What Causes Osteochondrosis In Horses?

Osteochondrosis (OC) is caused by poor nutrition and rapid growth such as in a young horse. Equines require a wide range of nutrients to develop strong healthy bones. Protect yourself and your pet.

What is the cause of osteochondrosis?

The cause of osteochondritis dissecans is unknown. The reduced blood flow to the end of the affected bone might result from repetitive trauma — small, multiple episodes of minor, unrecognized injury that damage the bone. There might be a genetic component, making some people more inclined to develop the disorder.

How is osteochondrosis treated in horses?

Cases considered for surgery are treated arthroscopically. This technique has been successful in most affected sites, particularly the hock, stifle, and fetlock. Damaged cartilage, osteochondral fragments, and compromised subchondral bone are removed and the joint flushed extensively with sterile fluid.

What causes OCD in horses?

OCD is usually caused by a combination of several factors acting together, including: Rapid growth and large body size. Nutrition: Diets very high in energy or have an imbalance in trace minerals (low copper diets) Genetics: Risk of OCD may be partially inherited.

What is equine osteochondrosis?

Osteochondrosis was initially defined as a disturbance of growing cartilage cells. While this normally proceeds smoothly, in horses with osteochondrosis, the cartilage or growth plates do not mature into bone as normal. Retention of the cartilage can then lead to osteochondritis dissecans or subchondral bone cysts.

Can osteochondritis heal itself?

Healing of the osteochondritis dissecans lesion should be monitored by routine follow-up imaging tests. In many younger children who still have a lot of growing to do, the lesion often heals on its own. Surgical intervention may be needed if nonsurgical treatment is not effective.

Is osteochondrosis curable?

Osteochondroses often heal without treatment or with some minor help from braces or a cast. They often heal without treatment within weeks to a few months of their occurrence.

How do you get rid of osteochondrosis?

Treatment

1. Resting your joint. Avoid activities that stress your joint, such as jumping and running if your knee is affected.
2. Physical therapy. Most often, this therapy includes stretching, range-of-motion exercises and strengthening exercises for the muscles that support the involved joint.

What are the consequences of osteochondrosis?

Since osteochondrosis affects joints, the key signs are lameness and stiffness. The latter is generally most evident after rest following exercise. Shoulder and elbow osteochondrosis cause front leg (fore limb) lameness and stifle and hock osteochondrosis cause back leg (hind limb) lameness.

When do horses develop OCD?

Most OCD lesions develop before a horse is 7 months old, but the condition may not be diagnosed until later in life once training begins and the joint becomes stressed. OCD lesions are commonly diagnosed during pre-purchase exams.

What are 3 causes of OCD?

Causes

• Biology. OCD may be a result of changes in your body’s own natural chemistry or brain functions.
• Genetics. OCD may have a genetic component, but specific genes have yet to be identified.
• Learning. Obsessive fears and compulsive behaviors can be learned from watching family members or gradually learned over time.

Where do horses get OCD?

Virtually any joint in the horse’s skeletal system can develop OCD. The more commonly recognized joints include the hock, stifle, fetlock and between the neck vertebrae. The less common joints include the shoulder, elbow and hip.

What do you feed a horse with OCD?

All-Phase is an appropriate feed for young horses that require energy-restricted diets but still need complete nutrition. All-Phase is a concentrated source of protein, vitamins, and minerals, formulated to be fed at 1-3 lb (0.45-1.4 kg) per day depending on the horse’s life stage.

What is the most common osteochondrosis?

Perthes disease is considered to be the most common disabling osteochondrosis, but it is not the most common of all osteochondroses.

What happens if osteochondritis dissecans is left untreated?

If left untreated, osteochondritis dissecans can damage the cartilage in the joint, and loose pieces of bone and cartilage may even break off into the joint. In the long term, untreated osteochondritis dissecans can also lead to arthritis. Osteochondritis dissecans most commonly affects the knee, ankle and elbow.

What are the stages of instability in osteochondrosis?

[3][7] Stages of osteochondritis dissecans:[5][edit | edit source] Stage I[edit | edit source] Thickening of cartilage and a stable lesion Stage II[edit | edit source] Articular cartilage interrupted and a stable lesion low signal rim behind fragment showing that there is fibrous attachment Stage III[edit | edit source

What is the difference between osteochondrosis and osteochondritis?

Osteochondrosis and osteochondritis have characteristics which facilitate distinguishing between them macroscopically. Osteochondrosis is characterized as being elliptical with smooth borders, while the borders in osteochondritis are rough and irregular.

How long does it take for osteochondritis to go away?

Osteochondritis dissecans happens most often in the knee, elbow, or ankle. It usually takes 3 months or longer to heal completely.

Is osteochondritis inflammatory?

Osteochondritis is defined as an inflammation of both bone and cartilage.

How common is osteochondritis?

The incidence of OCD in the general population is estimated to be 15 to 30 cases per 100,000 persons. Although rare, it is recognized as an important cause of joint pain in active adolescents. OCD has typically been known to affect males between 10 and 20 years of age.

Which joints are most often affected by osteochondrosis?

Osteochondritis dissecans usually affects the knee at the end of the thighbone (femur), ankle and elbow. The condition can also occur in other joints, including the shoulder and hip. Osteochondritis dissecans usually develops in just one joint.