level care; temporary respiratory support or oxygen supplementation is sometimes required for 24–72 hours while pain is controlled and pulmonary function stabilizes.^[5]

Analgesic plans are commonly reassessed every 12–24 hours in hospitalized patients to ensure adequate pain relief and to adjust medications based on respiratory rate, appetite, and mobility.^[1]

Veterinarians usually recommend strict activity restriction such as leash walks only and no running or jumping for a period often ranging from 4–8 weeks to allow rib and soft-tissue healing without repeated stress.^[3]

Follow-up imaging (radiographs) is commonly scheduled at about 2–4 weeks after injury to document callus formation or alignment, with additional imaging as indicated by clinical signs.^[5]

Pain management and rehabilitation considerations

Pain control usually uses a multimodal approach; while specific drug choices and doses are individualized, hospitalized patients are observed for analgesic effect and side effects at frequent intervals (for example every 12 hours) until stable.^[1]

Once acute pain is controlled, gentle range-of-motion and supervised low-intensity activity may begin after roughly 1–2 weeks to limit deconditioning while avoiding strain on healing ribs.^[1]

Referral to a veterinary rehabilitation specialist can be helpful when recovery is prolonged; many rehabilitation plans start with short sessions two to three times per week and are tailored to the dog’s tolerance and imaging findings.^[3]

Prevention, risk reduction, and puppy-specific notes

Reducing risk during transport and play—using secure carriers in cars, avoiding off-leash high-impact rough play with unfamiliar dogs, and supervising stairs for young or elderly animals—lowers the chance of blunt thoracic trauma, though exact risk reduction is situation-dependent.^[3]

Puppies’ thoracic bones undergo much of their postnatal ossification and remodeling within the first several months, with important growth milestones typically occurring around 6–12 months of age depending on breed and size; extra caution during this period reduces the risk of growth-related deformities from trauma.^[4]

When to seek immediate veterinary care

Seek emergency veterinary attention if a dog shows severe or rapidly worsening breathing difficulty, a resting respiratory rate consistently above about 40 breaths per minute, collapse, or severe bleeding after trauma.^[5]

Open chest wounds, visible instability of the thorax, or signs of shock (weak pulse, pale mucous membranes) are indications for urgent evaluation and often require immediate imaging and stabilization at a clinic.^[5]

Observe carefully and consult your veterinarian if any thoracic concern arises.

Sources

• merckvetmanual.com — general veterinary anatomy and clinical reference.
• ncbi.nlm.nih.gov — peer-reviewed anatomy and comparative anatomy resources.
• vca.com — clinical notes on examination and common thoracic conditions.
• ncbi.nlm.nih.gov — embryology and developmental references (same domain as source 2).
• avma.org — imaging, trauma, and emergency care guidance.