Development Orthopaedic Disease

[bonnie08]

i am doing a project from school and i have been given 2 question about this so i was wondering if anyone could help
they questions are

outline 2 possiable nutrition-related causes of Development Orthopaedic Disease in foals and youngstock

your 6 month old foal has been diagnosed with Development Orthopaedic Disease and you have been advised to stop feeding it until the problem corrects itself. is this the right course of action?

 

[jenh166]

excess energy in feed (e.g. if fed high concentrates), and calciumhosphorus imbalances can both cause DOD.

Never starve a horse - that's not what their digestive systems are designed to do! Change feed gradually to a better suited diet!

 

[almorton]

yes, ocd is a form of dod, which is a problem with the sub chondral bone and cartilage involved in the joint, often caused by excessive growth due to over feeding.
also, youngsters can grow 'bent' (!) for want of a better explanation, either with flexural deformities which are front to back eg over at the knee), or angular limb deformities (knock kneed etc). angular deformities can be corrected with extension shoes etc whilst i believe most flexural deformities correct themselves over time (but not always!)
adequate exercise and a good feeding program is essential, most people overfeed youngstock!

 

[CBFan]

1) Diet too high in protein some believe corn based diets to be a cause. Others sugest alfa alfa based diets to be a cause as too rich.

2) yes! foal should be encouraged to grow within it's own means which means reducing it's dietary intake to the minimum in order tho control the rate of growth. Hay should be soaked and any hard feed cut imeadiately or changed to very basic rations (hi-fi lite and speedibeet like products - low protein)If the condition can be managed by conservative means (dietary and movement restrictions) it should avoid the need for surgery. If you want a case study -you can have my filly! lol

But it has to be said, although diet CAN affect such conditions it isn't the sole cause. I still believe there is some genetic predisposition. Mine was never fat / overweight, infact she was ribby... she's always been tall though and untill she was weaned, didn't have any hard feed at all and neither did the mare.