My understanding of the situation
with osteochondrosis dissecans (OCD) is that there is an underlying bone defect that leads to the cartilage flap and that the bone defect is visible on radiographs.
Belgian Tervuren, Chancellor, was diagnosed
with Osteochondrosis (OCD) at five months old.
Not exact matches
Elbow dysplasia, hip dysplasia,
osteochondrosis dissecans and patellar luxation are a few other common orthopedic problems
with this breed.
In one study, Great Dane puppies that were free - fed a diet high in energy and minerals, or a diet high in calcium, developed
osteochondrosis with clearly visible symptoms.
The osteoarthritis associated
with the lesions of
osteochondrosis will progress throughout life.
In all but one of the 48, the site of this
osteochondrosis defect was associated
with the rear part of the medial (toward the middle) ridge of this bone.
On the other hand, excess calcium in growing pups has been linked
with the development of orthopaedic conditions such as
osteochondrosis dissecans.
Short legs are associated
with Legg Calve - Perthe syndrome (lack of blood supply and destruction of the head of the femor, leading to
osteochondrosis.
There are many canine and cats
with joint issues, like arthritis, bursitis,
osteochondrosis (OCD), hip dysplasia and other generative problems
with shoulders, elbows and stiff joints.
OCD (
osteochondrosis dessicans) can also be treated surgically by removing the abnormal piece of cartilage
with a good prognosis for resolution of lameness.
OCD is the form of
osteochondrosis that is associated
with pain and dysfunction.
It is
with the formation of a flap that
osteochondrosis becomes osteochondritis dissecans (OCD).
Avoid feeding too much, over-exercising or supplementing
with calcium in a growing dog due to risk of orthopaedic defects like hip dysplasia or
osteochondrosis.
Studies comparing high calcium concentration diet (3.3 % DM)
with normal diet (1.1 % DM) showed that too much calcium inhibits dog's joint, cartilage and bone growth, and may lead to diseases like
osteochondrosis, radius curvus syndrome and stunned growth [23, 24].
As is recommended for any other sort of
osteochondrosis, keep the nutritional volume and energy level (and hence the weight) down, and do not supplement
with calcium.
If, as Dr. Olsson has said,
osteochondrosis is the description of a general disorder in which HD is one manifestation, and elbow problems are others, then perhaps by selecting for normal hips, our better American breeders were unwittingly and unintentionally selecting dogs
with fewer genes for
osteochondrosis of any sort, including in elbows.