OCD

[kumala]

My friend has had her yearling diagnosed with OCD in his hock joint, she is very upset with this as she had high hopes for him as as a future sport horse, does anyone know a vet clinic in the uk that specialises in OCD in growing youngstock or surgery of OCD?

Thank you in advance x

 

[Halfstep]

caught early and operated on by a good surgeon, the horse has a very good future ahead of him. OCD is amazingly common in youngsters, especially warmbloods, and the keyhole surgery they do now has a decent success rate. My 7yr old had it done this year (hock), and touch wood its been fine.

 

[kumala]

Thats reassuring to hear Halfstep, did your vet do the surgery or did you send him to a specialist? I think she was more upset as he was a potential stallion prospect, she was very aware of the risk of potential OCD as he is such a big yearling ( just over 16 hands).

 

[Foxfolly]

My chap had bilateral OCD in his stifles, he was diagnosed quite late on as he was 8, he was operated on and has gone on to compete upto Novice BE ... he's 13 this year his only restriction is his rider!!!

I remember at the time I got him (He had OCD 2 years before I got him) someone telling me one of Pippa Funnell's top horses had been operated on for OCD as a youngster!
I also heard that if they come sound from the op then its usually never a problem to them later in life! Hope this helps!

 

[Halfstep]

OCD can be genetic so keeping him entire is probably not a good idea I'm afraid. But as a gelding there is no reason why he shouldn't have an active life as a sports horse.

My vet happens to be an orthopedic specialist so he did the surgery himself, but I think smaller practices would have to refer. Its a complicated enough procedure and has to be done under GA.

 

[Foxfolly]

Sorry forgot to add I think it was Arundul vets in west sussex that did the op on my chap!!

 

[kumala]

I don't think she is that far away from you halfstep (banbury). Would it be possible to have your vets name (pm if you prefer) as i'm sure she said she was going to have to find a specialist?

Thanks foxfolly, i will let her know about your vets too.

 

[Halfstep]

No problem. Its Hook Norton Veterinary Surgeons. Their specialist surgeon is Jacek Bobkiewicz. He's super.

 

[aran]

A friends dressage horse had it in his hock. They had him gelded as it can be genetic.
He was operated on at Cambridge Vet school (Newmarket and the RVC are also very good for this surgery).

He came back sound and has carried on doing well in dressage.

 

[annunziata]

I have had a horse with OCD in his hock he had an opp and was fine nothing wrong with him at all jumped and everything!! It is genetic so dont think he is a stallion prospect

 

[catza]

Has anyone on here ever used Extracorporeal shock wave therepy or laser arthrodesis for OCD?

 

[annunziata]

on mine was opperated on

 

[Booboos]

Graham Monroe is an orthopedic surgeon who specialises on OCD, he is great. He has holds clinics in various practices, I came across him at Minster Vet in Yorkshire (OCD in both stifles, but unfortunately did not recover, a year after the op the problem recurred)

 

[JanetGeorge]

[ QUOTE ]
My friend has had her yearling diagnosed with OCD in his hock joint,

[/ QUOTE ]

First thing is box rest - at least 3 months - on restricted feed to slow the growth. No reputable vet will operate immediately at this age - chances are it hasn't 'finished' developing and if you operate too soon, it will have to be done again (and at around £1500, you don't want to do it twice!)

For long and complicated reasons I won't go into here, I am quite convinced that OCD is NOT a straight 'hereditary' condition - although fast growth rates (which pre-dispose to it) ARE hereditary. The most likely cause IMHO is a sudden growth spurt as a result of a change/improvement in diet - things like weaning (and feeding stud mix or similar to 'make up' for Mum's milk), increasing/changing feed in preparation for showing/grading, a change to much better quality haylage than previously, etc. etc. etc.

Having said that, I have a 2 year old colt with OCD in a hock. He is to be operated on in the next few weeks and WILL be gelded! But it developed shortly after I increased his rations as a yearling because he was looking a bit too ribby!

We tend to do our youngsters too well!

 

[ElvisandTilly]

Hi all

Just reading this as my 6 year old gelding has just been diagnosed with OCD in both stifles, and back. Its worse in his left hind. It started with him not walking straight, his back legs not following his fronts. Thankfully I got him checked out straight away!

They are injecting into the joints first and op as a very final try if all else fails.

Has anyones horse had the injections and what was the response? Was it good?

He has been on good grass for the summer and has filled out and grown up looking more mature could this have caused a growth spurt due to the wet summer and good grass we have had?

Any advice or info would be appreciated as only just found out this afternoon and its all unclear in my head!!!