Equine Osteochondritis Dissecans

Presentation by Lisa M Janssen

Equine OCD, What is it?

• Developmental joint disease in horses usually < 1 yr old

• Bone malformation causing pain

Causes of Equine OCD

• Mulitfactorial – Rapid Growth or

Development– Nutritional Imbalance– Inheritability– Hormonal Imbalance– Trauma and

Exercise

Types of Equine OCD• Femoropatellar

– Commonly seen in Thoroughbreds

– Clinical Signs– Diagnosis– Treatment

Types of Equine OCD• Tarsocrural

– Commonly seen in Standardbreds and young racehorses in training

– Clinical Signs– Diagnosis– Treatment

Types of Equine OCD• Scapulohumeral

– The most severely debilitating form

– Clinical Signs– Diagnosis– Treatment

Managing Horses with OCD

• Dietary Management– Purina Specialty Feeds

• Feed-On Supplementation– Steadfast Equine– Recovery®EQ– Cosequin for Horses

• Injectable Solutions – Legend for Horses– Adequan for Horses

Conclusions and Recommendations

• Equine OCD is a manageable condition• Contact your Veterinarian • Consult a certified Equine Nutritionist

Questions?

References• Andrew Higgins and I.M. Wright, The Equine Manual (St. Louis, Missouri: Elsevier Health Sciences, 1995), p. 854.•  Cody W. Faerber and others, Equine Medicine and Management: Medicine and Management (Animal Health

Publications, 2000), p.27.•  David R. Hodgson and Reuben J. Rose, Manual of Equine Practices 2nd Edition (St. Louis, Missouri: Elsevier

Health Sciences, 2002), p. 126.•  Dr. Christopher R. Bryon, “Osteochondritis Dissecans” American College of Veterinary Surgery, 17 Jun 2008,

retrieved Mar 2009<http://www.acvs.org/AnimalOwners/HealthConditions/• LargeAnimalEquineTopics/OsteochondritisDissecans/>.• Dr. C. Wayne McIlwraith, “Developmental Orthopaedic Disease: Problems of Limbs in Young Horses” Colorado

State University, Equine Orthopaedic Research Center, retrieved Mar 2009 <http://www.equineortho.colostate.edu/questions/dod.htm>.

• Dr. C. Wayne McIlwraith, “Diagnosis and Treatment of Osteochondritis Dissecans” Colorado State University, Equine Orthopaedic Research Center, retrieved Mar 2009 <http://www.equineortho.colostate.edu/questions/ocd.htm>.

• Dr. Daniel Keenan, Dr. Ron McAlister, and Dr. Lynsey Makkreel, “Osteochondrosis” Keenan McAlister Equine, 29 May 2008, retrieved Mar 2009 <http://keenanmcalister.com/Osteochondrosis%20(OCD).pdf>.

• Dr. Elizabeth Green, “Osteochondritis Dessicans: Translated” The University of Vermont, Jul 2001, retrieved Mar 2009 <http://asci.uvm.edu/equine/law/articles/lameness.htm>.

• Dr. Nerida Richards, “Elevated Blood Insulin Concentrations And OCD” Horseyard.com.au, 29 Sep 2008, retrieved Mar 2009<http://www.horseyard.com.au/

• index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=79822&Itemid=142>.•  Lon D. Lewis and others, Feeding and Care of the Horse (Malden, Massachusetts: Blackwell Publishing, 1995), p.

281.•  “Osteochondrosis” Biomeica Laboratories Inc., 01 Jan 2006, retrieved Mar 2009• <http://www.recoveryeq.com/osteochondrosis_horses.htm>.•  “Osteochondritis Dissecans” The Merck Veterinary Manual. Philadelphia: National Publishing Inc., 2008. Jan

2008: Merek & Co. Inc; retrieved Mar 2009 <http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/90404.htm>.

• Ted S. Stashak and Ora Robert Adams, Adams’ Lameness in Horses (Malden, Massachusetts: Blackwell Publishing, 2002), p. 950.