Osteochondrosis dissecans (or OCD) a painful joint disease that affects shoulders, elbows, and knees. It’s a developmental disorder of medium and large rapidly growing dog. It’s also more common in dogs receiving too much calcium in the diet. Other factors may also include genetics, rapid growth, trauma, lack of blood flow, and hormonal factors.
It’s characterized by abnormal endochondral ossification of epiphyseal cartilage in the shoulder, elbow, stifle, and hock joints. The rapid cartilage growth can outstrip its own blood supply causing abnormal cartilage development resulting in lameness, pain and subsequent osteoarthritis. In some cases, flaps of diseased cartilage become separated from the remaining cartilage surface.
As the cause is most often rapid bone development, OCD is usually found in puppies between four and eight months old. However, it can occasionally be found in older dogs, as well as smaller breeds.
As soon as OCD starts to develop, osteoarthritis (inflammation of the joint and associated bones) immediately starts to develop. Once present, osteoarthritis cannot be cured but can be effectively managed in most patients.
OCD primarily affects large and giant breed dogs such as Labradors, Rottweilers and Great Danes. Since it is a condition that develops during growth of the skeleton, signs usually develop when less than a year of age (typically five to eight months). Occasionally the condition is only apparent when signs of secondary osteoarthritis develop, perhaps when the dog is middle-aged or older.
Causes
Genetics
Excessive exercise when young
Activities of daily life such as ball chasing, living on slippy flooring
Impact or trauma
Nutritional deficiency
Hormone imbalances
Body size and weight
Fast growing breeds
Symptoms:
Stiffness
Lameness
Uneven weight bearing
Swelling of joints
Muscle atrophy
Scuffing of nails on the affected leg
Worse after exercise
Reluctant to flex or extend the affected joint on manipulation